In an interview to VI, Ricardo Kendall, CEO and founder of Smart Studios, advanced that «we currently have 600 rented apartments and 1.500 under licensing. Our main goal for 2020 will be the licensing of the projects we have at the Lisbon City Hall, so that we can start construction as soon as possible». The construction of these projects depends on the municipality’s green light.
Without providing any further details, Ricardo Kendall advanced that amongst the main new projects are 630 new apartments in the Alta de Lisboa/Lumiar area, besides a further 270 in the Areeiro area, 300 in Ajuda and 240 in Porto.
One of the latest co-living projects from Smart Studios is the Santa Apolónia Smart Studios, in Lisbon, the result of a 5 million euro investment which should open in July with 114 accommodation units.
According to Ricardo Kendall, «the location is excellent, in one of the areas with better capacity to grow in Lisbon. The building was conceived for professionals and has a view over the river. It will feature a gym, film theatres, co-working rooms and rooftop». The idea is «to be a rock in the pond, there is nothing like this in Lisbon».
In Carcavelos, Smart Studios is developing a 301 apartment project which should open in June, and it is almost 100% occupied. It is mainly directed at students and had a 20 million euro investment.
Next year, Smart Studios intends to have 2.150 studios, one and two-bedroom apartments in its portfolio.