Business Forum • 4 October, 2024 at 10:47 AM
Perla Harghitei, one of the most important natural mineral water bottling companies in Romania, has announced the winners of the architectural project competition organized for its future office building in Sâncraieni, Harghita county. 19 projects entered the competition, and the winning project belongs to the Bucharest-based company Tecon. ReAct Now ranked second, while Aventus came in the third place.
The selection of winners took into account elements mentioned in the design theme, as well specific contest regulations, where sustainability played a central role. The new office building will use materials from renewable natural sources and will embed smart green energy systems. The proposed shape design and the placement of the building, with a view towards the Olt river flowing nearby the factory, were other important elements that helped Tecon to win this award.
Another key factor that Perla Harghitei considered was the project's idea of integrating the company's team into a balanced space that places nature at the core of the design concept. At the same time, Tecon's architects succeeded into combining modern architectural elements and shapes with a genuine local touch, referred to among architects as "Genius Loci".
The new office building will have an area of 1,130 sqm and will accommodate a maximum of 100 people. It will include meeting rooms, work areas for teams, as well as spaces where employees can relax and chat.
Perla Harghitei plans to invest €2.8 million in this new office building. The budget is part of an €40 million multi-year investment plan, announced last summer. The most recent investment, in a new water management station, was worth €5.4 million. The investment in the new water management station was completed in 2024 and was carried out in collaboration with BWT Germany and Inotec Romania.
Perla Harghitei's factory is located in Sâncrăieni (Harghita county) and has the Perla Harghitei and Tiva Harghita brands in its portfolio. The company's turnover in 2023 was €0,5 mil, a 20% increase versus the previous year. The company estimates that the pace of growth will continue in 2024. Perla Harghitei is the market leader in the category of natural mineral water bottled in returnable bottles.
The natural mineral water in the Ciuc Inferior basin at the foot of Harghita Mountains was discovered in the 1950s, the volcanic area offering an important resource potential. In 1974, the current factory was built in Sâncraieni (Harghita county), and since then continues to bottle and sell natural mineral water under Perla Harghitei's brand. Perla Harghitei is one of the main bottling and marketing companies of natural mineral water in Romania. It leads the category of natural mineral water bottled in returnable bottles and has in its portfolio the brands Perla Harghitei and Tiva Harghita, which are available to the consumers in flat, carbo and light carbo versions, across the major distribution chains.