No.198
Q.: I note that in Cyprus, all walls, including internal partitions are of bricks with plaster etc. Does this make sense Mr Loizou, should not the internal partitions be of gypsum/chipboards as the whole of Europe is using? Is there any particular reason for solid brick partitioning walls?
Terry Smile

A.: A valid observation Terry. Other than custom there is no logical reason. Movable partitioning costs less, it is better looking (smoother surface) it is of a lower cost and faster speed and one can do all sorts of things with it. I agree with you absolutely, but it is a matter of local purchasers’ attitude. Yes I agree we must follow the rest and adopt this far better way of buildings.
Regards,
A.P. Loizou

No.199
Q.: I noted in my archive that your stand on timber frame houses was a negative one. Yet I note that this is now used more and more. Has your stand changed on this?
Johanna Christiansen

A.: My point dear Johanna was not the type of building as such, but the way the materials will behave in our climate over a long term. Also I have expressed my concern the way this way of building started (complete kits coming mainly from Australia and then local contractors used short cuts, as well as the replacement of certain materials by lower cost local ones). But, having said that, the local attitudes are changing and I hope that this way of building will be adopted more and more based on past experience. The cost of such a way of building is much lower, faster and cleaner than the traditional materials. I also suggest we adopt steel structures, which allow wide openings with no columns, used more in the USA. If I was to build a home now, I would have adopted this method of building. In a project we were managing its development at Paphos 15 years ago with a steel structure construction, they were labelled “pre fab” homes, a most negative label by local standards and we could not convince people to buy (competition misinformation an additional minus).
Regards,
A.P. Loizou

No.200
Q.: Another shopping mall Mr Loizou? We have Shacolas “The Cyprus Mall”, the Limassol “My Mall”, the new one under development Madisson mall and yet another one at Lakatamia, the biggest one, with 180 units. Who on earth will visit all these malls, for the 700.000 local residents? Is there any logic on this dear Mr Loizou?
Love your articles and information, keep it up. With due respect to the lovely Cyprus Weekly, one of the reasons I am buying it, is because it is you.
Marios Christou

A.: My dear Marios I am touched by your support and I hope that this “lovely paper – Cyprus Weekly” will continue to help inform our readers – With respect to malls in addition to the Malls you mention, there are another 2 under consideration in Nicosia. What can I say?
There are differing information on the success of the Malls. Some tenants say they are doing well, others have an opposing view. Notwithstanding the fact of the short distances in Cyprus and the good weather, it appears that the malls are going on at the expense of the high street shop keeper and of course the “neighbourhood” shops. We have disastrous examples of “locally invented” shopping malls, three of which we have managed their development and after sales with bad results and one with good results. Of course we are not experts in malls and we need foreign expert assistance. I suspect that the malls will acquire the touristic hours of shopping (i.e. all hours) which will help them in their operation. I have no firm views on their success, since my experience dictates otherwise. In Greece (that I visit more often) there are very small shopping malls but with high end shops, which appear to do well. As I always say, what do we know, us, isolated islanders in this country? This last Strovolos Mall, I am informed, will comprise shopping and entertainment. This is a new local development on malls since they are a high risk investment by their initiators and I will add they are more suitable for the “high spenders” i.e. age between 15-25 years old, who have no worry on money, since their bill is “foot” by the over accommodating parents!!
Regards,
A.P. Loizou

No.201
Q.: I am the Managing partner of a U.K. investment Co and one of our targets for study is Cyprus. I wonder dear Mr Loizou, why do you offer so freely business information, which it could have costed us several thousands euros to obtain, from the big 4 auditing firms. I write this to you out of curiosity, since I feel that there must be a business angle, which I must have missed in our business development methods. My wife Hanna told me “write to Loizou and get your answer”.
(name withheld)

A.: How right you are, but on the other hand we have a mission, as I often say. We are far from being perfect in our side of business, but there is our goal of adding friends and through this, the business circle is widening, it works in our country, but I do not know in yours. Try it.
Please pass on my warmest regards to you wife. I thank her for her thoughts.
Regards,
A.P. Loizou

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16.11.09

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