Identifying development opportunities maximizing value for all stakeholders

Real Estate development.
Strategic advisory.
Urban and architectural design.

Identifying development opportunities maximizing value for all stakeholders

Real Estate development.
Strategic advisory.
Urban and architectural design.

Identifying development opportunities – maximizing value for all stakeholders

Real Estate development.
Strategic advisory.
Urban and architectural design.

Profile

About Achilles+Partners

Achilles + Partners (in Germany Achilles Real Estate Development GmbH) is an international, multidisciplinary team of experienced specialists in real estate investment and development, urban planning, and architecture. We serve as strategic advisors, project planners, and development managers for select private and institutional investors.

Our expertise comprises conceptualizing, planning, and initiating large-scale, mixed-use urban development projects. We have also pioneered some innovative niche products in the residential and commercial sectors. Although currently based in Germany, our operations extend to several international markets, including Brazil and the United Arab Emirates.

Over the years, we have assisted numerous investors, landowners, and development partners in identifying and preparing promising development opportunities. Our services include crafting integrated development plans, elaborating creative design solutions, securing necessary permits, and managing critical stages of complex delivery processes. These efforts have significantly increased the value of their properties and mitigated development risks.

We maintain exceptionally high standards for our projects and business practices. With a commitment to seriousness, integrity, and passionate creativity, we aim to deliver relevant, measurable, and long-lasting value for all stakeholders.

Capabilities - Activities

We are developers, designers, and strategy consultants. We assess opportunities and risks from multiple perspectives, based on decades of real-life, hands-on experience. We provide practical, actionable advice and management support for the implementation processes. Our multidisciplinary, integrated capabilities enable us to assist clients and partners at various stages of the value-adding chain. We act as consultants and executive owner representatives, aligning interests and sharing risks to achieve optimal outcomes.

Development

…a professional real estate investment and development manager, prospecting, planning, initiating and implementing large scale, mixed-use projects in partnership with private and institutional investors. We elaborate strategies and detailed implementation plans for promising investment opportunities, help raise capital and guide the realization of the projects (international with local partners).

Design

…a developer with comprehensive in-house design capabilities - creating own urban planning and architectural design concepts and/or cooperating with some of the world’s leading architectural and engineering firms. We aim to differentiate our projects through better design solutions - truly sustainable, elegant, inspiring and at the same time highly efficient and functional solutions.

Advisory

…an experienced strategy and management consultant – providing first-hand, reality-proven advisory services to selected private clients. We advise real estate investors and developers on corporate and project levels, prepare robust business plans, structure an set up up implementation processes, to enhance the client’s productivity and the quality and profitability of his products and services.

Development

…a real estate investment and development manager prospecting, planning, initiating and implementing large scale, mixed-use projects in partnership with private and institutional investors. We elaborate strategies and detailed “Integrated Development Plans” for promising investment opportunities, raise capital and guide the realization of the projects with local partners.

Design

…a developer with in-house design capabilities - creating urban planning and architectural design concepts and cooperating with some of the world’s leading architectural and engineering firms. We aim to differentiate our projects through better design solutions - truly sustainable, elegant, inspiring, yet efficient and functional solutions.

Advisory

…a strategy and management consultant – providing first-hand, reality-proven advisory services to selected private clients. We advise real estate investors and developers on corporate and project levels, prepare business strategies and help setting up implementation processes, to enhance the client’s productivity and the quality and profitability of his products and services.

Global perspective,
international experience
and relationships

We have worked as real estate developers, strategy consultants and planners in different international markets, for and in partnerships with some of the sector’s leading organizations. This allowed us to build a network of close relationships with many international private and institutional investors, operators and best-in-class specialist consultants. The countries we have worked in include: Germany, Brazil, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Oman.

Business development
+ product development
= an integrated approach

Strategic advisory services

From multi-disciplinary and international perspectives

  • Business model and competitive positioning
  • Organizational development
  • Workflow optimization
  • Growth, restructuring, turn-around management
  • Corporate governance
  • Capability- building and strategy application support.
  • Portfolio analysis/ project due diligence
  • Market studies, highest and best use analysis
  • Feasibility studies
  • Project investment memoranda for submission to investors and banks
  • Economic development and demand creation strategies
  • Architectural and urban design services (phases 1-4 HOAI)
  • Integrated Development Plans (combined business, product and process plans)
  • Peer reviews/ juries
  • Project repositioning/ work-outs.
  • Opportunity sourcing and evaluation
  • Market entry strategies
  • Operational platforms, local partners
  • Acquisitions/ Dispositions
  • Investor prospecting, placement and investment structuring
  • Ongoing investment monitoring, reporting and owner representation.

Development management and design services

Guiding the Process through „Integrated Development Plans“

  • Owner representation
  • Investment analysis, feasibility studies, value appraisals
  • Project conceptualization, business plans
  • Elaboration of Integrated Development Plans
  • Own test designs and/or design management
  • Architectural and urban design services (phases 1-4 HOAI)
  • Selection, briefing and guidance of technical and commercial specialist consultants
  • Management of project permitting process
  • Support of owner with fund raising and investment structuring. Preparation of investment memoranda
  • Support of procurement, tender and award of construction work
  • Marketing and sales management and/or own sales services
Methodical planning and management approaches – focus on implementation

Projects

Integrated development concepts, master planning, design studies, project realizations

We have worked in different capacities – as advisors, as development managers, as designers, often in combination – on a broad spectrum of project types. Most of our projects were large-scale, mixed-use urban developments, including entire new cities or city districts and business clusters.

Our comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of the entire real estate value chain, our decades of experiences “having sat on different sides of the table” enables us to take an integrated strategic approach from the outset. It allows us to think and plan holistically, to anticipate future requirements and to consider long-term effects right from the start.

We are design-driven, believe in the value of good design, its profound and long-lasting impact on people, their well-being, creativity and productivity, as well as on natural environments and our limited resources. The early concept-and-design phases, on which we concentrate particularly, is where the most project value can be gained (or lost).

In a pro-active and responsible forward- looking way we initiate, plan and guide the development process as advisor or partner, always with an owner’s perspective, focusing on tangible, measurable results for all stakeholders.

Micro Living

A new waterfront city in the South of Brazil – Solar Plan

Riverfront district Frankfurt West, 2021

Market Hall Extension Frankfurt, 2021

Boxkai Frankfurt, 2021

Food industry cluster in Dubai

Mixed-use district in Macaé, Brazil, Phase 1

Affordable housing in Brasil with prefabricated volumetric modules

Design Hotel, Rio de Janeiro

Riverfront Towers Frankfurt East, 2019

Marina Towers Florianópolis, 2018

Diagnostic Center W

DesignPort

Urban Block Studies

Modular housing Dubai

Office complex Macaé, Brazil

Modular student housing, 2018

Frames residential blocks, Rio de Janeiro

Urban Block Infill

Riverfront Towers Frankfurt East II, 2019

Guesthouse / Micro Living F

Innovation Cluster

Urban Farming

Modular Malls, United Arab Emirates, 2016

Shopping Mall

Hotel and Serviced Apartments complex

Hybrid office tower with double-skin façade

Integrating economic and urban development

Phase 0

Some of the larger consulting and development projects we are working on allow us to start on a blank canvas, to define the project vision and elaborate integrated economic and urban development concepts. We conduct our own, independent and in-depth market studies as well as technical and legal due diligence to define highest-and-best use options for the land and maximum economic impact of the proposed business opportunities. We identify all relevant stakeholders and decision makers, their expectations and agendas to build consensual strategies and map out efficient approval procedures.

We know that the more professional, diligent and responsible the early-stage development tasks are conducted, the more solid the basis for long-term successful projects will be – in terms of economic, social and ecological sustainability.

Sustainable development strategies, understanding long-term impacts, contributing to the solutions

Sustainability

Our understanding of sustainable urban development and architectural design focuses on the consistent application of simple, timeless principles that have proven valid throughout our cultural history – not on ideological transformation manifests or short-lived fashion trends. Urban structures are complex and dynamic systems, but long-term experiences with urban life provides reliable orientation for a pragmatic reconciliation of interests, justifies „common sense“. Concepts which we develop aim for solid, long-lasting structures that provide attractive frameworks for different users and changing uses, form strong identities and release positive energy. We strive to exploit the great potential of „passive sustainable planning strategies“ and „intelligent low-tech“ to add innovative high-tech layers in a more targeted and efficient manner. This approach applies to standard real estate products as well as to ambitious iconic landmarks.

Our planned and built environments shape our inner worlds – our well-being, our thinking, creativity and productivity. The experience of this interaction – „First we shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us“ – creates huge responsibility for investors, planners and developers. A responsibility that we are aware of and take very seriously.

Team

All members of the core team contribute decades of international professional experience. All had worked for many years for sector leading companies in senior and senior executive positions before joining A+P on projects in the Middle East, Brazil and Germany. We often work in strategic partnerships and complement our project teams with trusted specialist consultants from our international network.

Portrait of Heiko Achilles - Founder / Managing Partner of the Achilles Real Estate Development GmbH

Founder / Managing Partner

Heiko Achilles is the founder and managing partner of the company, with nearly 30 years of international experience as a real estate developer and consultant. He specializes in strategic planning and development management, bringing a wealth of expertise across diverse global markets. His extensive, multidisciplinary background has been instrumental in shaping successful projects and guiding the company’s growth. He holds a master’s degree in architecture and urban planning (Mag.Arch/ Dipl.-Ing.) from the University of Applied Arts Vienna, and a master’s degree in urban design with a focus on real estate development (MAUD) from Harvard University. Throughout his career, Heiko has held senior management and senior executive roles at some of the world’s leading real estate investors and developers, including Tishman Speyer, Dubai Holding, and Hines. Over his 20-year tenure with these organizations, he spearheaded business and product planning, and following implementation management for several large-scale, mixed-use urban developments and iconic landmark projects. His work spans across Germany, the Middle East, Brazil, and Russia, with a focus on innovative and sustainable product concepts and large-scale urban developments. Heiko has also served on advisory and supervisory boards for prominent real estate investment and development firms, including Kortros in Russia. A licensed architect and urban planner, he is registered with the Chamber of Architects in Hessen, Germany. Heiko is fluent in German, English, and Portuguese.

Portrait of Enrique Houayek - Architect at Achilles Real Estate Development GmbH

Henrique Houayek holds a Ph.D. in planning, design and the built environment from Clemson University, USA. He has almost 20 years of professional experience as architect and project manager in Brazil, the US and Portugal. He has worked as a project manager for AECOM, responsible for multiple projects for the Rio 2016 Olympics, as well as for his own practice. He furthermore worked as a professor of architecture for Clemson University for over 10 years, in the USA and Italy. Henrique Houayek is a licensed architect, registered in Brazil. Languages: Portuguese, English, Spanish, Italian.


Claus Peter Rees has 25+ years of experience as advisor and facilitator for strategic investment and economic development in key growth markets – with a focus on real estate, infrastructure and privateequity. His work experience includes Europe, the Middle East, Brazil, China and South East Asia. He heldsenior management and executive leadership positions with organizations such as Al Qudra Holding (Abu Dhabi), Dubai Holding, Federation of German Industries (BDI), Expo 2000 Hannover. His specialties include strategic portfolio management and sustainable cluster development with healthcare and education as core components. Claus Peter Rees holds a MA in International Management and BA in Socio-Economic Studies (Universität Konstanz) with further specialization in Economics and Law (SciencesPo, Paris, Freie Universität Berlin). He is fluent in German, English, French, and Portuguese.

Edson Yabiku has around 30 years of international experience as an architect. He worked for more than 25 years in senior positions with Foster+Partners Architects, London, since 2006 as Partner. During that time, he was directly responsible for or involved in numerous large-scale, first-class design projects, many of them award winning, in Europe, Middle East and Asia. He holds a professional license as architect and urban planner in the UK and Brazil. He graduated in architecture and urban design at Universidade Federal do Parana in Curitiba. Languages: Portuguese, English, Japanese.

Publications

Stadtentwicklung mit einem Developer Mindset – Innovation, Wachstum und Wettbewerbs-fähigkeit in kritischen Zeiten

Stadtentwicklung mit einem Developer Mindset – Innovation, Wachstum und Wettbewerbsfähigkeit in kritischen Zeiten

A book about economic and urban design strategies, dealing with opportunities and challenges and the required growth mindset. Germany in International comparison. Development examples for Frankfurt am Main.

Author: Heiko Achilles
250 pages
Language: German (as e-book with English summaries)
Publisher: Springer
Date: Oct/Nov 2024
Table of Contents

Introduction/Excerpt: The cards are currently being reshuffled – the opportunities, power and influence of the players for the next phases of our future are being redefined. We can no longer rely on old structures and certainties. The simultaneous and complex interactions of new global challenges, disruptive technological innovations, demographic changes, and geopolitical shifts are rapidly transforming…

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