Crystal Lagoons brings beach life to Europe’s cities

19/05/2023

Present in Spain and Turkey, Crystal Lagoons -the multinational innovation company founded by scientist Fernando Fischmann– is starting a new wave of European projects in Romania, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Hungary, in partnership with Romanian real estate developer Forty Management. The Mediterranean capitals of these countries will add an unimaginable attribute: beach life, which will revolutionize the experience and quality of life for their population through Public Access Lagoons™ projects, open to anyone through a ticket.

In Bucharest, the Central District Lagoon City luxury project has been launched for sale, featuring a 1.2-hectare lagoon, 5,000 m² of white sandy beaches, a 5-star hotel, 400 luxury apartments, 8,500 m² of office, retail, restaurants, cinemas, a heliport, educational centers, terraces, and another infrastructure characteristic of the PAL™ model, which transforms them into the most beautiful place in the cities.

Soon, a project will be launched in Budapest, and Forty Management is already planning developments in Prague and Warsaw. This company specializes in high-quality and energy-efficient constructions with advanced and sustainable technologies, having achieved numerous recognitions.

In the same way, Crystal Lagoons is expanding steadily throughout Europe and is in advanced negotiations in Italy, Portugal, Greece, and Cyprus. In Turkey and Spain, it has active operations with developments in Onikişubat, Costa del Sol, Murcia, an upcoming PAL™ project near Madrid, and various contracts under negotiation.

Lucian Azoitei, founder and CEO of Forty Management, explains that “the lagoon is the centerpiece of the project because Crystal Lagoons® technology is sustainable and aligns with our goal of reducing the carbon footprint. We believe in the quality of life. It is easy to build with bricks and stones, but it is difficult to bring life to a project with soul, one that creates unique moments and joyful experiences.”

The environmental contribution of Crystal Lagoons® technology was key, with the reduction of over 40% in the carbon footprint generated by PAL™ projects being highly valued. This is achieved by decreasing travel to coastal destinations by approximately 50%, as people can enjoy beach life near their homes.

“Around the world and particularly in Europe, PAL™ projects are becoming increasingly attractive because of their disruptive innovation that brings a piece of the ocean to their cities. This phenomenon is similar to what happened in England 200 years ago when London brought a piece of the forest to the city by introducing the first urban parks,” said Francisco Matte, Crystal Lagoons’ regional director for Europe.

The PAL™ model has attracted the interest of essential players worldwide, with contracts of note in the United States, India, Korea, Pakistan, Israel, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Central America, among others, all of which are part of Crystal Lagoons’ global portfolio totaling over 1,000 projects in 60 countries.

Business Review

Latest News

Crystal Lagoons Brings Tropical Paradise to Any Weather

08-07-2024

Crystal Lagoons transforms any environment into a tropical paradise and has demonstrated on five continents that idyllic beach life does not have to be limited by climatic conditions. Its sustainable technology maintains bathing areas at warm temperatures, similar to tropical seas, even during the coldest months. This allows for enjoying the Caribbean experience 365 days a year, even in cities with very cold winters, where it seems unreachable, such as Bucharest.

The capital of Romania, known for its freezing winter season and short days with temperatures that can drop to -10°C, now offers its residents and tourists the opportunity to experience the Caribbean year-round. This is possible thanks to the new Central District Lagoon Park Bucharest project, which features a monumental 3-acre crystalline lagoon developed under the Public Access Lagoons® model, also known as PAL® Developments. This lagoon, suitable for swimming and water sports, is surrounded by white sandy beaches, creating an urban oasis in this iconic European city, where paddle surfing, kayaking, windsurfing, and other activities can be enjoyed.

The project is revolutionizing the experience and quality of life for Bucharest’s residents, providing a unique entertainment offering in the area. Central District Lagoon Park is driven by the Crystal Lagoons in association with the property developer Forty Management. This high-luxury complex features 5,000 m² of white sandy beaches, a 5-star hotel with 340 rooms, 400 luxury apartments for rent, and 8,500 m² of offices, commerce, and services, including restaurants, cinemas, a helipad, a private cinema, a sky bar, a spa, educational centers, retail spaces, fairgrounds, and terraces, among other infrastructure characteristic of the PAL® developments.

Crystal Lagoons Brings Tropical Paradise to Any Weather

08-07-2024

05-07-2024

Crystal Lagoons is generating disruptive innovation in the global retail market. In Latin America, it is driving a new project that will revolutionize the shopping and entertainment experience in Colombia, redefining the concept of retail destinations: Kristal Malls, the largest shopping and entertainment center in the Colombian Caribbean, and the country’s first Shopping Resort. Located in Azul de Arenas, Cartagena de Indias, the project stands out for its monumental 7,4-acre crystalline lagoon suitable for swimming and water sports with Crystal Lagoons® technology. Developed under the Public Access Lagoons® model, also known as PAL® developments, the Lagoon will be accessible to all through ticketed entry.

The 296-acre development will be the next milestone in Colombia’s commercial landscape, with 110,000 m² of leasable area, highlighting its design and sustainable urbanism. In addition to the crystalline lagoon, Kristal Malls will integrate a wide variety of shops, including national and international luxury brands, a cinema, an amusement park for all ages, a 150-room hotel, offices, apartments, health centers, and a diverse range of restaurants, among other spaces.

“Shopping centers today must reinvent themselves and introduce new functional and experiential offerings to the public. PAL™ projects answer this need, as they offer an idyllic beach life and bring together restaurants, event centers, culture, shows, and activities, enhancing public attraction. An example of this is Ary Laguna, one of the largest shopping centers in Pakistan, and the advanced conversations with major US retailer chains,” explains Francisco Matte, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of Crystal Lagoons.

Kristal Malls is part of one of the most significant agreements signed by Crystal Lagoons in Latin America, in association with AED Constructores, one of the leading real estate firms in the country. The mega-contract includes 13 projects with crystalline lagoons that will enhance another tourist icon, such as the “Eje Cafetero,” in addition to the Colombian Caribbean.

“The fact that one of Colombia’s leading developers, such as AED, partners with Crystal Lagoons to build numerous projects, including the largest shopping center in the Colombian Caribbean, shows how our concept and technology are a success in Colombia,” adds Matte.

New Crystal Lagoons PAL® Project Revolutionizes The First Shopping Resort in Colombia

05-07-2024

03-07-2024

California is known for being home to some of the most popular and iconic beaches in the country. But we continuously hear from Solano families that they have to trek long distances and sit in traffic jams just to get to the coastal beaches where their kids can cool off and have some fun. Family trips to the beach should be idyllic, relaxing, and fun, not wasted on the road in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

For many years, there was little anyone could do about this – until Crystal Lagoons® invented and patented a new technology to build beautiful, beach-like crystalline lagoons with sand and turquoise water while using 25 times less water than an average 18-hole golf course in Solano County.

Today, we could not be more excited to announce that California Forever has signed an agreement with Crystal Lagoons to make Solano County the home of the second such lagoon in California.

The new Solano Lagoon will be built in the great park in the middle of the new community in East Solano, surrounded by restaurants, cafes, and entertainment. Importantly, while Crystal Lagoons amenities have sometimes been built to be only accessible to residents of the host community, the Solano Lagoon will be a Public Access Lagoons® project, meaning that it will be open to everyone from Solano County.

We believe that the Solano Lagoon will be an amazing addition to summers in Solano County. Crystal Lagoons technology is known for creating breathtaking, accessible, and sustainable man-made lagoons that offer a beach-like experience wherever they are built. This lagoon is meant for families to spend summer days, gather for birthday parties, participate in water sports, for kids to splash around during the summer (without fear of sharks!), and for everyone to relax in the sun. Visitors will be able to swim in the dedicated swim areas and have access to kayaks and paddleboards – in addition to several other fun-filled water sports activities.

In 2022, Disney brought the first Crystal Lagoons amenity to California, where it is now under construction as the anchor feature for Disney’s new community in Cotino, in southern California.

“Crystal Lagoons is proud to be part of this transformative development that will generate good-paying jobs, affordable homes, sustainable energy, and new entertainment options for Solano County. Our Public Access Lagoons® projects in urban settings are highly valued for bringing a piece of the ocean right to people’s doorsteps. They offer unparalleled entertainment and quality of life while contributing to sustainability, which has earned us recognition all over the country” said Benjamín Fischmann, Regional Director of Crystal Lagoons.

Here are some photos of real-life lagoons in various locations.

Forming a community working group to inform design and community needs

As with the Solano Sports Complex, we’re forming a community working group to help us solicit input and inform the design of the Solano Lagoon. Among other things, we want the lagoon to feel distinctly Northern Californian while preserving the fun beach vibe and incorporating the best of Solano County. We look forward to collaborating with our working group on that and on making sure the lagoon becomes a beloved part of Solano County and home to so many happy memories of amazing days with our loved ones. The early members of the working group include:

Sean Kazemi, father, principal partner at Kaz & Associates Stormwater & Environmental Specialists, and resident of Vacaville
Kim Wright, mother and resident of Dixon
John Wilkerson, father, realtor, and resident of Vacaville

“As a father and environmental specialist, I recognize the significance of sustainable development, and the new lagoon in Solano County is a prime example,” said Sean Kazemi, principal partner at Kaz & Associates and resident of Vacaville. “This lagoon uses cutting-edge technology to minimize water waste, which is vital in our climate. It’s not just an incredible amenity for our families to enjoy, it’s also a responsible choice for our environment, making it a win-win for all residents.”

“I’ve been living in Solano County with my family for years, and I’m thrilled about the prospect of a new Solano Lagoon right here—it’s like bringing the beach to our doorstep,” said Kim Wright, a mother living in Dixon. “This means we can enjoy beach days without the long drive, making it so much easier to spend quality time together. It’s a fantastic way to build lasting memories and strengthen our community.”

“As a local realtor and father, I’m excited about the introduction of the Solano lagoon here in Solano County,” commented John Wilkerson. “Anyone who knows my family, knows we love the beach and water activities. I can’t wait to watch my kids play at the lagoon. I love that this helps the majority of Solano residents – who don’t own a pool – to have access to a beautiful lagoon nearby. It will create a sustainable, fun space for families to enjoy. I can’t wait to have breakfast at home and then be on the beach 30 minutes later.”

We will be adding more members to the group after consulting with community leaders, elected officials, and residents on who would best represent their respective communities. The working group will be facilitated by our landscape designers CMG, who are designing the parks and open spaces for the East Solano Plan, and who have previously designed iconic spaces such as the San Francisco-based redevelopments of Treasure Island, Hunters Point, and Willie “Woo Woo” Wong Playground.

Later this summer, we will also take the working group on a tour of some of the existing Crystal Lagoons amenities that have already been built elsewhere. If you’re interested in joining the Solano Lagoon working group or have ideas you would like to share, please send an email to lagoon@EastSolanoPlan.com.

Supporting water efficiency and environmental sustainability by using 25 times less water than an 18-hole golf course

One of the most amazing design features of the Crystal Lagoons system is its sustainability and environmental performance, including using a special molecular film technology that can reduce water evaporation by up to 50%.

The lagoon shown in our rendering, which is about 7 acres and enough to accommodate thousands of people, would use about 20 acre-feet of water per year. That’s 25 times less than an average 18-hole golf course in Solano County, which uses about 493 acre-feet of water per year. Please see FAQ below for details.

The 20 acre-feet per year used by the Crystal Lagoons amenity is also only a small fraction — about 0.15% — of the 13,700 acre-feet of water that we have already secured for use by the East Solano Plan, and an even tinier fraction compared to the water supply at full build out. The lagoon can also use any type of water—salt, fresh, or brackish. The water will be part of the overall water needs of the East Solano Plan and, therefore, subject to the Water Guarantee in the East Solano Homes, Jobs, and Clean Energy Initiative. Learn more about our water supply plan and the Water Guarantee here.

The lagoons also require up to 100 times fewer chemicals than traditional swimming pools or drinking water treatment systems.

Finally, we are currently exploring innovative ways to use excess heat from cooling operations in the new community’s district thermal systems to heat the water and extend the lagoon’s use during the shoulder season. By reducing the need for Solano residents to travel far for coastal recreation, we also reduce the carbon footprint.

Contact us and discover how Crystal Lagoons can transform your city.

Bringing the beach to Solano County, with a beautiful beach-like lagoon that uses 25 times less water than an average 18-hole golf course

03-07-2024