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Michael
Drapac has a vision for Melbourne. If he has his way, it will
become a comprehensively sustainable city – one which is rich in
spirit. It will be a place people will want to gravitate to. It
will honour its great architectural traditions, promote the
wellbeing of its occupants, sustain its cultural landscape,
integrate residential development and champion environmental
sustainability.
Michael
Drapac is founding shareholder and Executive Director of the
Melbourne-based Drapac Group, formed in 1987.
The Drapac
Group is the largest private owner of commercial property in and
around Melbourne. It owns approximately $200-300 million of
Melbourne CBD property across approximately nine hectares of prime
land. Development of the properties – they are currently at various
stages – is expected to increase their combined value to more than
$1 billion.
Drapac is
also a funds manager specialising in unlisted direct property
investments with an asset base of $250 million across the Drapac
Property Fund, the Drapac Socially Responsible Investment Fund, the
Drapac Wholesale Development Fund and the new Drapac Japan
Fund.
As well as
being a property developer for more than 20 years, Michael Drapac
has a background in health sciences with degrees in Biochemistry
and Pathology, and Nutrition and Food Chemistry. This has shaped
his commitment to producing buildings which not only meet
Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) standards, but also
consider the wellbeing of occupants and respect and sustain the
social, cultural and architectural landscapes.
“We must
identify the generators that sustain great cities such as Paris and
New York. Their buildings are designed with heart and soul. They
promote human interaction and wellbeing with well-designed plazas
and public spaces. Their buildings are designed according to the
laws of nature – no two are the same. The best buildings invite
people in. They contribute to the landscape and respect the
streetscape.”
Other
interests:
Drapac Porsche Cycling Team: Established four years ago with
Porsche motor cars, this is a sustainable program for developing
elite junior athletes. For more information and the philosophy on
which the program is modelled: www.drapaccycling.com.au
<http://www.drapaccycling.com.au>
Working in an
advisory capacity and sitting on the board of “Fraynework”, a
digital media arm of the Sisters of Mercy Nuns.
Michael’s
foundation: On Track For Life | 