Saïd Hejal (Kronos Real State): “We have not given Tamara Falcó the apartment”

Saïd Hejal, founder and CEO of Kronos Homes, with his dog Lola.

Saïd Hejal is Lebanese, but he has lived halfway around the world. He speaks Arabic, English, French, Spanish and is now going to learn Danish for romantic reasons. At 43 years old, this trained economist has lived in Beirut, Paris, Montreal, New York, London and for five years in Madrid, where he traveled for the first time when he worked for an American investment fund and saw the light: he would create a different real estate. Son and grandson of developers, “our goal at Kronos Homes is to work with the best architects in Spain and Portugal because we want to improve the architecture of cities, which the development sector has forgotten because it has seen it as an expense instead of as a solution.” ”. Hejal feels at home in Spain, “because of the culture similar to mine, the high quality of life and most importantly: the sun”, and has managed to make a name for himself in the real estate sector and also in glossy magazines, where he can be seen with Tamara Falcó or with famous architects such as Joaquín Torres.

Ask. Has Tamara Falcó really bought her Puerta de Hierro penthouse for 1.5 million euros or have you given it to her so she can promote Kronos?

Answer. We don’t give anything away. If we start giving away, I will have to change my business.

Q. What does the marchioness bring to your brand?

A. She is a very elegant woman who connects with the Spanish, a person who transmits part of the Kronos values, which are: design, architecture and, most importantly, elegance.

Q. What are your hobbies?

A. I love art. I am a collector. When I was little, every weekend I went to the Louvre museum with my parents. An experience that bored me very much. Every day we saw two rooms. Later, when we moved to Montreal my mother started collecting art. I went to galleries from a very young age and bought my first painting at 16 years old. I believe that art changes the way we think, the way we express emotions. Now I go every week to the Prado museum, which I think is the best in the world, even than the Louvre, and there are exhibitions that I see up to seven times because each time you discover something new.

Q. How many paintings does your collection have?

A. I have more paintings than walls to hang them on. The most important thing is not the number, it is the quality. I don’t want to be the biggest promoter in Spain, but to make the best product. At this moment, I am lucky to have good offices in Madrid to put up art and in the last three years we have been bringing art to all the projects we do at Kronos because the most important thing about art is being able to share it. The more people can enjoy it, the more value it will have. That’s why I have more paintings in the office than at home, where only I enjoy them.

Q. Is your collection contemporary?

A. It’s a mix. I started focusing on my origin, in Lebanon, Syria… Then on sculpture, which I really like. And in recent years, after living in Spain, the collection has changed a bit and has focused on Spanish art. In Spain there is a lot of young talent. And I really like the colors. I move towards paintings with more life.

Q. How much is the collection valued?

A. I have not valued it. I bought many paintings when I was 25 and I don’t see it as an investment. It is a passion to enjoy. I don’t sell paintings, I probably will over time because my taste evolves.

Q. What other hobbies do you have?

A. I have been a collector since I was young. I have collected everything from Gi Joe dolls to baseball cards, coins, stamps, wine, vinyl and art.

Q. And does all this fit in your house?

A. No. I have part of it at my mother’s house, who always tells me when you are going to collect your collections that take up the space of a room, another in mine and another in the office. The part I like most about collecting is the search, which is a path of intellectual curiosity in which you learn many things and allows you to dream.

Q. What do you do every day outside of work time?

A. I dedicate an hour a day to reading. I don’t watch television. Nothing. I haven’t seen her in almost 10 years. I dedicate another hour to playing sports, running at the Retiro or lifting weights. And I meditate twice a day because it helps me think and have clarity of ideas in this world of so many stimuli. I started meditating five years ago and it has changed a lot the way I think and see things. I’m calmer. After Covid, I introduced meditation courses in the office and now almost 70% of employees meditate because it reduces stress. I finished work around 7 p.m. and I walk a lot with my dog, Lola.

Q. Who are your favorite artists?

A. I really like Jackson Pollock, which is like jazz, an extender of the emotions you have in your head. And, from the Spanish artists Goya, who is the precursor of abstract art.

Q. Do you have any whims?

A. I really like to travel. I have visited 67 countries and my goal is to reach 100 in the next 10 years. I also really like the mountains, nature, I have climbed Mont Blanc and I have also done the New York marathon twice.

Here you can consult the latest ‘After work’ interviews

Follow all the information about Economy and Business on Facebook and Xor in our weekly newsletter

The Five Day Agenda

The most important economic quotes of the day, with the keys and context to understand their scope.

RECEIVE IT IN YOUR MAIL
#Saïd #Hejal #Kronos #Real #State #Tamara #Falcó #apartment