www.beglinwoods.com
BEGLIN WOODS ARCHITECTS
Cover Feature
BEGLIN WOODS ARCHITECTS
Cover Feature
Property & Real Estate
SHOPPING THE WORLD MARKET By: Nicholas Paul Griffin
Sacha Poignonnec co-CEO Africa Internet Group
Beglin Woods is now considered one
of the most prominent architectural firms in East Africa.
K
enyan architectural design company Beglin Woods has been operating in the region since the 1990s, but its founders and directors, Irishman David Beglin and Englishman Simon Woods, have been plying their trade in Kenya since the 1970s. In 1991, after both men had built up impressive portfolios in Africa through their respective architectural practices, they opted to merge firms and form Beglin Woods Architects & Interior Designers. The practice has expanded rapidly since that time, and is now considered one of the most prominent architectural firms in East Africa. Beglin Woods has worked on a wide variety of major residential, commercial, industrial and tourism projects.
Large Output Beglin Woods is responsible for a large output of work, with each project having its own special qualities. Some of these projects focus on sustainability, others on design, and others on service to community and clients. “We started with hotels,” Mr Beglin tells us. “We had Hemingways in Watamu and very quickly got the Mayfair in Nairobi, Mara Simba lodge in Masai Mara and Mara Simba in Naivasha. Later we got Mara Simba in Samburu and Sankara Hotel in Nairobi.” Alongside these projects, the firm undertook educational and institutional work with the International School of Kenya (ISK), the United States International University (USIU) and the 4
David Beglin · Co-Founder/Director, Beglin Woods
US Government-sponsored Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in Kisumu and Nairobi. Other projects have been industrial, including the commissioning of work on the original Nation Press building in 1998, as well as playing an integral part in the construction of the new and improved Nation Press hall, built on Mombasa Road in 2015. The firm has built several branches of SIMBA Colt Motors in Nairobi and Mombasa, new buildings for Bidco Oil Company in Nakuru, a group of banking facilities for several local banks and office projects and parks like Watermark in Karen and Eaton Square in Gigiri. “In housing, we have done ten or twelve gated communities, several high-end individual residences, recently several service and luxury apartment buildings, including an award winning 17 apartment building called Nova in Nairobi.” Further apartment blocks in Nairobi are added to a 6-storey apartment hotel building for Best Western and several high rise apartment complexes, as well as the finishing touches to a sixth building for United States International University. The firm has built a large portfolio of several hundred buildings over the years, with each decade offering a different type of project. Mr Beglin enjoyed working on safari lodges in the 1980s, the offices and industrial jobs in the 1990s, and the housing and offices since then. “The United Nations building, Eaton place and the Watermark Building are all award winning examples of well-scaled sustainable work that offers users an enjoyable, comfortable working environment,” Mr Beglin adds. Sankara Hotel and Hemingways offer refined and enjoyable hospitality facilities at the
The United Nations building, Eaton place and the Watermark Building are all award winning examples of well-scaled sustainable work.� David Beglin
Property & Real Estate
David Beglin Co-Founder/Director
Simon Woods Co-Founder/Director
Katherine Mungau Director
Kunal Patel Director
Aspire Africa ¡ Jan/Feb 2017
5
We enjoy the lifestyle that emanates from producing economical and well-crafted design work.” David Beglin
Capital One apartments, Nairobi, Kenya top of the market, and the firm’s apartment complexes contribute to an enjoyable urban lifestyle, with individual houses and villas continuing the lifestyle theme. With such a busy working schedule throughout the year, the firm tends not to record its milestones. “Our decade anniversaries seem to come often,” Mr Beglin says, “and our twenty-fifth anniversary approaches.” In addition, it has not been easy to achieve external milestones, as the awards system in Kenya is not well established. Mr Beglin admits that steps are starting to be taken to recognise achievements in the area. “The architectural association is starting to do awards every two years. We have won 6
David Beglin · Co-Founder/Director, Beglin Woods
international property awards for Watermark, Eaton and local awards for Naivasha Simba, and Nova Apartments.”
The World Marketplace “We enjoy the lifestyle that emanates from producing economical and well-crafted design work,” Mr Beglin explains, highlighting the firm’s core values. “As technology develops, so do building components and services.” For Beglin Woods, the world is now a marketplace, with anything able to be bought from anywhere. This allows buildings to be more sophisticated and economic, encouraging the firm to introduce elements into a building that were not possible a short time ago.
The firm’s East African operations are firmly based in Kenya.
Majority of development work undertaken in Kenya has been done in Nairobi.
Nova Apartments - Award winnning luxury apartment building in Nairobi
8
David Beglin ¡ Co-Founder/Director, Beglin Woods
The expansion of the world marketplace now makes our project management service much more relevant.” David Beglin
Property & Real Estate
“The expansion of the world marketplace now makes our project management service much more relevant. We are now more involved in sourcing, procuring and installing components from many sources.”
The firm’s East African operations are firmly based in Kenya, and Mr Beglin explains that the country’s market is more than adequate for Beglin Woods to work within, although work in other countries is not ruled out.
The building process is becoming much more about sourcing and purchasing, with windows, doors, finishes, fittings, furniture and fabrics all being obtained from different sources. Most of the well-established manufacturers now have agents within Kenya.
“We choose to work from one office in Kenya,” he says. “The profession is well established in neighbouring countries and we don’t seek work outside Kenya. If such an opportunity presents itself, we form a joint venture with a local firm.”
“The co-ordination of so many imported items is a new skill that all designers need to have now in Kenya. In fact, many firms in other countries have long ago developed these skills and work efficiently on a global scale. This is now the way forward in Kenya.”
Due to its status and population, the majority of development work undertaken in Kenya has been done in Nairobi, but Mr Beglin is able to identify great prospects in other towns and cities in Kenya, such as Kisumu, Mombasa, Nyeri, Nanyuki and Isiolo.
Aspire Africa · Jan/Feb 2017
9
The property sector in Kenya is proving particularly profit-driven.
With the property sector in the country proving particularly profit-driven at the current time, there appears to be no specific rules to the way it functions. Investors are prepared to pay more for a good building, but not substantially more. “So the buildings that attract investors need to be built within tight budgets,” Mr Beglin says. “The buildings that we do are all done within these budgets and show that well-designed buildings are affordable.” There are new trends affecting the market on a daily basis, all of which have an effect on Beglin Woods’ business, including rapid developments in building security,
10 David Beglin · Co-Founder/Director, Beglin Woods
The firm encourages the use of solar power to create as much energy as possible.
home automation, solar generated power, sewage treatment and building components themselves. The accessibility of the world marketplace ensures that Kenya will shortly have greater access to goods, meaning there will be the possibility for buildings engineered to the highest international standards. Kenya benefits from a climate that ensures buildings do not need heating, cooling, insulation, air conditioning or complex mechanical services. With the country enjoying sun year-round, the firm encourages the use of solar power to create as much energy as possible.
We are greatly concerned that infrastructure is not keeping pace with development.” David Beglin
As solar generated power develops, free electricity will become commonplace, and in coastal locations this could lead to cheap desalination and affordable portable and irrigation of arid areas by cheap water pipes from the oceans. This in turn will allow plantation of sustainable timber, bamboo and softwoods, which should lead to hardwoods being phased out of buildings and replaced by sustainable alternatives to help preserve forests. The same sun will then produce light and power and large tracts of arid land can be reclaimed for farming and living, meaning there are some exciting times ahead for
Property & Real Estate tomorrow’s designers, though there are still some concerns. “We are greatly concerned that infrastructure is not keeping pace with development, particularly with power sewerage and portable water supply. This is influencing development to overcrowd suburbs and complicate traffic movement and contribute to congestion.”
Changing Landscape The architectural landscape is going through a significant change, with clients now requiring a fully-developed and costed concept. This can be particularly difficult for firms just starting
Ultramodern Office Complex, Eaton Place, situated in the plush suburb of Gigiri in Nairobi
Aspire Africa · Jan/Feb 2017 11
The understanding of the project and budget is the most important aspect of a build.” David Beglin
United States International University (USIU) library building in Nairobi out to afford. There are now many different architectural styles being published. “Sometimes it is good to ask a client to show examples of what he [or she] likes,” Mr Beglin says, “and to produce web images of projects we feel would appeal. This can also be discussed at an early meeting and certain options omitted.” The understanding of the project and budget is the most important aspect of a build. A written resume of the problem and an estimate is frequently required, and fast freehand drawing essential, as architects need to sketch ideas during discussion. 12 David Beglin · Co-Founder/Director, Beglin Woods
There is often a need to develop efficient drafting and presentation methods, meaning employing 3D and ordinary models is vital. Planning authorities now need a great deal of information, and early discussions with them are paramount. Likewise, quality construction documentation makes site supervision more efficient. The overall aim of these additional steps is to get quickly to an accepted concept that can be agreed upon by both client and architect. “All of this points to a very passionate and lean approach. Most clients simply want their needs met and don’t enjoy discussions
Young architects must realise that very little real practical contractual experience is gained at school.” David Beglin
on theory, and many clients react best to techniques that have been used before.” Architecture now has a wide split between traditional and avant-garde techniques, and Mr Beglin believes young architects should gain their expertise on a few traditional building solutions before embarking on new techniques. While some architects might enjoy working with progressive and innovative technology, many clients don’t, so developing a clear understanding of both the client and the problem is essential in any professional relationship. “Knowledge of the profession is critical,” Mr Beglin says. “Young architects must realise that
Property & Real Estate very little real practical contractual experience is gained at school.” It is important that their working years concentrate upon continual practice learning, courses and reading. Above all else, Mr Beglin believes, young architects should be visiting buildings, looking at and learning from ongoing construction. The American publication, Architectural Record, offers an excellent facility for ongoing learning. Each project requires research, so the study of projects in use is helpful, as is market research on materials, products and prices. New buildings are mostly built on small budgets, and it may be necessary to engage in significant importation to get a job on budget.
Aspire Africa · Jan/Feb 2017 13
Young architects should gain expertise on a few traditional building solutions.
This means undertaking research on lead times, shipping delivery, duties taxes and warranties. Reputable producers will have local agents, as back up service is essential, such as in the case of elevators, boilers pumps and mechanical and electrical items. “Budgeting and financial management requires great care,” Mr Beglin says. “Funds should be set aside for unpaid work like competitions.” Provisions should therefore be made for projects that go beyond scheduled completion dates, and for periods of reduced workload. The choice of good professional colleagues is important: mechanical engineers, structural
engineers and electrical engineers should be chosen for their experience. No young architect should try to do mechanical or electrical design without experienced engineering input. Many suppliers now offer design and build. This is now common in a day’s installation, along with security and home automation, solar heating and photo voltaic cells. Energy systems can cost 40% of a building, so they should be fully studied. Many companies will offer full fit out services, aiming to be something of a ‘one stop shop’ for interior design furnishings and furniture. In addition to these new techniques, publicity has now become a hugely important subject.
Saj Ceramics advance digital printing technology provides enhanced reproduction of colors providing a surreal impression of natural elements. Choose from a wide range of matt and gloss, wall & floor tiles that will command admiration wherever they are placed.
30 x 60, 40 x 40, 30 x 45cm NEW digitally printed, locally manufactured ceramic tiles. 14 David Beglin · Co-Founder/Director, Beglin Woods
Mombasa Road, Nairobi, Kenya. Mobile: +254 722 597166 Tel: 020-3587001/2/3/4 www.sajceramics.com
We have four directors. Each director can handle about three active jobs on site.� David Beglin
Property & Real Estate
Riara Road apartments, Nairobi
Aspire Africa ¡ Jan/Feb 2017 15
Firms now more than ever need to have their own quality, well-run websites.
Any new work a firm undertakes should be represented in the form of a blog post.
Beglin Woods team and offices Firms now more than ever need to have their own quality, well-run websites, as well as access to social media in the form of Houzz, Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook, among others. Any new work a firm undertakes should be represented in the form of a blog post. Printed CVs are now something of a rarity, as most applications arrive online, and will mostly be a print out from a web page or online brochure. Updating these is an essential part of a professional application. One of the keys to Beglin Woods’ success has been its consistency, particularly in having kept its office at the same size since the firm was started. Mr Beglin feels that there are key 16 David Beglin · Co-Founder/Director, Beglin Woods
statistics to a comfortable professional life. “We have four directors,” he says. “Each director can handle about three active jobs on site, three active jobs in the pipeline and three jobs at very early proposal stage. This allows us to have anything between 30 to 40 jobs at any one stage.” Only 20 of these jobs will likely get built, with a staff of just 20 to support. This allows each director to be involved with every detail of every job, keeping them in demand and with a reputation for being hands-on, particularly with financial control and project management. ASPIRE
www.beglinwoods.com
Watermark Business Park located in Karen, Nairobi
Click below to watch our Exclusive Interview With David Beglin
Aspire Africa ¡ Jan/Feb 2017 17
www.Aspire-Africa.com
www.beglinwoods.com Riverside Mews, Chase Bank Wing Westlane off Riverside Drive P. O. Box 22759 – 00400, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 204 449 146, +254 204 449 147, +254 204 449 148 Cell: +254 734 623 855, + 254 722 201 185 Fax: +254 204 449 149