AUG / SEPT 2017
Merging the Past with the Present – St. Andrews School, Turi Leadership by Design - Architect Phillip Kungu Fostering a Sustainable Future with Bamboo Water as a landscape design element
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Buildesign Magazine Ι Issue 026/2017
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Buildesign Magazine Ι Issue 026/2017
Buildesign Magazine Ι Issue 026/2017
PUBLISHER'S NOTE
Lessons from the Dar es Salaam BRT
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here was an air of expectation back in 2014 when Nairobi governor, Dr. Evans Kidero, made a widely publicized tour of Berlin, Germany to either inspect some public service buses the county government intended to procure or maybe just to see how public transportation happens there. News followed that the county government planned to acquire either 600 or 1,000 of these high tech buses for use in Nairobi. The anticlimax of this whole performance by the governor was the attempted leasing of buses, similar to those plying long distance routes between Nairobi and upcountry destinations, as the solution to our public transport menace. Their reasoning, far beyond absurd, was that the buses carry more passengers than the current 14 seater matatus and that would mean less vehicles carrying around more people. And voila, the public transportation question will have been answered. Yet, while our governor was busy benchmarking with the best of the best in the globe, our next door neighbours, Tanzania, were commencing their testing and interim operations on the first phase of a proposed six phase Dar es Salaam Bus Rapid Transit system. I have been making brief visits to Dar es Salaam and in all occasions, I have not taken time to look at this system. It was during the recent CPD seminar by our colleagues at the Architectural Association of Tanzania (AAT) in Dar es Salaam that I had the opportunity to use the system and get to appreciate the difference it made to those who used it. First, the tickets were priced quite low. One ticket would set you back Tshs. 650 and would allow a single access into any of the stations. Once inside, one is allowed unlimited rides for up to 2 hours. This means that even if you miss your station, you can alight at the next one and take the return bus to your station at no extra cost. It was not clear how they enforced the 2 hours limit. Possibly through inspection. Although I did not see any signs of inspectors in the buses I used. At the stations, the buses were plenty. After every three to five minutes, one or two buses would quickly drive by going both directions, dropping and picking passengers.
Publisher: BUILDesign Africa Ltd Howse & McGeorge Centre P.O.Box. 60540-00200, Nairobi info@buildesign.co.ke Distributors: Jetsam Distribution Ltd Mai Mahiu Rd, Off Lang’ata Rd info@jetsamdistribution.com www.facebook.com/BUILDesignKE www.twitter/BUILDesignKE www.instagram.com/buildesign/ Copyright ©: Architecture Kenya Media Ltd
Publisher:
Martin Tairo tairo@architecturekenya.com
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Wendy Kinya wendy@buildesign.co.ke
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Julie Bungei julie@buildesign.co.ke
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Felister Mugambi felister@buildesign.co.ke
Technical Assistant:
Brian Munene brian@buildesign.co.ke
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BUILDesign Team info@buildesign.co.ke
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St. Andrews School, Turi PLANNING Kenya
The buses move on time schedule and it does not matter if it has passengers or not, it moves. The stations are raised on platforms same height as the floor of the bus. The buses have several doors depending on the size, which coincide with the doors of the stations. Buses would therefore be quickly driven into a station right on the edge of the platform, doors positioned where the station doors are and are quickly opened. Passengers are given just a few seconds to alight and board, normally between 5 to 10 seconds, the doors would then quickly shut and the bus would be on the move again. This ensured that time is not lost boarding or alighting. The buses have their own dedicated lanes and private motorists would be caught dead driving on them as the penalties are heavy. Buses on this lane are given priority of movement, especially at intersection with other vehicles. They only stop for pedestrians to cross. I spent a lot of time riding these buses and at no instance did I get a seat. The uptake seems to have been positive and the buses are very popular, especially due to their speed. Traffic jams in Dar es Salaam could be frustrating and for many, this transport system has come in handy to increase their speed of movement. It is commonly referred to as ‘mwendo kasi’ by the locals to mean fast movement. It took me a record 22 minutes to move from the main station at Gerezani to Shekilango, a distance of 9KM. One would easily take 2 hours to cover this distance using private means and the normal ‘dala dala’ public transport system. This is the first of a total of six phases for the system that, when complete, would span a distance of 130KM within the city and its outskirts. The first phase is about 23KM. Tanzania seems to have made the right first steps aimed at answering the public transportation question in Dar es Salaam. There is a lot we can learn from them even as we make plans to set up our own system and more so, the good faith and honesty in their leadership as they seek to provide solutions to the problems faced by their citizens. It is something we are finding really hard here in Kenya. Martin Tairo
Contributors:
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Stephen Lutta Nyambura Nugi Polycarp Bosire Bruce Mugola Irene Wanjiku Samuel Kerongo (+254) 722 387 110 (+254) 720 650 898 (+254) 725 075 993
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Buildesign Magazine Ι Issue 026/2017
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CONTENTS
CONTENTS 08
20 08
MAIN FEATURE St. Andrews School, Turi
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FEATURED ARCHITECT
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LANDSCAPING Water as a landscape design element
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TIMBER SERIES
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ARCHITRAVEL
Phillip Kungu
Fostering a Sustainable future with Bamboo
Lilongwe city in Malawi
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EDITORIAL
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rchitects, as stewards of the planet, should develop a culture of responsibility. One that seeks, in every instance to do as little damage as possible to natural systems. Architecture is a fundamentally practical endeavor, which is responsible for its actions to the entire ecosystem. And this is why practitioners within the built environment must embrace an environmental ethic; a design culture that’s inclined towards conservation and not destruction. In this issue, we review the progressive expansion of an 86 year old architectural master piece, the St. Andrews School Turi. In line with the school’s huge emphasis on preservation and conservation of nature, PLANNING’s ethos and approach to sustainability and conservation have perfectly played in the architectural design and the masterplan they developed for the project. We have the detailed review on page 8. In our Architect’s Profile Section, we have Architect Phillip Kungu - a servant leader with a bonafide portfolio in leadership across the board. Public service holds a dear place in his heart and he poured it all out to our team when they sat with him for the interview. Read his inspiring story on page 20. The real estate bubble has busted and an economic recession is oncoming! Our new contributor, Polycarp Bosire warns. Kenyan property prices have exceeded their elastic limits and unfortunately, this is the most probable consequence. The slums have overpopulated due
to lack of affordable housing and the rapid increase in value and prices of property to levels that are unaffordable by the population are resulting to lower demand of property. According to Polycarp, who is a graduate engineer and a construction blogger, current property owners will certainly not realize full returns on their investments. Indulge more of his thoughts in an opinion piece “The state of real estates” on page 34. The global design software, GraphiSOFT launched their new version of ArchiCAD, ArchiCAD21 in East Africa earlier in July. The efficiencies packed in the new software are countless; two of its most brilliant in-built features are the railing tool and the staircase tool.Besides these two, unfortunately, most designers may not access the many perks that come with this software, not because of cost, but because they don’t explore beyond the basics. It begs the question, are designers really tech savvy? Our technology columnist explores the topic further with a case study from one of the projects he is currently handling. Find the piece on page 29. As always, we have a collection of more reviews, opinions and product write-ups in this issue. I hope you find it resourceful and if you have suggestions and insights that you’d like to share, please write to us via info@buildesign.co.ke Have a peaceful August! Wendy Kinya
LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS
Irene Wanjiku Director, REXE Roofing
Nyambura Nugi Interior Designer, Zidaka
Polycarp Bosire Civil Engineering Graduate
Samuel Kerongo Landscape Architect
Stephen Lutta, Architect & Travel Enhusiast
Bruce Mugola Landscape architect
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MAIN FEATURE
Merging the past with the presentSt. Andrews Turi
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haracterized by its residential scale, character and clustered development siting on expansive lush and well-manicured lawns, St. Andrews school has the feel of a small-town in the heart of Molo, Nakuru County. Blending into the rural setting in the highlands of Rift Valley, the school is organized around scattered single and double storey houses surrounded by the stunning views overlooking the rift across to the Aberdares and Mount Kenya. Easily identifiable on aerial view by the various roof colours, the preparatory school takes red, the
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junior school green and the senior school blue. Spread over a beautiful 450-acre piece of land, the school’s setup has not changed much over the years. The hand-built structures constructed by Italian Prisoners of War in 1933 are still standing, exuding a rich heritage that has been well preserved. In 2007, Planning Systems Services Ltd, Architects & Land-use Planners, were commissioned for development of the masterplan and architectural design for progressive expansion of the school to accommodate a senior school as well as reinforce and promote Turi’s status as a world class educational institution. The immediate project involved
MAIN FEATURE
Senior school built in 2013
Prep school as built in 1956 creating facilities to accommodate a Sixth Form college and increasing student capacity for accommodation, and teaching. The growth and development was to happen through a well thought-out long-term plan of up to 15 years, which would be reviewed periodically to consider emerging trends in education and accommodate any changes in needs of the school. The buildings were to tie into the history and culture of the school and its environment, with new and existing buildings co-existing harmoniously within a cohesive master-plan. In response, the architects developed a spread-out approach, clustering single storey buildings in line with the character of the existing buildings on site. “Strong elements as concerned materiality of woodwork, painting and traditional colonial European architecture, in keeping with the school’s original buildings were key requirements by the client,” explains Arch. Susan Makhulo, one of the Architects leading on the project. Taking advantage of the vast terrain, the new buildings are oriented to capture different views of the surrounding areas, as well as utilize passive ventilation
and natural light within the spaces. “The spatial planning has different responses to its use. For instance, the students’ accommodation distinguishes spaces between age groups and peer groups while providing common spaces to encourage interaction, development, and varying levels of interdependence and independence between different groups,” explains Debbie, the assistant architect on the project. The Architects at PLANNING who are highly involved in this project include Trevor J. Andrews, Director and Huzefa Attari, an associate Director in addition to Susan and Debbie. Design The school started from what was originally a farm house, and experienced organic growth hence the scattered arrangement of the buildings. Creating a well-defined heart of the senior school from which all areas and functions are accessible was a brief requirement, to give some sort of anchorage to the entire
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MAIN FEATURE
Central arrival point which serves as the heart of the senior school school. The symbolic heart of the school is a large Mugumo, or sycamore fig tree, revered as a sacred tree by local communities. This is the natural entrance for visitors and has the main administration building and functions of the school in proximity. “Through incorporating a focal point into the masterplan, we were able to give clarity and a formal approach for visitors moving through the development which assists in way-finding and prevents unauthorized persons from wandering about the school by restricting their movement,� explains Debbie. Three buildings were designed as statement buildings; the Sports Hall, the 6th Form Accommodation Complex 10
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(Tsavo House) and the Main Administration Building, combining, where possible, design cues from the existing buildings but bringing the overall appearance up to date. An external covered and secure circulation spine connects all seven buildings that form the 6th Form Accommodation Complex, and acts as the main organizing element for the same. Single storey houses for house parents are located at each end of the walkway, with a one-and-half volume common room at the centre, flanked by two student apartment modules on either side. The layout provides flexibility to provide additional student apartment
MAIN FEATURE
6th Form Long Elevations
6th form accomodation modules projected off the main circulation spine for future expansion. Every common area has a fireplace, which is the gathering place in the evenings. The 6th form accommodation is designed to give a greater feeling of independence for pre-university students, as compared to the rest of the students’ accommodation. Overall intention is to provide buildings at a scale that is friendly for all students ranging from early years to ‘A’ levels, and for staff members. The architects also wanted to create unobtrusive architecture which complements the natural setting of the campus. To ensure a seamless merging of the old and the new buildings, the scale of the new structures is uniform and as low as the existing buildings. All the structures sit on two levels, excepting the Sports Centre and that necessitated greater heights to ensure functionality. The 6th form common room is a 12m by 12m column-free space through the design and placement of glulam portal frames. Internally, there is extensive use of natural exposed timber in ceilings and roof structure. The barrel roof, is becoming a strong feature in the newer larger buildings such as the recently completed Sports Hall and the proposed Assembly Hall. The corrugated galvanized iron barrel vault roof spans over 30 meters on the curved roof structure over the Sports Hall. Single sheets spanning the width of the roof were produced and crimped on site in order to achieve a low-profile bend and avoid joints, thus reducing chances of roof leakages and failure.
Baden Powell Hall under construction in 1946
Internal look of the Baden Powell hall currently
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MAIN FEATURE
Sports complex Sustainability PLANNING’s ethos and approach to sustainability and conservation of both nature and historical buildings, are in sync with the school’s huge emphasis on the same - a majority of the school’s land is forested and a huge number of the buildings are historically relevant and worth preserving. “During both master-planning and layout design, our team worked towards preserving both the existing forest and historical buildings.” Explains Arch. Susan. Environmental friendliness has been well incorporated in the project with the use of mostly locally available building materials. Roofs are made of locally manufactured and affordable galvanized iron sheets, walls are built of local stone and concrete slab floors are finished in carpet, timber parquet, t&g boards and epoxy flooring in the Sports Hall. Ceilings are built of t&g and composite boards. “Working with locally available materials has greatly simplified the construction process especially since the school is located in a rural set up, and would be built by a local contractor. It also cut down on the transportation and logistics cost,” explains Arch. Debbie, and additionally ensures engagement with the local community
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During the day, the buildings require almost zero artificial lighting and mechanical ventilation through use of design strategies such as correct orientation of buildings and sizing of openings to allow maximum lighting. Use of stone which has a high thermal mass assists in ensuring the spaces are kept as warm as possible at night. Warm flooring materials add to the comfort and livability in the cold climate. Challenges Terrain of site was one of our design challenges. “It however enhanced our creativity in maximizing the available space and views to the client’s greatest advantage,” explains Arch. Susan. “The inclined site created opportunities for creation of interesting designs as well as utilization of space. The sports facility for instance is designed to merge the inclination with several exits.” The incline also made it possible to locate taller buildings on the lower reaches of the site without these blocking views of the smaller buildings above them as well as giving an overall effect of scaling down the taller buildings. Buildings such as the Sports Hall and the planned Assembly Hall have benefitted from this.
MAIN FEATURE
High school accomodation
The farm house where the school started Flexibility in terms of how the project was executed was another challenge, considering that the Architects’ offices are in Nairobi, an almost 3.5-hour drive from Turi. Luckily the client is very involved in their construction projects and very knowledgeable about what they wanted and how to execute the same. Together with the rest of the Project Team, we were able to develop a workable schedule during construction and ensure Quality Control and Assurance were always at the forefront. Collaboratively with the client we were able to identify a suitable local contractor to execute the works. Unifying the old and the new, integrating new functions and changing spatial needs in the education system into the existing older buildings was another interesting challenge. “The workmanship in the older buildigs was superb, especially in execution of stone-work details, converting these and marrying the new projects with them, while conserving their beauty and historical charm created opportunities for great creativity.” Explains Arch. Susan. Unifying the various building typologies aesthetically and proportionally yet making them distinct in function: educational, residential, student accommodation, and the sports facility (the largest building in height and footprint) was an interesting challenge which we were able to tackle
successfully. Mabati can be a challenging roofing material to work with in terms of both thermal and sound insulation. We continue to explore ways in which the execution and use of this especially in the larger buildings can be enhanced to ensure proper insulation of this highly affordable and beautiful material. The built area of the school stands at about 7,100 sqm. Over 10 additional buildings have been built to date including, classrooms, an indoor sports facility, dormitories, and staff houses, together with extensions to and renovations of buildings that already existed on site. Construction began in the year 2008 and is still ongoing. The approximate cost for the complete project is Kshs. 400 Million spread over a number of years. Project Data Client
St. Andrew’s School Turi
Architect
Planning Systems Services Ltd.
Main Contractor
Waruhiu Construction
QS + Project/Construction Managers
Mentor Management Ltd.
Structural Engineer
Metrix Integrated Consultancy
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THE ROOF DIARY
You don’t just hire a roofing company, you hire a long term relationship Irene Wanjiku
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ongratulations! Your project is now at the roofing stage and you are excited that soon you will have a roof over your head! Although you might feel like you have spent a fortune on the project, this is not the time to make compromises, because the consequences of a bad roof will last a lifetime and it will be more costly. To assist you, here are some important factors to consider when choosing a roofing company: • Expertise and experience before price Do not settle on a roofing company by simply looking over various price estimates and picking the lowest. Remember that a roof contractor that charges so little will try to take shortcuts on workmanship and use inferior products. This will shorten the lifespan of your roof and cost you more in the long run in repairs and replacements. Keep in mind that if the price sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Spend some time interrogating various roofing companies on their work ethics, processes and certifications. An experienced roofing company should be well conversant with several roofing products their pros and cons as well as current trends and installation methods. • Written contracts Ensure that the roofing company is willing to give you a written estimate and contract. This will enable you to hold the contractor liable during the roof construction period. The
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written contract should clearly indicate the product to be used, the guarantees applicable and the payment schedules. In case of a dispute, a written contract will always win the day. • References Referrals are a good indicator of a contractor’s capabilities. Ask your contractor for referrals and read their online reviews from past and existing customers. Review photos of their completed projects and ask them to take you to existing projects that they have completed. A professional roofing company will be able to supply you with different kinds of references to assure you of their competence. • Insurance and compliance A professional roofing company should have the relevant insurance for the type of work they are carrying out as well as licenses as required by the local authorities. A PIN number, address, location and website will also help you ascertain that the company is legitimate and they are not set out to disappear. In the upcoming issue of BUILDesign magazine, we shall discuss water harvesting matters in relation to your type of roof. The author is a roofing specialist and the Managing Director of Rexe Roofing Products Ltd most commonly known as ‘The Roofing Queen’. She can be reached via www.rexeroofing.com
Our Contacts: Menelik lane, Naivasha, hwa road 0786 195899 Tel: 254-20-2138191 Cell: 0704 646 664 / 0731 068 184
Eldoret, 0738 597660
Kitengela, 0733 965520
SPECIAL FEATURE
What does luxury high-end furniture mean to you?
Daisy Muyembe
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hen we hear or read the word ‘luxury’ the first and usually, only thought that comes to mind is expensive. Luxury belongs to those ephemeral terms such as happiness, beauty, style, which are quite difficult to explain and even more difficult to define. Yes, luxury is synonymous with expensive. Yes, luxury does mean costly. But…not for nothing. There’s the added and, in my opinion, more important aspect of quality, uniqueness and craftmanship that is luxury furniture. Of course, to understand what luxury furniture is, one has to understand what furniture is to begin with. We take for granted that furniture is just…well, furniture. We rarely think about the amount of time we spend around furniture. From your office furniture to the street furniture you hardly even notice. We don’t think about it because, for most of us, the design of the furniture doesn’t get in the way of our day to day
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activities. Furniture becomes part of our daily functionality at home and at the workplace. Furniture is more than just the couch in your sitting room or a desk in your office. Furniture is that object in a space that provides or supplies the function to the use of the room. The streetscape use street furniture to provide the added function of pedestrian leisure, the kitchen use countertops to aid in the function of cooking, the office space use the workstation to aid the function of work. Therefore, furniture is an object in a room which will give its function or its purpose. Furniture design on the other hand extends far beyond the definition in the dictionary of what furniture is. It encompasses elements of social sciences, the science of ergonomics and elements of humanities. Furniture design is an applied art and necessitates the exploration of materiality and fabrication techniques. So, what is luxury anyway? Another word we hear and read about nearly every day in the newspapers and magazines but we rarely ever think about what it
SPECIAL FEATURE
really means. Yes, you know its definition but really, what does it mean? The typical definition of luxury in the dictionary is ‘great comfort, especially as provided by expensive and beautiful things’. And typical definition of luxury products are products/services that are not necessary but which tend to make life more pleasant for the consumer. In contrast with necessity goods, luxury goods are typically costlier and are often bought by individuals that have a higher disposable income or greater accumulated wealth than the average, that product or service that one would consider an indulgence rather than a necessity. With time, the concept of luxury has somehow changed. It is still associated with indulgence but with a perception of that which appears to be the best of whatever it represents. Yet another perception would be any product or service with a very high attention to the detail, meticulous workmanship, sumptuous atmosphere and discerning good taste. The essential ingredients of the said product/service could be listed as say its rarity, the level of detailed crafting, the high quality of raw material and process of crafting, and of course the brand of said furniture. Luxury can also be defined as the consistent superior quality of a product with an element of uniqueness and exclusivity. An everlasting experience of excellent service and function to the user from the begining of use and lasting even after the use of said product or service has ended. Luxury is enjoying the best of what life has to offer. Therefore, luxury furniture is furniture made by highly skilled craftsmen, with a zero margin for error, using the very best of materials. These craftsmen go to great lengths to give you the best quality of products. Their leather may be painstakingly difficult to find and to produce, and their wood may be rarest of all, but they will get it, and transform it into a fashionable modern (or vintage) piece of art that is the luxury furniture. This also means that true luxury furniture comes in small quantities, because you cannot mass-manufacture it. It would not be luxury, if it was. It would just be your pedestrian product. Luxury furniture is the very best of what the furniture industry/designer has to offer and which the user highly appreciates its form, function, craftsmanship and quality of material from perception of the product to long after the use of the product. The use of luxury furniture boils down to the experience of the user. If earlier people tended to buy tangible “status” things to demonstrate their wealth, today they prefer to buy unique experiences. In interior design, people want to experience luxury in their spaces, whether it is a spa boutique in their bathroom or a home cinema system. The design process has also changed according to this trend as clients would expect it to become an experience as well. They don’t want only to see samples of wallpaper and paint, they want to see their future house, to feel it and to experience it. That is the reason why 3D visualization has become a compulsory element if a design presentation is to be successful. At the end of the design process, the use of luxury furniture is comfortable and wonderful to experience. Upholstered furniture for instance, is craft fully made with luxurious down-filled cushions. The user wants to experience luxurious comfort as well as superb style with luxury furniture. Form and function meet nearly at the center. What one needs to understand is the basis of
any luxury product or brand rather than just furniture. The world of luxury furniture is diverse and wide but they all have the same underlying principles of uniqueness and high quality. This means that luxury furniture is more enduring than your run of the mill furniture that falls apart after short period of use. The excellent standards of luxury furniture ensure you not only have a beautiful, stylish purchase for your space, but a great investment in the long run because it requires low maintenance and is durable. Its value also will not depreciate with time especially if it is a vintage collectible. Luxury furniture can also be custom made to fit your space which means you have a room whose space is designed to its optimum functionality. There are high standards for furniture design, and in fact design for humans in general where functionality and safety are key. Luxury high end furniture always fulfills all of these standards so your purchase always guarantees you attain the highest satisfaction immediately and for long term. In summary, luxury high end furniture offers supreme comfort, the most unique designs, the best amazing styles, the highest functionality and high satisfactory usability that is unattainable elsewhere. The cherry on top of the cake is the enduring, long-lasting materiality and quality that comes with it. The author is an assistant architect at Dynarch Building Systems.
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Facility Solutions
A-Z ADVANCED KITCHEN AND LAUNDRYSOLUTIONS
Principles Of Commercial Kitchen Design Cooking can be an inspiring, romantic process. Creating food for yourself or friends at home is a wonderful experience, often without timelines or pressure.
Most of the time, cooking in a professional kitchen is the opposite. Preparing food in a commercial kitchen can be stressful and chaotic. Paying guests are waiting, and they want to be wowed. Whether a classic burger joint, specialty restaurant ,pizzeria shop, every professional kitchen should be about producing great food quickly in a clean environment, streamlining the processes from prep to plating, and minimizing waste. It involves much more than a domestic kitchen and requires expert consultation from design, to supply of equipment, installation and after sales service of equipment.
What’s AppropriateFor You? Good question. To answer it, you need to consider the purpose of your establishment. What are you passionate about and what are you trying to do? Are you a burger joint looking to pump out meals as quickly as possible? Per-
haps you are a 5-star restaurant specializing in Mediterranean cuisine? What about a college or university dining hall trying to feed thousands of students every day? Whatever the answer, your kitchen needs will be unique. The success of your establishment depends on the success of your kitchen, so consider this question carefully before moving on. The last thing you want is having to prepare an elegant meal on a shabby hotplate because you didn't take the time to think about the purpose of your kitchen.
You've decided what the purpose of your kitchen is, so where do you start? The first step is to familiarize yourself with these commercial kitchen design ideas. Regardless of what type of foodservice establishment you have, there are several objectives for designing a kitchen properly.
Com
Your kitchen needs to maximize:
•Flexibility and Modularity •Flow of Materials and Personnel •Ease of Sanitation •Ease of Supervision •Space Efficiency •Energy use •Safety
Sheffield Africa In Numbers Number of concepts Over 30 concepts to choose Number of product segments Over 50 product segments Number of brands represented Over 50 international brands Number of kitchen installations 7,000 and counting Number of staff Over 200 across East Africa
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Coff
Commercial Laundry Equipment
Combined Cooker
Buffet
Sheffield’s Management Team
Pastry Shops
Ventillation Hoods
Coffee Shops
Cold & Freezer Rooms
Sheffield is an “End to End” solution provider offering technologically advanced products and services from Design to Manufacturing to Installation and After Sales Services .Sheffield has taken a step ahead to also undertake civil works, MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) installations, interior fit outs, what separates Sheffield from its peers is the Intense Training Programs for internal and external customers on products, operations and maintenance which are mostly carried out at the Sheffield Academy or on site . Sheffield has a Strong Design DNA that incorporates efficiency, safely and hygienic equipment layouts. Here are some advantages of using Sheffield: 1.Sheffield is “ One Stop Shop” for all services in food solutions and equipment 2.Sheffield is a family of World Renowned Companies offering the Best and Time Tested cutting edge technologies 3High Client Satisfaction. Sheffield has done Over 7,000 Kitchen Installations In Africa and the Best Kitchens Of East Africa Are Products of Sheffield 4.Sheffield offers the Longest Guarantee for its products: Structural 10 Years, Moving Parts 2 Years, Gas- 2years. 5.Sheffield offers Annual Maintenance Contracts. We have a team of service engineers and technicians most of whom have been trained abroad by the best in the industry 6.Sheffield is the only company in its industry that has its Quality Management Systems audited by Bureau Veritas for 1SO 9001:2008 7.Sheffield is the only company in the food beverage equipment that is a Superbrand and in the Top 100 SME Category having emerged number 19 in 2016 8.Sheffield has a Fully Equipped Experience Center that offers training and demonstrations for most of its equipment. Get in touch with us for expert advice and support!
SHEFFIELD STEEL SYSTEMS LIMITED
OFF OLD MOMBASA ROAD, NEAR SGR NAIROBI TERMINUS SALES: +254 713 7771 11 +254 722524655 P.O. BOX 29-00606,NAIROBI.KENYA md@sheffieldafrica.com,info@sheffieldafrica.com
www.sheffieldafrica.com
ARCHITECT PROFILE
Leadership by design Architect Phillip Kungu
F
rom the Common Wealth Association of Architects to the International Union of Architects, Architect Phillip Kungu has chaired numerous Boards, Juries and Associations within the built environment and beyond. If you hang around him long enough, you’ll hear him fondly referred to as Mr. Chairman.
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It is a name that has commanded its innate growth due to his outstanding devotion to public service with dedication and total commitment. “I’ve dedicated my life to making a difference in the world and the places where I live. It is what propelled me into leadership from a very tender age.” He confirms. A trained Architect with over 30 years’ experience in the practice, Phillip has deep held values towards public service and the greater good in society.
ARCHITECT PROFILE
Born and bred in Nairobi, the 60 year old Architect received all his education in the city. “I grew up in Nairobi. It is where I went to Primary and Secondary schools as well as University. It is also where I work from. I’ve lived in this city my entire life and this is why I’m very passionate about its welfare and development.” The current Nairobi City County Public Service Board Chair explains. Education & Childhood Phillip Kungu was born and brought up in Kenya’s Capital City, Nairobi in the late 50’s. He had a normal childhood and upbringing of peasant parents but who placed a high premium in education as the gateway to success in life. The family was privileged to live in Nairobi because his father worked for a European Hospital. His mother was allowed to live in the city courtesy of a ‘Kipande’ (pass) issued to her because her husband was employed by the colonialist. She would otherwise have never been allowed to live in the city. Phillip was born at Pumwani Maternity Hospital, attended Mbagathi Road Primary (King George VIII) and Upper Hill (Delemare Boys) Schools before proceeding to Cardinal Otunga High School in Kisii. “My parents were very committed to our education given that theirs had been modest and therefore denied them many opportunities in life” he notes. From a very young age, Phillip was very clear about the things he wanted to do in life. He was fascinated by aeroplanes in his childhood days and therefore harboured the dream of becoming a pilot. The fascination would later be replaced by ambitions to become a lawyer through the influence of his cousin, an outstanding legal scholar, the late Prof. H.W.O. Okoth-Ogendo. This has since been achieved through is daughter. His journey into the Architectural profession began in earnest in high school. Highly gifted in arts as well as sciences, Phillip was quickly identified by one of his teachers in high school as a student with great potential for the Architectural profession and advised him to pursue it. Upon passing his High School examinations, he was admitted to the University of Nairobi in 1977 to study Architecture. This was a great achievement in itself as it was one of the most competitive professional courses offered then. “Although I had great interest in Law and other things, I chose to pursue Architecture and I have no regret in the choice I made” Kungu says. “My education at the university largely influenced the person I am today. I was exposed to different people drawn from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Most of the values I hold today were solidified during my college days in addition to my parents’ strong values and work ethic, inspite of their humble backgrounds. Phillip was to later pursue a Masters Degree in Architecture & Urban Design at the Helsinki University of Technology, Finland. Post Graduate studies in Architecture were rare and hard to come by in those days. The exposure to both local and international learning environments was very enriching. “I received a very good education.” Phillip reminisces. Encounter with Architecture – The early days During his second year academic break at the University of Nairobi, Phillip had a chance of working with Buildings Department of the then Kenya Post and Telecommunications Corporations. “I thank Dr. Reuben Mutiso who was then the Chief Architect for the opportunity. He was instrumental in developing and mentoring many young architects, myself
included.” he notes. An avid learner, Phillip involved himself with not only design but construction, planning and other aspects of the projects learning from anyone and everyone “You have to be humble and allow yourself to learn.” He advises. Phillip also worked with Waweru & Associates during his 3rd year academic break and worked on the planning of Moi National Sports Complex at Kasarani. Upon graduating, he worked with several other practices as part of his apprenticeship including, AJ Odera & Associates, JD Nyaseme & Associates and the Architectural Department of the Ministry of Public Works. Around the same time, he was awarded a scholarship for a Masters Degree course at the Helsinki University of Technology in Finland. The scholarship was rare and came with a difficult choice of either continuing with a career in Government service or resignation for greater opportunities and promise of the future. Phillip chose the latter and never looked back as his life was to prove later on. A great scholar, Phillip was determined to pursue further studies not just for personal growth and development but so as to contribute to the academic world with the knowledge that he had acquired. Phillip returned to Kenya in 1986 and joined the Department of Architecture, University of Nairobi as a Lecturer. “Armed with my Masters knowledge and experience, I felt a deep desire to pass on what I had learnt to those who would come after me. It was a deliberate choice and the greatest motivating factor in this decision. Coming back to the university to teach and make my contribution was part of my plan all along.” Kungu asserts. Most of the students Phillip taught are among the leading professionals in the industry and public life today. To name but a few; the Public Works PS, Arch. Mariamu El Maawy, NCA Executive Director, Arch. Daniel Manduku, NCA Chairperson, Arch. Steve Oundo and UoN Architecture Department Chair, Arch. Kimeu Musau, Arch. Erastus Abonyo among many others. “It’s humbling and very gratifying to see that most of the men and women who passed through my hands have made great achievements to this country and the profession. Some way better than myself and they still call me Mwalimu.” Phillip says with a chuckle. You have to make society better than you found it and one way to do that is through education. Education, according to Phillip, has no value if it doesn’t improve one as a person, their character and perception of life. Practice After 10 years of teaching at the University of Nairobi, Phillip together with his long term friend and colleague, Architect Nelson Otieno, decided to found their own practice, Otieno & Kungu Associates, in the year 1990. “I felt I had made my contribution to the academic world and it was time to move on to new challenges, all in line with the original plan. It was a difficult but necessary decision. I was leaving something I loved and enjoyed immensely but also was itching for the unchartered waters of professional practice to hopefully make a similar contribution.” He explains. From a very humble beginning with a combined meagre capital of KES 10,000/- and borrowed furniture, Otieno and Kungu Associates was formed. Nelson and Phillip shared one vision of building a good Architectural practice that would give quality service and designs to a discerning clientele. The rest as they say, is history.
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ARCHITECT PROFILE
“Besides the fact that we’re both Architects, Nelson and I share very similar values and perspectives of life. We both lead fairly simple and uncomplicated lives by choice. To this day, we have never have had any major differences or a fall out. In fact, we’ve never had financial conflicts as is sometimes the case in some businesses.” Kungu notes. “It is also a complementary relationship that was painstakingly built over a long period of time. We bring different strengths to the partnership.” He adds. The many positions of leadership that he has held, Phillip is used to working in high pressure environments with strict delivery timelines. He is also very detailed, meticulous and pays great attention to details. This often requires quick thinking and decisiveness in one’s actions. Nelson on the other hand, is calm and very patient, an attribute that is difficult to find in this fastmoving world of today. O & K Associates, as their firm is affectionately known, today boasts of many projects mostly in Kenya and a few more in neighbouring Tanzania and South Sudan. Most of their firm’s projects include hotels, residential apartments, housing, offices and mixed-use developments for mostly private clients. They have also undertaken many interior design and Project Management jobs. Their most significant project to date is the new Tourism Fund Office Block along Valley Road in Nairobi. “It was clear from the beginning on the kind of firm that we intended to run. We wanted a medium office with great emphasis on the quality of service we offer our clients, and not a huge enterprise.” Phillip clarifies. “We’re happy to do what we love and offer our clients personalised attention. We have remained true to this objective and believe our clients have derived satisfaction from our service” He adds. Their busy schedules outside the practice have also influenced this arrangement. “I travel a lot due to my Public Service duties; accreditation, study visits, conferences and workshops.” I am still on the CAA panel of experts who conduct validation Visits to Schools of Architecture in Africa” he explains. Phillip has visited many schools in West and South Africa on such missions over the last two decades. Another important ingredient of the practice is apprenticeship and mentoring of young Architects whether during their studies or soon after graduation. This is a commitment that O & K that has carried out with unprecedented dedication since its founding. “Most of my students have worked in my office before setting out to pursue their own careers. We have a very good team of young employees who we mentor and work with. We let them figure and explore themselves which makes me very happy. Their success and personal achievements is a living testimony that we have not labored in vain. I applaud them. For me, that’s the greatest contribution that I have made to the profession – to see young people grow out of a very humble and small office to men and women of great service to the profession and nation.” He asserts. Professional life, development & leadership “I’m driven by the ambition to succeed, never the fear of failure.” Phillip shares, adding that good balance in life and strong positive values remain primary sources of his inspiration. By virtue of mentorship and training, most of his university lecturers and early employers continue to inspire his work ethic to date; the late Prof. Kurula Varkey, Architect Jim Archer, who instilled a strong will in him to pursue Architecture to the end no matter the odds, Prof. Eric Meffert and Bruce Krieger - his 5th year personal tutor are among his teachers whom he greatly admires. The late Prof. Arne Nevalinna who made it possible for
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him to pursue his Masters in Finland. “I’m deeply indebted to Arch. Phillip Sika who held my hand when I joined the Ministry of Works as an Assistant Architect and taught me everything I learnt about project contracts administration and building construction.” Kungu adds. More closely, Phillip associates his strict work ethic and strong personal values with his father, who raised them to deeply value and appreciate discipline and education as the gateway to success in life. Phillip is also inspired by other great personalities in history whose contributions have had lasting impact on his thinking and worldview. These include Mahtma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and Malcom X among others. One may be tempted to ask “where does he get the time to do all this? “I live a much fulfilled life; I go to church, I play golf and I spend time with my family. I’ve learnt that the only thing that stands between you and all these is time. I am a stickler for keeping time. I ensure that my time is very well planned in my daily routine. It has become a way of life for me so that there is a very good balance between my practice, public service office and my family.” An overly busy schedule has helped Phillip to adapt a very organized lifestyle. “To develop a great work ethic, you have to stay focused. I also tend to enjoy a little bit of everything bringing the necessary balance that everyone is looking for. Any failures I have encountered only reminds me that after all, I’m only human. ” He says. Architect Kungu’s professional life has followed the normal script of many before him but what distinguishes it from the rest, is his unending desire to make a difference in everything that he does or people he meets. This has also been complimented by rare opportunities to fulfill this ambition. This can be explained by the old adage that” the teacher will appear when the student is ready” In the Architectural Association of Kenya, Phillip took a keen and early interest in professional practice matters and served in many taskforces committees and boards of the Association. His exceptional organizational skills saw him host a very successful international conference for the Commonwealth Association of Architects in 1997 in Mombasa, Kenya. This event brought international speakers, academicians and professional Architects from all corners of the world. This would prove to be a turning point in his life as an Architect and involvement with CAA in particular. As a Governing Council Member of the Architectural Association of Kenya, Phillip also spearheaded a taskforce to review the structure and membership of the Architectural Association of Kenya and how it could respond to the clamour for change and transformation without causing rifts and internal divisions among its members. The taskforce was fondly referred to as the ‘Kungu Commission’. Its report led to significant reforms that has seen unprecedented growth and development of AAK ,positioning it as an important voice and vehicle for the professionals in engagement with the authorities, building industry both locally and in the East African Region. Architect Kungu’s talent, organizational ability and dedication to the profession saw him play many leading roles from being a Jury Member in many international and local Architectural Competitions, Validation Visits to many Schools of Architecture in the continent, Advisor to many Government Parastatals and Speaker at many conferences, workshops and seminars. This would later help him build a wide network of individuals and organisations, acquire necessary leadership skills that would see him rise to become the 13th President of the
ARCHITECT PROFILE
Commonwealth Association of Architects between 2000 – 2003 and only the second black man from Africa to do so. This again, would prove to be very challenging as it was at the same time that the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and their counterparts in Australia (RAIA) were reviewing their continued membership of CAA in preference to their own internal interests. This was going to have far reaching implications on plans and programs and threatened to tear CAA apart. Architect Kungu with the support of other members mainly drawn from Africa and Asia were able to steer the ship through the troubled waters and both organisations remained as members and are still very active to date. “This was perhaps the most challenging moment in my life as a leader” Phillip recalls. This and many similar undertakings would earn him great admiration and respect culminating in him being bestowed the great honour of Fellow of the Architectural Association of Kenya (FAAK) in 2000 amongst four other colleagues. This was in recognition of his outstanding service and contribution to the Architectural Profession in Kenya and “to date remains my most treasured achievement”. Architect Kungu was among the Founder Members of this new category of Membership in AAK. Several others have since been conferred with the same recognition. Significantly, Phillip was also a recipient of the US Government International Visitor Program Award in the year 2000 courtesy of a nomination by the US Embassy Kenya. The award is given based on exemplary performance and significant contribution, as an opinion shaper and leadership influencer in their field of endeavour and his case it was the Architectural profession. This included a 4-week tour of universities, State Departments, World Bank, American Institute of Architects (AIA) many professional organizations and business enterprises in the US. Architect Kungu, with this award, became an international Alumni of previous recipients that included former President Daniel Arap Moi who received the same award during his time as the Vice- President of Kenya. Phillip, despite many other commitments and busy schedules, is currently serving as a Trustee of the East African Institute of Architects and whose main objective is the furtherance and development of students of Architecture in the region by supporting them in many programmes and initiatives. All the above experiences have greatly influence and shaped Phillip’s view and perception of not only his profession but of life and the world too. This explains the friendship, respect and huge network of friends and colleagues of his to be found literally in every corner of this globe until today. Public service and leadership “The issue of leadership is important because even as a country, we can only grow and transform society through the right leadership and values. Leadership cannot be seen in the narrow prism of only politics and business but the qualities of a better society. We need men and women of strong convictions and character and integrity that can change and transform society for the better. The ‘self’ in all of us needs to take a back seat in order to aspire for higher ideals. Leadership is a challenging journey with many twists and turns.” Kungu states. “Willingness and the ability to serve is what allows for leadership to grow in an individual.” He adds. A born leader, Phillip has served in countless positions in his life. He has served as Chairman Muthaiga Golf Club, former acting Chair of the Interim Oversight Board for the Nairobi City Council from the year 2000 - 2003. He has also served as
former Chair of the Practice Committee of the Commonwealth Association of Architects, and International Union of Architects (UIA) Council Member AAK, Competitions Jury member, former acting Chairman of the Department of Architecture at the University of Nairobi. He has also served as Secretary of a leading football club in addition to being Chairman and Committee member of many non-governmental and CBOs among many others. The servant leader is currently the Chairperson of the Nairobi City County Public Service Board and also Chairman of the Forum that brings together all the 47 County Public Service Boards in Kenya. Phillip was appointed to the position in the year 2013 vide the new Constitution of Kenya 2010 that saw the creation of County Governments. “Although my role as the Chair of the Board is to provide Strategic Leadership and Vision, I’ve applied myself to the task by learning about Human Resource Management through books, workshops and seminars.” Phillip explains. Highlights of his tenure so far, which ends in 2019, to include setting of systems and structures in place for a cohesive Human Resource function in Nairobi City County against a backdrop of over 40 years of neglect, weak or no systems at all. This has been very challenging. “I’m glad that so far we’ve set the right foundation and by the time we leave we’ll have a fully streamlined system. As a board, we’re very committed to National Values and Principles as enshrined in our new Constitution which requires regional representation, fairness and justice, gender balance and the rights of the marginalized, minorities and handicapped persons in employment opportunities. I’m glad to have this opportunity to make a difference in Nairobi the city in which I was born and brought up.” He adds. A great philanthropist, Phillip is a member of several charitable and community welfare organizations. On a personal level, he has supported special educational and medical projects for a number of deserving cases. “I have educated several orphans. “My God is rich and I am generous” he quips! The building industry – Where is it Headed? “The profession has grown in leaps and bounds in terms of quality and standards; we have highly skilled local professionals both in the private and public sector as well as academics. The demand of Architectural services has also increased and diversified now that we have specialization. The Schools of Architecture have also grown in number producing more Architects than ever before. The industry has similarly experienced great growth and development. Changes in our government systems and relationships with development partners has seen entry of new players in the industry with amazing capacity and influence to take on jobs of unprecedented complexities and size. As we celebrate 50 years of the Architectural Association of Kenya, it is important to note that growth should also be well managed in order to serve the purpose and objectives that we still hope to achieve in the future. Moving forward, we need a more enabling business environment. We have to leverage technology to do business bigger, better and more efficiently. Our government should negotiate more favorable trading conditions with other countries for more efficient relationships with foreign consultants. The right constitutional and political framework must also exist so that people can pursue their dreams professionally. The right regulatory framework must also exist to encourage innovation and enable practices to thrive. It must also demand very high
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ARCHITECT PROFILE
standards of practice and ethics so that there is no room for mediocrity or want in professional service delivery. We must not agree to be treated as junior partners in projects but assert ourselves through exemplary work and professionalism in our projects. We’re qualified consultants and our involvement in projects should not be a token but based on our ability and capacity to handle such work. Despite all the political, economic and social challenges we face as a nation, we must raise our game in areas of good governance, integrity, and efficient service delivery to remain relevant in an ever increasingly competitive world. Everyone is competing everywhere with everybody for everything. That’s today’s world. The world of the future will be looking for multiskilled persons performing multi-tasks. We must re-invent ourselves if we are to survive.” Phillip implores. On future plans and advice “As for the firm, we hope that the name ‘Otieno & Kungu’ will outlast us. It is our hope that those who will inherit this partnership will still subscribe to the values as we hold. On a personal level, when I leave the practice, I want to pursue things in life that I never had a chance to do. Things that are more fulfilling and will bring joy to the soul. The only thing that is left
when you have forgotten everything you have learned in life is education. I’ll still serve in different levels, mostly by writing books to share my stories and life experiences. If everything else were to be taken from me, the only thing I would be left with would be the experience and wisdom I’ve acquired in life. I can assure you I will have plenty of that.” He summarizes. We all live in pursuit of happiness and personal fulfilment. We search far and wide. It comes in many ways and forms as you go through life. True happiness and joy can only be achieved when the soul is at peace with itself and its Maker. “Whatever you do in life always seek the greater good. Be well grounded spiritually. A closer relationship with our Maker and fellow man is the ultimate fulfillment. Seek peace with God, fellow man and the world also. As a strong believer in the Christian faith, I have drawn great inspiration and strength in my leadership roles from the story of Prophet Moses in the Bible. I strongly believe that things don’t happen by chance, it is always for the Greater Good and purpose. We only have to find it in this wonderful journey called life.” Phillip concludes. Phillip is a husband to a wife and father to a son who is a Public Policy Analyst and a daughter who is a Lawyer. He continues to live and work in Nairobi City where he was born, brought up and educated.
Tourism Fund office block
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INTERIORS
Ultimate guide to interior design styles - cottages Nyambura Nugi
W
hen we think of cottage, we think of that quiet, serene house in the woods (Little Red Ridding Hood) with a deck where we enjoy our breakfast in morning and a drink in the evening as we watch the sunset. Cottages are either built for personal family use or commercial holiday homes; away from busy town life, break away resorts and/or as a recreation facility with accommodation facilities as well as outdoor activities like bush trekking, team building and water recreation entities among others. In the recent past, there has been a lot of talk in the development market of people building up cottages either in the coastal area, up country individual farms or the national park areas. It is therefore of interest to discuss about the interiors of these spaces to capture the interest of that person who is all set to build a holiday cottage. From the onset, we are advantaged that we live in the 26
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tropic countries and we enjoy great weather throught out the year. From the design technical speaking, cottage style isn’t really a style since cottage space is particularly designed for easy living. After all, a cottage is meant to be an easy structure (s), to be lived in, to be enjoyed, and is usually the recipient of all the cast-offs from the real home. Having said that, Cottage furnishings and accessorites have grown in popularity in recent years. In Cottage Style, a medly of furniture and furnishings and accessories will each fit in place to individualy make a personal statement. Furniture The furniture in a Cottage Style home is often recycled, bargain purchased from a second hand store, garage and closing down sales or collected from the family rejects. Nothing really needs to match -- and it shouldn’t -- yet the overall effect is charming, appealing and comfortable. Any furniture or accessory found can be painted or recovered to help it fit into your scheme. Reuse Vintage Items In Cottage decor, pieces are often adapted from one use to another. For example, a bench might serve as a coffee table,
INTERIORS
an old kitchen cupboard can hide towels in a bathroom, or a kitchen table might become a desk. You might also reuse a section of old wooden or iron fence to serve as a headboard. To fit into the scheme, the piece just needs to look old and loved with signs of wear-and-tear. Flooring Floors in Cottage Style homes are often informal and even imperfect. Bare wood floors are a good option. New wood can be made to look old and painted floors can have patterns stenciled on, either to add interest or define areas. Raw planks can be covered with vintage braided throw rugs. Covering any type of flooring with vintage area rugs is another way to get the cottage look. Window Treatments Since Cottage Style homes are informal, windows should look light and airy. Consider lace instead of heavy drapes or sheers instead of opaque panels. For privacy, if you need it, pick simple shades that can hide away during the day. When privacy is not an issue the windows can be left bare. Valances can be sewn in fabric or made of grapevines. Swags of lace will help add a softer look. Fabrics Cottage decor usually calls for a mix of fabrics used for slipcovers, upholstery, curtains, draperies, table skirts, pillows and more. Coordinate a variety of prints like florals, stripes, checks and plaids for a collected look. Slipcovered furniture is also very popular in a cottage look, offering relaxed and easily updated furnishings. Throws for snuggling under can be tossed anywhere. Color and Pattern While there can be many colors and patterns in a cottage style setting, it’s good to have a unifying theme. Africa Cottage suggests burned oranges, pale yellows, beige hues and greens in floral prints. This rustic style with twig or rough-hewn wood furniture works well with forest raw woods and materials that have been aged. For a Cottage Style home near the shore, try beachy colors of soft blues and sandy beiges with lots of white. Patriotic or faded color schemes also fit well in these casual homes. Accessories Any odd thing can serve as an accessory in a Cottage Style home, so be on the lookout wherever you go. Charming plates, old hats, musical instruments, interesting frames and heirloom samplers become the center of attention in a comfortable cottage room. Antique shops, tag sales, grandma’s attic, and flea markets all reveal a treasure trove of items both useful and decorative. Lighting Collectibles can easily be adapted into lighting fixtures by installing inexpensive lamp parts. Turn an old jug, vase, or tin into a one-of-a-kind lamp. Not sure you want to tackle wiring a lamp? Take a vintage piece to a lamp store where you have it adapted to your need for minimal expense. The more unusual your item, the more fun you’ll have looking at it when it’s electrified with a cute shade. So, if you plan to build a cottage, begin collecting cleaning and repainting your pieces now of your favorite style of hand-me-downs and treasures to create a unique version
of cottage for your own home. They will be a great reward when your funky, comfy personalised and uniquely you cottage is complete in a few months to watch the Africa sunset ! The author is the head designer at Zidaka Interiors. She can be reached via sales@zidakainteriors.co.ke
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OPINION
Towards productive landscapes Bruce Mugola minds of many people when they hear of landscape architecture. The practice should be geared towards designing to conserve for all rather than designing for sale, to appeal to a few potential clients who have the money. The theoretical fundamentals of landscape architecture as a profession are anchored on a pro-nature, eco-friendly and humanistic approach. The landscape is the background whereby all things exist. As landscape architects, we have an obligation to save the environment (nature). We’re indebted to mother nature, a sentiment I believe is shared by most of my colleagues if not all. Although we have to work within urban development which mostly involves destruction or manipulation of the environment, our idealistic duty is to conserve and preserve the environment through design. More and more people are beginning to familiarize with landscape architects in the field and the role they play. There are more and more companies offering the services, more and more graduates practicing independently. Even forays have been made and continue to be made for more legal recognition.
F
or a longtime, landscape architecture in Kenya has mainly been the business of designing for the wealthy. The front and backyard gardens of mansions, residential gardens of gated communities, outdoor and indoor spaces of resorts, golf courses‌.. to name but a few. As a practice, we seem to neglect the productivity of landscapes. Productive in the sense that these are landscapes that serve the people; permaculture gardens, design of public plazas, public parks, conservation and restoration of riparian reserves and water fronts in urban areas and even designing for the less privileged in the society. There seems to be a collective apathy by landscape architects towards such projects. Majority cite factors such as a lack of social-political and even economic goodwill from the government and people in general. As a society which is inundated with immediate results, people seem to fail to see the beneficial results of the environmental design which most of the time focus on the long term. On the other hand government seems to function on the basis of public appeal, and in this case the masses always win. This cycle functions as a self-feeding Malthusian loop in which the environment is at the short end of the stick. My dream as a designer and a landscape architect has always been to create landscapes and elements that not only shape a generation but also define an age in which a generation existed in order for it to shape its own future. Not just lush manicured gardens which is what comes to the
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The future of the practice No practice has ever grown with ease. A practice grows through resistance and countless failed attempts. Architecture is an example of a practice that has proved through history to thrive against the winds of change and challenges and evolve to provide new products and design solutions that are more resilient and sustainable in a given era. Landscape architecture should learn from its older brother. For us the landscape architects, the future has never been so bright and at the same time so dim. The dim future will see landscape architects continue with the trend of the last decade, of creating consumerist landscapes for the few with a lot of money. The over emphasis on aesthetical appeal and not function has made this manicured residential gardens unsustainable in every sense of the word. They lead to large transference of plant species and the lawns require a lot of watering just to sustain them. The recent water shortage in Nairobi should sound as a warning bell to this practice. As a practice, we are responsible for our output, we are responsible for what we put out there to be consumed. Therefore, if the first image that comes to mind when people think of our practice is manicured residential gardens then we will have failed terribly. We need to challenge the existing wave of consumerist landscapes and come up with productive landscapes and design solutions that serve the people (the commons) and not just individuals. That is how recognition and prominence is borne. The author is a landscape architect who writes analytical and innovative pieces on African architectural context. He is also the founder of archandblog.wordpress.com
TECHNOLOGY
Are we really tech savvy?
I
’m currently involved in an industrial type project that’s due completion. Leading up to where we are today, we’ve had to deal with a several issues on site. While connecting a downpipe to the roof gutter, the main contractor realized the downpipe was passing through a lower level roof. On another part of the site, they realized the mechanical ventilation ducts were supposed to pass through an already cast beam. On yet another part of the site, they realized that there were mechanical ventilation ducts running right in front of the windows. Still on the same project, the same contractor realized that there was a chimney that if built as indicated would be going through some trusses which had already been put up. Just when we thought that was all, it was identified that there was a gutter that could not handle the volume of water that would be collected on the roof. Still on the same project, we realized we did not have big enough openings to bring in the water tanks that would sit in the ceiling above the washrooms. While all these issues developed at varied times, the most recent one that got me thinking ‘why were we realizing all these conflicts this late?’ Why weren’t they identifiable before the construction began? Why don’t we have any checks in place to pick up these things from the onset? I then realized that we actually do. We all claim to be the digital generation but are we really embracing the technology around us? Pick any AEC office and walk in and I can assure you that you’ll find desks with huge monitors scattered across the room running the latest design programs. These programs are the first things the individuals in those offices switch on once they walk into the office in the morning. These are the softwares we use every day to do most of the work but are we using these softwares to their full potential? Are we scratching beyond the surface? Most of the design programs for AEC have BIM. BIM stands for Building Information Modelling. This is an intelligent 3D model-based process that gives architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals the insight and tools to more efficiently plan, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure. Another feature built in most of these soft wares is the ability of multiple parties to work on the same file - the collaboration feature. All the softwares have a different name to it. Take for example an architect working on a mall, the structural engineer should be able to work on the model and include all details from the foundation all the way to the roof trusses on the same model concurrent with the architect. The mechanical engineer should for example be able to sort out all plumbing issues on the same model as the architect and structural engineer are using. The same applies for the electrical engineer. The QS should be able to use the information provided by all the designers to work out the quantities needed. The contractor and all the sub-contractors should be able to take the same model and derive all the information and layouts they need to put up the structure. Even the client should be able to filter what service or elements they want to view and see how it works. Should any one of them make any change in the model, it will reflect on every end instantly without having to make calls and write emails. Another disaster saving feature that comes with the BIM softwares and especially when multiple parties are working on the same project is the alerts you get once a conflict arises at any point. The conflict resolution feature alone is probably the most time and money saving feature that I am yet to come across in the design process in the AEC world. This alone should make you start taking your design softwares seriously. I would just like to point out that all these features are not exclusive to one programme. This is not a SONY PlayStation exclusive. All the design
Brian Munene
softwares that are currently being used in the East Africa region have these features in-built. So regardless of the software you are using, the team workflow principle is something available to you. BIM goes beyond giving you a structure to advising you on the number of cubic meters of concrete you would need for each slab, how much light the windows allow during the day at different times of the year, how much noise your walls will let through, the loads you can work with and even for a project like the one I discussed earlier, the amount of rain water the gutter can handle comfortably. All this information is provided while still working on the computer. So why exactly don’t we fully maximize the power of these softwares in our machines? Why don’t we exhaust their full potential? Is it a culture thing? Is it pre-conditioned in us from our school days? Are we simply refusing to adapt new methods of working? Why are we not embracing the daily upgrades of the technology in our industry? Athletics and tea aside, Kenya has been listed among the leaders in technological innovations across Africa. Why are these statistics not translating in the AEC industry then? Let’s look at all the scenarios that have taken place on our site and see how thorough use of BIM and its collaboration features would have avoided each of them. The downpipe that passes through a lower roof; if the structural engineer would have been working on the same model the architect was working on, they would have both received alerts on the conflict and resolved it instantly. For the ducts passing through the beams, alerts would have been sent to both the structural engineer and mechanical engineer once the conflict arose and this would also have been resolved immediately. The architect and mechanical engineer would both have received alerts regarding the ventilation ducts running across the window. The same applies to all the conflicts we encountered. The good news is that you do not necessarily require internet connection in order to use these features. So internet connection should not be an excuse as not to collaborate on projects. Another advancement which I’m sure most of us are happy about but don’t use to its full potential is the accessibility of all these soft wares in the mobile phone. Most of these soft wares have mobile phone applications. The conflict alerts that are sent to the team are also sent out as texts to the mobile phones. That way even when you are away from your monitor at home or at the office, you will still get a notification. You can also easily share images, screenshots and annotations with all the team members. The solving of conflicts while still at the design stage saves a lot of time which in turn saves a lot of money. And in my case, we would not have had to move the chimney, reroute the downpipes, bend and move ducts which we’ve ended up doing. Most people use the price of these softwares as an excuse to not use them. Yes, the initial cost might be a figure that might scare most small AEC firms, but I can assure you that compared to the costs we’ve incurred on site demolishing and relocating already cast structures, excavating or relocating channels, cutting through walls, hacking and re-casting slabs, the cost of the softwares feels like a drop of water in the ocean. And for those who already have these soft wares, it’s not about the cost but rather maximizing on their potential. This was a personal wake up call. As practitioners in this field, we need to all step up our use of technology. We need to start learning all these new tricks. We need to improve the workflow in our projects. We need to start applying all this ‘digitalness’ that we are so proud of. The author is an architectural visualizer at Architecture Kenya Media Ltd
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Charles Perkins Centre, Australia fjmt | francis-jones morehen thorp https://fjmtstudio.com Photo Š Keira Yang Zhang
ARCHICAD is BIM
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With its architect-inspired toolset, ARCHICAD feels like the most natural BIM application on the market.
Leveraging well-structured information results in enormous efficiencies in the construction industry.
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Teamwork
Available in 17 languages and 27 localized versions that meet local layout and documentation standards, ARCHICAD offers much more than just a simple translation of the software.
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ARCHICAD offers architects the tools they need to unleash their inner creative genius.
Model-based analysis ensures that you’ll catch those design problems that could cause construction issues down the line.
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Image Credits: Charles Perkins Centre, Australia mt | francis-jones morehen thorp - https:// mtstudio.com Photo © Keira Yang Zhang GRAPHISOFT, ARCHICAD, BIMx, BIMcloud are registered trademarks of GRAPHISOFT SE. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
LANDSCAPING
Water as a landscape design element Samuel Kerongo
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ater, as a design element in the design and management of the outdoor spaces may take diverse forms such as flat, quiet pools, falling water, and jets of water. It can be used in the landscape as a purely aesthetic element or for utilitarian functions as cooling the air, buffering sound, irrigating the soil, or providing a means of recreation. Allowing for garden discovery through visual, auditory, and tactile experiences, a small amount can cool an outdoor space, making the air lighter, reflecting movement and color, and leading the eye into and around the garden. Water plays a significant role in any sized landscape, small or large. It magnifies the beauty and allure of even the smallest garden. Qualities of Water Water is one of the most magnetizing and compelling of all design elements. Few people can ignore or fail to react to its presence in the outdoor environment. Humans seem to be instinctively drawn towards water for both utilitarian and visual reasons. People are emotionally lured toward water for its sight, sound, and recreational uses. In addition to simply being attracted to water, people have a strong in-
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nate temptation to interact with water. Humans have a deep desire to touch and feel water or even become totally immersed in it for fun and recreation. Water also has a therapeutic effect. It can be hypnotic in capturing and holding the senses of sight and sound. Watching and listening to water along the shore of a lake, river, or stream can carry a person’s awareness away from the reality of the moment to a more restful and peaceful state of mind. Water also has a definite romantic quality. Over time, numerous songs, poems, novels, and motion pictures have been based on a romantic theme of water either as the primary setting or as an essential element of the plot. Functional Uses: Water serves a number of functions in the landscape depending on the context and scope of the project. These functional uses of water range from utilitarian to aesthetic and architectural as explained below. Visual Uses: Water can be used in the outdoor environment for a number of visual functions; as a flat, quiet water body in the form of either a pool or a pond depending on the shape and character of the container. Static Water: The first type of flat, static water is a pool. The important factor is that a pool appears constructed, not natural or soft.
LANDSCAPING
A pool of quiet, still water may be used as a plane of reflection for the sky and nearby elements such as buildings, trees, sculpture, and people. By means of the reflected image, a person is able to see these other elements in a new and fascinating way that is possible only by looking into the plane of water. The second general type of flat, static water is the pond, which differs from a pool by being designed to appear natural or semi natural. Nevertheless, a pond may be either constructed or natural to the site. It may be used to create a feeling of repose and tranquility in an outdoor space. Flowing Water: The second general form that water may take in the outdoor environment is that of flowing water. “Flowing water” is any moving water confined to a well-defined channel. Flowing water results when the channel and its bottom are sloped, allowing the water to move in response to gravity. Flowing water is best used in outdoor spaces as a kinetic element to express movement, direction, and energy. Falling Water: The third form of water in the landscape is falling water, which occurs when water moves over and down a sudden drop in the elevation of the channel. Falling water expresses the forces of gravity even more dramatically than flowing water and therefore is often a noticeable focal point in the outdoor environment. Fountains: There are four basic types, of fountains characterized by their form and appearance: single orifice, spray, aerated, and formed. Single-orifice is the simplest type of fountain jet, with water forced through a single opening nozzle. A spray fountain jet is produced by many fine, mists like streams of water that result from water being forced through a nozzle with many small openings. An aerated fountain jet is similar to a single- orifice jet in that the nozzle has one opening. However, the primary difference between the two is that the opening of the nozzle in the aerated jet is much larger, thus producing a turbulent, white water effect. A formed fountain jet is any type of jet that is shaped to furnish a special effect. All the types and characteristics of water described in this chapter may be used alone in a design or combined with each other to establish effects that can be gained only in a synthesis of various types. Irrigation: A common utilitarian use of water is irrigation of field crops, lawn; gardens and park space. An irrigated site including a lawn area can withstand heavier use than a non-irrigated site because grass and other plant material can be maintained. The types of irrigation include spray irrigation, flood irrigation, and drip irrigation. Climate Control: Water may be used in the outdoor environment to modify air and ground surface temperatures. It is well known that a large body of water at the regional scale can modify air temperatures in the surrounding land areas. Sound Control: Water may be used in outdoor spaces as a sound buffer, especially in urban environment where there is apt to be high noise levels from
cars, people, and industry. In these circumstances sound generated from falling or moving water can mask the noise in that particular area. Recreation: Water can be used for swimming, fishing, boating, scuba diving, sailing, water skiing, and ice skating. Landscape architects become involved in the planning and design of all types of water recreational facilities, from private backyard pools to regional lakes and ocean fronts. In addition to the planning and design of the body of water itself, the landscape architect is apt to participate in the design of associated support facilities such as bathhouses, marinas, picnic areas, and lodges. Considerations in design: First, it is important to consider the context of the site. When working with a larger site, let the water relate to its immediate surroundings. A pond that is further from a house should appear free-form and natural. When close to a structure, it should have a more geometric and finished look. Second, it is advisable to maximize the available space on site. Curved lines make small spaces look smaller while rectilinear forms can create an illusion of more space. Symmetrical shapes such as squares and rectangles better serve intimate gardens. In addition, consider the local building codes. Most jurisdictions have codes that regulate water feature placement, depth, adjacent fencing, drainage and other safety and operational matters. Lastly, cost is a determinant factor in design. Different designs have different cost implications. Depending on the client’s budget, the designer can be guided on how to utilise water as a landscape element in design. At a residential scale, design of pot fountains can be ideal for tight budgets. Samuel Kerongo is a Landscape Architect/Urban Designer/EIA Expert M. Arch UON, B. Landscape Architecture JKUAT. He practices at Landtek Studios (Nairobi/Mombasa) and can be reached at landtekstudios@ gmail.com.
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OPINION
The state of the real estates
Polycarp Bosire
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here has been an unending debate this year about mushrooming malls all over Kenya, Nairobi to be specific. Today, there are more than 15 malls under construction, while several others are undergoing renovations in a struggle to attract footfall. The recent additions such as Garden City, TRM, The Hub, Two Rivers, Riviera, Greenspan, T-Mall and Kiambu Mall already in operation. Currently there are 57 malls and the number will increase to over 70 malls in 2018. In the recent past, the retail market in Kenya, has experienced increased supply and is currently estimated to be in surplus. On the other hand, the office market is adversely affected. A significant number of office buildings in key office nodes of Upper Hill and Westlands have very low occupancy rates. Although land in Upper Hill area remained the most highly valued with an acre going for Kshs.521 million and Ruaka the most expensive satellite town at Kshs.68.3 million an acre, the sector is experiencing a marginal decline in prices as demand in some suburbs have fallen due to oversupply. The demand for offices spaces is usually driven by growth of the services sector. The major players in the services sector include Government, Financial institutions, Professionals firms and NGO’s. Kenya’s real estate market operates in a weird cycle. It starts and ends after every general elections. Over the last decade, Kenya has experienced a real estate boom with prices rising rapidly amid high demand from both long-term investors and speculators, a 1-3 bedroomed apartment skyrocketed from Kshs. 5 million to Kshs. 13 million. Interestingly, most of the houses are not standalone units with own compounds but high-rise apartments. This means developers are maximally using land as they seek to reap big from their investments. The onset of the current condition in the industry dates back in 2006 when then President Mwai Kibaki commissioned the expansion major roads across Nairobi in an effort to ease traffic congestion in the city. The news of a property doubling or tripling in price always attracts speculators. So, within no time people hurriedly pumped money into acres of land hoping to sell them at higher prices. By 2010, everyone in Nairobi was a real estate investor. An acre of land in Karen, which was selling at Sh3.5 million had by then topped Sh20 million and a similar piece of land in Runda had hit the Sh40 million mark up from Sh4.5 million in 2005. Today, an acre of land in Karen has risen to Kshs. 70 million and an acre in Runda is now selling at Kshs. 100 million. The pricing disconnect could be evidence that home prices are overly inflated, a situation made worse by the swelling land prices. Infrastructure developments, specifically improvements on the road network around the city, have also helped in opening up satellite towns and raising the values of land
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and homes, which could diffuse the rapid price increments in Nairobi. The most recent case being Syokimau, where the newly Nairobi Standard gauge railway terminus was launched. Investors are advertising their land “four hours to the beach”. The pricing is ridiculous as we speak. Fast forward 2017 land and apartment prices have gone overboard. Affordable housing is long forgotten. Prices are rapidly rising across Kenya as more developers join the sector, it is in the capital that prices have increased sharply ensuring that houses remain out of reach of the average working Kenyan. Lack of affordable housing has led to overpopulation in the slums. With about 2.5 million people living in 200 settlements in Nairobi, the slums contain 60 percent of the city’s population, anybody good at Maths will tell you over 1.5 million people live in slums. Slum houses are built with wood, tin, galvanised iron sheets, and latticed wood strips. With limited space, tenants often sleep on the floors. The large population and little space makes the cramped feeling of the Kenyan slums unimaginable, but I won’t deviate anymore, it is a story for another day. Back to the state of the real estates, I think that Kenyan property prices have exceeded their elastic limits and this can only result to one consequence; recession. An Economic recession is oncoming. Current property owners will certainly not realize full returns on their investments. Let me break it down how; the rapid increase in value and prices of property to levels that are unaffordable by the population, results to lower demand of property, then prices declining tremendously. This is by far the most I can remember from my business education in high school. The real estate bubble has busted! So what? I hear you ask. People borrowed heavily at high interests from banks to buy homes. Most investors ditched other economic activities and invested in real estate which promised high returns. Oversupply and loans default eventually brought these investments tumbling down. When the property bubble bursts, it usually affects a country’s economy particularly banks, mortgage firms and insurance companies. Companies are downsizing and closing down some branches, this coupled up with the capping interest rates by the government has forced banks to retrench some of its workers. Surplus office spaces, malls and ridiculous pricing of apartments is not permanent, of course there has to be a market price correction and a law to cushion the ever inflated prices. Investors need to be advised to venture into other sectors like manufacturing and agriculture to diversify. Build factories and not malls and lots of office space. On a lighter note, how come speculators haven’t pulled out of the real estate business like the quail business ? Polycarp is a civil engineering graduate and a construction blogger , Director and founder Construction web polycarp@constructionweb.co.ke
ARCHITRAVEL
Bingu international conference
The Malawi administrative capital, Lilongwe in motion
M
alawi is referred to as the warm heart of Africa. It has undergone many cultural and structural changes in the years after independence and is slowly growing to become a prosperous nation. Its new capital Lilongwe, is in the central region of Malawi, near the borders with Mozambique and Zambia. It is an important economic and transportation hub for central Malawi. The city is experiencing an upsurge of developments and investments, as evidenced by the conclusions of the Malawi Investment Forum of 2016, where De Beers and other multinationals signed deals to invest in the city. It became the new administrative and legislative Capital after these functions were moved from the former capital Zomba, much further south. History Lilongwe had existed for centuries as a small fishing village on the banks of the Lilongwe River before the British. During colonial rule, the settlement became an administrative center due to its strategic location. Though founded formally in 1906, Lilongwe was officially recognized as a town in 1947. Its growth was encouraged when the country’s former head of state, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, estab-
Stephen Lutta
lished it as Malawi’s new capital city in 1975. This transition lasted until 2005 when the new Parliament buildings constructed by the Chinese became fully operational. Lilongwe is located on a plateau in Central Malawi, forming part of the East African Rift Valley situated at an altitude of 1,050 m (3,440 ft.) above sea level, along the Lilongwe River. It is divided into a new and old City. The new City hosts hotels, embassies, government institutions and offices while the former has markets, bus stations, cafes and restaurants. The modern shops of the City are contrasted by the streets and walled markets of Old Town. It is divided into Areas which are assigned a number. The numbers are assigned chronologically, rather than geographically, so Area 1 would be the first area that was developed, Area 2 the second and so on. Houses are given a number according to the area they lie in, i.e. Area number / Random number. Thus, a house in Area 43 might be called 43/123. Economy While Blantyre is the commercial Capital of Malawi, Lilongwe›s economy is dominated by the government and public institutions. Kanengo, in the north of the city, is the main industrial area, where food processing, tobacco storage, maize storage, and other activities related to light
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ARCHITRAVEL
Umodzi park
Bingu Stadium
Walmont Hotel
Bingu Parliament building
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industry take place. Finance, banking, retail trade, construction, transport, public administration, tourism, and tobacco manufacturing are the main economic activities in the city. Recent discoveries in phosphate, copper, coal, kimberlite, niobium and zircon, add to the already robust production of sulphuric acid uranium oxide and tantalum pentoxide. These discoveries have spiked the interest of multinationals to Malawi’s largely rural economy dominated by tobacco, cotton, groundnuts, beetroot and sugarcane. There is a new water project that is meant to change irrigative agriculture all the way from Salima near Lake Malawi, to Lilongwe. Subsistence agriculture is the mainstay even though commercial agriculture is on the rise, with the government training or sponsoring the training of more and more qualified farmers. Areas with potential include Poultry, beef and Dairy farming. Malawi’s groundnuts are famous, and they are everywhere on sale in Lilongwe. Transit Lilongwe International Airport (LLW) is located to the north of the city, and is the entry to this sprawling city. They drive on the left, and allow other Commonwealth drivers on their roads. There are regular bus services from Lilongwe to Blantyre, Zomba, Kasungu and Mzuzu. The other large cities in the country. There is a weekly bus Service to Johannesburg and another to Dar es Salaam, completing the array means into Lilongwe by Bus.
ARCHITRAVEL
There is a rail service in Lilongwe. The line runs west towards Zambia, east towards Salima, where there are sugar factories and south along Lake Malawi to Mangochi, to Blantyre & Zomba and over the border towards Maputo in Mozambique. Architecture Due to the less than average performance of the economy over many decades, it follows that 76 percent of Lilongwe’s population live in informal settlements. The government, however, is planning to overturn this massive deficiency in formal housing. Building Materials predominantly being used are the traditional fired brick and thatch in many of the residential and commercial buildings in Lilongwe. A few posh estates for the high and mighty in areas like Area 10, still have factorials of these materials, finished in more elegant ways, and there is an apparent lack of Steel roofing materials. The new city, a directive and project of the Presidency, is now experiencing a building boom, with the opening of the Japanese and American embassies and a few other hotels within the CBD. The President Walmont Hotel, the Segocoa Golden Peacock hotel, and the Casino Marina
Hotel are some of the new hotels in town. There are several new malls, the largest being Acacia Mall, and a lot of new construction around transportation. Professional Training for trades in the building sector is on the increase, with the government sponsoring groups to China, the UK and The USA for further training. Places of interest include the Kings African Rifles Monument, The new Parliament, Bingu Wa Mutharika International Conference Centre at Umodzi park, Bingu National Stadium and Acacia Mall. Lake Malawi, with a very long coast line has excellent tourism opportunities. The nearest to Lilongwe is the Sunbird Livingstonia Beach resort, at Senga Bay. Here you can enjoy the ice-cold, clear water and order the famous kwasu kwasu and other fish from the lake. Lilongwe is alive. Hospitality, civic and housing projects will constitute the largest forms of work in the next decade. Lucky enough for East African built industry professionals, its just 2 hours away daily on KQ from Nairobi. The author is a graduate architect and a travel enthusiast. He can be reached via info@africanatravel.co.ke
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steam
POOLWISE
legend L - light C.P - control pa S.H - sauna h v - 200x200 S.G- steam g
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tarting in the early nineties, steam baths became more and more popular in Kenya steam section s-o2saunas in popuand have today overtaken larity. The gentler heat and the health benefits discussed in the previous articles has created a tremendous demand with steam baths becoming a required facility in all clubs, hotels and luxury residences. In Kenya, the steam bath industry has developed gradually from very basic tiled rooms and ABS/Fiberglass imported cabins. Most popular are individual person shower cabins with an option for steam baths within these cabins. Steam showers, especially from China, have become affordable and very popular. Quality sometimes is questionable from China, especially compared with the European units. However, we strongly believe in Buy Kenyan and Build Kenya and encourage clients to build steam rooms and only use the equipment which is imported. Important considerations for steam baths include sizing, ceiling design, insulation, interior seating arrangement, safety features & equipment. The most important consideration is size. If it is a domestic residence and only two persons are going to use the steam bath, a maximum of 1.80m by 1.50m should be considered. This allows for two or three persons comfortably to sit within the steam room and the 1.80m width also allows for users to lie down if they wish. Again for commercial rooms, unless the usage is extremely heavy, sizing should be of 2.5m to 3.5m length by a maximum 2.2m width. For example a 2.5m by 2.2m room can accommodate six users and if higher usage is expected we advise clients to have modules. If the room is extremely large and have few users, then the operating costs become very expensive.
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Chandresh Raithatha Ceiling height should not be excessive and ideally all ceilings should be sloped and be designed to allow steam to drain onto the walls. We recommend a centre height of 2.30m sloping to a height of 2.1m on the sides. The ideal sizing of the equipment in terms of heating the room efficiently is a maximum of 1.2 cubic meters per kilowatt of steam generator output depending on internal arrangements plus room insulation and construction. Today, most steam rooms are built smaller and clad with either ceramic tiles or mosaic. Given a readily constructed room, we recommend the following stages of construction. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Sloped casted concrete ceiling of 2.1m-2.3m Wall insulation finished off with reinforced chip plasters Two coats of waterproof rendering. Two tier benching to allow different steam temperature. Internal Sloping floor starting outside door to prevent steam condensation from dripping out of the steam room and with the nonslip tiles. Externally placed steam generator adjacent to the steam room and allowing for easy maintenance. Safety features such as low voltage lighting, bright colors, and properly positioned steam jets and alarms.
The internal seating arrangement is open to individual choice, but we highly recommend twin tier seating or benches to allow for users to enjoy different temperatures at different heights. Steam fills up from the top and gradually fills up the lower areas. The higher bench allows for warm steam and lower bench allows a lower steam temperature. The heights of each bench should be 450 mm and the widths
POOLWISE
DOMESTIC STEAM between 450mm and 550mm. The lower bench should be suspended to allow for the steam distribution pipe to be concealed and the steam delivery away from steam room users. Safety features incorporated within the steam room start with lighting and which has to be low voltage and nonslip floors. For commercial steam rooms, an incorporation of an alarm is highly recommended in case of client difficulty. Aluminium or glass doors should be fitted without locks and open externally to allow for ease of exit. For the steam generator, an Earth Leakage Circuit Breaker or ELCB is highly required in case of an electrical fault. To complete the steam room, sourcing and proper installation of quality equipment is required. Generally, European equipment provide the required safety feature and performance and will provide years of enjoyment. We have supplied steam bath equipment and done installation for the last 25 years and have trained in South Africa, Sweden, China and Finland. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further assistance.
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The author is the Operations Director of Waterways Africa and has been in the Swimming pool and leisure Industry since 1991. He can be reached via waterways@kenyaweb.com & oďŹƒce telephone + 254 -722- 511-438 or +252-733-511-438 0r +254-737-511-438 or 254-738- 511-438 Direct line 0706511438 (Sms only)
Steam Inlet beneath lower bench
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Steam interiors to be determined by I.D
TIMBER SERIES
Fostering a sustainable future with bamboo Julie Bungei
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amboo is a versatile building material with many uses in the building and construction industry. Although most countries have a long history with bamboo, contemporary application of bamboo as a building material has lacked until recently. Caroline Kariuki, the CEO of Green Pot Enterprises explains that bamboo is not only a grass but also the fastest growing plant which is strong but lightweight. Despite all these advantages, bamboo has been restrictively used over the years especially in Kenya. It has mostly been used in the rural areas to build temporary structures and bridges or scaffolds in the urban and semi-rural areas. “Bamboo is a sustainable building material that can be used in place of timber to mitigate climate change that is as a result of deforestation,” says Caroline. Bamboo grows faster than wood with maturity of 3-4 years and is harvested from the 6th year then harvested each year after that. Unlike timber whose constant cut
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down leads to deforestation and causes adverse climatic effects, bamboo is a grass that grows every time it is harvested. This makes bamboo a sustainable product not only in the building and construction industry but also in producing other end products. “This advantage should encourage the building and construction professionals to embrace bamboo as a building material,” emphasizes Caroline. Studies show that bamboo has remarkable strength. It has high strength to weight ratio and is twice as strong as concrete and slightly stronger than steel! Bamboo is also a renewable material that has low toxic levels, needs less energy to grow, prevents soil erosion, and is also recyclable. “The use of bamboo as a building material will reduce carbon emission without compromising on the quality of the building. Bamboo therefore offers a remedial to adverse climatic changes that are experienced worldwide as it produces more oxygen and captures more carbon dioxide,” explains Caroline. There are roughly 1400 species of bamboo, each with its own unique characteristics that make them suitable for
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different functions. “Bamboo growing is dependent on factors such as the type of soil, the climate of a particular area as well as the temperature of the area in which one intends to grow bamboo,” explains Caroline. Different species of bamboo grow in different areas ranging from the highlands to lowlands, with rainfall of 800-1200 mm per year as explained by Caroline. These are factors to consider when one intends to grow bamboo in Kenya. One of the drawbacks of bamboo is its susceptibility to rot, insect infestation as well as effects of adverse climatic conditions. Treatment of bamboo is therefore very important. Termites would attack bamboo because of its starch levels that vary depending on the age of the bamboo. The younger the bamboo plant, the higher its starch levels. The most common treatments for bamboo are borax and boric acid. Boiling cut pieces of bamboo reduces their starch levels thus reducing infestation from insects. Uses of bamboo Bamboo can be used for various purposes. Industries use bamboo to manufacture matchsticks, baskets, tooth-picks, clothing and other handicrafts. Bamboo can also be used for fencing as well as in supporting horticultural crops during farming. In the building and construction industry, bamboo is used for scaffolding as it easily bends but does not break. In addition, bamboo is used for roofing, interior décor, flooring, landscaping as well as furniture. “Green pot Enterprises recently travelled to China. It is very common to find bamboo that has been used for ornamental purposes. In one of the hotels that we stayed in, the Narada Resort and Spa Anji, their furniture is made from bamboo,” says Caroline. “It would be amazing to see Kenya head towards this direction,” she adds. Bamboo for flooring Bamboo flooring is one of the common ways in which bamboo has been used all over the world. Cynthia Winki, the project manager at Stroika Limited, a company that specialized in bamboo flooring explains the benefits of using bamboo as an option for flooring. The bamboo fiber maintains a natural glow which makes the bamboo floors very attractive without the need to polish the surface. Due to the strength of bamboo and its adaptability, bamboo floors are easy to maintain. The cost of bamboo flooring is one of its disadvantages. “Compared to tiles and other alternative flooring products, bamboo flooring is costly. It is expensive in Kenya because it is not locally available. We expect to see a decline in cost in the coming years as commercialization of bamboo in Kenya is on the rise,” explains Cynthia. Ornamental Bamboo Ornamental plants are plants that are grown specifically for decorative purposes especially in gardens and landscape designs. Bamboo can be used for this purpose after all, the absence of flowers in bamboo is
Ornamental Bamboo compensated by their graceful stems and leaves that are easily swayed by breeze. Himalayas weeping or blue bamboo, Chinese dwarf, Sacred Bali bamboo and Monastery bamboo are a few examples of bamboo species that are suitable for landscaping. The Future of Bamboo in Kenya The demand for bamboo in Kenya is rapidly growing. This is concurrent with the commercialization of bamboo that will increase the availability of bamboo products. The building and construction industry is embracing the use of sustainable and green building materials in order to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. Garden City on Thika Superhighway in Nairobi is an example of a building that adopted bamboo flooring and earned a GreenStar Multi-Unit resident V1 green building rating from the Kenya Green Building Society. In this sense, the future of bamboo is bright. Professionals in the building industry will choose bamboo, which is renewable and sustainable as an alternative building material. Fueled by high demand for wood products, the building and construction industry in Kenya should embrace bamboo, a sustainable building material. With improved technology that enables quick processing of bamboo to high end products such as flooring, furniture and many other uses, the potential of bamboo as a building material is unimaginable. Bamboo matures in a fraction of the time that timber does. Wood species such as mahogany take up to 25 years to mature. With the effect of climatic changes and global warming causing havoc in most parts of the country, advocating the use of bamboo will provide a solution in terms of more sustainable, environmental- friendly and green building materials. The author is a writer with a particular interest in building materials. She can be reached via jxulie@architecturekenya.com
Buildesign Magazine Ι Issue 026/2017
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Everything you need to know about the Bartec rebar couplers
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pex Steel continues to bring new innovations into the Kenyan construction industry, one such innovation is the Bartec rebar coupler system, manufactured by Dextra. Many engineers throughout the world are now specifying rebar couplers, with Kenyan engineers intending to use and specify rebar couplers, here are some frequently asked questions, answered and explained. Q1. Can rebar couplers be used for slab column connections and if so can couplers be positioned flush with the top of the slab? A1. Yes, rebar couplers are often used for slab column connections as an alternative to lapping rebar. They can if necessary be placed flush with the top of the slab, as illustrated below. Q2. Is the same amount of concrete cover required to rebar couplers? A2. Yes. However, rebar couplers are usually only used for the main longitudinal reinforcement, with the cover calculated for the stirrups. In this situation, as long as the stirrup is not positioned on the coupler itself, the minimum cover is usually still to the stirrup and not the coupler. Q3. In the event of seismic loading, should rebar couplers be staggered to ensure proper ductility of the structure? A3. Although there is no specific code of practice requirement to stagger rebar couplers, it is common practice to do so. However, it should be noted that Bartec rebar couplers offer guaranteed bar break performance, meaning that when loaded to destruction, it will ultimately be the rebar that fails away from the influence of the connection. This alone ensures the ductility of the reinforcement is maintained, throughout the whole of the reinforcement system. Q4. Can couplers be used to reduce rebar congestion? A4. Yes. Rebar couplers are often used to reduce rebar congestion, particularly with large structural elements heavily reinforced with large diameter rebar. If congestion still remains a problem when couplers are used, the couplers can be staggered.
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Buildesign Magazine Ι Issue 026/2017
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