BUILDesign Magazine Issue 014 by BUILDesign Magazine

The Tuscany Village in Nairobi, Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel 6 166000 086117 >

Being a woman in the Building Industry, Arch. Aidah Munano Transforming Bank spaces for the 21st Century, Chase Iman HQ offices Bringing direct sunlight indoors, Classic Mouldings Light Tunnels 1 www.buildesign.co.ke

CONTENTS

06 08 18 28 34 06

CONTENTS 08

INNOVATION Tapping direct sunlight into the indoor spaces

MAIN FEATURE Italian Tuscan design in the city FEATURED ARCHITECT Being a woman in a male dominated industry INTERIORS Transforming Bank spaces for the 21st Century SPECIAL FEATURE The scramble for space between Land and Water

EDITORIAL

he third issue of Buildesign Magazine for 2015 comes in the backdrop of the just ended AprilMay long rains which extended into the month of June. The rains caused immeasurable levels of havoc especially in the cities of Nairobi and Mombasa and towns like Narok where unprecedented flooding was experienced. The result was destruction of properties worth millions of shillings and several recorded deaths. Serious questions arose as to what could have been done to avert such disasters or at least reduce their impacts. Granted that such natural occurrences could not be completely prevented, the destruction we experienced, and the casualties recorded were to a very good extent of our own making. Our poor maintenance culture resulting in blocked drainage systems to corruption that has enabled developers put up buildings blocking natural water causes to historical goofs; an example being the location of Narok town in a valley along a natural waterway are some of the reasons that year in, year out, we shall be revisiting this issue, unless something major is done. And this requires a regime that has the guts to make the tough decisions. Our partners, Kounkey Design Initiative, have presented a case study of flooding in their key operational zone of Kibera and have explored very creative solutions for the same in Kibera and urban areas in general. This, we have featured in this issue of the magazine. BUILDesign Magazine continues to seek credible projects that are comprehensive in their design, interiors, application of art and implementation. In this issue, we bring you one such that is the Villa

Rosa Kempinski hotel in Nairobi. Savour the Mediterranean beauty that flows in its intricate design. We have also introduced an interior feature and we kick off with the Chase Iman HQ offices at the Delta Towers in Westlands. Discover the change of game in office interiors. In our architectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s profile, we have the Works Secretary, Architect Aidah Munano who has risen through the ministerial ranks from a graduate architect to her current position. She elaborates the ministerial structure and how the government is involved in the industry. Lack of a green building code for Africa is largely affecting modern design in our region. Our environmental design expert, Loki David has detailed the situation and he says that soon we will have an operational code. Together with other insightful features, we present you the third issue of BUILDesign Magazine 2015. Our goal is to sustain a standard of excellence for our readers and once again, we encourage you to help us serve you better by sending us your reviews, questions and comments on info@architecturekenya.com. Enjoy your read! Martin Tairo

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Alice Munga Francis Mwangi Irene Mulumba Zakayo Kariuki Jacqueline Gitonga

Editor:

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Charles Ben Newman Contributors: Malasi Eric Loki Steve Ted Gome Charles Newman

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INNOVATION

There is Light at the end of the Tunnel Enjoy Natural Light Anywhere under Your Roof

ou don’t always need electric power to bring light into a room; you can bring life into your indoor spaces by tapping the bright natural daylight using the light tunnels.Unlike virtually any other product on the market, there’s only one criterion when it comes to deciding which light tunnel to choose from, and that is the system that will deliver the most light. It’s very easy to get lost in all of the talk of reflective values and patented technologies, and still be left in the dark. So for the right system for your home, office or building project, Classic Mouldings Ltd offer you the best light tunnels from FAKRO, a leading skylight manufacturer in Europe. Light tunnels are suitable for all types of structures ranging from warehouses, showrooms, offices and halls among many others. Composition The FAKRO light tunnels come in two types; the rigid and the flexible light transmitting tube. Both consist of a dome, 3-element light transmitting tube, ceiling frame, prismatic diffuser, light kit and installation kit. The total length of elements connected in a straight line is 2.1m. The flexible tube also consists of an elbow which changes the angle of the light transmitting tube anywhere between 0-65 degrees. The dome is made of polymethacrylate, a material resistant to mechanical damage. The dome’s shape and height is a combination of self-cleaning effect and co-efficient of overall sun light transmittance to building interior. The low electrostatic activity of the dome’s surface means that the dust adheres to dome’s surface only lightly, so the rain quickly washes the dirt away. The light transmitting tube is made of aluminium, covered with a highly reflective silver based layer, characterized by a high efficiency light reflective factor, over 98% (compared to a new mirror reflective factor of 9095%). The minimal light transmittance losses enable light tunnels with a tube length of up to 12m to be applied. While installing the light transmitting tube, there is no need to cut it, because its design is telescopic. In order to attain proper tube length, it is possible to push one element deeper inside the other. In case the tube is longer than 4m, the use of SRC hangers is advised. The ceiling frame and the diffuser are the only elements visible in the ceiling after the light tunnel is

FLASHING DOME

LIGHT TRANSMITTING TUBE CEILING FRAME

ELBOW

installed. The sun’s rays reflected from the walls of the light transmitting tube are directed downwards to the light diffuser. The main diffuser’s role is to spread the light evenly throughout the room. The light diffuser consists of transparent and mat diffusers equipped with UV filters. Both (transparent and mat) diffusers are placed inside the seal, which unites them into one entity. Between the diffusers, there is an air chamber, which plays the role of insulation between the room interior and light transmitting tube. It minimizes the level of condensation inside the light transmitting tube.

INNOVATION

The Flashings Flashing is used for a correct light tunnel installation into the roof slope. Flashing ring is equipped with drips openings which can drain away the eventual condensate outside the light tunnel. In the middle of the flashing there is a reflective ring, the first element of which reflects the light entering into the light tunnel via a dome. Light Tunnel Flashing is suitable for flat roof coverings up to 10 mm (2 layers x 5 mm) thickness e.g. tiles, shingles and slates. It is applied to roof coverings with a profile depth of up to 45 mm such as: tiles and profile metal sheeting or roof coverings with a profile depth of up to 90 mm. Installation The tunnel is connected to a bent duct on a void in the roof that is covered with a glass dome to bring direct sunlight into a room. A single tunnel can light up a dark space of up to17sqm. In the other rooms, light tunnels can be an additional source of light. To regulate the amount of light, you can put a flap or a light filter above the diffuser to restrict incoming light. The light tunnel is on the roof and no water penetrates to the light receiver because it has a special flash sink. A light tunnel captures the sunlight and operates by bouncing captured sunlight through a highly reflective, mirror-like light pipe. When planning the installation of the light tunnel, the following elements have to be taken into account: 1. Position - place the dome on the south facing roof which is the most illuminated part of the roof and avoid places with shade. 2. Length - place the light transmitting tube in such a way that light travels the shortest possible distance between roof and ceiling 3. Type - to ensure the best possible tension, install the light tunnel with the flexible tube. When planning size and number of light tunnels, the following have to be taken into account: size and shape of the room, height, colours and textures of the walls, ceiling and floor surface; planned furniture and additional equipment placement(according to the type and purpose of the room). The amount of light which enters the room thorough the light tunnels depends on the light intensity outside the building and the placing of the dome. The more light illuminates the dome of the light tunnel, the more light is conveyed to the building interior.

Advantages Light tubes do not require electric installations or insulation, and hence can further be efficient for indoor wet areas such as bathrooms and pools. From a more artistic point of view, recent developments, especially those pertaining to transparent light tubes, open new and interesting possibilities for architectural design. Light tunnels offer better heat insulation properties and more flexibility for use in inner rooms, but less visual contact with the external environment compared to conventional skylights and other windows. It may be worth consideration that installation of light tunnels increases the amount of natural daily light exposure. It could thus possibly contribute to residents’ well-being while avoiding over-illumination effects. Light tunnels by Classic Mouldings have been proved to capture the sunlight even when the sun’s angle is low. They further add to flexibility for buyers, complementing the company’s building solutions range by providing a product that enable natural daylight to be let into windowless areas and those that installation of roof windows is impractical. Their lighting quality also helps save energy. Conclusion Whether you are an architect or specifier deciding on the right daylight product for your next project, you need to be assured that Classic Mouldings can supply the light tunnels you need, that deliver the performance you demand. With 25 years guarantee, FAKRO daylight solutions can provide you with the natural light you require, whatever your building type or business activity. Classic Mouldings are the sole regional distributors of tubular daylight systems from FAKRO that offer maximum daylight delivery, a complete and comprehensive suite of products, and the technical support and back up that you can trust ◀

Visit Classic Mouldings at their Nairobi showroom, tell their team of professionals what you have in mind – and they’ll make it happen. Classic Mouldings, Kellico Complex, Mombasa Road, Nairobi – secure parking, great ideas, informed staff and professional backup. For further information: info@classic-mouldings.com Tel; + 254 (0) 02 2585596/ 3519526 or 0721 123 123,

MAIN FEATURE

Mediterranean Architecture Villa Rosa Kempinski Hotel

he recent five star addition to the Nairobi skyline, Villa Rosa Kempinski hotel stands out in its pink hue along the rapidly developing Chiromo Road. The facility is nestled on the West of Nairobi, only 3km from the CBD. Not far from the Museum Hill overpass, it is surrounded by some of the most iconic features in the city including the National Museum, the University of Nairobi and the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commercial, retail and entertainment hub, the Westlands shopping center. Known for epic hospitality developments across Sub-Sahara Africa, Symbion Kenya Limited are the brains behind the nifty award winning hotel. In 2006, Simba Corporation approached Symbion for design of a modern five star business hotel facility in the heart of Nairobi city intently for the business tourist. Capitalizing on the opportunities offered by the tight site

location and through careful planning, the architects were able to provide an intriguing design of over 15000SM of an up-market chic, and sophisticated urban complex comprising an exciting mix of shops, themed-restaurants and bars interlinked with landscaped and urban piazzas with the hotel at the heart of the development. The facility is organized around a U-shape with three distinct buildings - the F&B building, the Pool & Spa building and the hotel tower, all engulfing a central cascading water feature. There are 200 guestrooms and suites (requiring 11 room types) carefully designed to fit within the shell of the hotel tower from 4th to 10th floors. The hotel lobby, an all day dining restaurant, cigar lounge, business center and bar are also part of the main tower. In addition, there is a pillar-less grand banquet room that can accommodate over 400 guests, flanked by flexible meeting rooms on either side. The F& B building hosts three different restaurants, each

MAIN FEATURE

NOTES

1. This drawing is copyri

2. Do not scale off this dr

3. All levels and dimensi building work commen

4. Any discrepancies to b

5. All work to be strictly specifications and note

6. This drawing is to be r other relevant drawing

7. Walls below 200mm th alternate course

8. Depth of foundations t 9. pv denotes permanent shown on drawings

10. A single layer of 3-pl masonry and r.c. wor

11. Drain pipes passing u encased in 150mm th

12. All reinforced concre

13. All sanitary works to

14. All roads, storm wate Civil Engineer's draw

rev.

date

revisions:

Client

SIMBA COLT M

Job Title

PROPOSED AMENDM 611 ON LR NO. 209/73 COMMERCIAL DEV NAIROBI.

PROJEC

TEL

E-

Section

Drawing Name

Post Contract R

with its own identity and specialty on each floor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Italian on ground floor, Pan Asian on first floor and Moroccan on second floor. The Pool building features an upscale state-of-the art spa facility with 9 treatment rooms and an outdoor heated swimming pool, pool-side cafĂŠ, steam, sauna and Jacuzzi and relaxation areas on the upper floors. On ground floor are a series of exclusive shops to serve the tourist and business traveller. The entire facility has fourteen floors comprising of three basement levels that can hold up to 300 cars, the ground floor and ten upper floors. As with any construction project of this scale, challenges were inevitable. When the developers, Simba Corporation initially commissioned Symbion, the Kempinski brand was not in the picture. However, with the changing economic landscape, they saw the void in luxury city hotels in Nairobi and harnessed that opportunity midway through construction. The client saw the need to brand the hotel and have an operator hence introduction of Kempinski Hoteliers - a global luxury

L[--]12 Drawn by TN Date October 2012

Job no.

AS BUILT DRAWINGS

The cascading water feature at the main entrance of the hotel

SK/06/2117

MAIN FEATURE

Project Data Client

Simba Corporation

Architects/Project Managers

Symbion (K) Ltd

Structural & Civil Engineers

Civil Engineering & Design (K) Ltd

Mechanical/Electrical Engineers

Ali Seif Consulting Engineers

Quantity Surveyors

Harold Fenwick & Associates

Main Contractor

Laxmanbhai Construction Ltd

Electronic Display Signage & TV Installation

Hospitality Systems Consultants Limited

Iron Mongery & Silent Gliss Blinds

HAFELE East Africa

Typical floor plan

Landing

Rc steps Risers 150mm Treads 300mm

GN 1/6

GN 1/2

GN 1/3

GN 1/2

GN 1/3

GN 1/6

GN 1/2

NO RT H

GN 1/2

Ground floor plan 0.

Ground Floor

1:100

MAIN FEATURE

hotel chain founded in 1897 in Berlin, Germany that operates within the finest traditions of its European heritage. This meant that the design team had to implement the stringent guidelines in line with the operatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; global standards related to security, amenities and staff requirements among others and at the same time ensure the construction process was not severely affected. Coordination of over twenty nine subcontractors was also an uphill task but the project team worked well together to ensure the project was delivered to the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s satisfaction. Optimizing the building on its tight site next to a busy highway was also daunting. To achieve this, the main hotel building was recessed as far back as possible from the main road reducing the noise and creating space at the front in which access and main circulation into the development was adequately provided for. Having an experienced contractor too paid dividends in the end as he was able to stage his construction without adversely affecting the programme. The developerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vision was to bring to life a facility that had a taste of Tuscany

to Nairobi. From the romantic feel of long crystal white hanging curtains, promenades, urban piazzas and coffee shops to the cascading water features, textured floor plates, classical gardens and the green spaces; the Mediterranean architectural beauty flows naturally throughout this development. The pre-cast decorative moldings, arches and columns around the white framed windows and traditional balconies are a key feature that ties all the classical elements together, intricately designed to create a traditional allure against the modernity of the aluminium glass framed within them. The exterior is juxtaposed with a contemporary interior that creates a new architectural vocabulary. The open outdoor terrace areas behind the main tower are very reminiscent of the urban piazza with a backdrop of the classical garden that feels like an oasis of sort in a very serene atmosphere. One of the greatest technical feats in this building is the in-built infinity swimming pool on the second floor. It has cascading element that creates a vanishing edge; the water is framed around an open view with a glass screen such that

MAIN FEATURE

one overlooks the Chiromo forest from the pool keeping the eyes off the traffic on the highway below. On the super presidential suite, there is an outdoor jaccuzi under rooftop terrace with its exclusive recreation space. There are joinery works including precast niches on the lounge and humidifiers in the cigar lounge for aeration. The design also benchmarks the British code of building hence the building is on a BMS system to monitor and control the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ventilation, lighting, power systems, fire systems and security systems. The front faĂ§ade of the building is double glazed with natural grey solar glass to minimize the noise from Chiromo road as well as cut on the sun heat due to the south west orientation. Ultimately, Symbion and the team ensured that the quintessential elements of the Tuscan village were translated in the development. The structure is primarily a hollow pot slab system with steel reinforcing supported by columns and beams. The roof trusses are steel with profiled roofing sheets and film insulation underlay covered with roman clay tiles. A mixture of locally sourced granite, imported marble and travertine have been used in the main lobby and other public spaces. There is timber cladding on some walls and flooring. Porcelain tiles have also been used in the floor work. There is penny mosaic tiling netted in the Italian restaurant while Moroccan tiles have been used in the roof top restaurant. In the guest rooms, the corridors and the ball room floors are carpeted for comfort and acoustic purposes. There is cobble and granite stone on Top - the infinity swimming pool Middle - View of the main entrance from within the hotel Bottom left - The concrete mouldings on the balconies Bottom right - Marble & Granite cladding on the lift lobby

MAIN FEATURE

the drive way, a very traditional material with the grey color tone that the architects felt would demarcate the courtyard. The circulation is organized around a cascading water feature made of the traditional Italian water fountain as one drives in and up the portico. In the Italian restaurant, the walls are cladded with classical burnt brick of the traditional Italian pizza shop treated with wooden niches. The internal finish in most areas is paint and textured surfaces especially in the rooms as the long head boards are designed to fit on the feature walls. Marmoran paint was applied to achieve the right pink hue. Villa Rosa Kempinski makes no apologies for the bold statement she makes in her unique tone. The overall design direction recreates a Tuscan village and utilizes rich warm colours that contrast well with the lush green lawns, twining hanging gardens and therapeutic water features. Construction began in 2009 and was completed in September 2013. The total cost was approximately $45M â&#x2014;&#x20AC;

Round detail on the Italian restaurant floor reminiscent of the Lucca town in Italy.

Burnt brick of the traditional Italian pizza shop treated with wooden brick niches

ENVIRONMENT

Green Building Rating Tools & Standards By Eric Loki

n their rush towards what is euphemistically called progress, many developing countries have sought to eradicate the architecture of the past (James Steel 1997), many times without even knowing it. Africa has had a particularly unhappy history of foreign occupation and colonial exploitation, and is a model of the negative effects of prolonged cultural confusion among her neighbors. As we eagerly emulate a culture that our education presented to us as superior, a time has come when we must take a few steps back and ask some important questions or most importantly redefine our questions. One of the key questions of our time is perhaps on how to design and build environmentally responsive buildings and most importantly how to determine how responsive our interventions are. In the last 25 years, many countries and regions of the world have developed different rating systems for ‘green buildings’, ranging from the UK’s BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology, established in 1990), the U.S. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, first launched in 1998), Australia’s Green Star (established in 2003)’, India’s GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment), Singapore’s Green Mark (Developed by the country’s Building Construction Authority in 2005), and Malaysia’s GBI (Green Building Index, developed in 2009). All these rating systems seek to define and measure ‘green buildings’ by awarding points for environmental responses to defined areas of interest. These include responses towards the development of sustainable sites, Energy efficiency, Water efficiency, Indoor air quality, Efficiency in

the use of materials and other resources. The biggest question on every developers mind in this region today is which tool to adopt for their buildings. This, to my opinion, is the wrong question and perhaps what we should be asking is why, the U.S. for example, decided to develop LEED, despite the existence of the UK’s BREEAM in 1998, or why Malaysia developed the GBI in 2009. The answer to this question is simple: environmental design in architecture (popularly labelled ‘green building design’), is by nature of its definition regional. The key word, ENVIRONMENT, is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary (being an English word!) as follows: The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal, or plant lives or operates: LEED, for example, provides for the highest possible points for the optimization of energy efficiency for active systems (artificial), with great emphasis on testing and commissioning of the same. This is because active systems define their habitable environments. India’s GRIHA puts more emphasis of local construction materials and methods, and reduced water use. Singapore’s Green Mark gives a significant number of points on Environmental protection as well as water efficiency. The key categories for all the available rating tools may appear to be similar at a glance but the points distribution helps the countries that develop these tools encourage practices that are relevant to their environments. ‘Green’ is relative! Green Building Rating in Kenya What many hawking foreign rating tools in our market don’t tell you is that Kenya ranks very high when it comes to ‘green’ as a way of saving the planet from carbon emis-

ENVIRONMENT

sions. ( I use term hawking simply because that is what the ‘green’ industry has become. Green building is big business both for developers marketing their buildings as well as the so called experts selling the services). Kenya’s electric power generation is over 80% green! (with 67% from geothermal sources and the rest mainly hydro). This means that the embodied energy of many locally produced materials is comparatively very low. Design strategies for natural ventilation, natural cooling, prevention of overheating due to solar radiation, and daylighting are also easy to adopt especially in the capital city Nairobi which boasts the highest percentage of all new developments in the country. At a time when western governments are getting together to force regulations to limit electricity consumption to levels below 10KWh per SqM for office buildings, Kenya’s best designed office buildings easily operate on less than 5kWh per SqM!. VOC (Volatile organic compounds) buildup in our mainly naturally ventilated spaces is also largely non-existent. But then what exactly does it mean to be ‘Green’ in Kenya?. As I have mentioned, ‘green’ is relative. ‘Green’ in Kenya means that we can achieve far more within our context, taking advantage of our heavenly climatic conditions, beautiful indigenous plants, efficient local materials and very skilled local craftsmen. It’s the high energy consuming ways of building (for every kWh per SqM above minimum recommends levels) that should be avoided, the reckless storm water disposal methods that lead to floods, as well as the lack of proper waste management practices. In summary, the following are the key items that we must all take into consideration when designing and building within our environment: 1. PREREQUISITES a. Your building MUST comply with the environmental laws of Kenya (NEMA, Building Code etc.) b. Your building must comply with the set development guidelines (Plot ratios & coverage). 2. BUILDINGS & SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE a. Your building must preserve existing buildings and trees where possible b. Your building must disturb the surrounding topography minimally c. Your building must take into consideration the location’s wind direction and speed d. Use indigenous plants e. Use permeable paving for added rainwater percolation f. Provide for outdoor living spaces

g. Utilize available infrastructure for walking and cycling 3. PASSIVE DESIGN FOR LOW ENERGY CONSUMPTION + EFFICIENCY a. Design your buildings such that the long axis is along the East-West axis to minimize solar exposure in order to avoid mechanical cooling. b. Locate building services (toilets, lifts, lobbies, stores, ducts, service rooms etc) on the East and West facing facades to provide thermal buffers to minimize/avoid mechanical cooling. c. Locate livable spaces on the shaded side to avoid mechanical cooling. d. Design buildings that are narrow in plan for maximum natural lighting penetration and good cross – ventilation e. High ceiling heights are recommended: i. Residential: 3.0M minimum, ii.Commercial: 3.6M minimum ( higher heights preferred e.g. 4.2 - 4.5M) f. Locate most window openings on the North and South facing walls g. Provide for permanent natural ventilation on all windows & doors h. Minimal glazed window openings are recommended for tropical climate as follows: Coastal climate: Stand alone buildings - use large, shaded openings with low window sills. Over 50% openings are recommended on North and South facing walls. Glazed part not more than 20% of the walls. Lightweight construction. Traditional Swahili settlements: small windows, thick walls, densely clustered buildings Savannah climate: Window/wall ratio - Not more than 25% on North and South facing

From the paper “International Comparison of Sustainable Rating Tools” by Richard Reed, Anita Bilos, Sara Wilkinson, and Karl-Werner

ENVIRONMENT

light coloured to reduce solar heat absorption. n.) Use natural ventilation to provide cooling by use of operable windows, thermal /wind chimneys, metal/timber louvered fenestrations, perforated timber screens (mashrubiya) on openings etc. 4. ENERGY EFFICIENT FITTINGS AND APPLIANCES a. Use only energy saving appliances in the building b. Use only energy saving fittings 5. RENEWABLE ENERGY a. Use solar hot water heating. b. Use Photovoltaic panels (PV). c. Use Wind energy where possible. d. Utilize Biogas where possible.

Kenyaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Geothermal power generation provides up to 67% of the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electric energy

walls. Highland or tropical upland climate: Window/wall ratio - Not more than 25% on North and South facing walls Upper Highland climate: Window/wall ratio - Not more than 20% on North and South facing walls Lake climate: Window/wall ratio - Not more than 40%. Glazed part not more than 15% on North and South facing walls. Louvres recommended. Semi-desert climate: Window/wall ratio - Not more than 20% on North and South facing walls. i.) All spaces should be naturally lit during daytime as follows: 1. Depth of habitable rooms: Recommended depth of room = 2x window height 2. Building depth: With windows on opposite facades, recommendedbuilding depth = 2x (2x window height) 3. Use atriums or clerestory windows in deep rooms: j.) Sun-shade all glazed areas (especially the East & West facing facades) byuse of egg-crate or vertical and horizontal sun-shading elements, deep roof overhangs, balconies and perforated timber screens etc. Use of trees and vegetation as secondary shade k.) Use high thermal mass on walls i.e. thick walls. All external walls should be at least 200mm thick. However, lightweight materials are recommended for stand-alone buildings humid climates. l.) Use passive cooling/heating techniques for building interiors where applicable. (e.g. evaporative cooling/High thermal mass/ rock-bed/ground cooling/green roofs/ vegetation) m.) Use external finishes that are smooth and

6. MATERIALS a. Your building should use locally avail able materials, with low embodied energy, with none or minimal maintenance, materials that are sustainably harvested, non-toxic, those with minimal internal pollution and damage to health and those, which are easy to re-cycle or to re-use. 7. WATER SUPPLY AND DRAINAGE a. Rainwater should be harvested from the building roofs and its water used for drinking after treatment, cleaning, flushing toilets and watering plants etc. b. Water efficient appliances should be incorporated in the project. c. Incorporation of environmentally friendly/ natural storm water drainage system is encouraged. 8. WASTE MANAGEMENT a. The solid waste generated within the project should be sorted out and the biodegradable waste used to produce biogas if practical, whereas the non-biodegradable waste is recycled. b. Use of environmentally friendly toilets and sewerage system e.g. bio-digesters,oxidation ponds etc. Toilet waste from the project can be used to produce biogas for cooking and manure. 9. INNOVATION: Use of cutting edge sustainable design innovations or technologies should be encouraged and promoted. The environmental design chapter of the Architectural Association of Kenya, in partnership with the University if Nairobi, has for the last one year been developing a local rating tool/ system for green buildings. The system, in the

ENVIRONMENT

final stages of development, is being developed from the basics of the Kenyan environmental context while at the same time learning from the other tools developed for other regions on matters of category structuring and point weighting. The Energy Bill 2015, spearheaded by the ERC (Energy Regulatory Commission), seeks to establish an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Agency, which will designate factories, buildings and energy appliances by types, quantities of energy use, or methods of energy utilization for purposes of energy efficiency and conservation, with owners of buildings and factories which exceed the limit to be defined minimum energy consumption standards liable for penalties. Rather than believing that people can be behaviorally conditioned by architectural space, we must understand that human beings, nature and architecture can and should coexist in an harmonious balance. Architecture is a communal art that should reflect the personal habits and traditions of our communities in the context of our environment. The construction industry players in our country must adopt responsive environmental design solutions. For this reason the efforts by the AAK’s Environmental Design Chapter and the National Government in developing local rating systems and standards should be supported. Eric Loki David Architect Mphil. (Environmental Design in Architecture) Cambridge, B.Arch (Hons) Nairobi, LEED (Green Associate) MAAK (ED)

Kenya’s varied climatic conditions allow for a variety of beautiful plant material that should be celebrated in our quest for ‘green’.

FEATURED ARCHITECT

Being a Woman in the Building Industry Arch. Aidah Munano

t takes a diamond to shine in one of the most technical and male dominated professions and still maintain poise and a touch of femininity. Such is one Architect Aidah Munano who has risen from a graduate architect, fresh from the university to the now Works Secretary in charge of the Public Works directorate under the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development. Childhood The “golden girl”, as she quips when I ask of her age, grew up on transit due to her mother’s teaching profession. They would move to different parts of the country whenever her mother got transferred. Remarkably, Aidah remembers all the houses they lived in, in the different places they moved to at the time; some of the houses were pretty remote in rural areas, while others were well built with good facilities. The movement also influenced Aidah’s learning experience as she would move to different schools every so often. The experience birthed in her a keen eye for buildings and as a child; she started analyzing details of her ever changing environment, which she believes to have influenced her career choice later. Being the only girl in a family of three also influenced Aidah’s inclination to architecture as she grew up with boys and in her own words; they bullied her thoroughly, of course lovingly as they were her brothers. She also attended mixed schools all through to high school which further contributed to her drive for challenges. Consequently, Aidah developed a muscle for the tough and challenging things that were traditionally considered masculine. Education Aidah attended four different primary schools. She sat for her CPE exams at Gituto primary school, Muranga in 1969 emerging as the best pupil in the school. She then proceeded to Nyandarua secondary school for her O’ levels in 1973 and again became the best student in her fourth form exams. In 1974, Aidah was admitted at the Alliance

Girls high school for her Form 5 and 6 studies. Upon completing her Form six, she joined the University of Nairobi to study architecture in 1976. In 2nd and 3rd year, Aidah was the only girl in her class. By the time they were completing the course, they were only three girls in a class of 28. Having grown around boys and studied in mixed schools, the experience was not strange for Aidah. “The male students were actually very relatable and kind to the girls,” she remembers. They did not feel intimidated as the boys always made them feel very special. Until today, Aidah confirms that it has never felt intrusive to be in a man’s profession as otherwise assumed. She completed her architectural studies in 1981. In 2010, she enrolled for a Masters in Construction Project Management at JKUAT and graduated in 2012. Career experience It’s been a journey of 33 years serving from the level of a graduate architect and moving on merit through nine stages in the ministry to her current position. Upon graduating, Aidah started working in January, 1982 as an assistant architect in the Ministry of Public Works. At the time, the Ministry was organized in seven groups for implementation of projects. She got into a group that was working on military projects. There was a lot of reform in the defense forces at the time hence immense development of camps, barracks and houses for them across the country. After two years, Aidah got her registration with the Board of Architects and Quantity Surveyors and became a registered architect. In 1989, Aidah was made a superintending architect, in charge of the group working on treasury projects among others. Unlike her former roles of designing, organizing and site supervision, the new level involved more administration. Groups would deal with specific ministries. A group leader would not just coordinate many projects, but all the people working under the group. Shortly after, she was promoted to a senior superintending architect, in charge of two groups hence supervising projects for more ministries.

FEATURED ARCHITECT

Arch. Aidah with the former president Mwai Kibaki on an official fuction

She would later become a chief superintending architect. With this position, you are trusted with bigger and more complex projects. About the same time, Aidah was designated the Provincial Works officer in Nairobi province in 1997. She was in charge of all the projects in Nairobi province which were not being implemented in the headquarters. For the first time, she coordinated across the board; facilitating presidential functions whilst coordinating implementation of roads & building projects for government agencies. The position was very engaging hence required huge personal organization as a lot would be expected from you. Aidah notes that this experience molded how she does her work until today. It was her career breakthrough in terms of administration, project management and coping with tough situations. She served as the Provincial Works officer for five years until 2003. From the Provincial Works Officer, Aidah was deployed back to the headquarters as a Principal Superintending architect. Her roles here were mainly policy based including planning, research and development as well as projects supervision for the Ministries of Public Works, Transport & Infrastructure and Water. Aidah has also served as a Chief Architect in an acting capacity. The Chief Architect is referred to as the chief government architect and advisor to the government on all building matters for both the private and public sector. Currently, the chief architect is a head of department under the Public Works directorate, mandated to observe standards in building construction, policy in the industry and implementation of building projects for the public sector.

Projects Before the administrative positions, Aidah worked on projects for various ministries. Her first project was a military facility where she did the complete master plan of the entire project and site supervision of three phases. She was also involved in the design and construction of the Provincial headquarters in Kisumu and several housing projects in Mombasa, Laikipia & Eldoret. She notes that the experience was very exciting as there was trust and unity among the consultants. As a young person, Aidah also enjoyed the travelling. The Ministry Upon change of government in 2013, several ministries were merged to make 18 ministries out of the previous 44 ministries. In the built environment, five ministries were merged into one, including the Ministry of Local Government, Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Housing, Ministry of Metropolitan and the Ministry of Lands. In the new dispensation, the former ministries translated to directories. The Cabinet Secretary is the senior most government official in the ministerial hierarchy. The Principal Secretary is the overall in all the directorates followed by the heads of the respective directorates, referred to as Secretaries. Aidah is the head of the Public Works Directorate under the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, officially referred to as the Works Secretary. She oversees the works for the development of buildings for the public sector as well as the professions of architects, quantity surveyors, designers and the engineers (electrical, structural, civil & mechanical). Work is implemented through Teams and each Team oversees specific projects for the various ministries in terms of implementation, quality assurance, forward planning and consultation with clients. Works Secretary is the chief advisor to the government on building construction. The Works Secretary can thus be identified as the government project manager since the position entails coordinating the implementation of all the government projects.The qualification to be a Works Secretary is adequate experience in coordination and implementation of large scale projects as a professional in the building industry. The Industry Having practiced in the government for over 30 years, Aidah has witnessed change of governments and massive growth in the building construction industry. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now we have very versatile construction equipment, easy access to information with computer technology, speed in terms of implementation of projects and new policies

FEATURED ARCHITECT

that govern the industry. There are magnificent developments, building forms substantially changed with our skyline as cosmopolitan as in any other city in the world. The Government In the government, there are very clear structures and mandates specific for the different players which facilitate continuity with every change of leadership. With the Constitution, Acts of Parliament and policies maintained, the changes focus in terms of resource allocation for any particular government in reference to its manifesto. Presently, there is a concerted effort between the top leadership and the teams at implementation level as the cabinet and principal secretaries in ministries are technocrats and not politicians. The Ministry works on a system where information is accessible on a common platform and shared across the board. Technology has also cut the cost of doing business with consultation much easier. Challenges One of the major issues that Aidah has had to deal with in her practice in the government is change of implementation teams as a result of promotions and transfers. Such changes affect synergy in the implementation of projects. The changes require continued investment in team building in order to mitigate these dynamics. Although the changes pose challenges, Aidah appreciates the team spirit evident among the professionals she works with. Their devotion and passion to perform and deliver makes her work much easier. “To succeed as the Works Secretary, one has to really offer the leadership expected of the position.” Aidah adds. Inspiration &Mentors “My main mentor has been my mother. She is a very strong, resilient and hard working woman. As a single parent, she ensured that her children grew up in a stable environment, had good education and were comfortable education despite the change of locations necessitated by her career.” Her 82 year old mother, who seemed to always have a solution for everything, also influenced how Aidah looks at things. She has since learnt to be solution oriented in all situations. The need for a solution in any situation too acts as inspiration to Aidah because it pushes her to think and come up with new ideas. This is motivated by her strong belief that nothing is impossible. Faith in

God is her greatest inspiration. Aidah is also inspired by team dynamics as team work births great ideas. She learnt the power of synergy when she chaired a team that came up with the one stop border points, a concept that has now been implemented and will soon be operational. Recognition Aidah was awarded Head of State recognition in 2002. She has also been honored by the Architectural Association of Kenya for remarkable contribution in the industry. She has also served as one of the directors in the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors. Currently, Aidah is a director at the National Construction Authority. She is also a council member for the Muranga University College. Advice “Be persistent for persistence provides results. Everything has a solution, so persist and don’t give up. To students and other young people, focus to learn and appreciate that there is time and a season for everything. In addition, take every opportunity and learn from every experience. Get involved in the industry activities through professional institutions and stay informed. Consult and network with the experienced professionals. To other practitioners, construction involves large investment and a client knows what it is that they want. It is therefore important to listen keenly to the client, relate closely to them to not only hear but also understand the requirements and offer the appropriate professional advice. Personal Life Aidah is a mother of two and a grandmother of two. She loves networking and listening to people. She also reads a lot of motivational and inspirational books. To relax, Aidah loves taking long walks. She is also a born again Christian. Upon retirement from civil service, Aidah hopes to leave a mark of excellence with the help of the competent and self driven team of professionals that she works with. As the Works Secretary, she will continue to ensure that there is value for the money in implementation of projects, satisfaction to the client and timely delivery of projects. Once she leaves the office, Aidah plans to start a project management consultancy and participate more in CSR. She also wants to take up her PHD studies.

Arch. Aidah (R) with her mother and her two brothers

ARCHITRAVEL

BERLIN The High Tech World City

Reichtstag Building

n this issue we travel to Germany, in the city of Berlin. Germany is a country with a lengthy past which portrays it as good, bad and ugly depending on either who you are listening to or what you are reading. Actually all these perceptions have revolved around the city of Berlin. Our concern will only be focused on events of the part of the 19th century up to the 21st century we are in. In our generation, Germany is best known for its technology innovations – “ Made In Germany”, The Bundesliga – “Football Made In Germany” and Oktoberfest (Beer Festival) which is held in Munich from September to October every year. These are things which have taken place for as long as the country existed with its own language and culture. The only interruption of Germany’s smooth sailing in life was during the period it triggered two world wars the 1st in 1914-918 and the 2nd in 1939-1945. Hence when the country’s history is reviewed, it is unfortunate events of these wars have to be looked into. The first world war’s scars here in Kenya are vividly marked and now recorded in Taita Taveta County, in a small museum in one of the safari lodges, some sights on Voi -Taveta Road and Tsavo West National Park. Of course no one would want a fully fledged world war if one can see how long the second one took! Berlin was heavily bombed during the two world wars and particularly in the second. After the second world war Berlin was divided into two – East and West by a wall which existed until 1989 when East and West Germany reunified to form modern day Federal Republic of Germany. From its destruction by the wars few historic buildings remained

intact. The demolishing or reconstruction of the damaged buildings started in the 1950s and 1960s. But it is not until after 1989 when the two cities then East and West brought competing architectural ideologies into one city, Berlin’s modern and contemporary architecture speaks to a past that seldom accompanies such recent additions. The city is filled with new and wonderful architecture that might not have found space in other cities in Europe. These run into hundreds and cannot possibly be all listed here. The most eye catching one is the Reichstag Dome, home to the German parliament. This vision of beauty especially when illuminated at night is one many reasons to visit artsy Berlin. The building was designed by renowned British architect by the name Norma Robert Foster whose works

ARCHITRAVEL

include Mexico City Airport. My other suggestions for you to see are Potsdamer Platzâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sony Centre, TV Tower (built in 1969, is amongst the tallest buildings in Europe at 369 metres , 1207 feet) and the Rotes Rathaus. Apart from architecture, Berlin, and indeed German today has lots of influences around the world in politics, socio-economic activities, technology and culture. These are the other many sectors of our lives which one can combine to see what the Germans have to offer. Our assurance, there will never be a dull moment on a trip to this city alone or country at large. To tour this city, you can travel individually, as a couple or special interest group, on a tailor-made itinerary or join one of the many scheduled tours on offer through Zaruma Safaris Ltd, your destination and dreams management company. â&#x2014;&#x20AC;

Potsdamer Platz

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typical of the Mayfair district,” says Elizabeth Lane, Director of Projects at RPW Design. The interior designers from the renowned London design practice were responsible for redesigning the lobby, the Executive Lounge and the conference rooms as well as the hotel rooms and suites. Special attention was paid to the bathrooms, as they play an important role in making guests feel perfectly at home and are therefore key to the guest experience. Characteristically veined bookmatched marble was chosen for the walls and floors and placed in such a way that intriguing patterns are created. Glass and mirror elements produce a pleasant contrast of transparency and lightness. The opulent effect of the bathrooms is underlined by the GROHE Grandera™ faucets. Their timeless, nostalgically inspired aesthetics fit in seamlessly with the elegant design of the bathrooms. The unusual combination of flowing feminine forms and clearly defined edges makes this premium faucet line an exercise in pure beauty. “This designer collection from GROHE is the perfect match for high-quality hotel properties such as London Marriott Hotel Park Lane,”says Elena Verdera, Senior Designer at RPW Design. “Their extensive range offers the right product variants for any hotel bathroom.” Ideal for high end residences, hotels and hospitality locations, GROHE Grandera™ can now be ordered through stockists in Kenya, including ASL Trading Ltd., Apex Steel, Plumbware, Techno-Plast & Boyama Building Materials ◀

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OPINION

Tenements, housing the urban majority Arch Steve Gome

Tenement housing in Kayole, Nairobi Kenya

n the 19th century, more and more people began crowding into America’s cities, including thousands of newly arrived immigrants seeking a better life. In New York City–where the population doubled every decade from 1800 to 1880–buildings that had once been single-family dwellings were increasingly divided into multiple living spaces to accommodate this growing population. Known as tenements, these narrow, low-rise apartment buildings–many of them concentrated in the city’s Lower East Side neighborhood–were all too often cramped, poorly lit and lacked indoor plumbing and proper ventilation. By 1900, some 2.3 million people (a full two-thirds of New York City’s population) were living in tenement housing. The earliest tenements were built on the 25-foot-wide lots that were laid out as part of the New York grid, so it was on a lot that had been planned to house a single family. Suddenly you had 20 or 22 families living in a custom-built building. These tenements were built with almost no amenities. The building that Tenement Museum now occupies on Orchard Street, were built with four apartments per floor, three rooms in each apartment. That’s 12 rooms on which only one room in each apartment had a window. The inner room and the second inner room had no windows. There was almost no light, no ventilation. Although water was available on Orchard Street, and sewage was available on Orchard Street, owners were not required to hook in to these lines, and so there was no water in the building. There were probably toilets in the backyard that could be flushed once a day by an owner’s representative. Manifestation of this kind of mass housing didn’t just end in America in the1900s.Population upsurge in various urban areas has always led to more demand to cheap housing everywhere else. Development of tenement housing apart from the need for housing has been blamed too on urban planning. Ernest Flagg, tenement reformer and one of the great New York architects, wrote about the 25-foot-wide-lot tenement, and he said that “The greatest evil which ever befell New York City was the division of the blocks into lots of 25 x 100 feet. So true is this, that no other disaster can for a moment be compared with it. Fires, pestilence, and financial troubles are as nothing in comparison; for from this division has arisen the New York system of tenement-houses, the worst curse which ever afflicted any great community” Pulling the narrative close home, the ideology of owning a piece of the city has led to tiny fragmentation of hitherto large swathes of land into “eighths” and “quarters” as every urban dweller desires a sense of ownership. These lots initially are sold on condition of controlled development and prescribed zoning regulations but the rules last until the buyers hold their ownership documents. Majority parts of Nairobi’s Eastland were disguised as lots for single dwelling units. Today the Umojas and Kayoles of Nairobi have developed over time into our own version

OPINION

of the tenement housing. The conditions may not be as precarious as it was in New York at the emergence of this type of housing, but it’s agreed that we still have a lot of challenges with this kind of mass housing. Past various efforts in slum upgrading and low cost housing provision have not met the housing demands. Could formalization and regularization of tenement housing be the solution towards meeting the housing demand deficits? I opine that extension and expansion of infrastructure in these areas and engagement of professionals in the design of these structures could help the nation to achieve the housing demands. The private developers have always taken shortcuts by circumventing the use of professionals to design and implement their projects on disguise of high costs of engaging the professionals. The county governments can rally architects and planners with incentives to help in this line through development of high density prototypes for adoption by all the developers. This can only be achieved when urban improvement dialogue are initiated and the potential of tenements seen as an opportunity to solve the urban housing problem. It’s unfortunate that such brilliant efforts have suffered from

political undercurrents as in the case of the proposed Nairobi City County Regularization of Development Bill 2015 that was shot down by Ward representatives ◀ The Author is a Partner at Whintto Achitects in Mombasa

Collapsed tenement in Kaloleni, Nairobi Kenya-Engagement of professionals in the built environment in any scale of project will greatly reduce such incidences

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INTERIORS

Transforming Bank Spaces for the 21St Century

or the longest time, banks have been known to be commercial places where money is the only commodity that changes hands and its transaction as the only activity. Until today, bank spaces usually follow simplistic designs with no distinct features and for many, the corporate colours would be the most recognizable element. But that is not the story for Chase Iman bank headquarters. Inside the magnificent Delta Towers at the heart of Westlands town in Nairobi sits the Chase Iman HQ offices

on 3rd floor.Unlike the official impression that the building creates from without, the Chase Iman offices are decked with homey interiors that breathe premium comfort, artistically crafted to replace an everyday office environment. Designed and fitted by Morphosis Architects & Interior

INTERIORS

Designers, the spectacular spaces spark with warmth and vibrance enhanced by the strong Islamic and Swahili elements that are repeatedly but diversely visible in all the rooms. The initial brief required that the floor would host two of the Chase Bank Group of companies, specifically the Chase Iman HQ offices and the Genghis Capital. It was later revised, giving the entire floor to Chase Iman Bank - a distinct arm of the Chase Bank Group that is fully Shariah compliant catering for the banking needs of the Muslim community. The brief changes would alter the prepared design hence resulting to change of functions for certain rooms. The redesigned layout comprised of one reception, the pool office, meeting rooms, dealing room, a break out area, prayer room, a gaming room, washrooms and the lifts. The entire floor accommodates over 80 people with room for growth. At the reception, a striking feature wall in low relief Swahili motif faces the entry point, embracing your arrival with pleasant artistry. Precast niches made of gypsum with coral stones are also carefully designed on the walls with brass trinkets, a feature that creates depth and enhances the coastal theme in the space. The engineered Kalinga marble stone on the floor also gives your feet a rhythm as you ap-

proach the custom desk made of timber and corian. An innovation feat by the designer is the suspended MDF feature ceiling on the roof. The inbuilt seats at the waiting area are all white, designed to simplify the strong features on the floor, the walls and the ceiling of the grand reception. From the reception, the corridors lead to the pool offices laid out to exclusively accommo-

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We are proud to be the main contractor for the Chase Iman Bank HQ interiors. 29

INTERIORS

date the executives, head of departments and their teams. Furniture arrangement in this space assumes an open plan. The most conspicuous feature in these spaces is the painting on the walls; gold and green with a white shade which are the corporate colors of Chase Iman bank. The design here was intentionally kept simple

to ensure minimal distractions as this is one of the most business engaged spaces with a lot of banking activities hence the clusters for team synergy. There are two meeting rooms, both fitted with all white off -the-shelf furniture to create an aura of modernity. Their floors are made of carpet tiles. The walls are made of mvule timber and stained glass mimicking the Swahili culture. The ensemble keeps these spaces harmonized and well balanced with minimal dĂŠcor to serve their specific functions effusively. Feature timber screens with glass mosaic inserts hug the walls on the opposite sides at the break out area matching the suspended MDF box ceiling at the entrance. This space was designed to be intimate with interesting features and layout that allow users an outdoor experience within an enclosed area. The space also assumes an introverted plan such that users are fully immersed into the warmth oozing from the rich design features in the area. The floor is made of timber and the walls of Swahili stained glass and brass lanterns that beam with diverse colours. Inbuilt feature seats made of timber

INTERIORS

enhance vibrance in the space. The colors in the gaming room are invitingly warm and different from those in other spaces. The vibrant orange and blue shades on the glass wall with venile graphics infuse a strange but a playful feel. The orange cozy seats, a mega screen and other entertainment equipment grace the colorful space. Grooved MDF panels are safely but playfully suspended on the roof. Beautiful decorations are crafted on the brown mvule timber walls which adds to the cultural fun look intended for this space. The key materials used in the holistic design are Mvule timber, stained glass with Swahili and Islamic touch, carpet tiles on the floor, MDF cut out grid work, gypsum on some wall and roof features, coral stones and pink tones of nero on the polished walls. The gap between modern and traditional set up is well merged in this design giving banking spaces a brand new meaning. Adventure and innovation has also been fairly explored in the work resulting to unique and some eye-grabbing features that are rare in office environments.

Balance and harmony is well achieved with the strong features strategically concentrated in particular areas to uplift the less visible features.Withdrawing the user from the conventional modern office spaces usually characterized by plain glass partition and simple office furniture, Chase Iman HQ offices ooze with rich interiors carefully fitted with respect to the client’s taste and style ◀ Project Team: - Interior Design - MEE - QS - PM

- Morphosis Architects& Interior Designers - Safcon Associates - Sums Consult - Advantage East Africa

- Main Contractor

- Ark Construction

-Electrical Sub-contractor - Raicha’s Electro Service Ltd.

WE ARE PROUD TO BE THE ELECTRICAL SUB-CONTRACTOR FOR31THE INTERIOR FIT OUT OF CHASE BANK IMAN OFFICES

ADVERTORIAL

Crown Paints introduces mobile app to enable users choose the right paint colour

eading paint manufacturer, Crown Paints Kenya, has introduced a first of its kind mobile application in the market that will make it easier for customers to make a more accurate selection of their preferred home interior colour scheme. The app dubbed Crown Colour App, will be available on both the Google Play Store and the Apple Store. The company Chief Executive Officer Rakesh Rao said that by launching the mobile application, Crown Paints has embraced the technological possibilities of the 21st century for the paints and adhesives market. “Paint colours have become very vibrant, exciting and unique and the consumer is increasingly involved in the choice of colour they pay for. The Crown Colour App gives consumers the flexibility to choose a colour of their choice and the comfort in knowing that they can get that exact shade,” he added. The launch of the Crown Colour App is a testament of Crown Paints continued market dominance with innovative products and services that meet customer needs and requirements. “This mobile app makes our entire range of colours easily accessible to customers wherever they may be located. All the shade cards we have at our showrooms can now be viewed by customers virtually. We believe that the Crown Colour App will greatly enhance customer ease, convenience and creativity,” said Mr. Rao. Users will be able to navigate through more than

1,000 colours and search for any colour by name and code in the ambience colour chart. They can also browse pre-installed home interior images or take a picture from their phone camera to retrieve and identify colours. “The app can detect the difference between wall space, furniture and fixtures and paints around contours in real time as long as the user does not move too much. The app takes into account the light in the frame and adjusts the colour of the wall accordingly, so you can see what it will look like in genuine ambient settings rather than just present a blanket slab of colour,” Mr. Rao added. With these capabilities, Mr. Rao said that the colour app will also appeal to professionals in different fields that work with colours, ranging from fashion designers, stylists and graphic designers, since it will give the exact colour code. “Housewives, painters, professionals among others can download and use this application, not only for painting purposes, but also for other engagements that may require accuracy in colour.” Users can save their favourite colours for future review or share with their friends colour names and codes via SMS, Email, WhatsApp, Viber, Facebook or Twitter. Upon settling on the choice of colour, existing and potential customers can visit the showrooms to place their orders. Crown Paints has established various showrooms that give the consumer an opportunity to interact with the products and have a look and feel of the actual products ◀

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Land and Water Resolving The Tensions Of Climate Change And Urbanisation In Nairobi’s Largest Slum

n the last couple of months, heavy rains have brought the issue of flooding to the forefront of many Kenyans’ minds. Traditionally, flooding has been a problem associated with rural areas and places like Narok that have developed in flood plains. However, the recent floods in Nairobi and Mombasa have highlighted the issue as an urban problem, raising questions about how Kenyan cities are designed to face the environmental challenges of the 21st century; including climate change, increased variability in weather patterns, and the subsequent threat of natural disasters. There is a need for our cities to grow resilient to the risks that threaten the lives and livelihoods of city dwellers. Particular attention is needed to address the risks that affect the poorest and most vulnerable citizens that not only make up a huge proportion of cities’ population, but who also often live in the most hazardous locations. In rapidly urbanizing cities, informal settlements are consistently located along natural drainage paths. In many cases, residents’ housing encroaches on the adjacent

By: Kounkuey Design Initiative

waterways, exposing residents to regular (and dangerous) flooding. Nairobi is no different. Nearly all of Nairobi’s informal settlements are located along one of Nairobi’s three major river systems (the Motoine-Ngong, Nairobi, and Mathare rivers) that make up the Nairobi River Basin. As the city continues to experience exponential growth (most of which occurs in informal settlements) and global climate change increases rainfall variability, flood risk in the city’s informal settlements will continue to rise. Kibera is an example of one such informal settlement. Kibera is situated along the Motoine-Ngong River in Nairobi and it has an estimated population of several hundred thousand people living in single-storey dwellings in a space two-thirds the size of New York’s Central Park. The inhabitants of Kibera face many challenges including high levels of economic poverty, high population densities that result in a lack of public spaces within the settlement, and insufficient sanitation infrastructure. Solid waste management is also a problem. With nowhere to dispose of their rubbish, residents resort to using any available open spaces as dumping grounds or to throwing their trash into the

SPECIAL FEATURE

Ngong River. Â Informal drainage systems also lead into the river, and as a result, the river and the Nairobi Dam to which it flows into are heavily polluted. In Kibera, the cheapest dwellings are found along the Ngong river and its main tributaries; attracting the poorest residents who are willing to risk their lives and assets to live in the city. Bridges, access ways and other essential infrastructure can be found in these flood zones which, during the heavy rains, are often dangerous and impassable. The localised flooding of pathways and drainage systems is aggravated by the high level of impervious roofing and the erasure of natural water retention zones caused by human disturbance. Flooding can destroy the limited assets of poor households, halt economic activity, contaminate water supply, and lead to outbreaks of disease and displacement. The only way to mitigate the hazards of flooding is through the enforcement of effective flood risk reduction policies. The only concrete policy for flood protection that exists in Nairobi is the designation of a blanket riparian zone for floodmanagement, within which all structures are deemed illegal. The policy has proved difficult to enforce as city dwellers from every strata of society encroach on the Nairobi River Basin riparian zone. In Kibera (and other informal settlements) this has created tensions between residents and implementing agencies. Many observers have advocated for a more nuanced approach to avoid the costs and mass evictions that would ensue should the policy be fully implemented. The Kibera Public Space Project was initiated by Kounkuey Design Initiative (KDI) in 2006 as a means of addressing some of the challenges mentioned above. KDI is a design and community development organization that partners with communities living in extreme poverty to physically transform degraded environments, grow economic resilience, and build social cohesion. At its inception, KDI developed a conceptual strategy for addressing Kiberaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s macro-scale challenges like economic opportunity and watershed remediation through the development of micro-scale Productive Public Spaces (PPS) in key locations along the waterways. The premise of the concept is to create a network of active, attractive community-hubs along the Motoine-Ngong river and its tributaries as a means of; (1) building the river infrastructure to ame-

liorate resilience to flooding, (2) retaining and re-introducing much needed ecological buffer zones, (3) protecting the riparian zones along the river, (4) reducing point pollution subsequently contributing to the remediation of the river, Nairobi Dam and downstream areas, (5) introducing much needed water and sanitation facilities Â and recreational public space into Kibera to serve the most vulnerable residents. To date, KDI has completed six PPS projects and is currently working on its seventh. These projects have achieved a level of support, appreciation and endorsement from Kibera residents not only because it is the residents themselves that propose the projects in the first place, but also because KDI adheres to strict principles that prevent them from demolishing any structures. This sensitivity and intimate understanding of the Kibera context has enabled KDI to operate within the extremely complex environment. Over the last decade, KDI has gained a wealth of experience building PPS along the waterways of Kibera that integrate

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KPSP Network Projects BD

physical and social solutions to build the resilience of local communities to flooding along the waterways of Kibera. This year the team has embarked upon a program focused on urban flooding to further understand flood risk in Kibera . The project aims to quantify the vulnerabilities of affected persons and to work with them to build the resilience of communities in Kibera to adapt and respond to flooding. The overall objective of this project is to create a “toolkit” that can be used to implement flood risk reduction strategies in Kibera (and in the future - other informal settlements) by incorporating local perspectives. The toolkit will comprise of a digital flood map developed through hydrological modeling and physical surveying, flood risk assessment which incorporates community perspectives on risk, and policy prescriptions for applying the tools in Kibera and elsewhere. Ultimately, the development of the toolkit will address the need to protect riparian zones and negotiate the realities of residents living in flood zones. The project aims to pave the

KDI linear Park BD

way for a more nuanced approach to planning by helping define where different structural (physical) and nonstructural (social resilience) measures might be most appropriate. Overall it represents an opportunity to re-imagine the identity of Nairobi’s waterways. What if the riparian zone could be reclaimed to provide an environmental buffer against flooding, while providing public space, access ways and underlying infrastructure (sewerage drainage, water) in a series of linear parks? For KDI it is the next step in building the vision of the Kibera Public Space Project to consider this possibility. By continuing to build Productive Public Spaces that demonstrate the potential of integrated and participatory approaches while providing settlement-scale data to inform larger planning decisions, we hope to influence the development of the Ngong River and the wider waterways of Nairobi towards a sustainable, equitable and resilient future ◀

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TECHNOLOGY

Six global trends that are changing how we design in Africa

n recent years, digital technologies have taken a quantum leap and have made a huge impact on businesses and the economy globally.As a developing continent, Africa is bursting with potential for more innovation in technology, architecture and design. Autodesk lists the six key global trends reshaping the future of how things

are made. 1. Democratisation of tools to design and make. The software and tools required to design have become more affordable and more accessible. This affords everybody with the opportunity to design and innovate. Innovations in financing software allow access to capital and fewer resources needed to start up. With more people able to design, more fresh ideas will be generated in order to solve global design challenges. 2. Cloudcomputing. The almost infinite computational resources available through the cloud allow us to let the computer generate solutions rather than having to explicitly specify them. This also creates conditions for global teams to collaborate and for teams with diverse skills sets and tasks to manage complexity. 3. Digital manufacturing. 3D printers, Numerical Control (NC) machines, robots are all controlled digitally. This allows us to take digital designs and easily bring them to fruition. In tandem with this, manufacturing techniques are becoming increasingly democratised while simultaneously becoming both more powerful and cheaper. 4. New materials. We have a range of new materials, created through 3D printing and synthetic biology that allow for new ways of making things. 5. Sustainable design as necessity, not privilege. Sustainable design is increasingly being recognised as something that changes and improves the world. It doesn’t need to be expensive, it only needs to be effective, with cost as just one of many variables. If one views sustainability within the context of a project’s lifecycle, it is able to reduce the cost of a project in the

long run. 6. A shift in business size. Globally, there is a trend toward aggregation to large enterprises and disaggregation to small artisans. Both have the ability to contribute positively to an innovative design environment. Large organisations will produce scale and consistency but, in doing so, may dampen innovation. Alternatively, artisans and entrepreneurs can produce quality and innovation but have difficulty scaling. The magic comes from joining them symbiotically. About Autodesk Autodesk helps people imagine, design and create a better world. Everyone—from design professionals, engineers and architects to digital artists, students and hobbyists—uses Autodesk software to unlock their creativity and solve important challenges. Company facts: 12+ million users of professional products 115+ million users of consumer applications 7,300 employees worldwide Over 100 products in portfolio Products are available in 17 languages Over the past 18 years, all winners of the Academy Award® for Best Visual Effects in Film used Autodesk solutions • The Autodesk Education Community has over 6 million members, including students and teachers, who are eligible for free access to Autodesk software • Worldwide, Autodesk has: • 2,400+ Channel Partners o 3,900+ Autodesk Developer Network members o 2,000+ Autodesk Authorized Training Centers o 250+ user groups; 300,000 AUGI (Autodesk User Groups International) Members ◀ • • • • • •

The Future of How Things Are Made

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