SARL

Specialists in:

Road A, Off Enterprise Road, Industrial Area, Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: 020 801 4919/0771 340900 https://www.facebook.com/SARLtd

Eugene reveals that indeed most international companies are keen on the glocal element. “Their office here should not look exactly like what they have in London or New York. They want their local office to say something about Kenya and her people.”

To achieve these exciting results for clients, PIL, like other consultants has to work with contractors. So how does the company ensure that the contractor understands the design and brings out the space exactly as envisaged? “To achieve the desired result, PIL works with qualified contractors whose capabilities have been tried and tested, says Eugene.

“We walk the journey together with our clients to understand their goals, and how best to realize them.” PIL also ensures that our drawings and specifications are as detailed as possible and clear to the contractors. “We also supervise our projects very closely.” He adds that Design & Build projects are more convenient but there are also many cases where clients have their preferred contractors and PIL has to work with them.

Over the last 30 years, there are several important changes that have impacted the interior design sector, says Eugene. “One of the biggest is technology. When we were doing corporate offices in the late 1980s, an office would have basic components such as desks and telephones. Today, we have audio-visual equipment, Internet and data connectivity, security systems and so on. Projects have become much more technical.”

“Another change is in materials”, says Eugene pointing to a laminate table. “Twenty or thirty years ago, we would probably have done it in wood. There is much more variety than we had thirty years ago.” He adds that sustainability has also become enormously important, revealing that some of PIL’s clients have given express instructions to deploy only sustainable materials sourced from specific places.

Having lived through the last 30 years, PIL is not about to slow down. According to Eugene, the company hopes to expand its services in the region, having already worked in Tanzania, Zanzibar, and Uganda. It’s currently pursuing work in Rwanda. And as the firm grows, Eugene is focused on growing leadership capacity within the team with the intention of gradually relinquishing executive management. “I intend to move on to other areas such as design education and business mentorship”, he reveals, adding that although he would still like to occasionally do a project, he is looking at spending some of his time doing fine art, which he has always had a passion for. “I may also get involved in organizations that support the creative industry.”

“For PIL, I see us doing more turnkey projects. However, we have no intention of not abandoning the creativity that made us what we are.”