Renovations to Meet A Client’s Needs

Extensive renovations to an older home to meet clients’ needs

WHEN THE HOMEOWNERS EMBARKED ON THE RENOVATIONS AND EXTENSIONS TO THEIR OLDER HOME THEY DIDN’T REALISE QUITE HOW EXTENSIVE THE NEW BUILD WOULD BE. ABOUT THE ONLY PART LEFT OF THE ORIGINAL STRUCTURE IS THE DOUBLE STOREY GUEST BEDROOM AND EN SUITE BATHROOM. THE HOUSE WAS PROBABLY BUILT IN THE 50S OR 60S AND THE EXISTING WALLS WERE IN POOR CONDITION SO ALMOST ALL THE WALLS WERE REBUILT. IN ADDITION, THE EXISTING VERANDA WAS ENCLOSED BY A SERIES OF ARCHES WHICH MADE THE HOUSE FEEL A LITTLE DATED.

The owners worked with Bruce Rowlands from Architexture Spatial Design to work out the initial concepts. Thara Sweetman worked as the architectural assistant and helped produce the final working drawings. The owners had a fairly clear idea of what they wanted and contributed a lot of their own ideas in terms of the finishes, lighting and detailed interior design choices.

The project was managed by Richard Kennaird with Rich Wild from KW Construction acting as the main contractors. Brown Engineering supplied the reinforcement steel as well as the new roof structure. John Ridgewell from BCHOD was the engineer.

The house was previously a rather disjointed collection of rooms, particularly in the main living area, and the front entrance to the house was through an awkward vestibule and hallway. The main entrance was moved so it now leads directly into the principal living area – a single, clear, open plan kitchen, dining room and lounge space. Part of an existing veranda was included in the living space and a new veranda was added on two sides of the lounge incorporating the new pool and adding loads of extra outdoor space for entertaining. Large aluminium and glass doors open out to the veranda blending the indoor and outdoor spaces. The new veranda is around 150 sq m and has generous seating areas for lounging and dining as well as an outside bar and barbeque area. The owners have also re-done the existing pool so it fits in better with the new, more geometric design of the house. On the entrance side of the veranda the owners have created a green wall to blend the large blank screening wall in to the garden greenery.

The new living space has a kitchen toward the back delineated from the rest of the area by a large island. Behind the kitchen is a scullery and utility room so the kitchen remains mostly clear and uncluttered. There’s a glass gable between the kitchen and the scullery and a further gable beyond that opens the scullery to the back yard allowing in loads of natural light. On the opposite side of the living room there’s another glass gable and wide glass and aluminium doors further open the space to the veranda, the pool and the garden. Glass and aluminium doors and windows were supplied and fitted by Willie Barnard. An existing sunken lounge, which felt a bit retro, has been removed and the ground floor space is now one simple and cleaner level. The owners have also renovated and updated the pool so it’s a more modern rectilinear shape in keeping with the new design of the house.

The living area has a high vaulted ceiling which follows the roof line so the space seems even more generous and airy. There’s a small, but very efficient, wood burning fireplace to keep the room cosy in winter. The fireplace was custom made and handcrafted by Uli (uilguci@gmail.com).

Solid light oak floors throughout add warmth and texture and keep the space feeling light without being too cold or heavy.

From the open plan space an oak staircase leads up to the guest suite on the first floor which has a view through the trees over the front garden. At the base of the staircase is a small enclosed room which makes an ideal home office space. There’s also a small access room which houses the inverter and batteries as the house is solar powered and can run off grid most of the time. There are also provisions for a rainwater harvesting system although it hasn’t been fully set up yet so water is supplied by a borehole. Leading off on the opposite side is the passage to the bedroom wing. There are two generous bedrooms for their young children, both with full en suite bathrooms. The extra space for the bedrooms and bathrooms was created by moving the back wall out about a metre and a half in to the back yard.

The master bedroom suite is a new extension with the bedroom, dressing room and luxurious en suite bathroom. The master has great access to the garden through extensive aluminium and glass doors and window views. The master bedroom has a vaulted ceiling similar to the living room so it feels spacious and airy.

The brief to the architect also included the request for extended garage space to accommodate their vehicles plus extra space for their boats and fishing equipment. This has been accommodated to the western side of the main building, including extra storage rooms for equipment and gear. An existing Durawall garage was demolished and a new garage built to blend in better with the house. The garage is nearly 100 sq m and also includes two lockup storerooms.

The project started in Jan 2021 and the owners finally moved in in January this year, so it took almost a year to complete with a big push at the end. The COVID lockdown delayed the progress of the project, particularly in sourcing materials and finishes. The owners have kept to a fairly minimalist interior design scheme favouring furniture and décor with simple clean lines. The result is a family home with generous proportions that functions well and is ideal for entertaining family and friends. The final phase will be working on landscaping the garden which already has several mature, established trees and some open lawn space for the kids and the dogs to enjoy.

Wood-burning freplaces hand crafted by ULI

Aspire Heights’ Second Block of Apartments is

Spectacular text by Farai Chaka photos by Structure & Design ASPIRE HEIGHTS AND PROPERTY DEVELOPERS OXFORD PROPERTIES ARE ON A ROLL. WITHIN A YEAR OF COMMISSIONING THEIR FIRST BLOCK OF LUXURY APARTMENTS, (FEATURED IN STRUCTURE AND DESIGN ISSUE 45) THEY HAVE PUT THEIR SECOND BLOCK OF APARTMENTS ON THE MARKET. BASED ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE TWO APARTMENT BLOCKS AND THE FACT THAT THEY ARE ADJACENT YOU WOULD THINK THE LATEST PROJECT IS JUST A REPLICA OF THE FIRST ONE UNTIL YOU HAVE TAKEN A TOUR OF THE INTERIORS. THE DIFFERENCE IS IN THE FEW ADDITIONAL FEATURES INCORPORATED INSIDE.

The long-awaited unveiling of the apartment building took place on the 31st of July 2022 after months of social media hyping from the Aspire Heights digital communications team. Potential buyers were popping in to check out the expertly decorated show flat which is outstanding. Aspire Heights’ media partner for the big unveiling was Star FM who broadcast the proceedings live right on the premises.

The asking price on these luxurious lock-up-and-go apartments is rather modest as on select units the buyers are given the option to settle their balances monthly for the next two years once having paid the deposit. This is a very affordable option considering that the apartments are on a piece of land that is fully serviced, close to the CBD, scarcely experiences power outages, has uninterrupted water supply, a concierge system and more. This, as good as it sounds, is in no way more exciting than the developments on the way which include two fuel stations, fast food restaurants and a school of international standards. What is more, Aspire Heights runs numerous competitions on their social media platforms aimed at affording everyone the chance of experiencing the indulgent lifestyle on tap at Aspire Heights with some getting a 40% discount on the down payment!

For the ground floor units, the deposit is US$20000. You can literally be handed the keys to your apartment after paying this amount. Depending on the type of flat you would want to acquire (A or B) you could then pay the remaining amount in monthly instalments of US$4300 or US$4175 for a year. The upper-level units are slightly cheaper and instalments can be paid each month for two years! You can be part of the Aspindale community if you drop a US$18600 deposit with the balance being paid in instalments of US$2150 for the next two years. But if you just want to get it over and done with and become the proud owner of a brand-new apartment, it could be yours for only US$60000.

Oxford Properties lead project manager Craig Foxcroft says that on this particular project the overarching goal was to come up with something that was in more ways than one better than the first one he oversaw in terms of added extras. With a clear idea of what they wanted to do differently this time around on the second project, and with a team of seasoned of subcontractors, the project was completed earlier that anticipated and surprisingly without compromising on the quality they have come to be known for. The new block of apartments is great from both an aesthetic and functional perspective.

Taking cues from the first apartment block which is adjacent, the façade of the new apartment is again exposed brick work which has of late become the style of choice for a lot of designers when it comes to the exterior. This provides a sharp yet in-good-taste contrast to the whites and dark greys used on some parts of the exterior.

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Commercial Plant Mobile Plant Pump Services The apartments are on four floors including the ground floor. Big solid wood doors open inwards revealing a kitchen complete with Defy home appliances and custom fitted cupboards. The kitchen comes with an electric/gas cooking stove with an oven, a microwave, extractor hood, refrigerator and a washer dryer combo unit. Connected to the kitchen is the lounge area which has facilities such as a DStv connection and high-speed fibre internet infrastructure already installed. Residents are spoilt for choice with gas or electricity for cooking or heating.

Each apartment contains two bedrooms which are inviting and warm plus they come with fitted wardrobes. The window panes are supported by dark grey aluminium frames and they go almost all the way to ceiling so natural light streams in. The understated colour palette extends to the bathroom and toilet which has been made grander by fitting in a good-sized soaking tub inside the shower cubicles. Views of a neatly manicured garden can be taken in from the bedroom windows which can be very relaxing. Aspire Heights is always planting trees in the yard so in a few years the view will be splendid.

A couple of features and innovations can only be found in this latest block of apartments, for instance, the non-slip tiles, the bath tubs, the silicon seal under the cupboards and the expansion joints on the tiles. The non-slip tiles which can be found on the stairs and other common areas are easy to clean and maintain plus just like their name suggests they provide safety for the occupants especially in the rainy season.

To prevent the possibility of rot, the bottom part of all the kitchen cabinets and wardrobes have been sealed with silicone making sure neither dirt nor moisture permeates either when sweeping or mopping the floors. Also, the expansion joints on the tiling means that cracks are not going to appear on the flooring any time soon.

The advantages of living in the Aspindale Park Community are countless. Living within Aspindale Park, you will scarcely hear of electricity outages as the community is flanked by some of the biggest food processing factories in Zimbabwe which share the same power line with Aspindale Park. Luckily, in those rare cases of power outage, there is the provision of an optional built-in inverter facility. Although Harare City Council water is available, to avoid unforeseen dry spells there is constant borehole water supply. A nonmetered tap is also outside in case someone wants to wash their car. Plans to install a solar system specifically for the reticulation system and borehole are also in the pipeline.

Those who prioritise their safety over everything else will be glad to know that Aspindale Park is securely walled and gated and enjoys 24/7 security. Moreover, the modest structure that is immediately behind the first block of apartments, which is for the time being used as a reception and office space, will soon be adapted to house the caretaker and their family to make sure there is someone tending to the properties at all times.

Each resident has their own designated parking spot. The parking system has been designed in such a way that everyone walks the same distance from their apartment to their car and vice versa. Those occupying apartments on the first floor have their parking spaces a little farther down the line while upper floor dwellers’ spots are more conveniently accessed.

Every single detail and element of this block of apartments has been well considered.

For more information about these luxurious and affordable apartments:

Call: 08080488 Website: www.aspireheights.co.zw Facebook: @AspireHeights

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There is whole new feel at the Bon Marche store in Mt Pleasant

text by Farai Chaka | photos by Fotohaus

FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THEIR GRAND PLAN, OK ZIMBABWE HAVE RECENTLY COMPLETED MAJOR REFURBISHMENTS TO THEIR BON MARCHE STORE IN MOUNT PLEASANT LOCATED AT BOND STREET SHOPPING CENTRE. LAST YEAR THEY REVEALED THEIR PLANS TO RENOVATE AND UPDATE ALL THEIR STORES UNDER THE BON MARCHE FRANCHISE STARTING WITH THE FLAGSHIP OUTLET IN AVONDALE, COMPLETED EARLIER THIS YEAR (PROFILED IN STRUCTURE AND DESIGN MAGAZINE ISSUE 46). THERE IS A WHOLE NEW FEEL AT THE MOUNT PLEASANT PREMISES WHICH WELCOMES YOU BEFORE EVEN ENTERING THE STORE.

Work on the refurbishments started on the 4th of April 2022. Since these were major renovations which included a good number of demolitions, for the safety of the customers and for peak efficiency and productivity, the store had to be shut down for the whole duration of the works. The project manager, Takudzwa Ushamba, leading the design team with the help of Paragon Engineering, Studio Construct, CR Contractors and Engineers, Edliz Consultants, Merge Power Supplies, Amps Engineering and QS Consultants managed to hand over to their client a polished, contemporary, and spacious building requested in just three months. It was a laudable achievement considering the numerous public holidays around that time and the budget constraints. The store was reopened on the 14th of July 2022 - a completely transformed space from the exterior to the interior.

In addition to being a dated building in a shopping centre that undoubtedly has seen better days, this Bon Marche branch had scarce trading space which on some days would lead to overcrowding - obviously not a great situation for a premium franchise in a low-density area. There is no way overcrowding could not be a problem as the Mt Pleasant branch attracts shoppers from Vainona, Groombridge, Alex Park and other surrounding neighbourhoods in the north of Harare, not to mention hordes of students from the University of Zimbabwe.

The existing building consisted of three structures which were merged, which explains the L-shaped design of the interior layout which presented an inconvenience for the shoppers as they navigated the store in search of their desired products and also took up so much space which could have otherwise been used for something else. Therefore, in their brief to the architects, OK Zimbabwe above all wanted the trading space in the store to be increased by a substantial number of square metres (a tall order since they weren’t going to be any extension to the existing building) in order to create a more user-friendly, hassle-free experience for the shoppers as well as modernising the store’s façade.

The new store commands attention in the shopping complex with its fresh coat of cream paint. A new ramp with white and yellow stripes is a considerate feature which makes it easier for both the handicapped in wheelchairs and those pushing trolleys to and from their vehicles. Previously there were three entrance/exit points in front with steel roller shutter doors and these have been consolidated through closing the middle opening and then widening the remaining two access points which is more practical.

A mezzanine deck was introduced, accessed by a concrete staircase, to accommodate new staff offices and other common areas for the employees. Bon Marche Mt Pleasant now utilises the space just below the offices, on the ground floor, for warehousing purposes.

It is now airier inside and the sections are clearly demarcated. The grey ceiling with ceiling lights and the cream porcelain floor tiles are all new. To create more trading space inside the store, columns were removed and steel beams running from the front to the back were installed to support the roof which has additional load to carry owing to the mezzanine. After the demolitions and the redesigning of the interior layout, they realised that they had created 300 more square metres of trading space bringing the total trading space to 900 square metres!

Interesting new sections which were not present before the renovations are the liquor centre and the pharmacy which can be accessed on the far right and far left respectively. That whole area which had staff offices was cleared to make way for a liquor centre in which a broad selection of beers, ciders, and spirits is stocked. It is also key to know that one can now get their prescriptions at a Bon Marche store! The alley was repurposed to fit the decent sized pharmacy. It is in OK Zimbabwe’s plans to have a pharmacy at every Bon Marche outlet.

After the demolitions, the interior layout also had to change completely. The cream and green Bon Marche colours still remain but the sections have been moved around. There is a new bakery, kitchen, butchery and delicatessen situated at back. A glass pane at the butchery enables the customer to see exactly where the portions served are being cut from. The new butchery has enough space to hold two cold rooms, one for Halaal and one for non-Halaal. The meat now comes straight from the back through the receiving areas into the cold rooms so freshness is always assured.

Another interesting feature is that there is only one queue for the tills to make sure that everyone has an equal opportunity to be served without inconveniencing other customers. Shoppers queue in the space between the newly introduced steel racks on which an assortment of potato chips, chocolates and sweets are temptingly displayed while waiting for their turn to be served. When the light turns green at any till point, it signals the next customer to come through. This is an innovative way to keep the place as orderly as it can be.

After moving the bakery, delicatessen and butchery to the back, that resulting vacant area now has refrigerators for refreshments and perishables. As the store is now bigger and offering more services, three water tanks have been installed ensuring reliable supply always. Providing a secure shopping and parking space for the customers was also on the list of priorities and the architect’s response to that was installing industrial level outdoor security lights for safety.

Bon Marche stores can be located in Harare’s low-density areas. These stores are OK Zimbabwe’s upmarket stores and their aim is to provide cheaper products in areas that otherwise have expensive stores as the only option. As it stands, they have only eight Bon Marche stores, located in Borrowdale Brooke, Mt Pleasant, Avondale, Chisipite, Eastlea, Westgate, Sam Levy Borrowdale and Belgravia. By giving their Bon Marche Mt Pleasant branch a much-needed facelift, OK Zimbabwe has proven yet again that they are a force to reckon with in the retail business and will do everything in their power to strengthen their brands.

Bon Marche store are open every day of the week from 8AM – 7PM.

ZIMREAL Property Forum 2022 text by Michael Nott photos by Structure and Design

ZimReal Property Development Forum held their fourth exhibition event on the 7th September at The Venue in Avondale, under the theme of ‘Zimbabwe 2022: A New Horizon’. The event included a number of high profile speakers who are leaders in their fields as well as informative and informal panel discussions. Speakers came from eight countries including South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Zambia, Germany and the UK. The event was organised by Africa Property Investments (API) Events who host similar forums across Africa including Cairo, Lagos, Gaborone, Lusaka, Nairobi and Maputo. The lead sponsor for the prestigious event was WestProp Zimbabwe, with Mashonaland Holdings and Tigere Property Fund listed as Silver Sponsors. Manokore Attorneys were the legal sponsors with sponsorship from the industry including Intellego Investment Consultants, Terrace Africa, Knight Frank, Old Mutual Property, Berrycon Construction, African Horizon Construction and ZB Financial Holdings. Industry partners included the Institute of Architects of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange and The Real Estate Institute of Zimbabwe.

The event was opened by Dr. Sekai Nzenza, Minister of Industry and Commerce Zimbabwe. Dr. Nzenza reiterated President Mnangagwa’s mantra that ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ and called for increased co-operation between the government and the private sector for future development of the economy. In her opening remarks she stated, “I want to urge all players to come together to develop a strategic roadmap to stimulate economic growth through property investment and development.” She also re-iterated the point that investment in property development can be a key factor for economic growth and future prosperity. Her address was pertinent despite the government’s limited infrastructure development, a general lack of liquidity, material shortages, high import costs and currency fluctuations. However, it did offer some hope that government authorities are aware of some of the problems besetting the construction and property development industries and that, hopefully, some solutions are underway. Perhaps the most important contribution was made by WestProp who were also the main sponsors of the event. CEO Ken Sharpe delivered a key note video address to the forum about WestProp’s current and future projects. He compared the situation in Zimbabwe to the on-going developments taking place in Dubai – a Mecca for property developers, and he referred to the notorious Dubai Palms project. He also referred to WestProp’s vision to have one billion bricks built into structures in Zimbabwe by 2050 – a

lofty ambition. He quoted Mahatma Ghandi as saying, “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, and then you win.” His reference was that it’s time for Zimbabwe to start winning and that a vibrant economy can be created from property development. He emphasised that by using technology and innovation WestProp could help create a customer-centric vision for the future where Zimbabweans live, work, play and shop in integrated mixed use communities. He noted some trends in recent property development including the densification and modernisation of housing projects, the access to capital and various options available, City of Harare compliance policy and green developments with sustainable and renewable resources being explored.

There was an interesting and informative discussion, led by Christobel Shave from Mankore Attorneys, unpacking some of the questions around REITs – Real Estate Investment Trusts – and the opportunities available for private individual investors. The discussion included information about tax advantages and the diversification and security of various income streams.

Tsitsi Dzukamanja, President of the Institute of Architects of Zimbabwe, was the moderator for a panel discussion on the latest trends in the residential market. Tsitsi is passionate about Green Architecture - She’s a staunch advocate for the use of sustainable and renewable energy sources, reusable materials and the environmental impact of new buildings.

Other fascinating presentations included the offering from Robyn Williams – director of the Valuations and Hotel Advisory service JLL, exploring hospitality trends in Zimbabwe and the SADC region and also moderating the discussion on current and future trends in the hospitality industry. According to Ms Williams the future for Zimbabwe looks bright with massive investment and development set to take place. Other inspiring presentations included a panel discussion moderated by Gibson Mapfidza from Mashonaland Holdings on the subject of urban re-development and CBD regeneration with particular reference to the current situation in Harare. Businesses are currently re-locating from the CBD to suburban spaces and a large amount of office space is vacant. Suggestions were made that vacant office space could be converted to residential apartments which would breathe new life in to the City. Retail spaces are also changing with big department stores moving out of the centre and smaller SMEs taking over trading. Tjsludo Ndlovu, CEO of Edgars, lamented the poor state of infrastructure in the city centre and the lack of basic services like water, electricity and refuse collection. Her comments were moderated by Engineer Norman Karidza from City of Harare siting lack of funding and constant upheavals at Town House.

The final discussion of the day was presented by Kashinga Kambarami on The Opportunity for Building Green. Mr Kamberami, (Green Building Consultant, IFC Edge from South Africa) was joined by Maruza Chikwanya (African Logistics Properties, Kenya) and Dr. B Chigara from NUST. A thought provoking and inspiring presentation to end the day with promises of a cleaner, brighter future for Zimbabwe’s construction industry.

Although speakers brought up a lot of the problems and challenges facing the real estate market in Zimbabwe the overall impression was that the country is poised on the brink of phenomenal growth and development.