GREENVILLE ESTATE-SYOKIMAU-KES 4,950,000 per unit.

GREENVILLE ESTATE-SYOKIMAU-KES 4,950,000 per unit.

PROJECT SOLD OUT!
CLICK HERE TO SEE OTHER HOUSES FOR SALE

3 Bed roomed [2 bedrooms ensuite] -KES 4,950,000[phase 1 only]. I Bedroomed Unit-KES 2,975,000.
The Maisonette has been designed to be easily converted into 2 separate one-bedroomed units, each unit on its own floor level [1st floor and Second floor. Ground Floor contains the car park].The purchasers of the 3 bedroomed maisonettes get two titles each for a 1 bedroomed unit. This will enable the maisonette purchasers to re-sell or mortgage 1 one-bedroomed unit in future when such need arises.

LOCATION
Greenville estate is located in Syokimau, 15 minutes drive from Nairobi CBD.

Syokimau Estate is situated 10 -15 minutes drive [17 km] from Nairobi’s Central Business District along Mombassa Road. The estate is served by an all weather road with the site of the proposed construction being found approximately 1.1 kilometers off the recently upgraded Mombassa Road.
The estate is connected to the mains water supply from the Mavoko Municipal Council and also has easily connected electricity supply from KPLC.

The immediate locality consists of subdivisions each measuring an eighth an acre. Developments in this area are predominantly single family residences. The occupancy is predominantly homeowners. The majority of the buildings here are of reasonably well constructed and maintained.

The Project targets the Low to Middle income bracket of which the majority of potential home.

Recently, Kenyan Parliament approved the demolition of old dilapidated housing estates in Nairobi Eastlands. This will pave way for high-rise residential flats.
The addition of these new units will affect the housing prices around Nairobi resulting to lower prices especially in the high and upper middle class market.

Forward Planning

For example, the recent completion of Nyayo Estate in Embakasi has reduced the rents of surrounding individual buildings to KES 15000 for 2 bedroomed from a high of KES 22,000 due to the injection of new high-quality 3 bedroomed housing units within the Nyayo Estate renting out at approximately KES 23,000 per month. Source: www.hassconsult.co.ke
http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf
Another example is in the City of Sesena in Spain. An influx of high-rise low cost residential units by Developers has resulted to a Ghost town with numerous housing units un-occupied. Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Guaranteed Future Value increase

Therefore, the Greenville units which offer low density occupation [ground floor + 1 level] will still offer value to buyers and continue with an upward increase in value since this is not in direct competition with high-rise flats which offer high-density occupation.
It’s therefore prudent for buyers to purchase low and develop the property further as the value increases as planned and architecturally designed within the Greenville Estate.

THE PROJECT
The project comprises of 5 No. residential units. Each unit has been designed to accommodate 1 bedroom on the Ground floor and 2 other spacious bedrooms on the 1st floor .

The upstairs extension has also been designed to be easily converted into 2 No. self-contained bedsitters or 1No. One-bed roomed house in case the owner requires extra rental income in future to offset his mortgage repayments.

Property Value Appreciation

Land prices are rapidly increasing in Nairobi due to the fact that the population is increasing while land remains constant.

An eighth of prime land close to Mombasa road at Syokimau costed KES 400,000 in 2006.
The same costs KES 1,700,000 currently.
This is a change of 425% in the last 4 years [approximately 100% yearly].

This means that on average, the land costs will continue to increase each year.

Therefore, buyers who purchase these units now will have the advantage of their property increasing in value yearly such that when they decide to develop the upstairs bedrooms/rental units, the value of rental income will be proportionately high.

Flexible design

Each unit has been designed in such a way that an extra second bed space can be created adjacent to the Kitchen area in case there are guests to be accommodated.
This extra second bed space can also be used in future as the family unit grows.
When not in use as a bedroom, this space is used as a dining room or kitchen extension.

Use of creative furniture

Sofas that are easily converted into beds are now affordable and readily available in our supermarkets at costs of about KES 8,000. Such furniture is recommended to be used in the bed space area adjacent to the kitchen in the Greenville unit’s ground floor.

Upstairs.

Each unit is further designed and the drawings approved by the Local authority such that as the family unit grows, a further 2 ensuite bedrooms can be added upstairs.

Potential for rental income on upstairs room extensions.

The owner has a choice upstairs to use the 2 bedrooms or to create 2 No. bedsitter units or 1 No. one-bed roomed unit for rental income.

The design accommodates the addition of these extra rooms while the owner continues to live within the same house i.e. the upstairs construction will not interfere with the Ground floor spaces.

The design is in such a way that the owner can choose to reside on the Ground floor and rent the upper floor [2 bedsitters or 1 No. One bed roomed unit].

This way, the owner can comfortably kill two birds with the same stone-live in a house while at the same time get rental income from the same.

The overall theme of the development would be one of maximizing on the owner’s income potential whilst maintaining reasonable individual privacy within a ‘Green Sustainability’ architecture.

Auxiliary features include

-ability to use upstairs as 2 more bedrooms or 2 No. bedsitters or 1 No. One-bed roomed unit upstairs

-paved walkways and 5 car parkings

-extra rain-water storage

-front landscaped irrigated gardens

-outdoor kitchen backyard

The country ambience is further enhanced by having strategically planted palm trees which would serve the added role of acting as wind and dust breaks.

MARKET DESCRIPTION

Given the proximity of the site to Nairobi’s CBD , Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as well as the good communication available along Mombasa road, the site would realize good returns on a multi family residential development.

The planned development maximizes this potential by creating accommodation that is spacious whilst at the same time making optimum use of the space available.
At the moment, developments in this area are notably the Tamarind Estate[KES 7.5 m per unit] , the Great Wall apartments[KES 3.5m per unit] and 360 housing selling at KES 3m per 2 bedroomed unit.

Trend

The current trend of the property market is such a way that developers are moving towards middle to low income segments of the market which constitutes of the bulk of the potential customers.

The Great Wall Apartment initially selling at KES 3 Million is now 100% sold out.

This Project caters for first time home owners who can comfortably afford mortgage repayments of approximately KES 15,000 per month.

COMPETITION

In the locality of the planned development, there exist several properties which are either owned by the residents or are rental properties. The closest competition perhaps comes from neighbouring Apartments which are currently selling at KES 3 million per unit.

The other competition is the Great Wall apartments at Mlolongo selling at KES 3.5m which fortunately is 100% sold out.

CONCLUSION

The price will target first-time home buyers .

Since these units have own access to the ground floor [not congested as in flats], they offer a higher quality of living than high-rise flats.

Francis Gichuhi Kamau B.Arch. U.o.N M.A.A.K[A] Registered Architect
http://www.a4architect.com
+254 721 410684
A4architect.

GREENVILE ESTATE SYOKIMAU MOMBASA ROAD

THE GREENVILLE ESTATE PROJECT

PROJECT SOLD OUT!
CLICK HERE TO SEE OTHER HOUSES FOR SALE

The project comprises of 10 No. residential maisonette units for Sale at Syokimau, less than 1km off Mombasa Road.

3 Bed roomed [2 bedrooms ensuite] -KES 3,950,000[phase 1 only]. I Bedroomed Unit-KES 1,975,000.
The Maisonette has been designed to be easily converted into 2 separate one-bedroomed units, each unit on its own floor level [1st floor and Second floor. Ground Floor contains the car park].The purchasers of the 3 bedroomed maisonettes get two titles each for a 1 bedroomed unit. This will enable the maisonette purchasers to re-sell or mortgage 1 one-bedroomed unit in future when such need arises.

This distance off Mombasa road is an ideal location considering that a location too close to Mombasa road for a residence will result in excessive noise and dust from the busy highway and hence not desirable. See map here

Bedrooms

Each maisonette has two bedrooms and a provision for a third extra bedroom/guest room incase the family unit expands or guests require accomodation.

Price

The introductory sale price is KES 3.95 Million per unit[Ground , First Floor & Second Floor] .

The overall theme of the development would be one of maximizing on the plot use whilst maintaining reasonable individual privacy within a ‘Green Sustainability’ architecture.
http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf
Auxiliary features include

-ability to easily convert the upper floor into a 1 bedroomed unit for rental income
-paved walkways
-20 car parking
-extra rain-water storage[roto tanks]
-landscaped 24 hr. irrigated gardens
-Solar water heating
-Solar power wiring
-extra third bedroom
-spacious master bedroom ensuite
-spacious front lawn with landscaped 24 hr irrigated garden
-kitchen backyard garden

The country ambience is enhanced by having strategically planted palm trees which serve the added role of acting as wind and dust breaks.

LOCATION

Syokimau Estate is situated 10 minutes drive[15 km] from Nairobi’s Central Business District along Mombassa Road. The estate is served by an all weather road with the site of the proposed construction being found 0.7 kilometers off the recently upgraded Mombassa Road.
The estate is connected to the mains water supply from the Mavoko Municipal Council and also has easily connected electricity supply from KPLC.

The immediate locality consists of subdivisions each measuring an eighth an acre. Developments in this area are predominantly single family residences. The occupancy is predominantly homeowners. The majority of the buildings here are of high-quality, well constructed and maintained.

MARKET DESCRIPTION

Given the proximity of the site to Nairobi’s CBD , Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as well as the good communication available along Mombasa road, the site would realize good returns on a multi family residential development.

The planned development intends to maximize this potential by creating accommodation that is spacious whilst at the same time making optimum use of the space available.
At the moment, there are similar developments in this area, notably the Tamarind Estate and the Great Wall apartments[KES 3.5m per unit].
Further, there is a shift in the trend of housing purchases with potential buyers preferring to purchase housing in smaller courts or estates that offer privacy and direct access to the ground floor lawn rather than housing in large high-rise flats . This is partly fuelled by the need to form smaller more closely integrated neighborhood communities. The planned development would thus meet an existing need.

COMPETITION
In the locality of the planned development, there exist several properties which are either owned by the residents or are rental properties.

The closest competition is the Great Wall apartments at Mlolongo selling at KES 3.5m which fortunately is 100% sold out.

SALE PRICE

The sale price for each unit has been set at KES 3,950,000.00. This is slightly higher than the KES 3,500,000.00 asking price for the Great Wall Apartments which has 2 bed roomed units[already sold-out]. The price is however justified by the upgraded quality of the planned development in terms of design flexibility-ability to create a third bedroom, privacy and prime location.
Since these are Maisonettes with each unit having own access to the ground floor, they offer a higher quality of living than high-rise flats.

The sale price is KES 3,500,000 Lower than other maisonettes around .
Other maisonettes in this area are the Tamarind Estate and Greenspan estate.

Francis Gichuhi Kamau B.Arch. U.o.N M.A.A.K[A] Registered Architect
http://www.a4architect.com
+254 721 410684
A4architect.

GREENVILLE ESTATE-LUXURIOUS RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY ALONG MOMBASA ROAD-SYOKIMAU

GREENVILLE ESTATE-LUXURIOUS RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY ALONG MOMBASA ROAD-SYOKIMAU

PROJECT SOLD OUT!
CLICK HERE TO SEE OTHER HOUSES FOR SALE

By Architect Francis Gichuhi Kamau

3 Bed roomed [2 bedrooms ensuite] -KES 3,950,000[phase 1 only]. I Bedroomed Unit-KES 1,975,000.
The Maisonette has been designed to be easily converted into 2 separate one-bedroomed units, each unit on its own floor level [1st floor and Second floor. Ground Floor contains the car park].The purchasers of the 3 bedroomed maisonettes get two titles each for a 1 bedroomed unit. This will enable the maisonette purchasers to re-sell or mortgage 1 one-bedroomed unit in future when such need arises.

Greenville estate is located in Syokimau ,less than 1 km off Mombasa road.

Greenville estate has been architecturally designed by a4architects http://www.a4architect.com to offer its residents maximum comfort and utility.

Flexible Design.

Each 3 Bedroomed unit has been designed to be flexible in such a way that the owners can separate the Ground Floor with First Floor to create 2 independent units. The Ground Floor can be converted to a spacious 1 bedroomed unit while the First floor can be converted to a modest 2 bedroomed unit.
This flexibility will aid the owners to earn extra rental income which can be used to offset the mortgage repayments as they continue to live within the units. The owner can choose to live in the 1 Bedroomed ground floor unit or the 2 bedroomed First floor unit and rent out the other.
The average rental income for a 2 bedroomed apartment in the vicinity[Great Wall Apartments] is KES 17,000 per month.
The typical unit comprises of a spacious living room, dining room,toilet and kitchen on the ground floor and master bedroom ensuite,bathroom/toilet and two bedrooms on the first floor. Each unit has been designed to offer maximum privacy to the occupants. The front and rear gardens are only accessible by the respective unit owners.

http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf

Palm trees
The Project architects have taken care to select the most suitable trees for this housing project. The Foxtail and Indian Date palm trees have been incorporated due to tha fact that they give the whole project a majestic outlook .They grow very straight vertically with a narrow stem and hence do not consume the much needed space in the ground floor area especially near the car parks.

SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE
This estate is the first of its kind in Nairobi to embrace Sustainable architecture.
This is achieved through recycling of grey water and use of solar energy to power the houses.

ALL-YEAR LUSH GARDEN LAWN IRRIGATION SYSTEM
The ground floor comprises of Living room, Dining room, Kitchen and Guest toilet.
Living Room
The living room opens to a lush ever-green garden that is watered 24 hours a day all year round through special plumbing comnnections that drain the gray water[water from the kitchen sink and bathroom] to this area. This ensures that grey water is recycled and in the process, helps create a green serene environment all year round at virtually zero cost.
The foul water[water from the toilets] is drained directly to the septic tank for treatment.

http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf

Kitchen
The kitchen opens to the backside which is open to the sky. The kitchen backside also comprises of a lush garden watered 24 hours a day all year round.This is achieved by directing grey water from the kitchen sink to the garden area hence achieving greenery at vitually zero cost to the residents.
The first floor comprises of master-bedroom ensuite, one bedroom and toilet/bathroom.
Master-bedroom
On the first floor, there is the master-bedroom designed to offer maximum comfort through an elongated room design. The master-bedroom is ensuite with a state-of-the–art bathroom.
The master bedroom is designed to over-look the front entrance so that the house owners can have a glimpse of whats happening around the vicinity while in their bedroom.Th master bedroom also gives beautiful views of the lush landscaped frontage.
There are two other spacious bedrooms on the first floor level overlooking the rear garden.
SOLAR ENERGY
The lighting and wiring within the units has incorporated both solar wiring and the usual KPLC wiring. Residents can have the choice between using solar lighting system or KPLC system to power their house.
Solar energy is also used to heat water within the units.
The use of solar energy enables the residents to keep their energy costs to the lowest possible levels since for solar energy, apart from the initial one-time instalation costs, there are no monthly recurring costs to pay.
RAIN WATER HARVESTING
Each unit is fitted with a 10,000 litre water tank which stores rain-water runnoff from the roof for domestic use.
This assures the residents of continued water supply at zero cost all year round.
CAR PARKING
Each unit is alocated a secure private car port with own gate to give maximum privacy. Off-street parkings have been designated for visitors.

http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf

CONCLUSION
This architectural marvel designed by a4architect http://www.a4architect.com has embraced green architecture to come up with a housing estate akin to an oasis within the desert .
The housing estate paints the dry savannah grassland syokimau climate to a lively green colour. This is your chance to own a piece of this gem.
Contact A4architect http://www.a4architect.com on info@a4architect.com to book your house.

Price Guide: 3.95 million per unit[phase 1 only].

Frank Gichuhi . B.Arch. U.o.N M.A.A.K[A] Registered Architect
http://www.a4architect.com

GREEN ARCHITECTURE: SOUTH EAST COMMERCIAL PARK:HOW THE NEW EXTENSION OF NAIROBI CBD CAN BE DESIGNED TO BECOME ‘GREEN’.

GREEN ARCHITECTURE: SOUTH EAST COMMERCIAL PARK:HOW THE NEW EXTENSION OF NAIROBI CBD CAN BE DESIGNED TO BECOME ‘GREEN’.
By Arch. Francis Gichuhi

CLICK HERE TO VIEW CITY PICTURES

South East Commercial Park, formerly known as Muthurwa along Landhies Roadin Nairobi is the newest extension to Nairobi Central Business District.

The world is becoming sensitive to the environment after learning from previous mistakes where man has continued to develop cities without considering the environment.

Solar Energy.

Hydro Electricity is the main sorce of Energy for Buildings in Nairobi. This is usually not enough hence frequent blackouts and power rationing.
Use of Solar for electricity production should be embraced within the South East Commercial Park.

From going green

The street lights can be designed to power from solar.
Harambee Avenue in Nairobi has such solar powered street lights.
Use of BIPV Building Intergrated Photo Voltaic facades will also enhance use of solar power for the buldings.
These are solar cells intergrated within the bulding facades[walls and roofs].
BIPV Curtain walling such as supplied by Sharp Solar are quite common.

Below picture-Solar fabrik, Freiburg facade with transparent modules and shadowing modules
(source/copyright Solar fabrik GmbH)

From going green

The BIPV curtain walling are used in place of windows and walls hence savings realised on the cost of walling and windows.
BIPV roofs are also used in place of roofing material hence cost savings in the total construction cost.

BIPV curtain walls also enhance the appearance of a building since they give it a more ‘modern’ glass exterior finish.
The I&M building along Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi has a shiny glass material exterior finish. This gives it the ‘modern’ look. With BIPV walling, the same aesthetics will be achieved at the same time producing energy to power the building.
Below is a picture of the Solar Arc Building in Japan owned by SANYO– an impressive 630 kW solar-collecting building that boasts over 5,000 solar panels and kicks off over 500,000 kWh of energy per year.
Read more: SOLAR ARK: World’s Most Stunning Solar Building | Inhabitat – Green Design Will Save the World

From going green

Carbon Footprint Reduction

Use of vertical gardens on balconies and roof tops will go a long way in reducing the ammount of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere and act as ‘Lungs’ to purify the poluted Nairobi air.
Building owners within the South East Comercial Park should ensure that their Architects design buildings that have a certain percentage of surface[say 10%] to be covered by live plant material.

Below are pictures of “ACROS Fukuoka” , a building in Fukuoka city of Japan.

From going green

From going green

From going green

Planters can be incorporated on the building balconies and roof tops. Creepers can be planted along the building facades.
This greatly improves on the aeshtetic appeal of the buildings and at the same time keeps the building internal spaces cool. In other developed countries, City Councils have come up with bye-laws to ensure that live plant materials are included in the buildings. In Nairobi, we do not have such bye-laws yet but this should not stop developers puting up new buildings in Nairobi from ensuring that their buildings become ‘green’ literally.

From going green

A good example of a roof garden is the Chicago city hall building-roof garden above, owned by the City of Chicago, Dept of Environment,U.S.A.

Recycling of Water.

The developers coming up with new buildings should ensure that during the initial design, plumbing and drainage works for gray water [water from the kitchen sink and showers] is separated from Foul water [water from the toilets]. This ensures that water from the kitchen and shower is drained to a separate system where it can be stored and used to water the vegetaition in and around the buildings.
Only the foul water from the toilets should be drained to the City Council sewer system.
Once the gray water is harvested, it ensures that the gardens on the roofs , balconies and lawns will be watered at a very low cost and remain green all year out. This in turn increases the value of the property .

Great Opportunity

The South East Commercial Park offers a great opportunity to make Nairobi ‘green’. Its very rare for such an opportunity to bring itself up in Cities whereby major building design decisions such as use of BIPV walling, solar street lighting and separate plumbing for gray water are included in the buildings.
Most Cities around the world are fully developed using older architectural design and construction methodology so its very expensive for them to embrace such new architectural designs and construction methodologies. For example, to intergret BIPV Solar walling or plumbing to an existing building, you will need to pull down walls, drill holes through concrete slabs ,re-do the electrical wiring to conform to solar electruictity, re-design the entire plumbing system e.t.c.
This is very cumbersome and not very cost –effective .
Therefore, such ideas are best incorporated into the buildings during initial architectural design such as the current opportunity at South East Commercial Park.
During the initial architectural design, Architects will also be able to add other efficient designs wthin the building such as use of Natural light and ventilation within all rooms hence saving on energy required for Air Conditioning and lighting.

Conclusion.

From going green

Above picture:A climbing plant on Zone Control’s office building at Håga in Haninge.

The time to bring about these changes is now. Developers within South East Commercial Park should seize this golden opportunity to give Nairobi City a new ‘green’ outlook. This can be done by carefull selection of their Architect who will advice them on ensuring the above issues are addressed fully within their buildings.

Francis Gichuhi Kamau B.Arch. U.o.N M.A.A.K[A] Registered Architect
http://www.a4architect.com

HOW TO REDUCE CONSTRUCTION COST BY OVER 50% AND STILL MAINTAIN HIGH QUALITY: PART 1:FOUNDATIONS

HOW TO REDUCE CONSTRUCTION COST BY OVER 50% AND STILL MAINTAIN HIGH QUALITY:
PART 1:FOUNDATIONS

By Frank Gichuhi

Construction material cost has been steadily increasing over the years.
5 years ago, the average construction cost in Nairobi for a medum –priced bulding was KES 15,000 per square meter.
Currently, this cost has increased by 68% to an average of KES 22,000 per square meter for the same.
The trend does not seem to be slowing down any time soon.
Therefore, we need to think outside the box to keep costs low and still maintain the same or oven higher quality of construction.
This can be achieved by using ingeneous methods of cost-cutting from the foundation stage through to the finishes.

FOUNDATION

On average, foundation costs approximately 10% of the total cost of construction.
The main works in a foundation are

1.excavation

2.Reinforced concrete works[foundation footing and ground floor slab]

3.Masonry walling to ground floor level

Excavation costs can be reduced by use of machinery –Excavators. An excavator is hired at an average cost ofKES 6000 per hour and would take 2 to 3 hours to excavate the foundation of a 3 bedroomed house.This brings the cost to kes 6000 x3=kes 18,000.
Excavating the same using manual labour would take an average of 7 days with 10 men at a cost of kes 300 each per day. This brings the cost to KES 300 X 10 X 7=KES 21,000.

Reinforced concrete works

This consists of concrete reinforced with twisted steel.
A cubic meter of concrete on average takes 7 bags of cement and will cost a minimum of KES 8,000.
A cubic meter of masonry stone consists of 75 stones of 300mm long by 200mm wide. Each stone costs an average of KES 25. This estimates to approximately KES 25 X 75= KES 1,875.
This is approximatey 75% cheaper than concrete.
The reinfroced concrete foundation footing can be replaced with masonry walling to achieve this great saving.

Ground Floor slab.

On average, a reinforced concrete ground floor slab costs KES 1,200 per square meter.
Masonry walling laid horizontally can replace this slab. A square meter of masonry walling using machine cut stones costs KES 40 X 15 Stones= kes 600. Add KES 100 for cement plaster and this brings it to KES 700 per square meter. This constitutes a savings of nearly 45%.

Old colonial houses built in the early 1900s in Kenya utilised these cost-cutting methods and are still standing to date.

A good example is the Officer’s Mess at the National Youth Service Bahati Farm in Nyandarua.
The foundation footing and floor slab is made of masonry walling and it still stands to date, nearly 100 years from the day it was constructed.

With the passing of the new constitution, we hope that such a method of foundation construction will be allowed by the Local Authority. The current Building Code in Kenya specifies too much concrete/cement used hence resulting in a high cost of foundation construction.

Conclusion.

With the use of Machinery for excavation[15% savings] and use of masonry to replace reinforced concrete on foundation footing [75% savings] and ground floor slab [45% savings], this will greatly save on the overal foundation construction costs.

Francis Gichuhi
http://www.a4architect.com

NEW HIGHRISE DEVELOPMENTS ALONG JOGOO ROAD-MAKONGENI, JERICHO, JERUSALEM,KARIOKOR,ZIWANI,BAHATI. NAIROBI-GREEN CITY IN THE SUN

NEW HIGHRISE DEVELOPMENTS ALONG JOGOO ROAD-MAKONGENI, JERICHO, JERUSALEM,KARIOKOR,ZIWANI,BAHATI. NAIROBI-GREEN CITY IN THE SUN

The Kenyan Government recently approved for the demolition of dilapidated estates in Eastlands to pave way for high-rise residential units[source: NATION NEWSPAPERS KENYA]

Currently, these estates accomodate 15,000 families. The resultant will be an increase to 300,000 units. This will ease the housing shortage in Nairobi. The high-rise buildings will completely change the landscape to a concrete jungle.
ROOF AND FACADE GARDENS
Now that more ground surfasce will be covered by buildings, the vegetation cover can be compensated through the use of roof and facade gardens to keep the ‘GREEN CITY IN THE SUN’ image.

HANGING GARDENS OF BABYLON

From Drop Box

A 16th-century hand-coloured engraving of the “Hanging Gardens of Babylon” by Dutch artist Martin Heemskerck, with the Tower of Babel in the background. Courtesy of WIKIPEDIA.

The Architects can borrow a leaf from one of the Seven Wonders of The World: the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, near present-day Iraq. These were built by King Nebuchadnezzar in the year 600B.C.
The roof terraces were arranged in a cascade design. Each terrace supported a garden and the resultant was a very beautiful spactacle.

CITY PLANNING BYE-LAWS

Currently, cities in Developed countries have led the way in increase of roof gardens.
A recent survey in Singapore revealed that 80% of the city’s inhabitants supported more roof gardens to be implemented by the City Planners.[Source: Yuen, B, & Wong, N. (2005). Resident perceptions and expectations of rooftop gardens in Singapore. Landscape and Urban Planning, 73 (4). Retrieved June 19, 2009, from ScienceDirect database.]

The Nairobi City Council can greatly assist in this by puting in place bye-laws that ensure that a certain percentage of roof surface for high-rise residential buildings have gardens.

From Drop Box

Above: ACROS Fukuoka building, Japan, via Metaefficient website.

ADVANTAGES

Roof gardens have several advantags.
1. Insulation of the building from excessive heat from the sun.

From Drop Box

Above:A housing estate in Kunsthaus, Vienna. With a little bit more creativity, it will be possible for Recreational parks to be incorporated on house roof-tops.

This reduces the costs of air-conditioning for the interior rooms below the roof garden.

2. Reduction of the Carbon footprint. Roof gardens will result in the reduction of Carbon Dioxide gas from the atmosphere and hence curtail global warming .The advantages of these are obvous.

From Drop Box

3. Increase aesthetic appeal. Roof gardens make buildings unique and appealing to look at hence a resultant increase in value. Roof gardens will also make the high-rise building inhabitants feel relaxed and in-touch with the ground even though they might be 20 floors above ground level.

TECHNOLOGY

Design of roof gardens is only limited to the Architect’s imagination.

From Drop Box

Some roof gargens extend to the building facade.
Care should be taken to ensure hat the roof garden does not result in leakages to the Ceiling below.
Thermo-plastic sheeting and rubberised asphalt are common water-proofing materials used.

From Drop Box

Above: = School of Art and Design, Singapore. Photos: Sidonie Carpenter.

Careful choice of plant should be considered. Drought-tolerant plants that can withstand high winds do well in roof gardens.
The roof has to be specially designed to support the added weight by the Structural engineer.

Francis Gichuhi
Architect.
http://www.a4architect.com

HOME ENERGY MONITORING-DELIVERED BY GOOGLE

HOME ENERGY MONITORING-DELIVERED BY GOOGLE
STORY FROM SPRINGWSE NEWSLETTER

Reducing energy consumption is clearly a global imperative, but before one can reduce it helps to know how much one is already consuming. Targeting the 40 million “smart meters” now in use worldwide—and the 100 million more soon to be added—Google is testing a new gadget that will take the information such devices collect and make it more easily accessible to the consumer.

From Recently Updated

Many smart meters don’t display consumption information to the user, but Google’s PowerMeter prototype—now in closed beta—is designed to receive such information and provide access to it via the user’s iGoogle homepage. Aiming to help users make better energy decisions, the technology taps Google’s scalable, secure IT architecture and the iGoogle gadget platform to show consumers their energy use in near real-time, including an analysis of how much energy is used by different household appliances and activities. Google vows to keep all data under the user’s control, and it says it hopes to work with as many utility companies as possible to deliver the technology for free to anyone with a smart meter.

Finding alternative energy sources may be the gold rush of our era, but helping the world wean itself from nonrenewable energy is just as important—and potentially just as rewarding. Google is currently seeking utilities and device manufacturers to partner with; one to get in on early? (Related: Visualising energy use.)

Website: www.google.org/powermeter
Contact: http://www.google.org/powermeter/contactus.html

Spotted by: Tommi Pelkonen

SOLAR PANELS SHAPED LIKE CLAY ROOF TILES

SOLAR PANELS SHAPED LIKE CLAY ROOF TILES- SPRINGWISE NEWSLETTER

From Recently Updated

Converting to solar energy means covering a roof in unsightly solar panels. Not necessarily: Philadelphia company SRS Energy has developed the Solé Power Tile, a roof tile designed to sustainably convert sunlight into electricity without compromising aesthetics. The dark blue tiles, manufactured by SRS Energy, are jointly branded and distributed by US Tile and specifically designed to be compatible with the clay roof tiles manufactured by US Tile. Customers who purchase clay tiles will be given the option to upgrade a section of their roof to Solé Power Tiles. When installed, the system can offset a large proportion of a homeowner’s energy costs—not to mention cleaning their carbon conscience. The tiles are available in select West Coast markets this autumn, with a nationwide rollout planned for spring 2010.

SRS Energy says that the Solé tiles, made from a high-performance polymer often used in car bumpers, are lightweight, unbreakable and recyclable. Flexible solar technology by United Solar Ovonic is embedded inside each tile, allowing them to function independently of each other. Meanwhile, the performance of the system as a whole is monitored remotely by SRS Energy and US Tile. The director of engineering at SRS Energy is J.D. Albert, who also developed the electronic ink technology used in Amazon Kindle and the Sony Reader.

What’s so attractive about the Solé Power Tile system he and his team have produced is that it makes it easy for consumers to make a green choice, without having to settle for a product they find unappealing. With more tile styles and colours in the pipeline, SRS Energy could soon be enjoying a big chunk of eco-bounty, as will any other company that can remove the disincentives from sustainable technology.

Website: http://www.srsenergy.com
Contact: http://www.srsenergy.com/ContactUs.aspx

Spotted by: Anne-Marie Fischer

GREENER BRICKS MADE FROM COWDUNG

22 May 2009
GREENER BRICKS MADE FROM COWDUNG- SPRINGWISE NEWSLETTER

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We’ve covered the value of worm poop, and now it’s time for the merits of cow dung to come to the fore. EcoFaeBrick turns cattle waste into bricks that are greener, stronger and 20% lighter than regular clay bricks.

The Indonesian organization was set up earlier this year to tackle the problem of excessive waste in farming areas. From this, the ecological and economical solution of the Cow Dung Brick was born. There’s no visible difference between a traditional brick and the dung brick—and before you ask, there’s no smell either. Instead of using wood fire the dung bricks are fired using biogas, helping to further reduce carbon emissions. The new product also lets land be retained for farming, rather than being excavated for clay for conventional bricks, or becoming a health risk due to ‘too much dung’.

A green product that boosts the wealth of rural Indonesians, it’s not hard to see why EcoFaeBrick came first in the 2009 Global Social Venture competition. The company has identified 22 areas around Indonesia that they want to expand the project to, plus 22 more in other parts of the world. One to support, or otherwise get involved with!

Website: http://www.ecofaebrick.com
Contact: yusufaria@ecofaebrick.com

Spotted by: Tais Reis