Residential House at Karen . Fence.
Monthly Archives: July 2013
High, Middle and Low cost flats in Kenya.
The involvement of more detailed architectural design, architectural supervision for workmanship and architectural play with shape, color and texture of materials makes the difference between high, middle and low cost/class of construction.
Each building should be designed such that it gets a better Return on Investment for any given location.
For example, land in Lavington costs approx. kes100 to 150m per acre. Therefore, the investment can get good rental returns hence need to spruce up the building with fancy designs and high end finishes.
Likewise, if a high end building is put up in Kayole where rental returns are low, the ROI will not be good.
Mixup of building quality in Kileleshwa.
Of late, a mixup of low cost buildings in high cost areas has started to be seen is parts of Kileleshwa. This is mainly due to clients having little or no architectural consultancy hence poor feasibility studies and budgeting.
The resultant is that the buildings will get low rents which will not cover the high land costs .This can eventually lead to value devaluation for the entire neighbourhood.
For example, if Kileleshwa building quality degenerates to the level of Ngara/Pangani/Eastleigh, which are at the same distance from Nairobi CBD, this means the land value and rent value will also go down.
Kileleshwa land price.
Current land price in Kileleshwa is between kes 90m to kes 150m per acre.
Kileleshwa Police station area is 5.4km from Nirobi CBD.
This is the same distance as Eastleight past Garissa Lodge area towards St Teresa Girls School.
Here land value is also between 80 to 160m per acre but with lower rental returns.This high price is due to sentimental buying by Somalis hence only sustainable as long as Somalis are investing. Once Somalia regains its peace, land values will come down as Somalis go back to their country to invest.
Along Ngong road, same 5.4 km will take you till Adams Arcade area with land price of between 150 to 200m per acre.
Land price in same 5.4km distance from CBD along Waiyaki way and Ngong road is already selling for between 150 to 200m per acre with very good rental returns.
If Kileleshwa ensures that the building developments are of same quality as Adams and Safaricom house areas, developers will enjoy the high land and rental income value same as Ngong road Adams Arcade area and Waiyaki Way Safaricom house area.
If developers in Kileleshwa continue to construct lower quality buildings, land price will stagnate and rental income will be low,same as Eastleigh.
Kileleshwa flats.
These are some of the flats for rent in Kileleshwa. Compare them with the average high, middle and low cost finished flats .
There is not much difference with the average Middle cost finished flats in Rongai, Kitengela and Kiambu.
Pictorial Differences between High, Middle and Low cost flats in Nairobi.
Notice the difference in shape, materials used and play of colour/texture.
High cost flats.
Lavington.
Middle cost flats.
Rongai, Kitengela.
Low cost Flats.
Kayole, Mathare North.
Bamboo and Blue Gum Wood in Kenyan Architecture and Construction.
Bamboo and Blue Gum Wood in Kenyan Architecture and Construction.
Wooden products have a very huge demand for use within the Kenyan architecture and construction industry.
Use of wood can have huge benefits to Kenyans in terms of.
1.Job creation.
2. Business for local and export consumption.
3. Environmental conservation.
Blue gum poles and Bamboo.
Blue gum poles and Bamboo take less than 4 years from planting to harvesting.
Bamboo is already among the top 10 most profitable crops to grow worldwide.
http://www.profitableplantsdigest.com/10-most-profitable-specialty-crops-to-grow/
Wood preservation.
One of the best methods to preserve wood/bamboo is using pressure treatment.
This involves subjecting the wood to a vacuum, injecting preservatives then subjecting the same wood to pressure for maximum preservative penetration.
The pressure treatment plant can be designed to allow for optimum operation in the architectural floor plan layout.
Blue gum and Bamboo finished products.
After treatment, these wood products can now last as long as the lifespan of a building, around 40 to 50 years. This will lead to less and less wood being cut to replace the rotten wood hence conserving our forests.
Bamboo gives very aesthetically appealing floor finishes. It can also be used for wall cladding and furniture construction.
Blue gum poles can be used as structural building support elements, timber for decks, fencing, children play areas and electric service line poles.
Investment.
Bamboo tree.
Enterprising Kenyans can grow the blue gum or bamboo and in less than 4 years, begin reaping the huge financial benefits while adding to the environmental benefits to other Kenyans as a whole.
KI Klub House.
This club continues to attract many because of the use of wood which makes the occupants feel relaxed hence value for money.
This feels more warm, homely, welcoming and comfortable than a club finished using un natural material such as metal or glass.
Francis Gichuhi Kamau, Architect.
info@a4architect.com
0721410684
Intelligent Smart Houses.
Intelligent Smart Houses.
Smart houses are houses that have incorporated electrical automation .
Main automation features are
1.Curtains.
2. Security cameras, Video and Audio systems, fire protection.
3. Heating and cooling systems
4. Doors and windows.
5. Lighting.
6. Energy saving.
7. Architectural features such as pools, furniture, etc
Curtains and Blinds.
These can be set such that they can be opened and closed from a mobile phone device. This helps in security such that when the house is empty, potential burglars will see open curtains that close in the evening, hence thwarting burglar attacks.
Curtains and blinds can be set such that they allow sunshine till a particular temperature is reached, then they close and insulate the house.
Security cameras, Video and Audio systems.
The TVs, radios and music/video players can be controlled from a mobile phone device. The volume for each particular room can also be controlled separately.
Security cameras can be vied from mobile phone devices or on the internet.
In case of break ins, the security cameras can sense and contact the police or security service providers remotely.
Heating and Cooling systems.
Heating and cooling systems can be operated from mobile phone devices and heat increased or reduced per each room depending on the occupants requirements. Each room can have its own heat settings.
Doors and Windows.
These can be operated remotely and access granted through finger print technology or through mobile phone devices.
The garage doors and main entrance gate can be remotely controlled to open and close.
Lighting.
Lights can have the intensity regulated to the required ambience. Lights can be switched on and off using mobile phones or the internet. Lights can be set to go on and off at particular pre set times.
Energy saving.
Solar power can be introduced and devises set up such that they go on and off only when in use.
Architectural features.
Swimming pools within the house compound can be controlled such that when the area should be used as hard ground surface, the swimming pool converts into hard ground by introducing a hard surface over the pool at the touch of a button.
Other furniture such as beds and tables can be designed to seamlessly integrate into walls in case of more space required.
Francis Gichuhi Kamau, Architect.
0721410684
info@a4architect.com
Real Estate investment in Kenya
Invest in 3 options.
1.Contribution of KES 590,000 with monthly income of KES 4,800
2.Contribution of KES 780,000 with monthly income of KES 6,300
3.Contribution of KES 860,000 with monthly income of KES 7,000.
12 Bedsitter units in a 1/8th acre plot.
Each Bedsitter unit represents 1 share in a Limited Liability Company.
Click here for more on the costs and profits breakdown info.
Stand to gain from the 20% annual capital gains from property in Kenya.
How it Works.
Click here for more info on how the investment plan works out.
How the shares are devided.
Example at below link using the KES 780,000 option.
Click here for more info on how the 12 shares per 1/8th plot are subdivided.
Payment Procedures.
Click here for more info on the payment and decision making procedures.
For personalized own homes, click here to view ideas on designs and cost estimates.
Smart Glass walling for Buildings.
Smart Glass walling for Buildings.
Glass as a walling element increases the aesthetic appeal for a building, be it residential , office or institutional usage.
Thickness of glass wall.
For large surfaces, this will require a thicker glass pane.
For smaller surfaces with closer glass frames, a thinner glass panel can be used.
Glass safety.
Lamination.
Laminated glass has a thin layer of film on one side. This layer prevents glass from shatering in case of breakage eg car windscreens.
Lamination also improves security in that it becomes hard to break into a laminated glass wall.
Smart glass.
Smart glass consists of 2 layers of glass with liquid crystal in between. When the button is switched on, current flows within the liquid crystal, forcing the crystals to align to the current, making it easy for light to pass through. When the button is off, the crystals get randomly scattered and arranged, creating an opaque glass wall.
See smart glass picture here
The liquid crystal can come in various colors and patterns.
Price ranges from usd 500 to 800 per m2 FOB China.
Smart foil.
Smart foil has the same properties as smart glass. The foil is stuck on the glass . Using an on and off button, someone can change the glass from clear to opaque.
The price is same as for smart glass, usd 500 to usd 800 per m2 FOB China.
Advantage is that it comes on rolls and can easily be stuck on existing glass.
This ability to control clear/opaque abilities come in handy for the user to control their indoor privacy levels depending on the activities .
See picture here
See video here
Indoor Temperature regulation.
Smart glass can be preset such that during the day, sunlight is allowed in until a certain preset temperature is reached.
At this temperature, the glass becomes opaque.
The glass then disallows heat to escape outside the room, keeping the indoors warm.
Using combination film on glass, light and heat is allowed in and heat is prevented from escaping from the room.
Francis Gichuhi Kamau, Architect.
0721410684
info@a4architect.com
House Fence
House fence
Masonry stone fence.
Concrete formwork scaffolding in Kenya.
Concrete formwork scaffolding in Kenya.
Form-work and scaffolding in Kenya has rapidly evolved over the last 5 to 10 years from timber to steel.
Previously, wooden trappers were used for the slab bottom. Softwood timber was used for the beams and columns and timber poles used for the scaffolding. These are still being used for smaller projects.
For larger projects, steel panel and steel scaffolding have come into play.
High Demand in Nairobi.
The market is still ripe for specialized form-work and scaffolding contractors to come in. Currently, contractors have to make do with small time form-work and scaffolding businesses which hire these out.
Compared to South Africa, which has many large scale specialized form-work suppliers, there is a huge demand for this business currently in Nairobi, Kenya.
New architectural designs.
New architectural designs are now coming in very interesting shapes. To achieve this, the architects need to ensure that the concrete form-work is done by specialized form-work suppliers.
Zaha Hadid.
My favorite Architect, Zaha Hadid, who is Iraqi, is re-known for her curvilinear designs.
http://www.zaha-hadid.com/architecture/maxxi/
Several of her projects have been formworked and scaffolded by Peri Engineering.
http://archrecord.construction.com/projects/portfolio/2010/10/maxxi.asp
New Opportunity for Kenyan Entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurs should take this opportunity and become the pioneers of form-work and scaffolding business in Kenya. Same to specialized roof truss works which also don’t have players here in Kenya.
As Kenyan construction industry grows into international level, the demand for these suppliers will eventually rise.
Economies such as South Africa with active form-work and scaffolding suppliers will come in as local entrepreneurs learn the ropes to offer competition.
Ready Mix concrete example.
A few years ago, concrete was mostly mixed on site.
Currently, in Nairobi, pre mix concrete business has now become huge.
Previously, only a handful of contractors had the pre mix concrete lorries.
Currently, entrepreneurs have now specialized in supplying pre mix concrete as a full time business.
Its my hope that this article will inspire an entrepreneurial mind into this business so as to better the Kenyan construction industry and all Kenyans in general.
Francis Gichuhi Kamau, Architect.
a4architect 