Is Building Suburban Developments In Kenya The Right Thing To Do?

One of the arguments that she advanced was with regard to the fact that suburban developments within the north American region were rapidly deteriorating into slum areas characterized by dilapidated houses and spiraling crime rates. Many of such neighborhoods fetched a premium selling price at the point of purchase. However they have now changed from what they were when built to dens of crime and drugs, whose property rates have since dropped sure to people  having abandoned these properties and moved in favor of urban living in high density areas.

In addition, the cost of such suburban developments and lifestyle  poses a challenge in terms of having to over rely on road transport as the main means of transport to places of work and amenities within the urban areas. Finally, the question of environmental degradation comes into play by virtue of pollution due to heavy usage of vehicles for basic transportation to these locations. The cost of maintaining each unit cost of these developments is invariably higher due to  the smaller population densities served by the available infrastructure.

All these factors make for developing suburban developments such as house plans in Kenya sound very untenable and an exercise in futility.

There are justifications for building suburban developments

These thoughts notwithstanding, there are compelling reasons for developing nations to invest in developing suburban developments. There are several justifications for developing cities within the developing nations to embrace the development of suburban housing developments.

For one, many of the areas around cities within the developing nations have plenty of development potential. For one, much of the land around these areas has not been fully exploited, in spite of it being in relatively close proximity to the city centers, due to various reasons. These may include lack of high capacity infrastructure that has an ability to deal with large volumes of traffic at any given time. This limitation has in the past limited the radius of spread of the city to a relatively small distance away from the central business districts, in comparison to urban cities in the western world.

However this is rapidly changing in various metropolises of the region.

For example, New York City has a metropolitan population of more than 20 million people distributed over an area of 6700 square miles. Nairobi City in retrospect has a much smaller population of approximately over 3 million inhabitants living on about 300 square miles (source Wikipedia). It is possible to see therefore that cities in developing nations are way smaller in terms of size than comparable metropolises in the western hemisphere.

What this means is that there is definitely a need for cities to expand outwards as they continue to see population densities continue to increase through rural urban migration. It would be foolhardy to fail to plan to increase the areas of our cities and reduce pressure on high cost of available land close to the Central business districts, which is already seeing incredible rise in land prices due to demand.

Cities such as Guangzhou in China have populations of up to 20 million people within them. The populations of even the densest cities in developing nations pale in comparison. However despite the high population densities that may be observed in these cities of the world, they have had to spread their metropolis area quite a bit through improving modes of communication and ease of transport systems throughout the cities.

In so doing, satellite towns often begin to develop in their suburban areas, as communities begin to grow in those areas. With proper planning, these communities can be given places to live, work and play, and indeed create a lifestyle. Doubtless, these communities would grow to the point that they will meet with the expanding metropolis and coalesce into one.

Growth of the city through town conurbation with suburban developments is inevitable

Case in point, one of the suburban developments of Nairobi called Westlands has grown steadily as a commercial center to the point at which it now has almost completely amalgamated with Nairobi City’s central business district. It has emerged as a strong hub of commercial buildings and shopping malls.

With the creation of new modern modes of transportation, cities inevitably become easier to access. Using modern high capacity rail systems or multiple level highways, connecting nodes of the different parts of an urban setup and its suburbs becomes easier, and makes the spread of the city quite tenable. As regards to service provisions, it is the onus of the city Lords to ensure that they have a good development plan that embraces the rapid growth of populations in these suburban developments.

the Shania Villas shall be a sustainable suburban development

Finally as relating to the green agenda, several suburbs have come up in the last few years which have shown the way to go with regards to creating sustainable neighborhoods. Sporting innovations in waste water recycling, energy generation and sustainable reticulation of the same, well done urban planning, you name it. The beauty of such buildings in suburban developments is that due to the lower cost of land, they offer better value for money for individuals looking for a better lifestyle, as they are designed on a blank canvas, free of encumbrances from the city.

With these thoughts in mind, I am of the opinion that such suburban developments should continue to grow.

The Commercial Architect In Kenya In Development of Commercial Buildings

Thinking about a building project in the context of business sense means that the commercial architect must place emphasis on ensuring that the outputs from a building project outweigh the input that will go into creating and running it. A project ought to produce way more revenue than it costs to be created and operated in order for it to be viable as a commercial venture. This is a quandary for the commercial architect and the developer alike as they must check to see whether their building projects meet this criteria. The tricky part with building projects is the fact that they can only truly generate revenue at the point where they are completed and occupied.

A commercial building to be put up in Nairobi

Seeing the fact that commercial buildings and indeed any building construction is so capital and time intensive, it means that the revenue can only start being generated after considerable time and cost input, till the point at which the project is realized. This cost of capital, as well as the associated time input as well needs to be carefully balanced out in terms of its value monetarily, right from the point with which a developer is weighing up the cost of developing a building vis a vis other investment opportunities.

The commercial architect in Kenya should work with the client to the end of the project

Once a developer has made up his or her mind about developing a building and being totally convinced on the clear merits of a real estate project (they are many), then the best advice a commercial architect in Kenya may give such an investor is to be tenacious and endure to the end. The commercial architect must advise a client that they need to start such a project and hold the course until it is complete. It is only by reaching the end of a project that its rewards can be actualized, and any other way means that it will be abortive as a project. Even in through completing a section of the project (such as in the case of phasing), it is necessary to create revenues from that particular portion of the project.

As such a project must be considered in the light of its capability to generate income at the point of its completion and use, it is wise to weigh its end income earning potential from the very beginning and maximize on revenue generation areas from very early on, right at design by the commercial architect in Kenya. The areas of the project which shall be revenue generating for the developer will need to be given utmost priority and the lions share of resources for them to be built. The need to have income generating activities properly located and built is paramount.

Highest quality provisions may be made in these areas of the design, while other areas may work with more modest provisions. This should aim at maximizing what the building can generate out of these areas in terms of rent or outright selling price. By creating a premium space, using premium quality materials and finishes that enhance the quality of the space, the commercial architect in Kenya will succeed in creating a built environment which the developer can ask for a premium for in terms of rent or selling price.

Provisions for Sustainability Should Be Incorporated By The Commercial Architect In Kenya

The other area that the business of a building can be enhanced is inclusion of lots of green provisions that will reduce the running costs of a building and ensure it has low maintenance costs. Less expenditure on recurrent costs means that ultimately, the building will run cheaper than those which do not. This is a key cornerstone of sustainable architecture or green building.

By having a commercial building that does not consume too much energy, waste water, and generally has better ambiance and internal environmental quality, the commercial architect in Kenya will succeed in creating a building that truly does save its users’ money, and will result in higher productivity. Ultimately green buildings are more commercially viable than those which are not, simply due to the fact that they are great at reducing the costs of running them.
It is akin to note that due to the fact that they are able to pay for themselves much quicker than conventional structures, the green commercial building designed by a commercial architect in Kenya offers greater value for money.

Thoughts on Creating Sustainable Neighborhoods

The quality of the local environment is a important thing with what makes somewhere a great spot live. Whether a location looks clean, organized and pleasant can impact property prices, economic investment and health, and linked to this, you will find evidence that it is a important thing in how satisfied families are with their locality.In the case of regenerated neighborhoods residents have often prioritized the necessity of less risky, healthier and enviromentally friendly neighborhoods. Stewardship organizations also have had to deal with these issues first before being able to work with residents about the wider issues of aspiration and work.

There are Several issues to be addressed by urban designers when thinking about the creation of sustainable neighborhoods.

Who Are The Stakeholders – When the construction of the sustainable neighborhoods is finished, its servicing will revert to individuals who ought to be selected early. These shall partner with the construction and design teams and be prepared in order that they are skilled and capable of taking over the sanitation and upkeep of the completed project.

Construction Issues – It is essential for people to gauge how the upkeep of the environment throughout the construction process is going to be undertaken. This includes taking into account elements like planning of how the location will likely be accessed, how construction materials shall be stored, exactly where the equipment shall be located, not to mention where materials to be dumped shall be stored. These all have an impact on maintenance of the environment.

Environmental Maintenance –  The environmental calibre of the development should be maintained by hiring other people who shall take ownership of the development as soon as the construction has been concluded. Various benchmarks should be maintained by the stewardship team to successfully conserve the development’s environmental quality for the duration of its lifespan.

Societal Commitment – People need to be familiar with the necessity to maintain good care of their environment. At the same time, they need to be made cognizant of any incentives that may be provided to encourage their participation in environmental maintenance . A heritage of obligation and personal pride in one’s neighborhood and environment would have to be cultivated to ensure that residents value their sustainable neighborhoods and aim to keep each other accountable to maintain it.

Long Term Focus – Maintaining a lasting outlook to the project is important, and residents need to focus on the goal of achieving a neighborhood of great quality as much as possible. During the earlier parts of the development of a sustainable development, the building may make the region feel rather unkempt. With the right planning however, it is possible that the entire site can be kept clean and tidy all through the construction phase right to the end of the project.

Creation of Sustainable Neighborhoods Leads To Better Societies

The whole process of creating a sustainable neighborhood allows residents to experience a better lifestyle, and overall satisfaction with the development increases. This is largely for the reason that that this type of local community fulfills goals inhabitants have for a cleaner greener place to live. This also ensures that negative social evils are decreased as better environmental quality positively affects social measures and reduces antisocial habits such as littering and eventually more severe criminal tendencies.

An all inclusive approach towards developing a sustainable development ought to be encouraged when people come together to develop this sort of estate development. Through all appropriate stakeholders cooperating and responding to most of these questions, a successful project will be accomplished. The ultimate intent is sustainable neighborhoods with the biggest environmental quality.

Creating Beautiful Yet Economical House Plans In Kenya

Creation of unique houses is not a new concept. From times immemorial, good buildings have been correlated to greater economic, political or financial stature of an individual or group. Company headquarters are often created as showcase projects that shall be related to their owners as far as their stature in the society and marketplace is concerned. Even state buildings are epitomized by the grandest developments, including residences for heads of state. Thus having a dream house plans in Kenya is not a strange thing. On the contrary, it is a growing fad amongst the wealthy in our society.

Having dream house plans in Kenya does not have to be the recluse of the wealthy in our society. The individual who is wary of the rent trap and wants to get out of the cycle of paying endless rent to a landlord may be interested in developing a home of his own, regardless of its degree of sophistication. Often times this is viewed as a functional, pragmatic commitment to end the payment of rent and create a structure of their own. This becomes much more emphasized immediately an individual manages to procure a piece of land in an area that they feel that they can reside.

modern architecture in houses

Having a great home is not a simple task. It entails having to get a good design from a qualified architect, then go through a host of processes prior to even be allowed to build (looking for approvals for house plans in Kenya), then thereafter going through hassles of getting a good contractor to carry out the actual construction work. This is definitely not an easy thing for most to undertake, and the hassle of it is probably what makes many choose to target the most economical and direct route to their dream of living in their own house.

Some How Tos For Creating Unique House Plans In Kenya

However the creation of dream house plans in Kenya can be realized through a good engagement with the architect right at the design stage. Several things can be integrated to make a good and unique building design for your residential property, even from an economical point of view.

• Selection of construction technology
• Different geometry of the houses
• Selection of external materials that are unique yet functional and satisfactory
• Choice of colors

Selection of building technology

When you are constructing house plans in Kenya, different areas have their preset conditions that must be fulfilled with regard to the way one is constructing their units. The building standards that may be in force in different locations call for specific technologies to be utilized in keeping with the building code. However it is great to note that certain materials are starting to come into the market that are well suited for off-site fabrication and mass production, which is a boon for creating low income housing in bulk.

A builder can select a unique construction technique that offers itself to interesting permutations for the construction of house plans in Kenya. For example, the timber based construction of eco housing can create a pleasant log cabin effect say within a leisure residential resort in a remote part of the country.

Different Geometry in House Plans in Kenya

We are all familiar with the rectilinear (orthogonal) systems of building our houses. However it may be noted that there are several other permutations that are available when dealing with the forms of houses plans in Kenya. The traditional houses that were built in vernacular architecture often were built round and had conical roofs. Abstraction of this form in modern residential architecture is possible, using either bricks, concrete blocks or cast in place concrete.

A cheap way of creating such a form may be through the use of clay bricks that can be laid according to a given radius, and can create very interesting organic house plans in Kenya. As for the furniture and fittings that will go within such as cabinets and worktops, technology today allows for custom built furniture and curvilinear cast in place surfaces.

The downside of this is that there may be more waste in terms of use of modular materials. However, the end result is worth it as a builder can realize a very unique type of house.

Selection of unique materials on house plans in Kenya

The choice of material that is used on the face of the building and within different surfaces in spaces within the house plans in Kenya can offer a lot of interesting possibilities to the aspiring builder. Simply mixing common materials can allow plenty of savings to be realized during the construction of one’s house. For example, mixing surfaces that are going to be plastered and painted, with rough textured plastered areas, with other surfaces which will be made of unplastered stone can give amazing variety with regard to the way a house will look when completed.

Choice of colors on house plans in Kenya

This part cannot be overstated, as much as it seems rather rudimentary. Previously, many builders chose ‘safe’ colors to their homes to avoid clashing colors. All this was due to a prevailing conservative culture that was averse to use of bright and bold color schemes.

This has now changed, with individuals embracing the many possibilities that colors can generate within house plans in Kenya. Modern color schemes be it of the monochrome neutral colors or of bright bold color schemes are becoming more and more commonplace. Technological advances too have allowed paint manufacturers in the region to be able to produce the finest quality paint in an amazing variety of hues and textures, with various products being prepared for internal and external surfaces.

Thus with creative integration of some of these thoughts, the individual looking to build unique yet economical house plans in Kenya can achieve their dream.

Creating Great Interior Design In Kenya Using Soft Finishes

One of the areas with which great interior design in Kenya can be realized in is in the area of soft furnishing. Indeed with regard to creation of a localized context for an area, there is a multitude of options that the interior designer can pursue in order to ensure that their design scheme feels contextualized.

For example should an interior designer desire to create a scheme that is reminiscent of a particular area of Kenya, one of the things that they can do is to select which element that is accessible to them that will be useful to express the material culture of an area. The khanga for example has become an icon in the fashion industry worldwide, yet it has been borrowed from the coastal context. By simply integrating these materials into the fittings for an interior design scheme creatively, quality interiors can be created.

Creating Flexibility Within Interior Design In Kenya Through Soft Furnishing

carpets can be used to create a strong theme to the interior design of a space

Soft furnishings are a great alternative for designers interested in creating great interior design in Kenya. After a building has been constructed and the spaces have been finished, one can use soft furnishings as a versatile means for molding the feel of interiors of its spaces. Creating context for a building to have a great interior space can be achieved through the use of interesting soft draping in creative patterns and textures. Using materials with motifs that are reminiscent of a particular culture in print form, or a say in marbled or even embroidered form can create a strong character for the building’s interiors.

Another way with which designers can create great interior design in Kenya is through the use of materials that are common in the region. For example, one may find textiles created from woven reeds or similar fabrics being quite common near the lakeside or coastal areas of the country. Cotton grown along river basins may also be refined and woven into fine fabrics using the material culture of that area. When these textiles are applied in the built context, simple yet profound statements can be made within the built environment.

Using Local Materials Creates Regional Context Within Interior Design In Kenya

It is common to find hessian fabric being used to create the ceiling planes of various restaurants at the coast. These are simple elements that are uniquely characteristic of interior design in Kenya as they are derived using materials that are much localized to an area. Weavings and artifacts created from home craftsmen are popular in certain areas where skill in creating them may be prevalent.

Application of the fabric in question goes a long way in determining the success of using drapery in interior design in Kenya. By considering the different areas of a space, and thinking about how to apply the materials creatively, there are various possibilities that can be achieved. Soft furnishing is one way to upgrade an otherwise drab space and bring great color and texture into the space after it has been created.

Drapery allows for great interior design in Kenya as it enables an individual interested in remodeling their premises with an easy option that is relatively cheap in terms of renovation or rehabilitation costs. A space that might have been finished with reasonably generic hard finishes like tiles or timber furnishings that are difficult to change short of heavy duty remodeling, can be reshaped through creative selection of drapery. These soft furnishings can be selected to create a complementary scheme that creates interesting contrasts with the existing finishes.

New interest can be created in a space by changing the soft furnishing at will. This is a trick that is much used by hotels and the hospitality sector, which re brand themselves periodically in a bid to maintain their customer base. They go about this by replacing soft furnishing for carpets, curtains, bed linen and drapery in general.

These elements can assist an individual to create interesting ambiance to the interior of a space, allowing great flexibility in the way that the building’s decor can be manipulated. The provision of good drapery as regards interior decoration is a big way with which great interior design in Kenya can be created.

Can You Create Interesting House Plans In Kenya With Great Ventilation?

While the climate of much of the region being near the equator is pleasant for most of the year, there exists the need to ensure a healthy interior ambiance is maintained within the house. There is a lot of need to ensure that the house has simple areas that influence human comfort levels and activity including sufficient lighting, comfortable temperature, fresh air, and sufficient space. All these must be anticipated at the point where one is commencing the construction of their house plans in Kenya.

The need to have a good internal comfort levels within a residential is further amplified by the fact that their level of occupancy is high. We all retire to our homes at an almost daily basis, and spend close to half of our time within our homes. With this in mind, it is vital that we live within comfortable surroundings that do not affect our level of health adversely.

What does creating human comfort within house plans in Kenya require?

As previously mentioned, when house plans in Kenya are being developed, one needs to take into consideration various elements of our surroundings that impact human comfort. These are

• Sufficient lighting
• Comfortable Temperature
• Good clean fresh air.
• Comfortable ambient moisture levels.

Creating sustainable house plans in Kenya through natural ventilation

Comfortable residential interiors need good ventilation

In order to maintain a good level of human comfort within house plans in Kenya, there is a need to have good fresh air. In many parts of this region, this can be maintained by simply having a good level of fresh air entering into the building and having comfortable levels of air exchange into and out of the spaces. Ensuring sufficient air exchange into and out of the building requires the building to have sufficient provisions for the natural currents of air to be able to flow naturally in and out of the space. The use of the stack effect in buildings is a great way to ensure that this can be achieved.

However not all house plans in Kenya can be created to make use of the stack effect or chimney effect as it is often known. Short of the spaces which actually have a chimney and abut into an external open space in themselves. Most of the rooms within house plans in Kenya may not have a good levels of air exchange within them without actually creating channels with which the air can actually flow naturally within the spaces.

This may sound like its not often possible, but there does exist a possibility of creation of natural ventilation within rooms simply by ensuring cross ventilation is possible within the space. This can be done by creating inlets within rooms at low level which allow in fresh air from the outside. At the same time, outlets need to be created on the opposite sides of the rooms at high level that will serve as an outlet for exhausting warmer stale air.

Enhancing natural air flow within house plans in Kenya leads to greater sustainability

With the creation of these two openings within a room, one will find that the levels of natural cross ventilation through the rooms within house plans in Kenya will be greatly amplified and enhanced. The creation of the high level exhaust outlets may be difficult to achieve within many houses as it may require rooms to be single banked for it to work easily. However there still exists the possibility for the creation of an internal duct between even double banked rooms that will be able to draw in air from both rooms simultaneously and channel it to an external outlet somewhere at higher level. This will achieve the same purpose of creating a lower level of air inlet, coupled with a higher outlet placed in such a manner to ensure that air can be removed out of the space. In this way, cross ventilation coupled with the stack effect can be achieved, leading to lots of clean fresh air entering into habitable rooms, coupled with great rates of air exchange.

Filtration of pests and impurities entering house plans in Kenya should be achieved

Creation of outlets like that may also call for a system of ensuring that strange objects, insects and impure gases are unable to come in through the openings that have been created both at low and high levels within the house plans in Kenya. The need to have a good level of filtration may be acute depending on the risk of these irritants coming into the interior of the house. For example if the house is on the windward side of a dumpsite where garbage is collected and burnt, there may be a bad stench coming into the interior spaces from time to time.

Openings for allowing in fresh air and exhaust openings can be fitted with simple filtering elements such as gauze and grilles that allow in air, but prevent other impurities and pests from coming in through them. Of course more sophisticated systems using computerized filters or HEPA filters and the like may not work as well allowing easy natural streams of air in and out of the rooms within house plans in Kenya, and may require a level of mechanization to be integrated.

However if residential buildings are created in such a manner as to allow natural air flow into and out of habitable spaces, then there is lots of sustainability that is achieved simply in the fact that the spaces are healthier to live in without requiring more to run and make to work. Such are sustainable house plans in Kenya.

African House Plans, What Are They?

We know about Mediterranean houses, or gothic architecture for example. But what of African architecture? What more of African house plans? This article delves into discussion of a few thoughts regarding how we can achieve African house plans.

the ampitheater at KICC is reminiscent of the traditional african hut

Of course architecture that belongs to a certain region is made to belong their because it has intrinsic values and thoughts that are common to the people of that area. The material culture of a society is often embedded in the way that its people build. There is a reflection of their values within the way that they build, plan and create their built environment within which they carry out their day to day activities. So it is with regard to African house plans.

Looking at life on the African continent, there exists lots of variance within the various societies, and even within regions there is great diversity amongst the peoples found therein. For example, the Cushitic desert communities of the east African region differ in every way with the Nilotic peoples found within the same region. Similarly, the ‘Bantu’ communities have a lot of differences with either of the other two. Looking at the west African cultures too, one will find great diversity within the way they carry out their livelihoods. Study of the Dogon peoples reveal elements of their material culture that is very different from the cultures one will find on the Eastern seaboard.

Creation of African house plans must be done according to a specific context

It is necessary therefore for one to zero in on a certain culture when looking at creating specific types of African house plans, as it is impossible to encompass the rich diversity of Africa’s people and ways of building to talk of all encompassing African architecture. You can only make it relevant and have a certain regional context.

For example, one may decide that they would like to create African house plans that will be reminiscent of the building processes of the Cushitic peoples of Africa. The way that this would have to be achieved would be to seek for elements of their culture that one could abstract into and meld into a built form, or perhaps use a pattern of how they do things to weave into a planning pattern or blueprint. One element that stands out in their way of living was the way that many of these communities dwelt within tents and similar covering, due to their nomadic lifestyles.

Thus creation of African house plans that shall have a Cushitic taste can be created through buildings whose roof forms and morphology are reminiscent of tented structures that were widespread in their cultures. These can be abstracted and expressed in modern buildings through the use of vibrant roof forms built from concrete or steel, and having patterns that are reminiscent of a tented structure. Even modern tensile structures created from synthetic materials can be used to express the same kind of architecture that was rife within these communities.

African House Plans Were Mostly Organic In Form

One of the things that one will find when studying the ways African communities often built their homes is in the fact that most of their building structures were very organic in nature. It is true that their buildings were hardly orthogonal in nature, and on very rare occasions would one find African house plans being rectilinear in nature, unless those communities had received external influences in their way of living.

A good example of this is the architecture of the coastal communities of East Africa, which received heavy influence from the Arabic communities which dominated the regions of Zanzibar, Mombasa and the coast in general. These communities started constructing rectilinear African house plans that were built of coral limestone and mangrove poles. They however were not the initial ways that these indigenous communities built their structures.

It is common to find that African house plans were made in organic curvilinear geometry that was intrinsic to their lifestyles. Houses were often constructed in this round fashion with a conical roof at the top. This style of African house plans were very, very common especially within the Bantu and Nilotic communities of Africa. It is therefore easy to make a generalization that these typologies of buildings represent African architecture. However an indepth look at African architecture reveals lots of different methods of buildings that these communities used.

An Example Of African House Plans Found In The Maasai Community

An interesting example of African house plans is exhibited in the way the Maasai communities constructed their houses. The maasai communities were able to create house plans that were elongated ovals in their geometry. They were homogenously constructed using reeds and sticks tied together to form a slightly domical roof, which were then cladded using cowdung and mud. The result was a structure that looked like an elongated loaf of bread.

As simple as it was, the ingenuity of these seemingly unsophisticated African house plans was in the way they had astounding thermal properties that allowed the people of  this community to dwell in harsh arid territories with high diurnal temperature changes. These houses offered great protection for their inhabitants from the challenges of wildlife outside too. They kept their inhabitants cool during high daytime temperatures, and were warm during the coldest times of the night.

Creation of modern residential architecture that is contextual requires an indepth study of the context with which communities created their built environment. It is the same thing in the quest to create African house plans.

Entrance doors for house plans in Kenya

entrance doors should be beautiful and ornate

Looking at doors within house plans in Kenya there are various possibilities that a developer can look at. Due to the the issue of security, many builders and residents choose to have a double leaf door system whereby a security door is installed on the outside whereas another simpler door is installed on the inside. The rationale is to have a target handed entrance which is more difficult to penetrate. 

Ordinarily, looking at the door in this manner calls for a steel grilled door on the outside while a timber panelled door or solid timber door may be installed inside. This steel door is installed for its strength in order to repel intruders who may be interested in trying to break in. It is basically a people barrier, but does little to keep out the external environment. This is the job of the internal leaf of door, which is normally created to be weatherproof and soundproof. These roles are played very well using timber doors and frames. 

One can select the different types of timber-based products for house plans in Kenya to create the internal continuous door leaf. For example, there are those formed out of solid timber pieces that have been worked together to form panel doors. These doors tend to be very solid and strong and can withstand much use due to their structural stability. 

It is possible to also create other strong doors through the use of blockboard pieces. These are pieced together and glued together with a special adhesive to form a continuous timber board. These are finally covered by a layer of 3-ply or 5 ply plywood to form a small exterior cladding over the block board members. In some cases a laminate or veneer that is formed from genuine mahogany and other precious hardwoods maybe be glued to the exterior covering, giving it a feel of the actual hardwood timber door.

Other simpler doors for house plans in Kenya may be formed through the use of simple timber slats that are joined together using timber members nailed to each in a Z fashion. These are actually structural and prevent forces of torsion from pulling apart timber members and giving the door panel good rigidity. However, doors made in this way are not as aesthetically pleasing as hardwood Panel doors which can be more artistic in their make up. However they still find utility when one is building low cost house plans in Kenya. 

Security Doors Are An Important Element In House Plans In Kenya

Steel doors can be used in the creation of security doors for house plans in kenya as they are strong and solid. Continuous weatherproof doors may be created by welding sheets of metal together around strong frames created from rectangular steel sections or tubes. They are capable of being used as weatherproof and secure doors for residential units, however with the distinct issue of being rather poor in acoustic and temperature insulation if not used in conjunction with something else like insulate padding. 

Even cheaper doors may be formed out of the use of simpler materials and cores for the door when creating house plans in Kenya. You may have come across the terms semi solid or hollow core doors. These doors are basically formed using a firm exterior cladding such as plywood or plastic veneer with an interior core formed of either blockboard members loosely fixed together or other firm material. Their main job is to provide a weatherproof shield separating the exterior from the interior, though due to their poor strength are hardly used as external doors. They do find utility however on the inside of house plans in Kenya, especially as doors separating internal rooms. 

Modern Doors For House Plans In Kenya

With modern innovation, doors have also changed. There are good options for the creation of doors within house plans in Kenya. Due to the advancement in technology for creating laminates and veneers, doors today can be formed from many materials and synthetically clad to mimic the finish of any material, whether organic or artificial. This gives developers interested in building house plans in kenya with good options regarding what possibilities can be harnessed to create particular doors. There is the ability to mix materials of different types and strengths so as to create types of doors that fit a user’s needs in terms of strength, usability and aesthetics. 

For instance, it is now possible to find doors that have been made out of laminated timber that has been overlaid over a solid steel plate. This creates a solid door that has the appearance of timber yet in reality has the strength of steel within. This makes for a bullet proof barrier that can stop even the most determined intruder. 

Another common option that can be harnessed by individuals creating house plans in Kenya is through the use of solid steel doors that have been finished with either a timber laminate or a nice paint coating. These can be created to have the form of a panel door and one may find very ornate patterned doors with glass panels that are created from this. Such doors are heavy and firm, though they are very pleasing to the eye. They are secure enough to be used by their own without requiring an external leaf to reinforce it. 

There are options for importing these doors from the middle east or from China. Locally one may procure security doors from manufacturers such as MultiLock Kenya  or Absa Alloy Group of companies, among others. Sometimes it is cheaper to bring in the doors from abroad when building house plans in Kenya but this can pose significant logistical challenges including clearing and forwarding issues. In this case, only when dealing with a large number of such doors is it economically viable to explore this option, otherwise it is easier to simply procure them locally. 

Depending on the way one’s construction has been planned, and depending on the use of the doors at whichever location it will be placed, specific door types may be chosen for their ability to answer a design challenge in that area. Thus  a developer can make an informed choice when interested in constructing house plans in Kenya. 

Selecting your window fittings for house plans in Kenya

Large windows to maximise views

At the point of selecting your window fittings various factors that come into play. The selection of one’s windows when building house plans in Kenya is first of all influenced by the level of natural light or day lighting that the interior of the space is supposed to enjoy. The size of windows determine the level of sunlight that shall be either reflected or directly enter into the space. This is determined by the type of activity that the spaces shall accommodate.

When building house plans in Kenya, the choice of your spaces and their activities call for specific levels of illumination for them to function within proper human comfort levels. Human activities call for specific levels of illumination, normally measured in terms of lux. For example, the levels of lighting required for comfortable reading are different from the levels of light one requires in a TV room. With these aspects in mind, one can then determine that the levels of natural lighting and exposure the window should afford to provide that kind of lighting for the space to work.

A Design Dilemna For House Plans In Kenya; Large or Small

Larger windows will generally allow in more light into house plans in Kenya than smaller ones. Small windows may allow in less light into a space, but using several small windows together can give a different feel to the space, allowing them to give a better level of lighting. However this must be balanced with the need to ensure that the temperatures of the spaces in question must be kept to a comfortable level. Having a lot of glazing on a façade will lead to lots of light and heat penetrating into the space, resulting in high heat gains.

The next level of influence for the choice of a window is the façade design for the house plans in Kenya. When looks at the exterior of a building, its form is a huge determinant on the type of windows that will be selected for the house. Depending on the design language that the house has been designed with, the type of window design that shall be selected can be determined. For example, if the house plans have been designed to flow with more organic curved shapes, then the use of windows that have been shaped in this fashion such as arched windows would be quite appropriate.

In larger more rectilinear buildings, one may consider the use of longer bay windows or curtain walling windows that allow its physical form design to be emphasized in a given direction. For example, if one wants the building to be designed to have a strong horizontality to it, the use of horizontal windows in bands around the building will result the design feeling a lot more horizontal in nature, and seeming to hug the landscape more. However if the house plans in Kenya have been designed in such a manner as to be more vertical and feel “taller”, for example in the design of houses that will feel like castles or forts, then having windows that are proportioned to be longer rather than wider will assist to achieve that feel. Looking at some coastal architecture or gothic buildings such as cathedrals gives a clear indication of this.

Windows On House Plans In Kenya Need To Provide Adequate Security

Another element that needs to be taken into mind is the whole element of the level of security and openness one wants to achieve with the building. Modern house plans in Kenya have started to embrace the language of having larger openings which are framed with massive walls and bulkheads, resulting in a much more dramatic modern look. With the development of glazing technology within the region, larger and larger window panes are achievable, and now one can be able to obtain glazing of more than 3 meters in height. These can be combined together to create an impressive glazed façade. Framed with a nice solid wall of a contrasting color, one can create dramatic mixes of solids and voids within the designs for their house plans in Kenya.

However the use of large glazed facades is often avoided in building projects simply because many clients interested in building house plans in Kenya may be adverse to having huge windows in buildings simply because of the fact that they desire more enclosure around their buildings for the sake of greater security. This aspect does exert great influence in the choice of even the location for developing one’s house plans in Kenya.

Choice of Materials Influences The Types Of Windows Used on House Plans

The materials that are used to create the frames of windows play a big role in the type of windows that will be installed on the building. Common materials that are utilized in the creation of fenestrations and window openings for house plans in Kenya are mainly mild steel, aluminium framing and timber frames. Depending on which is used, a particular character can be created within the residential development. Timber frames around windows create a classy, cozy and homely feel.

With some of these factors in mind, architects can make good decisions regarding the type of windows that would be best fitting on a particular building when designing house plans in Kenya.

Ceramic Tiles in Interior Design in Kenya

We are familiar with the crafts of pottery and use of natural clay to fabricate various materials such as vitreous china, chinaware and crockery, and of course, pottery. This age old traditional craft has evolved over the years, to become a very advanced industry that is a far cry from the cottage industries it came from once upon a time.  It is from this line of materials that the whole element of ceramic tiles hailed from, and their role in interior design in Kenya today cannot be overemphasized.

It is interesting to note how interior design in Kenya has shaped the real estate scene within the country. Various drivers have been noted that influence how real estate is treated within the Kenyan market. Depending on target market, which is interested in a particular kind of development in the market, a project can be designed to take into account of what is the best-case scenario, and best viability in the market.

We often believe that most people are looking for the most pocket friendly solution to their immediate need, more so when we are talking about issues such as real estate. Investments in this sector are likely to be quite extensive in their capital requirements, and they are not delved into lightly. However it is also the case that these kinds of investments due to their very expensive nature call for the investor to demand the best value for money that they can get from a given investment.

The whole element of best value for money calls for the investors in real estate to demand the best that they can get out of a corresponding investment. Thus, the issue of quality comes to the fore. By the time someone has spent several thousand dollars or even to the tune of millions as are likely to be seen in developing markets today, they are simply calling for as great value for the money that they can afford. Someone wants the best quality of project that can be achieved especially regarding interior design in Kenya.

Ceramic tiles offer a cost friendly alternative to achieve quality interior design in Kenya

One of the best parts about using ceramic tiles is the fact that it is relatively simple to install on the site of your choosing. Their application within interior design in Kenya has been limitless. There are various areas with which a ceramic tile can be applied on within an interior design scheme. Virtually any surface or plane on a scheme can take well to these tiles, probably apart from the ceiling.

If one is interested in creating an easy to clean and easy maintenance finish within an interior design scheme, tiles are the way to go. With a little grout and a good tile design pattern and motif, a good tile fixer can create an impressive tile design scheme. Interesting color schemes and tile patterns can be achieved in a manner that will enhance contrast and texture and overally increase the quality of the space. Interior design in Kenya is enhanced through the use of tiles creatively on floors and walls especially.

For some of the challenges of installing ceramic tiles within an interior design scheme, well there aren’t many! Apart from probably the challenge of getting a good tile layer, the main issue that large projects face is the whole element of availability of sufficient numbers of a specific ceramic tile. This may necessitate an interior design in Kenya project to be delayed in some circumstances, especially when it is very large. The options in such cases when suppliers do not have the same tile in large enough quantities is to have the tiles ordered directly from a tile manufacturer.

Disadvantages of using ceramic tiles in interior design in Kenya

The most obvious disadvantage of using ceramic tiles in your interiors is the fact that ceramics as a material have the distinct disadvantage of absorbing heat in a manner that gives them a very cold surface. This can be undesirable especially within the context of a residential home in areas that have continuous occupation such as bedrooms and living areas. They work great in wet areas, but even then using non slip variants of the tiles.

The best way to mitigate this effect in circumstances when ceramic tiles have to be used in a space is to integrate plenty of soft furnishings within that space to soften the hard feel of the tiles. Options to do this with regard to interior design in Kenya is to use plenty of drapery within the space such as curtains and hangings, as well as applying a good carpet to reduce the level of tile exposure.

Ceramic tiles can be obtained from most leading tile manufacturers in Kenya, including Saj Ceramics, Ideal Ceramics, Rak Ceramics and a host of others. Many suppliers also import wholesale tiles from Italy, Spain, Dubai and China. Depending on your pocket, you can be able to achieve interesting patterns using both local and imported tiles when dealing with interior design in Kenya.

That being said, there are lots of options for achieving great interior design in Kenya using ceramic tiles.