a4architect.com

Month: November 2014

  • Ruaka building collapse. November 2014

    Like most Nairobi buildings that have recently collapsed, the Ruaka building also collapsed at the point of construction when the 5 th floor slab was being cast.

    From the debris, the cause of collapse could be due to unusually thick floor slab, approximately 200mm thick and also unusually deep beams, approximately 800mm deep. The columns were also unusually thin, approximately 350mm by 200mm.
    Time aspect.
    The construction could have been hurriedly stacked high up, loading the building while the support structure had not completely dried and gained sufficient strength to support the storeys.

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  • The Architecture of Mud

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48iDhuzxIoU

  • Natural Buildings for Urban Living – The Tour (part 2)

  • First Earth

  • EARTH BAG BUILDING / SUPER ADOBE / RAMMED EARTH

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TIF7bax4xg

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c8qz0Zqj4I

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amNSjCK50iA

  • Riruta low cost housing

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  • St Francis of Assisi Sayings.


    “He who works with his hands is a laborer;
    He who works with his hands and his brain is an Artisan;
    He who works with his hands, his brains and his heart is an Artist.”

  • Comparison of cost of walling of Earthbag vs Iron sheets vs Hand dressed stone vs Machine cut stone in Kenya.

    Earthbag walling.

    Cost of soil excavation per m2. KES 50.
    Cost of bags per m2. KES 200
    Cost of labour Per m2 KES 100
    Cost of plaster both sides per m2 KES 300
    Total= KES 650 Per m2.



    Advantages.
    Rental income is high, same as stone house due to good internal temperature regulation, security and aesthetic appearance.

    Iron sheet mabati gauge 32.

    Cost of iron sheet per m2 KES 300

    Cost of 2 x2 inch timber support per m2 KES 200

    Cost of labour KES 100

    Total=KES 600.


    Disdavantages.
    Rental income is low due to poor internal temperature regulation, poor security and appearance associated with low cost houses.

    Hand dressed stone.

    Stone per m2 KES 600
    Labour KES 100
    Plaster 1 side KES 200
    Total KES 900.

    Disdavantage.
    Cost of foundation structural support is high.
    Cost of plaster is high.

    Machine cut stone.

    Stone per m2 KES 800
    Labour KES 100

    Plaster 1 side KES 150
    Total=KES 1050.


    Disdadvantage.
    Cost of foundation is high. Permanent structure means high local authority council approval fees. Not easy to dismantle after lease expires on leased lands options.
    Advantage.
    Ability to attract premium rents due to high security, weather temperature control and good aesthetics.