Month: February 2018

  • Residential House Ceiling types. Kenya

    Residential House Ceiling types. Kenya

    Stick-on Ceiling tiles.

    https://www.proceilingtiles.com/images/W/copper-strips-lrg.jpg

    Suspended ceilings.

    Wooden decorated ceilings

    Copper ceiling

    Wall Paper decorated ceiling


    Combined materials ceiling

    Fabric ceiling

    Architect Francis Gichuhi Kamau.
    0721410684

  • Bungalow House types

    Various Bungalow House types from around the world.
















  • Car Wash design. Upper Hill, Nairobi

    Car Wash design. Upper Hill, Nairobi

  • Sample Architect Agreement Contract.

    Sample Architect Agreement Contract.

    A FOUR CONSTRUCTION
    www.a4architect.com
    Phone: +254 721 410684

    info@a4architect.com

    MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT

    THIS AGREEMENT is made the ……. day of …………….. the year Two Thousand and Eighteen between ……………….. of P.O.BOX …………………………….. (hereinafter called the CLIENT) on the one part and A FOUR CONSTRUCTION LTD/ FRANCIS GICHUHI KAMAU of P O Box ….., Kenya (hereinafter called the CONSULTING ARCHITECT).

    WHEREAS

    A.

    B.

    The Client intends to have the design, documentation and supervision of PROPOSED HOUSE, KIAMBU (hereinafter called the PROJECT) by the consultant.
    The Consulting Architect agrees to undertake the design, documentation and supervision of the proposed project at 6% of total contract sum. The Architect shall provide all Architectural drawings inclusive of detailed specifications. Estimated contract sum for purposes of fee calculations is KES …………………….

    NOW THESE PRESENTS WITNESS and it is hereby agreed and declared by and between the parties hereto as follows:

    (i)
    The Client hereby appoints the Consultant as Consulting Architect and Project Manager in respect of the project and the consultant agrees to provide professional services subject to and in accordance with the terms and conditions of engagement as set out in Cap 525 of the Laws of Kenya.
    (ii)

    iii)

    C)

    D)
    That the Consulting Architect shall provide Architectural, drawings together with detailed specifications for the proposed
    development.

    TERM – This Agreement is effective for 24 months (the “term”), beginning ……………………., 2013 and ending ……………….. , 20…, or the lapse of the defects liability period whichever is earlier.

    ARCHITECT’S DUTY OF CARE
    The Architect further agrees to;
    a) Maintain the highest ethical standards in the performance of this agreement;
    b) Perform the services and related services in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations;
    c) Hold in strict confidence and to use only for purposes of this Agreement and not to print, publicize, or otherwise disclose to any third party, confidential information of the owner, including, but not limited to, information in tangible or intangible form relating to and /or including the services, the project, the owner or its officers, financial information, business, marketing or pricing policies or practices, whether deliberately or otherwise disclosed to the Architect; and
    d) Practice due diligence so as to increase the value of the owner’s investment and to maximize the owner’s profits.

    DISPUTES
    All disputes shall be decided by arbitration with a panel composed of two arbitrators comprising Owner’s representative and Architect’s representative as per Architectural Association of Kenya arbitration requirements.

    Signed by the Client (Representative)

    Date

    In the presence of

    Name

    Address

    Signed by the Consulting Architect

    Date

    In the presence of:

    Name

    Address

    SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED BY THE CONSULTING ARCHITECT

    1. Normal Services

    The Consultant shall provide the following services:

    a) Inception

    Advising the Client upon the services of an Architect and the need for other consultants.
    b) Outline Proposal

    Developing the brief and preparing outline proposals incorporating a detailed presentation of the Clients requirements and an approximation of the costs.

    c) Scheme Design

    Preparing in collaboration with other consultants scheme designs consisting of small scale working drawings that shall indicate the spatial arrangement and appearance and submitting copies of the drawings to the local authority in future for town planning consent and approval under the Building By-laws.

    d) Detailed Design and Production Drawings

    For completing detailed design incorporating design work done by other consultants and preparing production drawings and information necessary for Bills and Quantities.

    e) Tender Action to Completion

    For obtaining and advising on tenders and for preparing and advising on the contract and the appointment of the contractor, supervision of works in progress, issuing of interim certificates, counter checking on contractor’s claims and preparing practical completion certificates and inspection of defects and final handover to client.

    2. Additional Services

    All other additional services not included in the normal services shall be charged on a time charge basis to be agreed upon by the Consulting Architect and the Client.

    ESTIMATED CONSTRUCTION COST: KES …………………..

    A. Inception:
    For advising the client upon the services of an architect and the need for a quantity surveyor, obtaining initial statement of requirements and outlining possible courses of action:
    No charge. 0% of total construction cost. =KES 0.00

    B.Outline proposals: For considering and developing the brief.
    For advising on the need for and instructing consultants.
    For preparing outline proposals which incorporate a detailed presentation of the client’s requirements and an approximation of the costs of meeting them.
    For reporting any major decisions required from the client and receiving any amended instructions.
    Charge: Charge: 1.5% of total construction cost.=KES ………………..

    C. Scheme Design.
    For preparing, in collaboration with any consultant, a scheme design consisting of small-scale working drawings which shall indicate spatial arrangement and appearance.
    For reporting to the client on the scheme including presenting an assignment of the cost and timetable for the project and where so required, submitting copies of the drawings to the local authority for town planning consent, approval under the Building bye-laws.

    Charge: 1.5% of total construction cost.=KES …………………

    D. Detailed design and production drawings.
    For completing a detailed design incorporating the design work done by any consultants .
    For preparing production drawings and information necessary for production of Bills of Quantities.

    Charge: 1.5% of total construction cost.=KES ……………………

    E. From tender action to completion.
    For obtaining and advising on tenders and for preparing and advising on the contract and the appointment of a contractor.
    For briefing the contractor, arranging for him to take possession of the site and examining his programme.
    For periodic supervision and issuing certificates required by the building contract.
    For handing over the building to the client, providing small-scale drawings showing the main lines of drainage and other services as executed and giving initial guidance on maintenance.

    Charge: 1.5% of total construction cost.=KES …………………

    Disbursements

    Out of pocket expenses for transport, ploting, printing, photocopying, laminating, payments to Local Authority etc shall all be reimbursed at cost plus 10% administrative costs.

    Payment of Fees

    All fee notes shall be payable to the Architect within 14 days of being raised.

  • Kitengela Kenya Police Sacco 2 Estate

    Kitengela Kenya Police Sacco 2 Estate

    The estate is located just after Yukos resort from Kitengela town going towards Isinya.

    Land price is in the range of kes 3 m per 1/8th.

    The area as water from private borehole suppliers within the estate.

    The Police staff , gated community neighborhood and single entrance enhances security for the occupants, hence good value for money as real estate investment.

    Most houses are double storey, with plinth areas of between 300 to 500m2 on average.

    There are established developments such as Galaxy resort, see pictures below.

  • Prefabricated Restaurant, Upper Hill, Nairobi

    Prefabricated Restaurant, Upper Hill, Nairobi.
    Located next to Don Bosco Catholic Church, Upper hill, Nairobi.

    Prefabrication enables ease of dismantling after land lease expires.

    Seating capacity. 50 to 100 persons.

    Kitchen size 25m2.
    Display kitchen next to kitchen for the display of cakes and pastries, coffee maker machine etc. Kitchen yard on the rear side of kitchen.

    Floor.
    Mazeras flooring on the edges. Ceramic tile flooring in the kitchen and mid section for ease of cleaning to maintain sanitary conditions.

    Roof structure.
    Steel structure welded and bolted together.
    Roof cover is PVC Fabric Material welded together. Green colour to match with the lush greenery in Upper Hill area. PVC roof membrane is Teflon coated to enable it to self clean.

    Wall.
    Use of scaffolding HDPE Safety nets on the wall sides to prevent sun ingress and dust for the outside seating area will be included.

    Kitchen wall will be made using 18 gauge steel sheets welded on steel structure tubing to ensure security of kitchen equipment. The steel walls will then be clad using PVC Corrugated sheets to ensure high levels of cleanliness since these are easy to clean.

    Wall sides will have cypress timber 1 inch by 6 inch joint across using nails.


    Architect Francis Gichuhi Kamau
    0721410684

  • Apartment Block Foundation on Red soil ground, Kikuyu town.

    Apartment Block Foundation on Red soil ground, Kikuyu town.

    Architect. Francis Gichuhi
    Engineer. Mike Nderitu

    The foundation is to support a 5 storey residential apartment building.
    The ground is red soil excavated until stable ground.

    The footings are 2 meters by 2 meters with a thickness of 450mm.
    The structural steel is anchored in the mid section of the 450mm thick concrete footings . The footings are joint together using beams on all sides.

    Excavation.
    This was carried out using a back hoe excavator, which has better cost savings than manual excavation.

    Steel reinforcement bars.

    Diameter 16 mm bars have been used as specified in the structural engineer’s drawings and instructions.

    The footings have been optimally designed to save on cost as well as provide adequate structural strength for the building.
    Yellow river sand obtained from Kajiado quarries is being used since it offer better structural capacity than the dark river sand from Naivasha which is made up of volcanic ash.

    Approvals.
    All necessary building permits have been applied through the edams.kiambu.go.ke/ website and permits obtained.

    Architect Francis Gichuhi Kamau.
    0721410684

  • Residential House Wardrobe design.

    Residential House Wardrobe design.

    Residential house wardrobes can be constructed with cypress timber structure with MDF or block board infill or with only MDF as both infill and structure.
    For MDF infill type, the MDF Board should be at least 1 inch thick to enable for structural support strenth.
    These boards are then drilled together using special screws and the screw locations are then filled up using stickers that come at the same colour with the board to ensure a sleek finish. The stickers have glue on one side after peeling their cover.
    Lipping.
    Lipping is sold in rolls. Its preferable for it to be same colour as the board to ensure aesthetic appeal. This is stuck to the board using conta glue.
    Sliding door.

    The sliding door is hoisted above a railing . See picture of railing below

    The Wardrobe door handles are the recessed type to prevent the door handles from protruding and getting stuck in between 2 sliding door panels.

    The drawers have rails stuck onto the sides of the wardrobe.

    The doors caneither be swing type or sliding door type. The swing type occupy more space so if the room is tight on space, the sliding type is better.

    Safaricom 1 Estate, Kitengela.

    Architect Francis Gichuhi kamau
    0721410684