Author: A4KENYA

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.

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

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.

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

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPTEGF6O_2U&w=560&h=315]

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

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.

MAXXI: Museum of XXI Century Arts

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.

Best way to invest in Kenya’s real estate with kes 1m and below.

For a budget of kes 1m and below,the real estate investment possible is most likely located 40km and above from Nairobi CBD and over 1km from main tarmac road. Such areas include Kantafu, Isinya, Kajiado and deep within Juja.

5 to 10 years before development.

These areas will take over 5 to 10 years for development to encroach such that the areas can return good rents for construction.

Land price as advertised for sale in Kantafu, Isinya.

http://south-b.olx.co.ke/plots-for-sale-iid-528383204

A budget of kes 1m will get you a 1/4 to a 1/2 acre plot in Isinya depending on how close the plot is to the tarmac.

A budget of kes 1m will also get you a 1/4 acre or 1/2 acre plot depending on how close the land is to the main tarmac road.

http://pipeline.olx.co.ke/50-x-100-plots-for-sale-in-kantafu-near-koma-rock-hill-iid-519192958

50 km from Nairobi CBD.

Both Kantafu and Isinya are 50km from Nairobi CBD.
This means that it’s not possible to construct rental properties here.
As we speak, there are no rental properties in these areas.

No return on kes 1m investment.

This means that the kes 1m used to buy the land will lie idle for the next 5 to 10 years as we wait for these areas to grow such that its viable to develop rentals.

For a prudent investor, its wiser to invest in real estate where returns are possible within 6 months of your investment.

Location, Location, Location.

The cliché saying goes, there are 3 important factors to consider when investing in real estate.
1.location
2.location
3.location.

Kes 1m invested in real estate near Nairobi CBD.

Land near Nairobi CBD, where its possible to get good rental income, is quite expensive. These areas include Kitengela,Rongai, Syokimau, Kahawa and Kiambu.

A good plot will cost kes 2m. This is over the kes 1m budget.

Solution on how best to invest.

To circumvent this problem, a4architect.com has come up with a unique method whereby several like-minded Kenyans can meet and discuss on how to pool resources and buy the expensive plot and share the rental income.
See here for details.
a4architect.com/discuss/

Since location is the most important factor in real estate, several people can share the plot both horizontally and vertically. The plot has another 5 to 6 multiplicity if constructed vertically.

New topics by Investors on the forum.

A minimum of 12 people can meet in the forum , set up a discussion topic such as this
http://a4architect.com/discus/topic/joint-investment/

They can then decide which plot to buy and share.

Immediate Returns.

With this option, the kes 1m budget will immediately begin to return its investment at an average rate of 10% per annum. In 10 years, all the investment money will have been recouped.

On the contrary, the person who invested in land in Isinya and Kantafu will still not have began returning their investment after the 10 years.

Francis Gichuhi Kamau, Architect.
0721410684

Best way to invest in Kenya’s real estate with kes 1m and below.

For a budget of kes 1m and below,the real estate investment possible is most likely located 40km and above from Nairobi CBD and over 1km from main tarmac road. Such areas include Kantafu, Isinya, Kajiado and deep within Juja.

5 to 10 years before development.

These areas will take over 5 to 10 years for development to encroach such that the areas can return good rents for construction.

Land price as advertised for sale in Kantafu, Isinya.

http://south-b.olx.co.ke/plots-for-sale-iid-528383204

A budget of kes 1m will get you a 1/4 to a 1/2 acre plot in Isinya depending on how close the plot is to the tarmac.

A budget of kes 1m will also get you a 1/4 acre or 1/2 acre plot depending on how close the land is to the main tarmac road.

http://pipeline.olx.co.ke/50-x-100-plots-for-sale-in-kantafu-near-koma-rock-hill-iid-519192958

50 km from Nairobi CBD.

Both Kantafu and Isinya are 50km from Nairobi CBD.
This means that it’s not possible to construct rental properties here.
As we speak, there are no rental properties in these areas.

No return on kes 1m investment.

This means that the kes 1m used to buy the land will lie idle for the next 5 to 10 years as we wait for these areas to grow such that its viable to develop rentals.

For a prudent investor, its wiser to invest in real estate where returns are possible within 6 months of your investment.

Location, Location, Location.

The cliché saying goes, there are 3 important factors to consider when investing in real estate.
1.location
2.location
3.location.

Kes 1m invested in real estate near Nairobi CBD.

Land near Nairobi CBD, where its possible to get good rental income, is quite expensive. These areas include Kitengela,Rongai, Syokimau, Kahawa and Kiambu.

A good plot will cost kes 2m. This is over the kes 1m budget.

Solution on how best to invest.

To circumvent this problem, a4architect.com has come up with a unique method whereby several like-minded Kenyans can meet and discuss on how to pool resources and buy the expensive plot and share the rental income.
See here for details.
a4architect.com/discuss/

Since location is the most important factor in real estate, several people can share the plot both horizontally and vertically. The plot has another 5 to 6 multiplicity if constructed vertically.

New topics by Investors on the forum.

A minimum of 12 people can meet in the forum , set up a discussion topic such as this
http://a4architect.com/discus/topic/joint-investment/

They can then decide which plot to buy and share.

Immediate Returns.

With this option, the kes 1m budget will immediately begin to return its investment at an average rate of 10% per annum. In 10 years, all the investment money will have been recouped.

On the contrary, the person who invested in land in Isinya and Kantafu will still not have began returning their investment after the 10 years.

Francis Gichuhi Kamau, Architect.
0721410684