Author: A4KENYA

The Great Zimbabwe city was built between the 12th and the 16th Century AD.

It was a city with an economy based on trade, mainly Gold, ivory and livestock.

It can still be viewed today from Google maps.
Below is the link to the google map cordinates.

https://maps.google.co.ke/maps?q=great+zimbabwe+history&ll=-20.272634,30.934963&spn=0.002843,0.005284&t=h&z=18

https://maps.google.co.ke/maps?q=great+zimbabwe+history&ll=-20.272634,30.934963&spn=0.002843,0.005284&t=h&z=18

From the aerial view, the planning was superb. There was the main building which was linked to several other buildings through well defined roads.

The walls were curvilinear in shape and were constructed using stone.

To shape stone as the Zimbabweans did, this means they had a good metal fabrication industry that could produce various chisels for this work.
Also, to mine the gold and purify it, the Zimbabwean must have had very good metallurgy skills.
Use of Gold as currency means that the early understanding of trade and economics was perfect.
The current economic situation is abit on the lower side since till today, the US Dollar is still not backed by gold, hence has a value only on its paper worth based on what agreements have been made to represent value.

Extension to South Africa.

The link below is for a Google map of similar ancient cities near Swaziland with the same architecture as the Great Zimbabwe.

Kingdom of Mapungubwe.1100 to 1300 AD.

The Kingom of Mapungubwe, in South Africa, also constructed using stone on a similar architectural planning.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Mapungubwe

Here is the google map

https://maps.google.co.ke/maps?q=kingdom+of+mapungubwe&ll=-22.213788,29.392891&spn=0.17958,0.338173&hnear=Mapungubwe&t=h&z=12

https://maps.google.co.ke/maps?q=25+55’+53.28%22+S+%2F+30+16’+13.13%22+E&ll=-25.931963,30.270461&spn=0.002726,0.005284&t=h&z=18

https://maps.google.co.ke/maps?q=25+55’+53.28%22+S+%2F+30+16’+13.13%22+E&ll=-25.931963,30.270461&spn=0.002726,0.005284&t=h&z=18

This could mean that the Great Zimbabwe civilisation covered a very huge area, with Great Zimbabwe as its epicentre, with a radius of thousands of kilometers.

Here are other remains of a similar city in Baadplus, South Africa.

https://maps.google.co.ke/maps?q=25+47’+33.45%22+S+%2F+30+40’+38.76%22+E&ie=UTF8&ll=-25.792861,30.677621&spn=0.001364,0.002642&hnear=33,+Canc%C3%BAn,+Quintana+Roo,+Mexico&t=h&z=19

https://maps.google.co.ke/maps?q=25+47’+33.45%22+S+%2F+30+40’+38.76%22+E&ie=UTF8&ll=-25.792861,30.677621&spn=0.001364,0.002642&hnear=33,+Canc%C3%BAn,+Quintana+Roo,+Mexico&t=h&z=19

https://maps.google.co.ke/maps?q=25+38’+07.82%22+S+%2F+30+21’+18.79%22+E&ll=-25.635897,30.356426&spn=0.005465,0.010568&t=h&z=17

https://maps.google.co.ke/maps?q=25+38’+07.82%22+S+%2F+30+21’+18.79%22+E&ll=-25.635897,30.356426&spn=0.005465,0.010568&t=h&z=17

This city near Emgwenya, South Africa, has its interlinking roads in between the various smaller cities clearly visible on google maps.

https://maps.google.co.ke/maps?q=25+39’+22.42%22+S+%2F+30+17’+03.25%22+E&ll=-25.656353,30.283991&spn=0.002732,0.005284&t=h&z=18

https://maps.google.co.ke/maps?q=25+39’+22.42%22+S+%2F+30+17’+03.25%22+E&ll=-25.656353,30.283991&spn=0.002732,0.005284&t=h&z=18

Kenyan pre colonial villages.

Most Kenyan pre colonial villages shared the same planning whereby the outer boundary was curvilinear and the buildings were circular in nature.
The difference comes in use of materials in that adobe mud was used for walling while the Zimbabwe villages used stone for walling.

Iron Age.

In Africa, ancient Africans moved from using stone tools to iron directly without the copper and bronze stage. In other parts of the world, there was a gradual shift from stone age to copper,bronze then iron except in Africa. Copper and Bronze are easier to extract , purify and mould into shape, compared to iron, which is more complex.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Age

In Nigeria, iron smelting was already in place in the 6th century BC.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nok_culture

The ability to make iron tools was then implemented in making farm tools used to clear forests , dig and plant crops . This was spread from Nigeria to the rest of Africa and the world through the migrating Bantu communities.

Norhtern Tanzania , in particular, had very complex iron smelting furnaces that could produce high quality steel in the ancient times.
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2FBF01117455#page-1

The Chifumbanze people are responsible for the rapid spread of iron smelting technology in Africa. They started from West Africa to South Africa and finally to East Africa. They had a liking for trade, farming and living in hilly areas. They are also responsible for construction of the Great Zimbabwe city.

Use of iron tools to arm themselves from invaders also ensured the early African civilisations protected themselves from slave trade.

Conclusion.

Use of iron tools within the construction industry aided the ancient Bantu people to construct using stone. Variuos iron mongery such as door locks, door hinges etc were also incorprated into the building. Also, most doors were meticulously curved into interesting patterns using steel tools.
Cities such as the Great Zimbabwe were constructed in the 12th century AD, just after discovery of steel in Africa. Bantu migration was also active after the steel discovery.

http://www.hamillgallery.com/EXHIBITIONS/AfricanDoors.html

Francis Gichuhi Kamau, Architect.
info@architect.com

In Kenya, many buildings have wall facades made of glass, especially displays for shop fronts and also luxurious residential and hotel lounges.

Large glass facades help to bring in light and enable the outside to link to the inside while keeping the elements of weather e.g. rain and wind outside.
Large glass facades are also stylish and are a fashion statement.

These glass facades can either be supported by steel, wood or aluminum frames. These can also be unsupported by any frame.

With the quality of workmanship around Nairobi/Kenya in terms of joinery diminishing, it would be wise to ensure building works where such finesse in terms of joinery is avoided. Aluminum, wood and steel frames for glass can look unsightly if the workmanship is not well refined. This can make building look untidy hence lower rents to the developer.

A good example of this is the Tana house building at Karen shopping centre.
Tana House shops at Karen.

Here, they have used Aluminum and steel structure to support glass at the shop fronts. The quality of workmanship is wanting, hence not attractive to serious businesses and franchises. The next building, Nakumatt crossroads, a stone’s throw away, has used frameless glass for shop fronts hence attracting large franchises such as Bata and designer clothing.

Nakumatt Crossroads at karen.

They are thus able to fetch higher rents since their building looks smart and well organized to buyers and shop owners.
Heat control.

The thicker glasses, around 10mm thick, are able to retain heat on the inside at night .
A good solar film on the glass surface will help keep the suns UV rays out of the interiors, hence prevent too much heating during the day.

A good tint will also ensure privacy which can be one way such that people in the inside can see outside without the people outside seeing inside.

Costs.
Assuming 6mm thick glass, the cost per m2 is kes 2700 per m2 inclusive of aluminum frame and kes 2,100 without the frame.
Assuming 8mm thick glass, the cost is kes 4200 per m2 with the frame and kes 3,700 without the frame.

It’s cheaper and better looking aesthetically when the glass wall has no frame or the frame is fitted at the top part so that the glass wall view is un interrupted by the framing.
The glass joint is then fixed using silicon.

Francis Gichuhi Kamau, Architect.
info@a4architect.com

fence 2

fence drawings

fence drawings

permit 2

permit 2

There are 3 main ways that a plot owner can obtain financing for development of flats/apartments/hotels in Kenya.

1. Financing from banks.

2. Joint Venture from Banks and other financial institutions.

3. Joint venture through pooling resources from potential individual investors at www.a4architect.com Real Estate Investment Forum

http://www.a4architect.com/discuss/

1.Financing from Bank loans.

This method is whereby the land owner approaches any bank and asks for bank loan financing.
The advantage of this method is that the land owner will deal with a formal, systematic well beaten path with few ambiguities as to how to proceed.

Disadvantages.

In kenya, the interest rates are high, an average of 16%. Compared to South Africa, USA, Europe, interest rates in these developed countries is around 5% per annum hence in Kenya, cost of borrowing is high. See world interest rates comparison data below.
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/FR.INR.LEND

Most banks in Kenya require the land owner to contribute approximately 30% of construction cost. Assuming 5 storeyed flat on a 1/8th plot, the cost will be around kes 36m. The bank will require a contribution of around kes 10m of which most land owners don’t have.
When land owners are unable to raise this amount, then Joint Venture partners who will help raise this amount then move to the bank for loans become appropriate.

2. Joint Venture partners.

These are investors willing to team up with the land owner to raise the required 30% of construction cost.
The land owner transpers the land to a company which will be owned by him and the joint venture partner.
Once the joint venture partner becomes co owner of the land through the limited liability company, he then raises the 30% cost of construction. Some part of this can be raised through off plan sales from the public.
Advantages.
This enables the land owner raise funds for construction. There are few parties to deal with, mainly land owner, joint venture partner and bank.
Disadvantages.
In situations where the joint venture partner manages to secure enough funding to cater for the 30% using off plan sales, the land owner may feel that he could also have achieved this without the joint venture partner hence lengthy court battles as witnessed in a project near Ridgeways on Kiambu road recently.

3. Joint Venture through pooling of resources at www.a4architect.com real estate investment forum.

This is a hybrid of the typical joint venture partnership.
In the typical joint venture partnership, the joint venture partner can raise the capital contribution of 30% of construction cost through off plan sales from the public.

In the a4architect.com investment forum method, the land owner directly seeks capital from the public.
For example,a Bedsitter Guest house located in Syokimau.
http://www.a4architect.com/discus/topic/partners-needed-for-joint-venture-for-guest-house-in-syokimau/

The cost of construction including land purchase will be kes 23m.
If 24 people come together and contribute kes 1m each, this will construct the guest house.
If kes 1,500 per night is charged and a 50% occupancy rate is assumed, the Return on Investment will be achieved in 4 years, which is very impressive.

In this investment method, there are no bank loans, no risks as to auctioneering in case bank repayments are not met.

The land owner will be required to register a company with 24 shares whereby each kes 1m contributor will own a share . In this case, the land owner will then own 3 rooms.

It will work best when 24 people team up together, buy the land and construct so as to avoid situations whereby the land owners are emotionally attached to the land and will want maybe 50% of the units or more, as in the case of bank loans where the land owner eventually ends up owning the building alone after clearing the loan with the bank.
In a loan situation, the bank becomes a co owner for 10 to 15 years. This co ownership is to the disadvantage of the land owner in that if he is unable to pay, the bank auctions the property ad pays itself and exits form the project.
In the a4architect.com forum method, the 24 owners are joined in the hips in good times and bad times hence safer. The share holder owner can decide to sell off his share in the company at market rates if he so deems.

Francis Gichuhi Kamau, Architect.
info@a4architect.com