Category: A4architect

1/4 acre for sale, Isinya near Ostrich farm
kes 1.2m

Call/whatsapp 0721410684 info@a4architect.com

Earth bag Houses are made using normal soil available on each and every site. The soil is moistened and put into bags and stacked upwards. The house can be dome shaped or with vertical walls. This style is very common in South America and is slowly moving towards other parts of the world.

Kenya.

In Kenya , we have the Permaculture Institute at Athi River with courses on how to build with earth bags. http://pri-kenya.org/?p=2317
We also have Orkid Studio Architects with an earthbag building project in Nakuru.

Orkidstudio builds passive solar African orphanage using earthbag construction

www.a4architect.com also has regular earthbag workshops at their site, a4a Gardens, off Ngong-Kiserian road https://www.facebook.com/a4agardens/

Advantages.

Earthbag buildings save construction costs by a big margin. The dome shape ensures that the wall also serves as the roof, reducing the roofing costs .
Use of any type of soil ensures that the main building material, soil, is easily obtained at a low cost.

The earthbag walls are 350mm thick, giving the house additional support . In earthquake prone areas around the world, earthbag structures have shown high ability to ensure stability.

Earthquake-resistant Earthbag Houses

The unique shape also helps to increase property value since the house itself can be used as a landmark to attract visitors especially in a resort-type establishment.

Waterproofing.

Use of bitumen based paint before cement plaster ensures the building stays water proof and will not allow rain water to sip through during rainy seasons.

http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/projects/9daydome.htm

Style.

The unique dome shape allows for various styles and designs to be explored in the achieving of aesthetic appeal.
The minimalist style of construction of earthbags ensure a more cleaner, leaner look, since very few building elements are used compared to conventional building types that have ceilings, roofs, cornices etc where in earth bag types especially dome shaped ones, its only the wall that is the most visible element both inside and outside.

For design, construction and training on earthbag technology, visit https://www.facebook.com/a4agardens/

Architect Francis Gichuhi Kamau.
info@a4architect.com

http://www.earthbagbuilding.com/projects/casavergarar.htm

http://mexico.solarhaven.org/earthbag-solarhaven2.html

http://205.186.161.206/magazine_content/urban-nomads

http://www.structure1.com/projects/earthbag-houses/

http://www.weirdhomestour.com/the-earthbag-house/

http://www.naturalbuildingblog.com/earthbags-gone-wild-in-the-philippines/

http://blog.greenhomebuilding.com/2008/09/

http://www.domoterra.es/blog/

could you live in an earthbag house????

Near Nyayo Stadium Roundabout, Nairobi City.
Shops on Ground and 1st Floor.
200 seater conference facility on Ground floor.
Restaurant, childrens class room and play area on 2nd floor.

Architect Francis Gichuhi
info@a4architect.com

3 Bedroomed House for Sale, Nakuru

 

Selling off the house off plan.

Three bedroomed bungalow, master ensuite.

Very spacious, located at Pema Estate Nakuru near five hundred metres from the highway.

Five minutes drive to Greenstead school and Laikipia University Nakuru Campus.

Quality finishes with perimeter fence, cabro paved drive way. kshs. 8m.

Deposit payable 30%.

Completion within 3 months.

Balance upon transfer and occupation

 

Call or email info@a4architect.com. 0721410684

 

 

 

See map to the site here

 

https://goo.gl/maps/n3fsCH9cADB2

 

 

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House for sale, Miotoni Road, Karen

 

Ambassadorial.

1/2 acre land.

Kes 90 Million

Inside BelAir Gated Community, Karen.

 

 

Project. 3 bed roomed residential house.

Ground floor. Servants Quarters, 1 bed roomed rental unit.

1st floor. Kitchen, Living room, 1 bedroom.

2 nd floor. Master bedroom. Toilets, Bedroom 03.

3rd floor. Office.

Interior partition. Cement plaster with styrofoam fabric .

 

 

 

 

 

Location. Kileleshwa, Nairobi.

Designed by www.a4architect.com

 

 

 

Outdoor Lounge area. Floor made of natural Mazeras stone.

Roof made of PVC material supported on steel roof trusses.

Wall support made of 100mm x 50mm cypress sawn posts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Architect Francis Gichuhi kamau.

info@a4architect.com

+254721410684

 

• With several Kenyans purchasing multi-million dollar homes, why is it important that these homes are made smart through modern technology?
  • Smart technology has advantages such as more security, easier to control, easier to save on energy costs, and also more stylish.

 

• What are some of the technologies that the organization integrates into the homes?

Internet of Things such as smart keyless door locks, automatic window blinds, automatic light intensity bulbs, CCTV

• Are smart homes relatively expensive compared to non-smart homes? What is the approximate cost of a smart home?
  • There is an added cost compared to the traditional methods. The added cost of purchasing and installing the smart home gadgets is offset by the higher quality of living that the gadgets will help to achieve.

 

• What is the role of voice activated artificial intelligence in your homes and how does it enhance the interactive aspect of the smart home?
  • Voice activated artificial intelligence devices enable home users to give verbal commands such as switching off lights, opening, closing doors, coffee or toast making etc. to devices that are intraconnected through the internet of things.
  • This makes work a lot easier, increasing efficiency and comfortability of the home.

 

• What are the technical issues of having voice operable devices and household appliances? (Devices and appliances include fridges, speakers, light control etc.)
  • These devices will need to be able to communicate with each other through the internet of things. Current new model house hold appliances and building elements such as doors, windows, window blinds are fitted with computer chips and internet connections to be able to receive commands from smart phones.
• Have clients found it difficult or challenging to make use of these technologies and adapt to an ‘intelligent home’?

Younger clients do not have a problem in up taking this new technology. Older clients usually have a problem and this can be solved by installing physical back up plans eg for key less doors, they can also have physical key options for those who would like to take a longer time before going completely digital.

 

• Are you aware of how these technologies are programmed/designed?
  • These products are programmed through top of the range software and mechatronic engineering technology.

 

• Describe the social and ethical issues that arise with your smart homes particularly focusing on voice systems? Issues may include security, privacy, reliability etc.

Ethical issues such as private information being mistakenly given out by the smart device can result. Also, learning curve sometimes becomes steep and easier interphases are required to be incorporated.

 

• With the home connected to a network/the internet, can the security of the house be breached thus causing privacy concerns?

There are a few cases of where hackers gain access of the devices but this only happens in very highly sensitive areas such as banks and top secret rooms for large multi nationals. For residential houses, its not possible for the average burglar to breech security of a smart home.

 

• Do you see a future for smart homes in Kenya or Mombasa in specific?
  • Yes, up coming homes in Nairobi and Mombasa are now being fitted with smart technology. Most high end Mombasa hotels have CCTV and keyless door locks already.

 

Architect Francis Gichuhi Kamau.

0721410684