BUILDING Dec 2019/Jan 2020

East Africa

PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

BEHIND HOMESCOPE PROPERTIES' IMPRESIVE GROWTH The Role of an Architect in a Construction Project Bathroom Remodeling

BENEFITS OF WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION Kenya : Kshs.300 Uganda : Ush.6,600 Tanzania : Tsh.10,600

Masterpiece

ENAKi T

he innovative township launched last year, is defying odds and in an increasingly subdued market, sales are surpassing expectations, according to HassConsult. The pedestrianized experience township, complete with golf carts for residents and visitors, boutique-lined high streets, a hotel, amphitheater, and floating restaurant, is HassConsult’s largest project.

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MASTERPIECE

The Five Senses Botanical Garden is Kenya’s first sensory botanical garden, designed by award-winning Spanish architects iGreento, to sit within the township filled with cascading waterfalls and community facilities. The 6.3 acre ‘spiritual’ garden comprises walkways, cycling lanes, expansive man-made lake with an over-the-water restaurant, children’s nature park, fitness circuit, an events arena and an outdoor amphitheatre. “Enaki is an exquisite realization of the investor’s dream,

across cycling trails, an outdoor fitness circuit, a gym, sports lounge and dance studio, as well as a business cluster with working pods that are set in woods, and an on-site spa,” says Farhana Hassani, CEO, HasssConsult, . Farhana says the goal of combining both residency and a botanical garden is to create a rich, overall experience that promotes mental relaxation, in addition to maintaining a healthy, interesting, and diverse collection of plant materials all open to the public. The Sh 10 billion development sits on 22 acres in Nairobi’s Nyari West Estate, and will combine both aspects of housing and a botanical garden. Its life-cycle housing is nestled into its middle zone and featuring bespoke homes for single, young people, couples, small families, large families, downsizing families whose grown-up children have left the nest, and assisted living for the elderly.

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BUILDINGS COLLAPSE: IT CAN BE STOPPED!

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nd the carnage continues. Just when you feel lessons have been learnt and mistakes of the past rectified, it turns out that some live on, hidden in the cracks of some existing structures, or the weak foundations of others, waiting for the vagaries of mother nature to nudge them into tipping over, crushing occupants to avoidable early death. In yet another tragic incident, a residential apartment crashed to the ground, in Tassia, Nairobi, killing several people and injuring others. The incident and death toll add to growing statistics of recurring tragedies associated with the construction sector. Last year, in a record of sorts, three buildings collapsed within one week. Two people were crushed to death when a four-storey building in Ruai on the outskirts of Nairobi collapsed during the heavy rains that were pounding the area. Interestingly, the building had initially been earmarked for demolition by the government as it was built on a road reserve. In the same week, a four-storey building in Kariobangi South and a five-storey building in Orion Estate-Juja crumbled. Other buildings that collapsed in the capital Nairobi include a four-storey flat in Zimmerman and a seven-storey building in Kware Pipeline Estate. The incidents prove that the gaps in the construction industry still exist and need to be plugged urgently. A visit to the more populous areas in Eastlands, Estates, along Thika Road, Kangemi, and other low income areas will reveal the tragedies still housed in existing structures. That the current rains haven’t caused more havoc is a merciful miracle. Experts say that the weaknesses in the buildings mirror the gaps in the industry as a whole. Set rules are still being flouted, despite efforts to clean up the sector. Construction on soils that cannot sustain the weight of buildings, use of sub standard materials including scrap metal instead of steel to cut costs and generally ignoring the specifications for good mix concrete, coupled with poor workmanship guarantee buildings with structural deficiencies and disasters – in – waiting. City hall, NCA and Co. stand accused of not reigning in rogue developers. It is time, perhaps building inspection services were outsourced to qualified consulting engineers, with a recommendation from Association of Consulting Engineers of Kenya (ACEK), thoroughly vetted for integrity issues and deployed to work in a rejuvenated regulatory environment, to ensure that the structural integrity of upcoming structures is assured. To eliminate gaps, the NCA must put in place strict regulations such as increased frequency of inspections, training of artisans, easing the building approval process by reducing costs and time, and ensuring they are adhered to, and demolishing all remaining substandard developments. Building East Africa | December/ January 2020 44

Promoting sustainable development

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Contents Briefing DT Dobie Launches Mercedes - Benz Actros Prime Mover Tough Economy Pushing Households to Satellite Towns The Kenyan Retail Sector Performance Softened in 2019 Bamburi to Reward Retailers and Dealers First Ever Green Bond Issuance Launched Benefits of Water Damage Restoration

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Top Stories “Hustle and Heart” Paves Way for Real Estate Adventure Role of an Architect in a Project MMI: Leadership in Quality Architecture Gem Archplans Architects Behind Homescope Properties Ltd's Impressive Growth

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Features Bathroom Remodel: Four eEffective Updates on a Modern Bathroom

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Lighting 101

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GIANT PAPER WALL SET ABLAZE TO REVEAL THE LATEST MERCEDES-BENZ ACTROS PRIME MOVER.

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crobats set a giant wall of paper wall ablaze to reveal the latest Mercedes-Benz prime mover truck at the launch held in the Nyali Golf and Country Club. The new model was greeted with applause by the transporters who thronged the function hosted by DT Dobie. Zarak Khan, the Executive Chairman stated, “Throughout the 70 years history of DT Dobie Mercedes Benz trucks have been a very important part of the Company’s business”. “One of the first Company owned vehicles was a 1952 Mercedes- Benz truck. This was used for 31 years to ferry spares from Mombasa to Nairobi. The historical Mercedes was on display together with the latest Actros prime mover”. “All of us in DT Dobie know that we are fortunate to represent Mercedes-Benz trucks which have a wellearned reputation for reliability and long life combined with value for money. We have enhanced this status by quality servicing and repairs carried out by our factory trained technicians who are backed by a comprehensive stock of spares”. “Another factor is the DT Dobie training centre which was established in conjunction with Daimler over 45 years ago. This serves both DT Dobie and Mercedes –Benz agents throughout the region”. Zarak Khan, concluded, “It is no surprise that the Actros has been the best seller in the Kenya prime mover segment for six years and achieved over 52 per cent share in the first three quarters of 2019”. The latest Actros sets new benchmarks for performance and fuel efficiency. The transport business becomes increasingly competitive and the fuel consumption of the latest model has been reduced by up to four percent. Confidence in the new model stems from the experience of the world’s longest established and most highly reputed truck manufacturer. For over 100 years Mercedes-Benz has become famous for pioneering new vehicle technology and manufacturing robust vehicles.

NEW ACTROS: Torsten Bauerheim (right), Head of Sales and Customer Service Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Daimler shows the new Mercedes-Benz Actros 3342 to Anthony Maina, the DT Dobie, Mombasa Branch Manager.

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As a truck only earns money when it is up and running. The new Mercedes-Benz Actros has been subjected to more than 60 million test kilometres. The unrelenting test programmes included summer and winter trials at extreme temperatures, millions of kilometres on rough roads and endurance testing.

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Panafrican Equipment Group eyes EAC market with new KSh 500M Kenya office

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anafrican Equipment Kenya Limited has launched its new Ksh. 500M offices in Nairobi with sights set on mid and long term market growth and expansion opportunities in Kenya and East Africa. The firm, a subsidiary of the Panafrican Equipment Group (PEG) is the principal distributor of Komatsu, Wirtgen Group and AGCO machinery in Kenya widely used in support of the mining and mineral processing, civil and infrastructure, power and energy, agricultural and forestry sectors. Mr. Charles Field-Marsham, PEG Executive Chairman said that the new facility underlines their commitment to Kenya and their continued investment in support of their customers in this market. PEG chairman Charles Field-Marsham said the new facility speaks volumes regarding the company’s commitment to investing in Kenya and the region. “Although there are current market challenges proving headwinds against many of the sectors, if managed correctly Kenya has the potential to continue supporting our business,” he said yesterday during the opening of the offices on Mombasa Road, Nairobi.  “The combined cost for the new facility is Ksh 500 million. Albeit there are current market challenges proving headwinds against many of our sectors, from a mid to long-term perspective, we believe Kenya has the potential if managed correctly, for significant infrastructure development, and continue supporting our business” said FieldMarsham.

Moreover, Scott McCaw, PEG Group Chief Executive Officer, said the firm sees opportunities in the extractive industries as well as continued development in the power and energy markets. “With Kenya and East Africa focusing on increasing its power supply and growing its extractive market, we believe that such domestic needs for industry diversification, economic growth, and infrastructure development, will certainly drive the mid to long-term development of these two sectors”, said McCaw. To build technical capacity, the firm, across the group, has been investing Kshs 75 million annually in training and development of its personnel as well as customers. This is set for a further boost by the upgraded Panafrican Training Facility in the new premises. At the facility, PEG offers operator, technical and skills certification both internally and to its customers. Since the customer training programs were launched, more than 20 domestic companies and government institutions have since been trained. The firm has been in operation in Kenya for 22 years and has grown from a single territory distributor of Komatsu construction equipment to a multi-territory (eight African countries), multi-line (three core brands as above) distributor. The growth has seen the company employ directly and indirectly up to 400 people while recording over four times turnover growth over the last ten years.

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Briefing

Upgrading of 30 km access roads in Thika stepped up n an effort to ease traffic in Thika

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town of Kiambu county, the tarmacking of 30 kilometer access roads has been stepped up. The project is part of ongoing infrastructural development in the country. Road infrastructure has been degraded over the years, negatively affecting property prices, and the industrial town’s attractiveness to investors. The government of Kenya has put in US $15m towards the project in bid to ease congestion and open up the busy town.

Irish engineering firm opens East Africa office in Nairobi

knowledge transfer and upskilling over the coming 12 months,” the company said in a statement.

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ublin-based engineering company Designer Group has announced the opening of a new office in Nairobi to handle Sh4.3 billion worth of projects in East Africa. The company, which was among more than 40 Irish companies that toured Nairobi last week, said its fully-owned Kenyan subsidiary will oversee on-going projects valued at Sh1.46 billion as well as execu-

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tion of new ones valued at Sh2.8 billion starting next year in Kenya and Uganda. Designer Group, which partners with local companies when bidding for engineer, procure and construct (EPC) contract jobs, said the Nairobi office will assist several East African companies to undertake projects in utility, infrastructure, industrial, and sustainable energy. “The deal will see the firm engage local supply chain in

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Founded in 1992 by former Construction Industry Federation president Michael Stone, Designer Group is a leading international engineering solutions firm with operations in Ireland, the UK, Germany, Africa and the United States. The company joins a growing list of international firms that are setting up shops in Nairobi to meet the rising demand for skilled contractors in the regional construction sector.

Tough economy pushing Nairobi households to satellite towns

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Lower middle-income households opt for long journeys home in search of cheaper rent as the tough economic environment bites

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andlords in satellites towns with newly finished modern units, but with more affordable asking prices, are cashing in on unprecedented demand for cheaper housing as the city’s residents, reeling from the high cost oaf living choose to balance the desire for decent affordable housing with spending more hours on the road.

According to the Hass Property Index third-quarter report, bargain hunting in Thika, Limuru, Mlolongo, Tigoni, Ongata Rongai, Kitengela and Ruaka metropolis between July and September led to increased asking prices for rents in these towns. Thika was the only satellite town that recorded a double-digit increase in apartment rents on an annual basis, with the strongest annual growth rate in rents at 13.3 percent. “Asking rents for a modern apartment may cost as little as Sh23,400 and this bodes well for many tenants who are now preferring affordable units as they take caution to save in the wake of job losses across all sectors. Notably, as the cost of living soars, the lower middle class is opting to pay slightly more in transport but less in rents,” said Ms. Sakina Hassanali, Head of Research and Marketing at HassConsult. Tigoni and Ongata Rongai recorded the highest asking prices in the three months from August to October at 3.5% and 3.1% respectively, due to their affordability relative to other satellite towns. Kitengela, Mlolongo, Ruaka, and Limuru also posted an increase in asking rent prices. Parklands recorded the strongest growth in apartment rents in the quarter and

Ms. Sakina Hassanali, Head of Research and Marketing at HassConsult: as the cost of living soars, the lower middle class is opting to pay slightly more in transport but less in rents

annually at 1.9 percent and 9.3 percent respectively. According to the report, the tough economic conditions continue to weigh on the overall rental and property sales markets with rental prices for all properties falling by 0.9% in the quarter and asking house sale prices growing by 0.9% in the last three months. Semi-detached posted strongest total returns at 13.54 percent (capital gains + rental yields) driven by investors who are preferring this midmarket over detached which is pricier, and apartments where there is oversupply and as a result rents being discounted to attract tenants.  Upperhill recorded price correction after the suburb saw a reversal in prices after three-years, during which prices of apartments have been on a downward steep as discounts continue. Nyari and Loresho continued to benefit from the completion of the Redhill Waiyaki way link road.

Kiserian recorded the highest drop over the quarter with rents in the area reducing by 4.6 percent while Athi River recorded the lowest annual growth rate for houses at 4.1 percent. Parklands was the best performing suburb with rents in the area increasing by 1.9 percent over the quarter and 9.3 percent annually. On the losing end, Loresho recorded a 2.7 percent drop over the quarter and 3.5 percent over the year. Overall asking rents dropped by 0.9 percent over the quarter but marginally increased by 0.8 percent on an annual basis. On the sales front asking prices marginally rose by 0.9 percent in the quarter led by the semi-detached housing segment which increased by 3.4 percent over the period. Ridgeways recorded the highest quarterly increase in asking prices at 3.9 percent over the quarter while Juja recorded the biggest drop at -7.8 percent.

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Briefing

The Kenyan Retail Sector Performance Softened in 2019 – Cytonn

With rental yield declining by 1.6% to 7.0% in 2019 from 8.6% in 2018, Mt. Kenya and Nairobi were the best performing regions, recording rental yields of 8.6% and 8.0% respectively.

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ytonn Real Estate released the Kenya Retail Real Estate Sector Report 2019, highlighting the performance of the retail real estate sector in Kenya in 2019. Themed “Increased Market Activity to Promote Retail Growth”, the report showed investment opportunity lies in Kenyan County headquarters in some markets such as Mombasa, Kiambu and Mt. Kenya that have retail space demand of 0.2mn, 0.8mn and 0.2mn SQFT, respectively.  The report focused on the performance of the retail real estate in Kenya based on rental yields, occupancy rates, as well as demand and supply, to identify the trends, with the research conducted on 8 retail nodes in Nairobi (Westlands, Kilimani, Karen, Ngong Road, Thika Road, Kiambu & Limuru Road, Mombasa Road and Eastlands), Nairobi Satellite Towns and the key urban cities of Eldoret, Mombasa, Kisumu and the Mt. Kenya Region, which include Nyeri, Meru and Nanyuki Towns. According to the report, the retail sector recorded an increase of 1.1 mn SQFT of mall space into the market in 2018, leading to a supply of 12.5 mn SQFT in 2019, from 11.4 mn SQFT in 2018. Performance in key urban cities softened, recording average rental yields of 7.0% in 2019, 1.6% points lower than the 8.6% recorded in 2018. The reduced performance is

largely attributed to a 10.6% reduction in rental rates to Kshs 118 per SQFT in 2019, from Kshs 132 per SQFT in 2018, and a surplus in retail space coupled with stiff competition between malls in some nodes such as Nairobi, which recorded an oversupply of 2.8 mn SQFT. Cytonn Real Estate’s Research Analyst, Joseph Wanga, noted that “Despite the decline in yields, we remain upbeat about performance of the sector as it is still cushioned by increased market activity driven by the entry of international retailers into the Kenyan market and the expansion efforts by local retailers such as Naivas and Tuskys as they take advantage of the attractive rental rates.’’ The main drivers for the sector were; (i) positive demographics as Kenya’s urban population continues to expand at an annual rate of 4.3%, (ii) continued change in tastes and preferences by a growing middle class towards international products, thus, creating a niche for international retailers, (iii) infrastructure has encouraged a growth in mall space as this encourages tenancy and footfall, and (iv) growth of Small and MediumSized Enterprises (SMEs). ‘’However, the sector faces several challenges due to a tough financial environment, pushing property managers to employ prudent methods in a bid to retain tenants and also to target international

anchor tenants’’ noted Joseph. The Nairobi Metropolitan Area (NMA) Retail Performance declined by 1.0% points to 8.0%, from 9.0% in 2018 attributed to an increase in retail space supply of 0.8 mn SQFT within the past year with the addition of malls such as Waterfront, The Well, Mountain View and the expansion of Westgate and Sarit Centre malls. Kilimani, Ngong Road and Westlands were the best-performing retail nodes within the NMA recording rental yields of 9.9%, 9.2% and 9.2%, respectively, in 2019 attributed to the nodes serving the upper middle income and high-end population. According to the report, the key cities covered have a total mall space supply of 16.1 mn SQFT against a demand of 14.4 mn SQFT, resulting in an oversupply of 1.7mn SQFT. Nairobi, Uasin Gishu, Kisumu and Nakuru Counties were the most oversupplied areas by 2.8 mn, 0.2 mn, 0.2 mn and 0.1 mn SQFT, respectively. Kiambu County was the highest under-supplied area by 0.8 mn SQFT while Machakos, Kajiado, Mt.Kenya and Mombasa were under-supplied area by 0.2 mn SQFT each. “The outlook for the sector is neutral and we expect to witness reduced development activity in Nairobi, with developers shifting to county headquarters in some markets such as Kiambu and Mt. Kenya that have retail space demand of 0.8mn and 0.2mn SQFT, respectively,” said Wacu Mbugua, Research Analyst at Cytonn.

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Credit Crunch Pushes Growth of House Prices to Five-Year Low - KBA

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ata released by the Kenya Bankers Association indicates that house price growth declined by 2.78 percent in the first quarter of 2019 while building and construction sector credit growth between July 2017 and June 2018 averaged at 1.2 Percent. The rate of growth in house prices during the period in review went down by 2.78 percent during the first Quarter of 2019, in what also marked the third decline since the Kenya Bankers Association House Price Index (KBA-HPI) base period. The other two instances were reported in the last Quarter of 2013 and the third Quarter of 2014. The latest KBA-HPI attributes the decline to the constrained credit flows to both the supply and demand side of the housing market. On the supply side, the Index associates the slowdown to a slump in the rate of credit growth to the building and construction sector between July 2017 and June 2018, which averaged at 1.2 percent. “The influence of the credit supply to this sector, a good proxy of availability of funding for housing construction, manifested itself in supply constraints after a period of about a year,” reports KBA. In addition, the volume of cement consumption also between July 2017 and November 2018 also dipped from 553,631 metric

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tonnes to 460,967, respectively. On the demand side, among the factors highlighted as contributing to the decline include challenges facing prospective home buyers especially in accessing bank credit. Other factors cited include a cautionary stance of many households due to strained economic conditions and squeezed household budgets. Although the price movements resonate with a general stability recorded since the second Quarter of 2018, the new findings note that the stability is seen as tentative and could be a

pointer to a depressed market if sustained. Overall, buyers showed a distinct preference for the number of bedrooms and bathrooms among other factors as opposed to overall plinth area, with apartments maintaining its previous dominance in the housing market, accounting for a relatively high share of sold units at 62.62 percent, which is a structural feature that would potentially change with the implementation of the Affordable Housing Programme under the Big Four Agenda.

Land prices registered modest growth with focus on the direction of the interest rate caps

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he Hass Land price indices for the third quarter of 2019, showed modest growth for both suburbs and satellite towns over the quarter. Land prices in the suburbs increased by 0.22 %, while in the satellite towns growth stood at 1.44%. Growth in the suburbs was driven by Kitusuru and Loresho suburbs which continue to benefit from the completion of the Waiyaki Way-Red Hill link road which has improved accessibility. In the satellite towns Tigoni recorded a 2.89 % over the quarter while Syokimau was top on an annual basis with a 10.58% growth. “The real estate sector is challenged by the lack of liquidity as a result of the amendment of the Banking Act in 2016 that introduced interest rate caps. We have seen access to credit by de-

Building East Africa | December/ January 2020

Promoting sustainable development

velopers and buyers become difficult as commercial banks have become conservative at lending. We expect this to change should interest rates become market driven,” said Ms. Sakina Hassanali, Head of Research and Marketing at HassConsult. She added that market-driven interest rates will also nudge banks to return to longer dated loans. “Real estate projects tend to be long-term. As such when loans are shortened many potential borrowers tend to be locked out of the credit market,” added Ms. Hassanali. The Gigiri suburb recorded a 2.11 % drop over the quarter while Upperhill recorded a 2.55 % on an annual basis. For satellite towns Ongata Rongai recorded a 1.45 % drop while Kiambu record a 1.69 % increase on an annual basis.

Bamburi Cement to reward retailers and dealers

Bamburi Cement Commercial Director Geoffrey Ndugwa (left) awards Harish Patel (center) and Natu Patel (right) of Binico Enterprises during the Zawadi challenge award ceremony

…More than Ksh. 25 million worth of prizes to be won including vehicles and international holidays

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amburi Cement's revamped and expanded customer reward campaign targets to engage over 1,500 retailers and dealers from across the country. Now in its 7th season, the Bamburi Cement ‘Zawadi challenge’ loyalty promotion will see loyal retailers and distributors from around the country win a plethora of awards including vehicles (truck worth Ksh5.3million),

Bamburi cement Managing Director Mr. Seddiq Hassani (Right) congratulates Mrs. Helen Kamata of Imara Enterprises, Thika who won a motorbike or school fees worth Ksh.150,000 as part of Bamburi’s program to reward loyal retailers. Over KES 50 Million will be awarded.

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international holidays worth over Kshs 600,000, preloaded fuel cards worth Kshs 300,000, School fees, generators, washing machines, motorbikes, fridges, sofasets, 65’’ curved television sets, vehicle tyres and shopping vouchers among others.  Speaking during a luncheon to honor exceptional performance during the recently concluded Phase 6 of the campaign, Bamburi Cement Commercial Director Mr. Geoffrey Ndugwa celebrated the company’s loyal retailers and dealers, who have over the years delivered excellent performance and superb value across the country.  “Zawadi challenge has seen our sales of cement across the country grow significantly, thanks to the unwavering support and dedication of our partners. Indeed, this program has helped us grow our retail presence across the country” said Ndugwa.  He added: “We launched this campaign over two years ago to encourage our retailers and dealers, who are the first contact with our customers, not only to sell more of our cement products, but also grow their businesses.”   He also thanked the company’s partners, Isuzu East Africa, Sika, Zamara, Mabati Rolling Mills, Equity Bank, Apex Steel and Tuskys Supermarket for their support towards the success of the program.   “As the leading cement manufacturer in Kenya and the region, LafargeHolcim, the parent company of Bamburi Cement, will continue to invest in growing our brand and business, as well as deepening our relationships with our stakeholders” he concluded. Winners will be presented with their awards at various ceremonies to be held in different towns across the country which include Nairobi, Nyeri, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nakuru among others.

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Real Estate

FIRST EVER GREEN BOND ISSUANCE LAUNCHED TO FINANCE CONSTRUCTION OF HOSTELS

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ommercial banks and pension funds schemes were among the highest subscribers of Kenya’s first ever Green Bond which was issued by Accorn Holdings Limited, a leading construction company in Kenya. According to the company’s CEO Edward Kirathe, the bond generated 4.3 billion shillings, representing an 85 per cent subscription rate, and was over and well above the minimum target of 2 billion shillings. He said the proceeds are expected to fund the construction of ecofriendly hostels for university students in the country, with a combined capacity of 40,000 beds. The cost of renting a room will be at an

Qwetu: Students: The hostels segment is attracting major investment in Kenya

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average of 6,800 shillings monthly. The first phase of the eco-friendly affordable hostels is expected to accommodate 5000 college students. The government has been urged to continue encouraging such green ventures including removing tax on environmental friendly projects including tax exemptions to rope in more private equity in the sector. The green bond is expected to raise funds to provide 5,000 university students with environmentallyfriendly, affordable housing in Nairobi

KPA Pension Scheme, Pinnacle Projects to construct apartments

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KPA‘s new headquarters will be Kenya’s tallest office complex

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he project consists of three high-rise blocks made of 3-bedroom units. Each block 11 floors high with six apartments on each floor. Triad Architects will handle the design.

enya Ports Authority (KPA) will be constructing a multi-storeyed headquarters in Mombasa, which is expected to be the largest office complex in Kenya.

indicating the budget could be higher. The state agency has also encouraged firms with sophisticated expertise on modern technology and global best practices like energy-saving and solar to bid for the tender.

Under the deal, The Kenya Ports Authority retirement fund will, in partnership with Pinnacle Projects, construct 198 residential apartments in Nairobi’s South C referred to as the Bandari Apartments Phase II.

The building will provide a total area of 75,000 square metres, whereby 18,000 square metres will be for parking spaces (1,000 vehicles), 12,000 square metres reserved for conference facilities and 15,000 square metres for commercial spaces. The new development will also generate some 21,000 square metres of lettable office space while reserving 9,000 square metres for KPA’s occupation.

The organization will use the prequalification method of tendering for the project, where bidders are invited to submit a technical proposal first. Upon review, the successful bidders are then invited for contract negotiations.

Construction began in 2018 and is expected to be completed by December 2020. The apartments are each going for KSh15 million during the ongoing offer period. The developers have announced that the open day for the project will be on 20th and 21st July 2019 starting at 8.00 am. The KPA retirement fund has ventured into real estate development to grow and safeguard the workers’ contributions just like most pension schemes in Kenya.

“The above coverage areas are for guidance and the final areas will be determined during a brief development stage to meet project viability and client objectives,” a data realeased from KPA added. KPA will be requiring bidders with a capacity to handle projects worth up to KSh. 7 billion or more,

Bidders for the design, construction and supervision tender who have handled a similar project in the past five years’ worth above Sh7 billion earn themselves the highest score with further points set to be added where a firm has handled five completed assignments in the last 10 years. “Construction consortia with varied expertise on modern technology, environmental issues, especially energy saving, solar energy and water harvesting and recycling will earn themselves more scores,” said KPA.

The Bandari Apartments

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Special Feature

Why water damage restoration?

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ater damage restoration is all about cleaning up the damage caused by water. In case of flooding and penetration of dwellings by water, the resultant damage can be enormous and make living spaces uninhabitable, as recently seen in parts of Athi River and Greenpark Estate. Water damage restoration then becomes a necessary task for every household. Excess water and moisture are home to many kinds of disease spreading bacteria. In addition, stagnant water becomes a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. Therefore, water damage restoration is very necessary for a comfortable and disease-free environment at home. Listed below are a few more benefits of water damage restoration: Rapid restoration Damage caused by water can leave you all confused and intimidated. If left unattended for more than a short while, moisture can seep in walls, furniture and other appliances at home. As a result, the problem of damage gets further aggravated. Therefore, water restoration becomes necessary and as early as possible. Water damage restoration experts are a team of dedicated people who clean, repair and restore home as quickly and efficiently as possible. With so many professionals work-

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ing on different parts of your house with the help of the latest technology available, restoration is rapid. This saves your house from further damage and ensures faster work. Safe mould remedy Mould is one of the very dreadful effects of water damage. Mould grows in open spaces such as corners, walls, and ceilings but also in hidden places such as joints between two walls. Mould is a toxic element and poses a great threat to life. It can also prove fatal. Moreover, it renders a toxic environment to the house. Treating mould is equally difficult and the restoration process can be dangerous for a layman. It is important to hire professionals to safely remove mould and mildew from the house. They have special chemicals which help in killing the toxic germs in the form of mould. Hence water damage restoration is a very important task when it comes to getting the house free from harmful mould. Important details When there is water damage, there is more than just what meets the eye. Water can get into ducts and vents, thus creating further problems. The process of water restoration helps to deal with such problems by cleaning ducts and vents and deodorizing it. Odour removal and sanitation are also parts of the process.

Building East Africa | November/December 2018

Promoting sustainable development Building East Africa | December / January 2020 Promoting sustainable development

Water damage restoration is very important because water damage cannot be reversed only through cleaning, drying and wiping out any residue. It is much more than that. A complete water restoration process has many steps and considers all the small, important details which otherwise remain unnoticed and cause further and serious problems in future. Costs and losses reduced Water damage, if left untreated, can wreak havoc, both in your home environment and your finances. Going for water damage restoration immediately after the damage is cased not only reduces your losses but also costs. The sooner the waterlogged areas are cleared up and dried and all other side effects are investigated, the lesser the cost and effort will be required. Professional advice When your house has suffered water damage, it might be difficult for you to locate and recognize the damage. You may also not understand which areas require replacement and extra work. Opting for water damage restoration helps you get the professional input on the condition of your house. Experts who do the work of water damage restoration usually inspect your home and give in their inputs as to how serious the damage is and how to go about the process of treating it. When floods or any other accident leads to water damage in your house, quick action is demanded. When water damage is left untreated, the condition of the house worsens, moulds grow, and the environment becomes toxic. Water damage restoration is quick and effective and helps bring back the house to its normal state without much hassle.

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January/February 2016

Tel: +254- 206427000, Mobile 0788 202020/ 0733 36 0548, Toll free 0800 724 977,Email: [email protected] Building East Africa | December / January 2020 A | East Africa Infrastruture & Engineering ReviewWeb: www.mabati.com Promoting sustainable development

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“HUSTLE AND HEART” PAVES WAY FOR REAL ESTATE ADVENTURE

Developer

20-hour days, a never-say-die mentality, and a tightly-knit focused group the foundation stones for a bright future for KWEA By Caroline Nyakundi

ending push to find your purpose, your niche and what you can excel in, to develop your identity, and change the game through all these plus a healthy dose of passion. The urban dictionary defines hustle as, “to have the courage, confidence, self-belief, and selfdetermination to go out there and work it out until you find the opportunities you want in life,” or, ‘’working hard, usually towards the common goal of creating an income’’. The co-founders of Kwea understand this too well. My partner Simon says, ‘’we always knew we couldn’t qualify for any loans. That left us without any other resources other than us.” All we had was lots of hustle and heart.

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The Kozi studio-lounge

any people jump onto the entreneurship bandwagon armed with great ideas and a bucketful of cash believing they are ready to conquer a market that is probably flooded with similar concepts clothed differently. It is so much more than that, as we found out on our way to creating Kwea, the vehicle in which we intend to innovate and disrupt the market with new real estate ideas. A lot of what entrepreneurship is all about is really the hustle that occurs behind the scenes; the never-

Building East Africa | December/ January 2020

18 18 Promoting sustainable development

What we lacked in financial capital we made up for with determination and wits; intellectual capital or sweat equity if you may. We immersed ourselves into Kwea right from inception of the company, leveraging our experiences, relationship-building skills and the need to excel at all costs. Our shared commitment to innovate formed the framework for our business. We sought to change the mindset of real estate investing when we developed our first project Kozi Suites in Syokimau which is currently under construction. With our backgrounds in the real estate segment that is crowded with a lot of similar ideas and products, we knew that we would have to crack our heads and stave off the conventional and innovate, in order to thrive. We also realized that most conventional real estate products were expensive while offering unattractive returns on investment,

Developer

Cosy: The Kozi bedroom

Kozi Heights is innovatively designed to offer comfortable, affordable accomodation - to capture the imagination while meeting the comfort, and practical needs of the busy short stay tenant

characteristics dictated by traditions within the sector as well as prevailing market conditions. Nonetheless we embarked on a quest to do extensive research on alternative real estate products that could be more worthwhile to an investor while maintaining a relative ease of onboarding.

The Kozi lounge other factors. We are putting up 104 studios and one bedroom units that have been well articulated to satisfy the needs of a guest on a short to medium term stay.

As Kwea, we realized that cash flows needed to be at the centre of any sensible real estate investment for the end user. It is from these, and asking the right questions that Kozi Suites came about. We are eternally grateful to our first two investors who bought into literally nothing but the Kwea hustle and heart, purchasing the very first units when they were just a dream and drawings on tracing paper. This enabled Kwea to acquire land and to lease and fit-out a modest but cozy office at the Nextgen mall.

To offer a complete solution, we are in discussions with experts in this relatively new segment, so as to plug any knowledge deficit as well as to get partners who would ultimately manage the development on behalf of the investors.

Kozi Suites shall be a development typology targeting the alternative rental market, a development curated for short stays.

We don’t approach core values the way a lot of companies do. We don’t have our values front and center for all to see, or laminated in poster form on the wall to serve as inspiration. The building blocks of our culture include appreciation, brutal honesty and, above all, love for all, because in our hearts we believe on the “do unto others” mantra. Our investors know too well that we do not sell them an apartment that we would not buy or live in. Our people

Our flagship development is in Syokimau, Chady Road. The location was carefully selected from a myriad of other possible locations within Nairobi and its metropolitan areas as it taps into the short stays market brought about by the major transport nodes around the area namely the airport and SGR terminus among

In many ways, Kwea is the byproduct of a don’t-back-down mentality. The 20-hour days, scrounging for funds to ensure a strong root hold, all the energy and the curse words you can think of, is what has brought Kwea to where it is today.

at site know that we will never treat them less than we would like to be treated. Our suppliers know that we value them greatly as much as we do their business. Hustle is a perfect way to describe how Kwea operates. We are always hustling to keep our culture top of mind, to work with the best and to keep growing as leaders. With a long way to go and a few mistakes to make, we have all been through the ups and downs of life and have the scars to prove it but, what this journey is teaching us is to never give up. Put our passions first, love people, create a culture that inspires innovation and to never, ever stop hustling.” Check out for ADANA STUDENT PODS. Its flagship development shall be in Rongai. This is but a snippet of the many exciting projects that wasee wa kwea are crafting for all investors out there looking for sensible and innovative real estate products.

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Architect

Defining the architect’s role in a project

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rchitects are experts who play a big role in the development and construction projects. They take full responsibility for the design of the structure, and are expected to superintend the job from erection of structures to full completion.

Customer Service and Retention A property developer should work closely with the architect. Before embarking on a project, several meetings normally take place where the project brief, which includes objectives, budget and any specific requirements for the project, is given. Architects contact, bring on board and collaborate with other related professionals, who include; Quantity Surveyors, Mechanical, Electrical and Structural Engineers, urban planners, landscape architects, Construction representatives and interior designers.

Design, Plan and Develop On an architect’s daily routine designing, planning and developing are integral tasks. A developer requires them to provide predesign figures such as an environmental impact or feasibility study, cost analysis and land-use study. They later on produce the final architectural, structural, electrical and mechanical plans in collaboration with the other consultants. This is then given to contractors as a step-by-step guide on

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the details of the building under construction. Architects are required to follow building codes, fire regulations, zoning laws and city ordinances when creating their plans. For public buildings, architects must be aware of disabled access laws. Since these laws change regularly, architects need to stay up-to-date on policy, zoning and regulation changes. They are always in on the latest energy-efficient products, building styles and must research the area they are building to ensure their design matches current building structures.

Technology Today’s architects have turned to use of technology to better their services. Architects need to be trained and familiarize with computer-aided drafting systems, building modeling and other relevant technologies. They must conceptualize and experiment with different construction approaches through software and must also be familiar with basic office software, such as word processing, spreadsheets and accounting

Architect

mmi:

Leadership in Quality Architecture By Eric Obwogi

Mutiso Menezes International is a name cast in stone in the list of premier go-to architectural firms in Kenya.

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ounded in 1974, Mutiso Menezes International (MMI)’s reputation as a market leader has been carefully achieved through many years of practice and experience, which distinguish it as one of the most influential architecture, project management and interior design firms in Kenya, holding signature to numerous projects, many of them outstanding architectural masterpieces, across the East African region. These range from Commercial, Office and Institutional to Residential and Civic buildings. The firm is led by 3 highly trained and qualified, dynamic architects who form the company’s board of directors – David Ndungu (Managing Director), Edwin Kigai and Bisher Fawaz, at the helm of a lean and efficient team of professionals with excellent design and technical abilities gained over the years through hands on experience. Arch. David Mutiso (the founding Partner) and Arch. Alan Simu (immediate former MD) continue to play consultancy roles in the firm, having passed on the leadership baton to the next generation. Arch. Mutiso needs no introduction to those who know the history of the architectural profession in Kenya. He is the first African architect in Kenya and a founder member of the Architectural Association of Kenya. The timeless landmark, Kenyatta International Convention Center forever immortalizes his contribution

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Architect

to the capital city of Kenya’s skyline, as he is acknowledged as the brains behind its design. Arch. Simu has worked at MMI for most of his life, clocking close to four decades, and rising through the ranks, from internship to eventually lead the company to great heights of achievement. Having started work at the firm before some of the current staff were even born, Arch. Simu’s role is a strong statement of quality leadership, perpetuating the values that MMI stands for, and not only nurturing the firm’s talent, but adding to the market a thriving group of alumni in the Kenyan building and construction industry. MMI’s competitive edge stems from extensive collective experience and local knowledge of project requirements, site conditions and building construction. Arch. Fawaz avers that the MMI team is also highly knowledgeable in the rigorous project management procedures as required by organizations such as the United Nations and other international agencies. “Sound project management and contract administration ensures that our projects are properly handled in terms of Cost, Quality and Time,” he says, adding that MMI guarantees clients solution based designs which consider creativity and sustainability under the umbrella of ISO Certification that demands high operational standards and boosts efficiency in service delivery. Some of the outstanding jobs designed by the MMI team include: • KenGen Mixed Use Housing Development, Olkaria, Naivasha Building East Africa | December / January 2020

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Architect •

Safaricom Staff Pension Scheme, Athi River.

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Leadership Centre, South C, Nairobi

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KPLC Loresho Housing Scheme, Loresho, Nairobi

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BCI Nest Housing Scheme, Kileleshwa, Nairobi

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Kenya Civil Aviation Authority Headquarters, JKIA, Nairobi

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Kenya National Assembly Tower, Nairobi

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Royal Orchid Hotel, Westlands, Nairobi

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TBM Office Block, Upper hill, Nairobi

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Victoria Towers, Upper hill, Nairobi

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Physical Sciences Complex, Egerton University, Njoro Campus

• Uganda.

Uganda National Records & Archives Centre, Kampala,

Each iconic building showcases a passion for excellence, innovation and commitment to providing comprehensive solutions for the built environment. Beyond the borders MMI has partnered in projects in countries such as Uganda, Sweden, South Africa, etc. “All our projects give us pride given that every project is different and has something unique to offer. For example, the Leadership Centre is a Green Building with a unique Iconic concept visible from the Southern Bypass and

KCAA Headquarters

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KCAA Headquarters

Nairobi National Park,” says Arch. Fawaz. “The United Nations HQ in Gigiri, is a complex with Conference facilities, Offices, Housing etc. that was done many years back but still stands the test of time in many ways.” Though the construction industry experienced exponential growth in the past decade, Arch. Fawaz observes that the sector is facing challenges currently and the project pipeline has largely slowed to an unsteady trickle. “There are no new projects and the existing ones have cash flow challenges. We still remain hopeful, however that the environment will improve, for instance with opportunities emerging from the affordable housing initiative,” he says. He attributes the slowdown to economic challenges in the industry which have affected investment opportunities in the country, the bank interest rates that discourage borrowing,

Architect and the government dragging its feet in paying for its projects. Arch. Fawaz also fingers the growing and worrying trend of unqualified Consultants setting up shop and undercutting on fees, underlining that this is eroding the gains made in the growth of the architectural profession in Kenya. The quality of graduate entrants into the market has in turn been watered down by commercializing of degrees in the building and Construction industry leading to too many half-baked undergraduates showing up for employment. Local consultants are in turn demoralized by the opening up of the market to too many international Consultants and contractors that set up shop in the country without clear guidelines protecting local market players, thereby shrinking the market space for local participation. All these bottlenecks can be tackled with goodwill and concerted effort with the government taking the lead in terms of supportive policy formulation and implementation, as well as meeting its financial obligations for its projects. According to the architect, stakeholders in the industry also need to embrace change in terms of technology and association with international firms in order to survive the market trends. “Clients are looking for competitive products in terms of design, pricing and sustainability. International firms are setting up shop in the country and taking up big jobs since they are able to deliver them at a cheap price, faster and more reliably,” says Arch. Fawaz, adding that there is also need to be creative in terms of job creation where you can no longer wait for a client to come with a brief and funding but create the brief

yourselves, do extensive feasibility studies, and discuss with landowners and investors in order to have a breakthrough in major projects. “The affordable housing program is an opportunity for the stakeholders to create jobs and products with the right balance where affordability comes in play, and focus on the correct market target with reasonable promises in terms of delivery.” The affordable housing programme under the Big 4 Agenda has so far received impressive investment overtures totaling over Sh. 3 trillion (way above set target of Sh2 trillion), with a total of 800,000 houses expected to be built under the public private partnership model and 200,000 to be put up under a social scheme. This is a great opportunity for local consultants and contractors who have been urged to put their best foot forward. MMI has played a significant part in the growth and development of the architectural profession, and the building and construction industry in Kenya in general. The firm is a corporate member of both the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK) and the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors of Kenya (BORAQS) with some of its partners serving as senior office bearers in the professional bodies at various times since inception. As MMI’s profile grows even bigger and stronger, the invaluable skill transfer by the founders and grooming of the next generation of architects that has generated competence and enthusiasm in the current team will ensure that MMI’s competitive capacity is maintained with stability and continuity, and clients will continue to be delighted with excellent services rivaled by few.

KCAA Headquarters

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Architect

GEM ARCHPLANS Komarock Heights Apartments

Gem Archplans Architects: Client-focused brilliance inspires confidence

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ver a period of 14 years marked by sustained growth, Gem Archplans Architects has been winning and delivering an enviable portfolio of high caliber projects in the local real estate market, leaving an indelible mark on the local development landscape. A fully locally owned firm, Gem Archplans is founded on realism ideals of the highly dynamic architectural facets that is inherent of the 21st century and inspires confidence in clients through a wealthy inventory of experience gained through diverse projects handled both separately at individual building its name in the field of construction and development by offering superior professional consultancy services in the field of architecture, interior design, urban and Environmental level gained from previous postings and collectively as a firm. Gem Archplans boasts of some of the finest projects in the region and has the trust of some serious corporate and individual developer cli-

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ents who have entrusted into their design hands Billion shilling projects that have been delivered on time, with finesse and professionalism. The practice’s clientele are from across the economy, with successfully delivered jobs including residentials – Middle class apartments, ambassadorial houses, country homes, bungalows and maisonettes. In addition, the firm’s signature can be seen in major shopping malls, office blocks, schools, hospitals and religious structures across the country. Richlands Pointe in Kahawa West, Komarock Heights by Housing Finance, Everest Apartments are some of Gem Archplans’ latest projects already done and are commercial successes in a suppressed market. Komarock Heights and Richlands Pointe are real estate offerings by HFDI, the Investment and Development subsidiary of HF Group. Everest Apartments are an investment of Everest Park Limited with financing by Shelter Afrique,

Norkun Intakes Ltd Electrical & Mechanical Consulting Engineers

Richland Dam Estate Komarock Heights, Kangundo Rd

AVIC GTC WESTLANDS

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We are proud to be

associated with Gem Archplans PRISM TOWER Architects UPPERHILL

Morningside Office Park 3 rdflr, Ngong Rd, Kilimani. | : P.. O. Box 605, 00100 – Nairobi, Kenya. | [email protected] | 254(0)729 381 360, +254(0)736 230 287

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Architect the pan-African finance institution exclusively supporting the development of the housing and real estate sector in Africa. Richland Pointe is a development comprising 3 bedroom apartments situated along Thika Road in Kahawa West, within the leafy, tranquil surrounding along Kamiti Road. The development consists of 248 residential apartments with a mix of 2 and 3 bedroomed apartments in 10 blocks. Launched last year, Komarock Heights is also a community of 3 Bedroom apartments situated along Kangundo Road in Komarock. The development is made up of 1272 beautifully designed apartments nestled within Komarock Estate, to be implemented in 3 phases. Phase 1 comprises 480 residential apartments with a mix of 2 and 3 bedroomed apartments in 20 blocks. In the vicinity of Komarock Heights is K-Mall, Eastlands’ brand new mall (also a development of HFDI), well thought out to provide residents with convenient access to supermarkets, banks, restaurants, hospitals and other services. Gem Archplans has been able to inspire confidence from high net worth and discerning clients due to its client oriented principle, synthesized with the diverse parameters of the socio-economic fabric, built environment and commercial viability. These serve as cornerstones aimed at improving the quality of human life and fostering national development which is also in line with the government’s Big 4 Agenda. The founder’s vision was to use architecture to guarantee decent housing for all and be the engine of Kenya’s and the region’s economic prosperity. This would involve directing

Richlands Pointe Apartments

energy in the firm’s creative, technical, theoretical and managerial work to meet society’s need for shelter, accommodation and organisation.

nars and constantly engages in written material correspondence.

Embracing the values of professionalism and timeliGem Archplans Architects ness, imagination and crealso offer interior design and ativity, learning and Knowlenvironmental consultancy edge, perceptiveness and services. perseverance; coupled with open mindedness and diversity, the company has achieved together, stronger a strong footprint in the region. RelentBasco Paints would like to honour Gem ArchPlans Architects for their less pursuit exceptional professionalism, dedication and visionary leadership. We are proud to have partnered with you to bring your inspired ideas to life of quality and and hope to continue our fruitful working relationship. aptness to design, extensively drawing from the services of other concerned building and built environment specialists has further bolstered its image in a very competitive market. To keep with the fast changing information and building technologies, Gem Archplans actively participates in all relevant semiBuilding East Africa | December / January 2020

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Cover Story

BEHIND HOMESCOPE PROPERTIES’ IMPRESSIVE GROWTH Developer has achieved Market Leadership Position in the Kenyan Real Estate Market by Delighting Customers with Superior Home Ownership Solutions By Eric Obwogi

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Cover Story

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he real estate sector in Kenya has experienced exponential growth over the last decade, with demand for housing reaching an all-time high and developers minting a pretty penny. However, the industry is currently experiencing a serious lull in new projects flow. Competition for the trickle of jobs is at cutthroat levels, unit prices are being driven down, and quite a few developers are stuck with stock while bank auctions are at an all-time high. For the last decade, Homescope Properties Ltd.’s directors have painstakingly built a unique brand, embracing innovation, quality and a sound market strategy high-end market segment targeting the upper middleclass home buyers. It has worked. And they have gone about it in a way that it hasn’t taken long for Homescope Properties Ltd to get noticed. The company has been delighting clients with trend-setting, real estate creations that have not only been huge commercial successes, but also have set it aside as a go-to supplier of exquisite high - end homes. According to Ms. Carol Naneu, Head of Marketing at Homescope Properties Ltd., the choice of client base is deliberate to maximize on the strengths of the company to meet the demands of a discerning and sophisticated niche market who are seeking great value for money. “With the huge gap in housing supply in Kenya, everyone is striving to serve the low – end market where demand is greatest, the perception being that the expected return on investment is quick because of an obviously guaranteed market,” says Ms. Naneu.

Carol Naneu, Homescope Head of Marketing: It is all about knowing our clients well...

Homescope has stuck to its lane, and the award-winning real estate firm has especially focused on providing compelling lifestyle benefits to delight prospective home owners. The company has successfully completed a diverse set of complex development projects across the country where it has developed land mark properties, world-class developments that are a safe haven for residents, who get to enjoy the exclusive status of high-end living. Kiluwa Hotel Apartment Hurlingham by Homescope Properties Ltd is one of Nairobi’s newest, most prestigious addresses. It is named after a beautiful flower that is native to the Kenyan coast, which depicts something rare, unique, a jewel. Nestled in the upcoming central business district in upmarket Hurlingham, Kiluwa consists of fully furnished1 and 2 – bedroom studios. The Loresho Springs, Shaam Gardens, Rhino Court and Zawiya Apartments are some of Homescope’s 45 developments, successfully completed and delivered during the company’s 10 Building East Africa | December / January 2020

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Cover Story years of its existence, that have clearly given Homescope a place on the high table of Kenya’s finest developers. All properties are designed and situated to give home owners peace of mind, in reference to the city’s traffic chaos and insecurity, leveraging on technology to offer the very best in state of the art modern convenience. “It comes with knowing our client very well,” avers Carol. “We work with them every step of the way, paying close attention to their specifications and preferences, understanding and addressing their concerns, and bringing to life their dreams.” She adds that Homescope works very closely with Hajar Services Ltd, its sister company, which offers a quality control safeguard, with the company’s team fully knowledgeable of the high standards of workmanship, with outstanding, original finishing that is expected. “We also have one of the highest staff retention rates in the market, which ensures that the company’s values and work ethic is reinforced in the minds of our team, who are encouraged and motivated to know, meet and even surpass expectations,” says Carol. This translates to quality and excellence on the job, and ultimately, outstanding results.

work within their projects to guarantee customers enduring quality in the homes market. Construction inefficiencies are partly to blame for the local sector being one of the most expensive construction industries, per square foot. This in turn erodes the competitiveness of real estate offerings in the local real estate market. Homescope leverages on its partnership with Hajar Services Ltd to provide costeffective construction services, which has a positive impact on the company’s projects, with the reduced cost benefit passed on to customers who get to buy homes for less than similar real estate offerings in the same neighborhood. Since inception, the firm has fulfilled the dreams of over 1000 new home owners, with delightful top quality houses. On average, Homescope undertakes 4-5 projects per year. But due to the ongoing slump in the sector, only two projects have been done this year, while disposing of current stock. Carol attributes this to the management’s vision and expert due diligence, a firm grasp of

market trends. This has saved the company the pain of getting stuck with property in the midst of a period of belt tightening. Currently, Homescope is putting up the “Four Walls” a 3-floor, over 5000 square feet, first-of-its kind facility that will be a one-stop-shop for the built environment to house various professionals in the construction sector under one roof. The KSh. 600 million project is designed to save developers’ the pain of having to shuttle between different points in town seeking the services of professionals to handle their construction projects. It will in turn aid coordination between stakeholders and promote efficiency. “The idea is to house one professional in each category of stakeholders in the construction industry, all construction solutions under one roof,” says Carol. Homescope will continue innovating, investing in quality and the pursuit of excellence to offer the company’s growing clientele the very best in fine home ownership.

There are on average 500600 employees on the company’s payroll. In addition, Carol says, Homescope has identified reputable professionals, consultants and subcontractors, as well as equipment and building material suppliers to

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Homescope's "Four Walls Plaza" in Karen will offer developers a one-stop shop for all their construction needs

Building East Africa | December/ January 2020

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Building East Africa | December / January 2020

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Advertising feature

Ultraguard exterior paints, solution to external walls of our homes As the rain season continues to prolong, the property market continues to face a number of challenges including extreme weather conditions that lead to dilapidation of buildings and homes. Paint manufacturer, Crown Paints PLC Group Chief Executive Officer Rakesh Rao shares some key benefits that a customer would get when using the firm’s latest brand in the market, the Ultraguard exterior paint that is high quality water proof and newly introduced dirt pick up resistance and crack bridging properties. Q. How ultraguard exterior paints are different from other exterior paints? A: Ultraguard exterior paint is high quality water base exterior paint made from silicone technology from a German based company m/s Wacker. It stands out from other ordinary exterior paints in protecting exterior walls from extreme weather such as rain water and ultra violet rays. On the other hand normal exterior paints, without silicone technology, cannot sustain exterior environment as Ultraguard exterior paints as this will require the building to be repainted every 3-4 years, this will increase cost of maintenance since Ultraguard exterior paints life expectancy is 10-15 years. Q: where are Ultraguard exterior paints used? A: Ultraguard exterior paints are used on exterior concrete or plaster walls which are exposed to external weather. It also has adhesion to surfaces like wooden surfaces and metals if used on building however longevity depends on the surfaces condition. Q: What is silicone technology used in Ultraguard exterior paints? A: Specially designed silicone additive which is added in water base exterior

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paints which gives extra power to paints and enhances the durability of construction buildings Q: What are the advantages or benefits of using silicone technology in Ultraguard exterior paints? A: It does not allow water to penetrate in concrete walls due actual water repellent properties which ordinary exterior paint does not have. It also has special breathing property, which allows moisture in concrete to evaporates same time does not moisture or water from outside to penetrate wall. It also has UV (ultraviolet ray from sun) protection which protect color from fading and enables the building to look fresh for years while exterior walls painted by ordinary paints are difficult to clean and look dirty however, Ultraguard exterior walls painted by Ultraguard paints are easy to clean. The above properties help to protect & reinforce bars inside concrete from corrosion by resisting penetration of water through walls which maintain the strength of building, allow moisture inside the concrete to evaporate while keeping the beauty of

Building Building East East Africa Africa || December/ December/ January January 2020 2020

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building for years Q: How many products are available in Ultraguard exterior paints and what is the difference between products? A: Ultraguard exterior paints have 2 products Ultraguard Silicone paints which has excellent protection of construction walls from water, moisture and uv resistance and Ultraguard protect our latest innovation which offers superior exterior paint protection. Offering extra water repellent property dirt pick up resistance which helps retaining the aesthetic look of building & crack bridging – due to expansion and contraction concrete

Advertising feature may develop fine hairline cracks. Ultraguard protect have elasticity which sustains elongation of concrete without break and protect any water moisture to penetrate. Q; Do Ultraguard silicone and Ultraguard Protect offers warranty? A: Ultraguard silicone offers 10 years and Ultraguard protect offers 15 years performance warranty which covers water repellent, dust resistance and colors fading. Depending on the application conditions durability warranty is covered.

sheen such as dead matt and high gloss are not available in Ultraguard.

A: They are above 9,000 shades are available.

Q: What are the pack size available?

Q: Is Ultraguard exterior paints suitable for interior surfaces?

A: Pack size available are 20 litres, 4 litres & 1 litre Q: How many colors are available in Ultraguard exterior paints?

A: Ultraguard exterior paints are designed to protect homes and buildings from outdoor weather conditions. They are specially designed paints to protect interior of homes and business premises.

Q: Does Ultraguard exterior paint require primer/ undercoats or skim coat before application? A: For full performance of Ultraguard exterior paint, the surface preparation is necessary depending on the surface primers/ undercoats are required. If the surface is chalky, use Crown penetrating primer or Crown masonry primer to bond the chalky powder. To level the surface use Crown Walplast exterior or interior cement putty. For better performance use undercoat emulsion exterior or interior or acrylic sealers. Q: What sheen does Ultraguard Protect have?

All-weather protection Ultraguard Protect is a water-based Acrylic emulsion with German technology that gives you all-weather protection for all your exterior wall needs.

WATER REPELLENT

DIRT PICK-UP RESISTANCE

ANTI-ALGAE FORMULA

CRACK BRIDGING

A: Ultraguard Protect have little Building BuildingEast EastAfrica Africa ||December December//January January2020 2020

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Head Office: RPG House, 463 Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai-40030, India. Tel: +912266670200 • www.kecrpg.com KEC International Ltd P.O.Box-32072-00600. B-9Krishna Park, 3rd Parklands Avenue, Nairobi-Kenya Tel: +254203743505/561

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Building East Africa | December / January 2020 Building East Africa |development June / July 2019 Promoting sustainable

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Interiors

lighting 101: How to Choose the Right Lighting for your room

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he right lighting can help promote productivity and it can also make us feel relaxed and comfortable; it helps define spaces and draws people together. Lighting also affects how we perceive textures and colors, and manipulates the overall feel of space (maybe more than any other design element). And then there is the simple fact that light fixtures can end up being a major focal point in a room - it's no wonder that pulling a light scheme togethcan feel a touch daunting

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How you physically feel in a space has mostly to do with the lighting

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More light isn’t necessarily better. Think more quality versus quantity.

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Promoting sustainable development

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Good design is about matching light levels to the tasks being performed in specific locations – think a brightly lit kitchen island versus a lamp in your living room for reading

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Try to put light where it’s really needed and keep lower ambient light levels elsewhere

Always think about both natural and artificial light when designing your space. -

Courtesy: Tile n’ Carpet Centre

Interiors

Bathroom Remodel

Below are four effective updates on a modern bathroom

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n a bathroom remodel, homeowners have a lot of choices, from tubs, sinks, tile, and more. But it’s the small details that could have some big impact.

A luxe showerhead

Schrage, a bathroom design manager at Kohler. “But I also see a lot of public places choosing black grout with a lighter tile.” Make sure the grout blends with your tile.

“These days, many people opt for massaging showerheads and models that can remember your temperature preferences,” Kelvin Ongueccso, a local interiors market expert told The Realtor. Low-flow showerhead systems and models that detach from the wall are trending internationally. Designers also suggest raising the showerhead a foot or so higher. “When people ask us for the secret to the perfect bathroom, we always recommend raising your showerhead,” Ongueso says. “Older homes typically have showerheads, so raising yours will bring your bathroom into the present at very little cost.”

Towel racks

Lean tile grout

“Sink faucets are basically statement earrings for your bathroom,” Schrage says. “I love the look of a widespread—at least 8-inch—faucet.” They can appear more contemporary and faucets with some room around them are easier to clean, she notes. 

Grout has the potential to make a bathroom look cleaner. “This is my personal design preference, but I love the white grout in the bathroom,” says Lynn

A place to hang the towels can actually become a focal point in a bathroom. Schrage recommends choosing a towel bar that’s wide enough for at least two towels— about 24 inches. She also says the towel bar doesn’t need to be the same finish as the plumbing. Consider the placement, too. Towels should be accessible as you exit a shower. Sink faucets

Building East Africa | December / January 2020

Promoting sustainable development

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Why Hire a Real Estate Agent?

Real Estate

by Correspondent

Price Contrary to what some people believe, agents do not select prices for sellers or buyers. However, an agent will help to guide clients to make the right choices for themselves. If a listing is at 7%, for example, an agent has a 7% vested interest in the sale, but the client has a 93% interest. Selling agents will ask buyers to weigh all the data supplied to them and to choose a price. Then based on market supply, demand and the conditions, the agent will devise a negotiation strategy. Negotiation Skills and Confidentiality

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n world that has rapidly become borderless in terms of information, with information on almost everything available (and saleable!) at the click of a burton, it is easy to wonder why you need “an intermediary” as many have come to refer realtors as, to sell their property. There are also the options of disposing of your house or land through regular marketing and advertising channels. The truth is, some do successfully achieve the task without representation, without a real estate agent. But it also true that many don’t. This is why you may want to hire representation to help you out. There are many reasons why you may want to sell your property. If it is for resale at a profit, then you may have the time to wait to find a buyer. However, emergencies sometimes necessitate selling off property for a financial solution. To save on time, hiring a professional will be worth the investment. A real estate professional who does will know the market better and the best prices. The trick is to find the right person. For the most part, they all cost roughly the same, so why not hire a person with more education and experience than you?. Realtors are better informed regarding market conditions Professional real estate have the market info at their fingertips and regularly monitor market conditions, which will govern your selling or buying process. Data such as the average per square foot cost of similar homes, median and average sales prices, average days on market and ratios of list-to-sold prices, among other criteria, will have a huge bearing on what you ultimately decide to do. Agents also possess knowledge or they know where to find the industry buzz about your neighborhood. They can identify comparable sales and hand these facts to you, in addition to pointing you in the direction where you can find more data on schools, crime or demographics.

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Building East Africa | December/ January 2020

Promoting sustainable development

Top producing agents negotiate well because, unlike most buyers and sellers, they can remove themselves from the emotional aspects of the transaction and because they are skilled. It’s part of their job description. Good agents are not messengers, delivering buyer’s offers to sellers and vice versa. They are professionals who are trained to present their client’s case in the best light and agree to hold client information confidential from competing interests. Real estate agents also widely network with other professionals, many of whom provide services that you will need to buy or sell. Due to legal liability, many agents will hesitate to recommend a certain individual or company over another, but they do know which vendors have a reputation for efficiency, competency, and competitive pricing. Agents can, however, give you a list of references with whom they have worked and provide background information to help you make a wise selection. Answer Questions after Closing Even the smoothest transactions that close without complications can come back to haunt. For example, taxing authorities that collect property tax assessments, doc stamps or transfer tax can fall months behind and mix up invoices, but one call to your agent can straighten out the confusion. Many questions can pop up that were overlooked in the excitement of closing. Good agents stand by ready to assist. Worthy and honest agents don’t leave you in the dust to fend for yourself. The basis for an agent’s success and continued career in real estate is referrals. Few agents would survive if their livelihood was dependent on consistently drumming up new business. This emphasis gives agents strong incentives to make sure certain clients are happy and satisfied. It also means that an agent who stays in the business will be there for you when you need to hire an agent again. Many will periodically mail market updates to you to keep you informed and to stay in touch.

Building East Africa | December / January 2020

Promoting sustainable development

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