The Nextgen Park

[caption id="attachment_1372" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="A perspective view of the Nextgen Park"][/caption]

This development project has already been approved by the City Council of Nairobi although the commencement date is not yet clear. As usual, the AK team has been unable to establish the entire team behind the project although credible leads indicate that Archigrid Systems are the lead consultants and project architects.

The information we are thus providing has been paraphrased from their brochure, which we must say, was lacking in terms of quality of presentation and imagery, save for the high quality paper used for the print and two images which were obviously downloaded from the internet, that of the theatre and gym. Click here to download the brochure in pdf. Discuss this development with regards to its scale, on whether Kenyans are ready for 'high rise' living and whether it is a plus or minus for the city of Nairobi.

[caption id="attachment_1371" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Site layout plan of the Nextgen development. The Southern Bypass does not actually border the site, it is one or two plots further down"][/caption]

That aside, the park has been defined as the height of sophistication and Nairobi's new landmark of luxury. The park promises to redefine Nairobi's style with its ideal location, and is said to be at the cutting edge of 21st - century metropolitan living - the glamour of five - star hotel but within the confines of home.

[caption id="attachment_1370" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="The Nextgen commercial centre"][/caption]

The centre will have the following facilities for sale:-

• Ground floor supermarket


• Shopping mall of four floors to be served by escalators and lifts of various sizes.


• A dedicated floor with terrace open to sky - food court.


• Upper floors dedicated to office spaces.


• Offices at Medical plaza meant for doctor's.

[caption id="attachment_1369" align="alignnone" width="640" caption="Typical apartment floor plans"][/caption]

Additional features include a joggers park, high speed lifts, borehole water supply, 50 seat private theatre, Spa, Secured basement parking, Two acres of landscaped gardens, Fully fitted kitchen with appliances, standby generator to lifts & common areas, ground floor 24 hour concierge reception with intercom service, pent houses with observation deck overlooking the National park and pent houses with own private steam / sauna and open air Jaccuzzi.

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Mombasa may not survive the current urbanization wave, but will still live on, in photos.

Mombasa’s rich historical past has now been immortalised for posterity in a photographic collection.

This comes as the wave of modernisation slowly creeps on this centuries-old town, threatening to transform it irreversibly.

A small island town dotted with coconut palms, kanzu-clad men whiling away time on narrow pavements, people serving coffee from traditional Arabian urns and sites and sounds that go back centuries are part of Mombasa’s history.

But this face has been slowly changing as high-rise buildings replace the low Swahili designs and large thoroughfares take the place of winding narrow roads that characterised the old transport network.

In the new look town, it is only the Mackinnon Market; the old port where dhows carrying dried fish still dock; Castle Royal; Fort Jesus and some areas that still give one an idea of the beautiful past.

Despite this, Kenyans and other students of history will for many years to come be able to walk through old Mombasa, thanks to the photographic collection on a souvenir calendar produced by the National Museums of Kenya (NMK) and Friends of Fort Jesus (FFJ).

As the NMK marks 100 years of its existence, there is no better gift Kenyans can get than a glimpse of the past, a reminder of how far major towns like Mombasa have evolved to their present status.

Launched at Fort Jesus on Tuesday evening, the 2011 calendar contains historical photographs of old Mombasa, including those of the old port and the current Kilindini port.

The photos give an overview of what the old Mombasa used to be in terms of people and architectural designs.

One of the aims of the calendar is to celebrate the town’s rich history and capture the changes in the environment.

The Museums assistant director in charge of Coast region, Mr Athuman Hussein said: “There is a lot of education in the photographs.”

He was representing the NMK director, Dr Idle Farah.

The FFJ chairperson, Ms Marlene Reid, described the launch of the calendar as celebrating the past and preserving it for the future.

Ms Reid said the calendar is a product of the FFJ photographic collection that was started in 1981. She said the calendar also celebrates the spirit of cooperation between FFJ and the Fort Jesus Museum.

Ms Reid said she hoped they will make the photographic collection more valuable by having it professionally put on CDs for easy access and use.

Swahili furniture, pottery and other forms of art and craft are among the most sought products, yet research has shown that all these are being exploited by foreigners.

These, according to the acting director of the Research Institute of Swahili Studies of Eastern Africa, Mr Kassim Omar, are what will be the focus of the first furniture and furnishing exhibition to be held on the historic Mama Ngina Drive in Mombasa early next month.

The inaugural event, Mr Omar said, targets more than 30,000 people, among them artists and furniture owners.

It will highlight the role of creative industries as a vehicle of economic empowerment and a means of alleviating poverty within the communities in line with Vision 2030, he added.

The theme of the exhibition is “Economic Empowerment through Creative Cultural Industries” and is in line with NMK’s: “1910-2010: Celebrating a Century of Heritage Management”.

Already residents of Old Town will have an opportunity to showcase their rich Swahili cultural heritage at an evening bazaar supported by the French embassy and the Mombasa and Coast Tourist Association (MCTA).

The bazaar is taking the format of a successful one in Zanzibar called Forodhani and the Cape Town Waterfront in South Africa, which have become  major tourist attractions as they mirror the lifestyle of the olden days.

MCTA executive officer Millicent Odhiambo said the residents will be lining with their items along the roads from the Bank of India to Fort Jesus, showcasing the local Swahili culinary and dishes.

“This is a deliberate move to attract local and international guests to the Old Town and Fort Jesus by enhancing culture-based tourism.

“Through these exhibitions that will also include Swahili crafts, music and decorations, the residents, who have been taking a backseat in the development of tourism, will be part of the system,” she said.

Other efforts at preserving the rich cultural heritage of Mombasa include funding by the European Union through the Mombasa Old Town Conservation for restoration of dilapidated buildings in the Old Town of Mombasa and Lamu.

Source: Daily Nation

Before you buy that house........

We have previously discussed why you need to hire an architect when building your house, no matter how small the project seems. But, suppose you decide to buy an already built house, what are the important things to do consider before committing your funds?

Before one buys a house, whether old, newly built or in the construction stage, there are very important things to do, check and consider.

For most people, this is the biggest investment they will ever make, so a pragmatic approach to the whole process, especially on issues regarding the structural integrity of the building, any defects and any potential problems, access, is important.

Also of immense importance is the value of the property, restrictions on the title, zoning of the land on which the house stands, and whether its construction was sanctioned by the local authority — in which case it should have an occupation certificate.

Get a professional valuation and survey of the location before making the decision to buy. And, once you have settled on the location, do not be bogged down by shopping around for the house those suits you.

Once satisfied that you have found your desired home, zero in on the house itself to establish its structural integrity and functionality.

Indeed, before you sign a sale and purchase agreement, make it conditional that you have to be furnished with a satisfactory house inspection certificate, handed a title search and given local authority details on the house.

Inspecting your potential home with a professional who understands buildings is most advised because certain defects are not easily detected.

Here’s a check list for consideration in regard to old houses.

1 - Structural integrity:

The structural integrity of a building is very important as this is a matter of life and death. Check out for cracks that extend from the foundation to the top of the building as these could be a pointer to differential settlement, which means some part of the building is sinking, thus shearing at the point of difference. Such structural defects are difficult to rectify as the problem stems right at the foundation. Check if the building has a ring beam. These are used to span openings such as doors and windows as well as to tie the building together structurally.

2 - Roof:

Check for any sagging, leakages and whether the timber trusses are infested with termites. Are the gutters functional. A highly neglected house will have gutters that are full of soil. Check out for broken ridges and tiles in cases where the roofing material is concrete or clay. If it is galvanised sheets, rust will indicate a due date for re-roofing.

3 - Plumbing:

Check whether water closets, wash hand basins, kitchen sinks and bath tubs are functioning properly — and without leakages and blockages. Is an overhead cold water storage installed? If it is, check out for leakages and the overflow pipe to ascertain that the ball valve, usually inside the tank, is working. The same, diligent inspection of electrical installations is also very important. A neglected building affects its overall integrity, as well as your safety when you move in.

4 - Finishes:

Check the floor. If is wood parquet, look out for signs of termite infestation. If infested, that means the building was not treated properly against termites, and that mean your doors, windows, wardrobes and cupboards will be food to the pests.

Source: Daily Nation

The Kshs 200Billion Tatu City in Ruiru

Tatu City is a mixed-use environment that will be home to 62 000 residents who will live, work and play within this community and it will host 23 000 visitors every single day.

Background

Nairobi, the largest multicultural city in Kenya, has a population of over three million people. It lies between Kampala and Mombasa, close to the Rift Valley. To the east are the Ngong hills, to the north Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro to the south-east. The Masai Mara and Amboselli game reserves are within easy reach.



Nairobi's airport, Jomo Kenyatta International, is the largest and busiest in East and Central Africa - with over 49 airlines servicing the Kenyan market. The Eastern Bypass highway, currently under construction, will link the airport to Tatu City.



But with the rapid growth of the recent decades Nairobi has suffered the effects of unconstrained urbanization. The city fathers are now faced with one of two challenges:

• Rebuild major parts of the city, with all the disruption this involves, or


• Create a new, modern urban node, as envisaged in the Nairobi Metro 2030 Plan, which encourages relocation of both commercial and residential developments outside of the CBD.

The above challenges are what led the team involved to come up with the idea of 'Tatu City'.

Tatu City is a nodal development – each node contains distinct facilities including open spaces and public environments interconnected by a public transport system as well as pedestrian walkways. The following are the key characteristics:-

• Low Density Residential Neighbourhoods


• Medium to High Density Residential Neighbourhoods


• Primary & Secondary Urban Nodes


• Central Business Spine


• Mixed Use Spine


• Suburban Business Nodes


• Tourism & Conference Facilities


• Light Industrial, Warehousing & Infrastructure

Tatu City promises to offer a first-world support infrastructure incorporating the following:

• Paved Roads & Walkways


• Potable Water Supply System


• First World Sanitation


• Solid Waste Disposal Systems


• Electricity Supply Systems

A total of ten development phases are envisaged - some of these could be developed simultaneously, as demand requires. The starting point of the entire development concept is the environment, with over 35% of the land set aside for natural green belts. A further 15% has been earmarked for world-class infrastructure development.



The primary focus will be Phase 1 A which comprises the development of the Primary Urban Node, the high density residential precinct directly north of the node as well as a portion of the Tourism and Conference Precinct to the south of the east-west arterial.



Phase 1 B, which lies to the west of Phase One A, comprises of the Techno Park as well as a Low Density Residential Neighbourhood.



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