Kenya boasts a wide array of beautiful and jaw-dropping homes, reflecting a blend of indigenous styles and influences from around the world. The housing situation in Kenya currently has seen a spike in the provision of house units of various kinds all over the country.
Architects in Kenya design and supervise construction of various buildings within the country and elsewhere in the East African region. Probably the most common project that they will design and implement is the residential dwelling, i.e. the House. Adroit Architecture is well versed with this kind of development.
Houses are some of the most basic buildings that most architects in practice will undertake in the course of their professional life. Houses tend to be very dynamic in their make up and vary with each design. This is because residences always capture unique angles to their design, whether they may be for an individual or for a group of people.
This has been necessitated by the huge demand for housing that has yet to be met, as the country has a huge shortfall in their rate of delivery. The private sector has been driving construction of houses in the real estate market. There are several types of housing that are in the market currently.
Before you can get the dream house you have always envisioned or longed for, you need to consider some integral factors when choosing your house plan. This is one of the most crucial things to consider.
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When planning a house, make sure that the plan is within your budget. This will enable the completion of the house without you becoming bankrupt. A house is an asset that either appreciates or depreciates over time, depending on how it is maintained. Hence, if you wish to increase the value of your house, you must consider the cost of maintaining it in the future. The aesthetics or beauty your house exudes goes a long way in adding luxury to your home.
Let's delve into some of the common types of houses you'll find in Kenya:
MODERN MINIMALIST ARCHITECTURE IN NGONG, KENYA.
Apartments
Apartments typically consist of a number of dwelling units stacked on top of each other vertically, served by a common staircase and facilities. Shared facilities such as a common parking space, common recreation areas, swimming pools, and gymnasiums characterize these developments. Today’s modern apartments have become very ornate in provisions for their residents.
Apartments have been the craze in real estate in Nairobi. Changes in the zoning regulations of various areas in the city have allowed for more dense developments in previously lower density areas. One of the major results of this rezoning is that in areas where previously there were only single dwelling developments allowed, multiple dwelling units can now be built.
Here is an apartment design for those who have small families or wish to commercialize their house. You can have your apartment and lease the rest for an extra source of income. Each apartment has 2 bedrooms, 3 toilets, a kitchen, a living and dining room, a balcony, and a veranda.
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While there is nothing fancy about my apartment, it is very nice with tile floors, nice kitchen cabinets with granite countertops, built in wardrobes with vanity in the bedrooms, nice bathroom with a walk in shower, sink and commode toilet.
Apartments in Kilimani, Nairobi
Bungalows
Bungalows are regular single story dwelling units. However they have the distinct disadvantage that they cover more land than the latter, which can be a major issue in urban areas where land cost is very high.
Here is another single-story building with class. Its sleek and beautiful design makes it the perfect family home. It comes with 4 bedrooms, 3 toilets, an office/study, a media room, a beautiful living and dining room, 2 car garages, 2 verandas, and a laundry.
Maisonettes
These are regular double story or in some cases triple story residential developments. Maisonettes tend to be most prevalent within urban areas in slightly older estate developments and areas where land costs are still relatively low. They do provide the advantage of catering for a single family within a well defined compound.
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This can be very attractive to those who are looking for their own individual space, as opposed to sharing facilities such as in an apartment situation. Due to their smaller plinth area, one can still achieve a moderate density on a property.
Town Houses
These are large dwelling units that are development for upmarket clientele. Town houses consist of large ornate buildings that are well finished to the taste of their owners. They tend to be very spacious and have elaborate finishes. The architect who undertakes this kind of housing development needs to respond to the formidable challenge from the requirements of this type of design.
Town houses have a larger plinth area, averaging 2000 to 5000 square feet.
Mansions
These are the largest type of housing units. They are magnificent in form and stature, and are the epitome of egoistical housing. Mansions have large floor areas and tend to be overtly spacious, often above 8000 square feet. They have all the main features of the other types of units, and have a lot of ostentatious additions.
Such extras include facilities such as home theatres, solariums, saunas, large home gymnasiums, home libraries among others. As can be expected owners of mansions invest in large grounds as part of their housing estate. Often mansions are built on ranches and huge tracts of land, with vast open grounds and lawns which are well manicured.
This is a beautiful luxurious mansion for a big family. It comes with classical Mediterranean architectural styles that beautify a stunning 4-story building, 9 bedrooms, 9 bathrooms, 3 offices/study, 4 balconies, 3 verandas, a large kitchen, and a beautiful living and dining room.
Luxurious Mansion
Traditional African Houses
Most of Africa’s rural peoples use natural materials that are locally available for their buildings. In grasslands, people typically use grasses to cover walls and roofs. In forested areas, people build with hardwoods as well as with bamboo and raffia palm. Earth and clay are also major building resources. In areas with few natural resources, people often live as nomads, moving from place to place. Instead of building permanent homes, they typically use simple brush shelters or portable tents made of animal skins and woven hair.
African houses are often cylindrical (round) in shape. The Xhosa people of southern Africa build round one-room houses called rondavels. A rondavel is typically made from a ring of timber posts, filled in with mud or basket weave, and topped with a conical thatched roof. In the semidesert regions of Sudan and western Africa, round houses are often constructed of sun-dried mud in a coil pottery technique.
Other Notable Designs
- Thatch Roof Villa: For those who value the African tradition and want a design that displays the African heritage in their homes, the thatch roof villa is a perfect choice. It has an open design plan that connects the living room, kitchen, dining room, veranda, and master bedroom.
- 21st-Century House Design: Here is a 21st-century house design that’s suitable for you and your family. It is a 1-story building house with 3-bedrooms that have a panoramic window that is 10 meters wide.
- Simple 2-Bedroom House: If you want simplicity and class in one simple house, you have it right here! This 2-bedroom (with an in-built closet) house has a wide living room, a bathroom, 2 verandas, and a semi-open kitchen layout.
- India-Inspired Temple-Like Building: This India-Inspired temple-like building is ideal for a small family. It is a 2-bedroom single-story building that has a kitchen, 2 bathrooms, and a veranda.
- 3-Bedroom Hillside House Plan: A 3-bedroom hillside house plan is the ideal adventurous family home.
- Pool House: If you plan on having a swimming pool in your home, then this pool house is a perfect fit.
- White House Replica: If you've ever dreamt of living in the White House, here is a dream come true. You can have your replica of the White House right in your home. How cool is that?
- Mazera Stone Finish Design: Having a house with a Mazera stone finish design is an ideal thing to aim at when designing your home. It is made from sand, which is cemented with silica, lime, and iron. One fascinating thing about this design is that it is versatile and can be used for all kinds of buildings and structures like hotels, office buildings, and houses. You can also use it to overlay your swimming pool aprons and gratings, fireplaces or chimneys, pavements, aquariums, landscapes, and other areas of your building. The Mazera stone design is always anti-scratch and durable. You can cut Mazera stones into various sizes and shapes to suit your design needs.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a House Plan
Before settling on a house plan, consider these vital factors:
- Family Size and Preferences: The size of your family and the preference of every member of the family should be put into consideration. If you are newly married, then consider how to incorporate additional rooms into your home if you intend to expand your family in the future.
- Environment and Privacy: Most people want their homes to be in a serene environment with a lot of privacy. You can also soundproof your house to prevent any noise or disturbance.
- Child Safety: This is equally very paramount, especially if you have kids around the house. The playroom and the house itself should be safe for children.
- House Measurement: Being able to know the total measurement of your house per square foot is equally germane - whether you intend to build a duplex or bungalow.
Architectural Styles
Whether remodeling, adding on, or just giving your home some extra curb appeal, knowing the style of your house can help you develop a successful plan.
- Contemporary: Referring specifically to architect-designed homes built from about 1950 to 1970, the term “contemporary” has come to describe a wide range of houses built in recent decades that concentrate on simple forms and geometric lines. Many contemporary homes feature lots of glass, open floor plans, and inventive designs.
- Country French: Country French homes are often one story with many narrow windows and paired shutters, steeply pitched roofs (either hipped or side-gabled), stucco walls, and a half-timbered frame.
- Colonial: Colonial homes usually have two or three stories, fireplaces, and brick or wood facades. Colonials are easy to add on to at the side or the back. A brick facade may be difficult to match, but a builder or designer can help you find complementary siding materials.
- Victorian: Homes of the Victorian Era were romantic, distinctive, and abundant with detail, from the fabrics and patterns to the colors and textures. Contemporary Victorian house design retains the traditional characteristics but uses more modern fabrics and colors.
- Cottage-Style: Medieval styles of the English countryside inspired American architects to design the charming and cozy cottage-style houses we know today.
It is important for you to know what you are interested in building. Each level of housing has its associated costs that must be met in achieving it, whether it be shelter at the basic level or building for self actualization. Whatever the case, a good architect can assist you in planning and implementing your dream house.
