As they say, requirement is the mom of invention. Now that Globalisation is listed here with us, Africans will need to up their recreation in building methodology to meet the present-day desire. Challenges these types of as inhabitants explosion, urbanisation, constrained supply of supplies, cost of labour etcetera need to be dealt with.
All through the early situations, labour was not a key hindrance considering that folks could use slaves to create structures such as Fort Jesus. Currently, in the course of action of creating constructions, the price tag of labour has to be included so as to help the venture to be practical.
STANDARDISATION
Africans must embrace new strategies of development utilized somewhere else in the globe. The Setting up Code in Kenya really should be open to enable other expectations these as American specifications which are highly produced when it comes to the use of Pre-Engineered Metal structures. Its also large time another person arrived up with the African Conventional no subject how much-fetched this may well sound. At the time analysis is finished on African development approaches these kinds of as Adobe,timber constructions, a typical can originate which will guide the relaxation of the entire world in building their selections.
ADOBE WALLING
Residence grown remedies to design that have been employed in this article in Kenya for centuries can be revived to simplicity lack of housing.
Adobe has been utilised in Kenya for generations.Analysis should really be completed to commercialise the use of Adobe in building. Presently, the Indian and Chinese are exporting cement-fibre boards for use as wall panels. If the Adobe technology is researched even further, am positive another person enterprising more than enough will shortly come up with a variation similar to the cement-fibre boards and simplicity the price of development.
Globe-main Intercontinental multinationals in cement these types of as La Farge also started from the very first phase so its under no circumstances too late.
CERAMICS
China and India are generating excellent enterprise exporting ceramic tiles to Kenya. Ceramic tiles are in essence produced from clay soil which we have in a great deal in this article in Kenya.
Our ancestors have been producing clay pots for many hundreds of years now applying Clay. Creation of ceramic tiles is equivalent to the classic strategy of baking clay pots. For that reason, if an enterprising Kenyan can appear up with a process of industrial output of ceramics, we will not will need to import this “Asian Soil” to Kenya.
THATCH ROOF
The most pricey roofing product or service in the current market is the stone-coated metal tile-thatch roof-profile. This is bought in Kenya by firms this kind of as South African Harvey Roofing Merchandise, Australian Decra House and Style, and Dura Roofing Tiles.
These roofing tile imitates thatch roof which we have been working with for hundreds of years below in Kenya. This is due to the fact thatch roof has the most effective aesthetic search and insulation. This is also an additional avenue that Africans can do the job on to strengthen on the provide of building materials.
TEXTURED PAINT
The most high priced paint in the marketplace at the instant is the Rough textured paint these types of as ‘Crown Ruff n Tuff’. Once again this paint is pricey since it tries to capture the very good appears to be like of Adobe mud wall and also the top-quality insulation traits of the Adobe mud partitions.
The Adobe mud walls have been in use in Africa for Generations. If we can do the job on improving upon this and manufacturing it for the World-wide marketplace, then we will preserve a large amount of foreign trade and develop employment.
Some factories in South Africa are production plastic imitations of thatch which is exported to the relaxation of the planet. If we can put in some investigate, we can absolutely come up with a alternative that is improved than the current imitations.
HARDWOOD Doors & Home furnishings
The most high priced doors in the industry at the second are hand-curved hardwood doors. In Kenya, we have the superb Swahili doorways. Once again, it these are manufactured for export to the global marketplace, then this will end result in creation of careers and revenues right here in Africa.
In Kenya, we have pretty inventive stick and wood furniture that is regular. This can be created commercially for export. A fantastic illustration is the Bamboo furnishings marketed at Ramboo, Mombasa Street, created in South Africa and exported to Kenya.
Floor TILES
Imported slate-stone counter tops and floor tiles are incredibly expensive. In Kenya we have Mazeras stone flooring finishes which if properly cut and polished, can be a big export for the Country. Therefore, its vital to be aware that Africa has the likely to source the globe with exclusive development material. All we need to do is to assume exterior the box and offer the entire world with distinctive construction products and solutions at a low value.
This is a sleeping giant waiting to be awoken in this sector. Lets hope that the new constitution will awaken this large.
Architect Frank Gichuhi
A4ARCHITECT