Ni kusave costs za pipes.
Boss elaborate hapo pa ruaka thinking of hamiaring huko
Most Kenyan builders, architects and engineers go to same school juakali mediocrity. They never learn anything new, better or work more efferently. No creativity at all or thinking out of the box. Basically they copy and paste each other’s work for the past 25 years… the building industry took a turn for the worst. That is why all those heinous concrete tomb-like flats look the same all over. What shocked me most in the Kenyan building industry is , as much as we have a 50% unemployment rate the country, try finding a good painter or a plumber or any fundi for anything. I am still working on my pigsty pole-pole for the past 2 years and it’s unbelievable how much I have to spoon feed and point out glaring mistakes to those architects and fundis. They always chance out sloppiness as they are typically used to getting away with it.
The architects have no vision in Kenya. They are not artists in mind, which is a critical requirement for an architect. They go to Architectural school because they scored good grades.
You should never trust an architect with a design. Jump into google images, snap pictures of designs you like, make a sketch, then approach an architect. You can use a friend artist or draftsman to draw you something. I have seen people build beautiful units just like that. Then monitor every stage of the construction. Interior design can be done by anyone. You don’t need architects or engineers to install floors, cabinets, ovens etc.
There are VERY GOOD architects in this country but they are the far minority. Kenyans want a cheap professional service, with a cheap construction budget. Hapo architect ako constrained so they give you some generic chieth
I had an architect and decided to pay him every cent he asked for so as to get best the best of his product. It however, turned out he was just better at talking and better use of PR language than being an architect. I had to go back and forth so many times, each time he forgets something or corners himself with a change that does not make sense in real life. What I got in the end, a mid level draftsman with same guidance from myself would have produced the same or better. I am sure there are good architects in Kenya, but they are very few and had to come buy.
C’mon, don’t blame it on Kenyans having a low budget because I have seen some very expensive houses with mediocre designs.
Let me tell you. A friend of mine was designed and built a house in a really nice area of town. By a highly recommended architect. I have visited severally and his selling point is always how beautiful and unique the home is. However when I was shopping for a home, I was taken to visit a home on the other side of town. To my shock, the design is exactly the same as my friends’. The architect simply cut and pasted a previous design. I have never said anything to him because I know how much money he spent.
Uganda maybe. Tanzania is not welcoming to Kenyans. They will evict and nationalize your home at night once the neighbors report you.
If only…and I repeat, if only they could copy designs and styles from outside Kenya, perhaps I would not be complaining so much.
I think they try to combine kitchen and toilet plumbing to minimize cost…
Ama aje?
This is very annoying, as a client, you spend time coming up with a unique design and take to an architect for actualization, he does a copy paste for the next client and only changes project date,location and name.
Ferking correct
Very uneven plaster, with poorly done paint work, bathrooms not draining after taking a shower, tv antenna conduit blocked by cement, foul smell from water in all taps, wardrobes poorly done, tiles not well laid grout poorly done.
If you have an eye for decent if not excellent finishes you will be disappointed in Kenya.
Jua kali architects calls for jua kali designs. The developers are to blame for this mediocrity and taking short cuts, all in the name of saving construction costs.
Let’s not even mention the poor finishes and sub standard materials used in bathrooms and toilets.
una detox tumbo na nini mr brejin?
Kenya is on the expressway to becoming a “world class ghetto” - these low quality highrise apartments in Nairobi is just the start. Soon Kileleshwa/Kilimani will resemble Highrise estate. You travel anywhere in Nairobi and it’s just an eyesore - from Thika Rd to Mombasa Rd to Lang’ata Rd to Waiyaki Way. The collapse of mid-income housing projects is unfortunate. Down went Umoja, buruburu, followed by South B, C, Ngumo then Lang’ata. Next is lavington and Karen. Has anyone in Kenya put up any large housing project (more than 300) consisting of maisonettes/standalone in the last 30 years apart from Greenpark? I don’t even count Embakasi because NSSF really set the bar low with that development. I don’t understand how people buy overpriced apartments with no amenities, no garden space or trees - where do you host more than 15 guests? In the living room, bedroom and kitchen combined.
My personal opinion, before you choose to live in an area always evaluate what extra benefits, beyond the walls you will receive compared to the amount of rent paid.
Ruaka is like the Kenyan Govt, good on paper but ground vitu ni different. Apart from 2rivers mall, an exclusive neighbourhood(Runda) within the vicinity, na kuona wazungu more often, hakuna kitu hio place hu-offer.
Let me ask, why would you pay 30k for a one bedroom in Ruaka?
Ruaka and Thindigua are the most overrated satellite towns in Kenya.
It’s basically for those middle-class who want to live in Runda but since they can’t afford it, they move to the closest place next to Runda.
Then you will hear real estate developers marketing Ruaka and Thindigua using words like “it neighbours Runda” as if that is a compliment.
The rent is exaggerated not because the houses are exceptional but because you’re paying for the dusty location close to Runda.