A Kenyan real estate developer has launched a competition for architectural students in East African universities to design a model family home for Sh1 million, which the company proposes to build for middle- and lower-income groups.. Photo/FILE
A Kenyan real estate developer has launched a competition for architectural students in East African universities to design a model family home for Sh1 million, which the company proposes to build for middle- and lower-income groups.
The ‘One Million’ house research project launched by Home Afrika Ltd will be the first of its kind in Kenya.
Dr Mbira Gikonyo, the director Home Afrika Ltd, says producing low-cost housing in Kenya depends on finding the most cost effective and efficient building methods without necessarily compromising standards.
However, housing technology has taken rapid strides internationally, with the low-cost house model now being tried widely elsewhere.
In South Africa, the low-cost housing designed by entrepreneur Henne Botes has been reported by IMIESA, published by the Institute of Municipal Engineering of Southern Africa as a model “that can reduce pollution and environmental destruction of our natural ecology by addressing the poor living conditions.”
Bote’s model has addressed all of the main challenges of supplying low-cost housing, including lack of resources, insufficient funds, time constraints, work flow control and the reduction of waste by designing a patented injection moulded formwork system drawing on local materials.
The result is lightweight, reusable and easily installed, and delivers a better quality and cheaper outcome than traditional timber or steel formwork, according to the regional engineering organisation.
The formwork weighs about 8 kg/m for easy transportation and speedy assembly. Each modular component is joined to form walls of any length and height with a wall cavity of either 100mm or 150 mm. The formwork can be repeated 50 times.
The door block outs, window and other fittings are positioned and then filled with a fast curing mortar mix. All the assembled structures have steel reinforced internal and external walls.
The simple construction is being done by local, semi-skilled labourers, generating additional employment, and is versatile and easily adaptable to different designs. In India, where the authorities are struggling with housing a surging population of over 1.1 billion, the bid to find a low cost house has also been in top gear.
Entrepreneur Jaithirth “Jerry” Rao last year launched a project in Bangalore, India, to build 1,900 homes that will be priced at 450,000 – 1 million rupees, which is about Sh850,000 to Sh1.8m. In Kenya, a further key to building at the lowest possible prices lies in bulk production, said Dr Mbira.
HomeAfrika Ltd is moving to acquire 4,000 acres for its first Mass Housing Programme.
The site will first be used to test the prototype and then for mass development of the One Million House.
“Our vision is to provide affordable housing for all,” said Dr Mbira.
Currently the demand for urban housing is running at some 150,000 houses a year, while market supply is only about 30,000. “This is a very gloomy picture that can only be reversed if developers focus not only on huge profits, but on the needs of Kenyans,” he said.
Home Africa Ltd was launched in 2008 by 120 middle and upper class Kenyans whose mission was delivering affordable housing.
Family home
It has since developed and successfully completed Morningside Office Park on Ngong Road. It is developing Migaa in Kiambu, which is the first live-in golf community and the largest gated community in eastern Africa.
The entrants to the One Million House competition must design a stand-alone family home with at least two bedrooms, a bathroom and possibly two bathrooms.
The winning team takes home Sh160,000, runners up Sh80,000, and special mention wins Sh40,000. -African Laughter
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