Home building made easy

Many people dream of owning a home – an architectural masterpiece that complements the green lawns and exotic plants which dot the white picket fenced compound. For most of these, the challenge in developing a cozy haven often lies in accessing accurate information. The absence of this information leads to loss of time and money for the prospective homebuilder; and in some instances results in the erection of a building that is structurally weak with a myriad of quality issues – more often than not, a far cry from the well-nurtured dream of years gone by.

It is against the backdrop of a scenario such as this that the Building Information Centre was launched. Located along Mombasa Road, the one-stop resources centre offers a wide range of relevant information to prospective homebuilders. A sense of tranquility engulfs the first time visitor, and as one gets acquainted with the soft lighting and friendly ambience, one sub-consciously begins to draw from the expertise that is show-cased in the centre’s layout, and embodied in the personnel on hand to receive and guide visitors and members alike.

The Domestic Section has a variety of illustrated books, magazines and journals that burst with information on interior décor, flooring, soft furnishings, colour schemes and lighting as well as heavy furniture. The model living room within this section provides great ideas for basic room layout, often presenting the first lesson to many visitors to the centre – the use of readily available materials in creating a style that reflects one’s personality and mood.

According to John Ndumia, an Administrator at the Building Information Centre, traffic to the centre has grown steadily since it was launched in November 2002, with two hundred and fifty fully registered members and an equal number of enquiries every month. “Kenyans have become pro-active, and are quick to seek construction-related information that would empower them as they weigh the various options available in either acquiring a home, or constructing one in line with their desires,” he says.

The Do-It Yourself sections is a favorite for the hands- on person. It introduces various concepts and tools, as well as step-by-step guide to various projects that could be executed around the home. A database of qualified masons is retained at the centre, and availed to members who may be looking for reliable workmen for large and small projects.

The Building Information Centre encourages visitors and members alike to acquaint themselves with construction related issue; by grasping these, they are able to monitor the progress of on-going projects in their homes, as well as avoid the pitfalls of ignorance that have often resulted in untold miseries and loss of money.

Also within the centre is a Technical and Design section. Besides actual construction, the focus here is on design, legal procedures, regulatory requirements. Also available is a comprehensive database of various professionals. In this section, visitors obtain well structured guidelines for full-scale projects; tips on estimating costs and time, dealing with architects and contractors, locating and buying land, selecting appropriate building materials, and much more. A growing library with academic papers, international publications on interiors and architecture provides direction and reference to users.

For a nominal membership fee, the prospective home builder can have unlimited access and dedicated services five days a week, Tuesdays through to Saturday. There are two general categories (homebuilders and students) at shs 600 and shs 300 respectively. Masons register at shs 600, while professionals within the construction-related fields register at shs 1,000. The registration rate for Technical colleges and institutions and quality material suppliers is shs. 2,000. All these rates are applicable for a twelve month period.

In the short period since its establishment, the Building Information Centre has continued to make its mark; regionally, it is the first of its kind, fashioned after the successful Large Home Building Centre, in Calcutta, India. The centre was also recently propelled to the International arena when it scooped a prestigious trophy and top position in the Lafarge Innovations Awards held in Barcelona Spain.

Monumental Buildings

Monumental buildings are edifices that have been gazetted due to their architectural, cultural or historical importance to the country. Once gazetted, the owners of these buildings are not supposed to make any structural changes to the building without the permission of the government. The buildings have immensely contributed to the landscape, culture and history of our country and cities. Most of the buildings were built many years ago and are still in very good condition, mainly due to the fact that they were built by professionals using the best building materials.

In the next four issues of the Going Out guide we are going to serialize some of these buildings either gazetted as National Monuments or have been proposed to be gazetted.

Think About It

As you build your house, realize that, it might turn out to be a monument in future. All you have to do is to get the right building materials and work with professionals.

For professional advice - visit the Building Information Centre

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