In downtown Nairobi, another landmark — the CBK Pension House adorns the city skyline. It is the newest beauty, standing shoulder to shoulder with Times Towers.
It was built by Chinese contractor China Wu Yi. Moses Okemwa, the architect behind the masterpiece, says the freedom to experiment with form and material is responsible for innovative high-rises the city is seeing.
Mr Okemwa, who was working with Arprim Consultants says more is yet to come in the metropolis’ skyline. “The design of CBK Pension House is made up of two curved structures, the leaning (in opposite directions) a semblance of two old pensioners whose backs are bent with age.
In between is a support system that holds them together,an indication that pooling of resources can save these people in their old age,”
The taller tower has 27usable floors with 3viewing decks above the service floor,while the shorter one is made up of 24floors above the ground.
According to Okemwa, buildings are essential elements for way-finding and place-making, noting that Africa’s architecture is headed the right direction.
“KICC has for a long time been the face of Nairobi. Africa needs to have a lot of iconic buildings that when seen can be immediately linked to their host cities,” noted Okemwa.
The Eco Waterbank School In Rural Kenya Is Transforming The Design Of School Buildings Worldwide
PitchAfrica,a non-profit design group founded by architects Jane Harrison&David Turnbull,has designed the Waterbank School in Laikipia county capable of harvesting&storing rainwater.
The design for the campus structures includes a stadium, classrooms,dormitories for the students, canteens and latrines.
The campus structures were designed to serve the dual purpose of functioning as educational spaces while storing high volumes of potable water at a low cost,
providing the community and students with clean drinking water and irrigation for the agriculture plots that form a patchwork across the campus.
The campus allows children, who usually spend daylight hours collecting water for their families, the opportunity to attend school.