How much will it cost me to put up this building?”, is one of the most common questions i get during the initial meetings with clients to discuss their brief and requirements in detail and also to agree on the terms of service.

How much a building will cost to construct usually depends on very many factors like the type of building, its location, specification of materials, wall to floor ratio, floor to ceiling heights, site topography, types of joinery and fittings, and quality of electrical and mechanical installations. The other major factor, of course, is the size (area) of space to be built up.

The easiest way to roughly estimate how much your building will cost is by consulting someone else who has recently built something like what you would want to put up in both size and quality. Its easy to strike such a coincidence in housing projects since they are all similar in size, space provision and finishes. For other types of buildings however, it is difficult to get someone with exactly the same as what you may want.

For such, the Institute of Quantity Surveyors of Kenya has developed some guidelines for the major towns, picked up recently completed projects, measured their sizes in square metres and established their actual construction costs. They then calculated the rate of construction per square metre which, if multiplied by the desired size of project, would give a fairly accurate indication of the estimated construction costs. This cost is inclusive from foundation to finishes but generally exclude site works which may vary greatly even in projects that are similar in space provisions.

The rates are for Mombasa, Nairobi and Kisumu and would generally cover nearby surrounding areas. The could be slightly higher in more remote areas. They have also been specified for exactly what kind of building types they are, as the costs differ.

What you need to do is establish how big your building would be in square metres, then multiply that by the rate given.

Again, it is important to consult professionals to guide you on all these matters. This is just a guideline and should be taken just as that. We shall therefore not be responsible for any errors or losses and damage arising from reliance on this information without having directly contacted any professionals.

Did you know that space and building design has a direct influence on your health and well-being?

Well, when architects design, they consider numerous parameters that affect human performance, attitude, activities, and feelings in their environments. This is known as environmental design. It addresses issues such as climatic response, and sustainability. Also, environmental design addresses the general impacts of a building on the environment such as carbon and other waste emissions. To be effective in this design, architects should carry with them both the physical and mental behaviors of people in various spaces of a building.

Architecture becomes even more sophisticated when space users spend more time in the desired establishments.

Environmental design not only involves responses to climatic conditions such as temperature and humidity but also other elements like indoor air quality.

WHAT IS HEALTH AND WELL-BEING?

Evidently, architecture plays a role in the well-being and health of people as it provides a context where people live, work, and play.

Health is a state of completeness in the physical, mental, social, and emotional existence of an individual. On the other hand, well-being is a state that expresses an experience of health, happiness, and prosperity of an individual.

Throughout the history of design, architecture for healthy environments was strongly expressed through hospital designs. This is because of a belief that human connection to the outdoor provides a healing environment. Afterward, the design aspects of providing a healthy environment were borrowed and are currently being applied to other building types as well.

DESIGN FOR THE BUILDINGS & INTERIOR DESIGN HAS A LONG-TERM IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE

Today, designers and developers have the opportunity to establish homes, workspaces, and community neighborhoods that encourage healthy living while limiting stress.  This approach provides a ‘prevention’ is better than ‘cure’ solution.

In our practice as Aalis, we have established healthy facilities and other architectural spaces that encourage a healthy community and the wellbeing of its people.

Let’s see how we have achieved health and wellbeing through our architectural designs:

1. SUSTAINABLE CONCEPTS IN SPACE DESIGN

Through our sustainable approach, we ensure the use of non-harmful materials such as chlorofluorocarbons.

Within our creative design teams, we use recommended solutions of a sustainable environment including energy and water efficiency, and reduced waste emissions.

By incorporating favorable construction materials and technologies that have minimal impacts on the environment, we achieve surroundings that are both sustainable and healthy.

2. COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTIONS

Non-harmful materials don’t provide healthy environments by themselves. Aalis uses comprehensive solutions by exploring environmental design approaches that include the design for climate and indoor air quality.

A holistic and intelligent solution incorporates checks on thermal comfort, humidity regulations, ventilation, and air cleaning techniques for appropriate quality. These factors have a direct impact on human engagement, feelings, and health.

A poorly ventilated room, for example, will have people feeling dull, inactive, and fatigued. On the other hand, a well-ventilated room will have people carry out their activities in a creative, motivated, and enthusiastic state.

In the long run, these conditions have a long-term effect on people’s physical and mental health.

3. FUTURE ASSURANCE

Aalis’s core value is to provide architectural solutions that show prowess in sustainable environmental stewardship. In practice, the application of this value provides a built environment that improves human health, productivity, and wellbeing throughout.

Directly or indirectly, the wellbeing of people in an environment is influenced by how that space has been designed and developed. It’s encouraging to realize that many building users understand this and purpose to establish it.

Many organizations agree that a healthy workforce is established through healthy buildings and wellness architecture. Therefore, it’s reasonable for an individual, a company, or an institution to invest in sustainable design, construction, and buildings that provide an environment that promotes wellbeing.

Aalis is determined to create a healthy architecture that encourages the health and wellbeing of its users.