Nairobi — Kilifi-based sustainable development Green Heart of Kenya has partnered with Nairobi based architectural firm, BuildX Studios, to introduce a housing concept that incorporates 70 percent green space and 30 percent built environment in Kilifi.
Houses in the controlled development, located 4km south of Kilifi town, will be built using Swahili inspired architectural designs and sustainable building materials.
"We have massively reduced the use of cement and maximised on use of sustainable materials including sustainably sourced timber and coral blocks, meaning low embodied carbon," noted Lachie Gordon, the managing director of the Green Heart of Kenya.
The houses have been designed to maximise natural ventilation, and have a properly insulated roof covering of 5mm thick styrofoam with insulators on both sides to reduce the thermal effect and reduce interior temperatures, cooling requirements, and therefore power bills.
The maximum durable neem louvred windows and doors also ensure maximum air circulation, making the house comfortable to live in all year round despite the characteristically high temperatures in Kilifi.
"The houses also use innovative termite guards to ensure your house is not invaded, minimising future maintenance. Another feature is the external wall finish, which comprises an exposed 200-mm thick reinforced stone masonry wall. This not only gives the home a stunning look but also provides durability and strength," noted Mr. Gordon.
The houses have monolithic walls and floors finishes, which are 150mm thick unlike normal Neeru floors which are usually 25mm to 30mm thick, making it virtually impossible for chipping to occur when hit by a heavy object.
"The walls are monolithic in the sense that the plaster and Neeru have been done in one go, as opposed to the conventional way of doing the plaster first and then applying the Neeru finish. This technique prevents cracks on walls as normally seen on normal finish walls," noted Mr. Gordon.
The bathrooms are fitted with a Corazzo floor finish. Corazzo is a mix of very fine sand, sifted coral dust, and coral chips, all bound together with a small amount of white cement. The massive reduction in concrete means low embodied carbon in construction.
The houses will include 1 bedroom houses built on 1/8th-acre plot, 2 bedrooms houses on 1/4-acre plot and 3 bedroom houses built on 1/3-acre plots. Prices start from Sh9.5 million.
"Every homeowner will have access to this forest where they can enjoy nature walks, jog, and relax in nature. The trees in the green corridor are different species of mainly indigenous trees, of which we have planted 12,000 since the inception of the project," noted Mr. Gordon.
Alongside the reforestation efforts, they have developed a comprehensive master plan that has agriculture at its core. The project focuses on embracing regenerative farming principles and values.
"Trial crops are already flourishing and the team has been regenerating soil as the basis for all future crops. In a few years, the residents will not only live in a good natural ecosystem but also be eating locally produced, nutritionally dense organic food," noted Douglas Logedi, the Communications and Stakeholder Manager at The Green Heart of Kenya.
The project has also put aside 80 acres of land to support a number of different commercial outfits which would include light industry, shops, restaurants and agricultural processing.
Already, 70 percent of the first phase of plots on the development have been sold, and works on power and water networks have also started.
The ultimate source of water includes boreholes, large scale rainwater collection and storage, desalination and municipal supplies, while power comes from three sources including solar, KPLC and generator backups.
"Our vision is to show how development can have a positive impact on the environment. By 2030, the project aims to support the creation of 50 sustainable businesses, 500 homes and 5,000 jobs," noted Mr. Logedi.
In its commitment to build a positive relationship with the local community, the firm says it has engaged the local community as primary workers to help with the major unemployment issue, in Kilifi.
"We support communities through education, sports, gender issues, and social work. Our recent involvement in soccer culminated in the 2022 Soccer Tournament. We aim to eventually build a sports academy on the property," noted Mr. Logedi.
"We also support local institutions like Pwani University through our internship programs and take a leading role in environmental regeneration including mangrove planting and creek cleaning initiatives," he added.
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Other residential offerings at the Green Heart of Kenya include The Sanctuary, which has land for sale on 99-year leases. It starts from Sh6.5 million for half an acre to 1-acre plots.
The other option is Golden Properties (their sister development), which has plots with ready titles on the Mombasa Malindi Highway. Plots start from Sh3 million.
Speaking during the show house launch, Nasra Nanda, CEO of the Kenya Green Building Society, called on the government to implement policies that will encourage the uptake of such building concepts across the country.
She pointed out that Kenyans are ready to embrace sustainability, but the high costs associated with building sustainability, as well as lack of a robust regulatory framework around sustainability, are slowing its adoption.
Green building adoption in Kenya has seen a significant rise, with over 100 buildings having been certified as green.
"Green building practices are not incentivized enough. Incentives such as tax breaks or other financial benefits for developers and property owners who incorporate green features into their buildings can be crucial motivators," noted Nasra.
