The skyline of Nairobi is about to transform, thanks to UAP insurance. It is all systems go for the company’s headquarters, a 23 story building at the hill of Nairobi, Upper Hill. The building is set to have the highest point in Nairobi, a record that is currently held by Rahimtulla Towers, also located in Upper Hill.
Planning and design for the project begun in 2008 with a design competition which Triad Architects won. The current team includes Acorn Group (Project Managers), Triad and BPM-SA (Architects), Barker & Barton (QS), Gath Consulting Engineers (Civil & Structural Engineers), Diju Interiors (Interior Designers) and Maiteri Associates & Norkun Intakes (Services Engineers).
Construction is set to begin before the end of 2010 and is expected to take more than two years. the current cost estimates for the project stand at Kshs 2.8 Billion (USD 35 Million).
The project has been described as a prestigious, iconic and inviting landmark office development that reflects the excellence and success of UAP as one of the leading insurance companies in East Africa.
What an ugly building! In contrast to the sleek Rahimtullah. Typical Triad architecture
ugly is such a strong word especially with no explanation just a comparison.
I suppose you are right, the person above has no justification. There are more diplomatic ways to give your opinion
i actually do agree with the comment above to a degree, it sticks out of the skyline like a sore thumb. I suppose this is due to the unappealing proportions used. Up until the height of the dark brown tiles, it is okay; above that is where things start to go wrong. Perhaps I am judging a book by its cover; are there any plans or sections so that we can get a better picture? or innovative, sustainable measures that are proposed?
Frank Lloyd wright A well known architect and perhaps the greatest American architect, designed the Guggenheim Museum in new york and at the time he had to deal with very strong opposition. the building was a sore thumb in its context since all building around it were square and flat, some new yorkers refered to it as a washing machine. the Guggenheim Museum is one of the 20th-century’s greatest works of architecture. before we right of any project as ugly or unappealing, lets first understand that as critiques we offer nothing and take all from those who offer their work for judgment…for a project of this magnitude to be built is a great achievement and testament to the architect/s. architects design for the need to build and in most situations are forced to compromise to make a living and please the client because at the end of the day architecture is a business….lets give them a break and besides how many architects in Kenya can say the have designed and built a 23 story building that was featured in architecture Kenya….. by the way Frank Lloyd wright after tirelessly fighting to get his building built, he died before the completion of the Guggenheim Museum
Its sounds like you were part of the design team. Balance is something we are lacking in a few of the major firms we have around. Balancing simplicity, aesthetics, function, and now more than ever sustainability. Look around, not even outside the city centre, we have great buildings at the heart of the CBD, designed decades ago but still remaining timeless. The actual problem with the design is that there is too much happening. Its something that you can only appreciate if you have had an eye for art. Having been in the industry for over 20 years, and having come from a background in art and design; it makes a world of difference between a true designer and an over-glorified technician.
Its sounds like you were part of the design team. Balance is something we are lacking in a few of the major firms we have around. Balancing simplicity, aesthetics, function, and now more than ever sustainability. Look around, not even outside the city centre, we have great buildings at the heart of the CBD, designed decades ago but still remaining timeless. The actual problem with the design is that there is too much happening. Its something that you can only appreciate if you have had an eye for art. Having been in the industry for over 20 years, and having come from a background in art and design; it makes a world of difference between a true designer and an over-glorified technician.
thank you for your response and i hope we can keep this conversation going an i urge other readers to join the dialog we can lern a great deal….in repose to your coment, i am not part of the design team as flatering that may be. I do agree with your sentiment that balance is lacking in general, but we are judging this project based on prety renderings only, without the spacial program as you comented on your post. a professional with your experience i hope you can agree with me that there is fierce competition in the architectural profession and in order to compete, compromises are inevitable. external factors beyond the architecs control may affect the overal design (budget,etc) but as trained proffessionals its the architecs responsibility to educate the client on the design intent and advise them against the bad solutions they may demand. this can be tricky if you hope to keep the commision considering the next architect is willing to compromise their design principles. as for the buildings designed decades ago…..how many of them are credited to kenyan architecs/firms? case in point, a south african firm BPM-SA is involved in the project above. My concern is how can we focus on the positive critiqe of local architecs/firms while holding them to high standards, which may elevate their profile and give them a better chance of competing…. as far as the sustainability issue i posted a comment on the green house article please feel free coment/critique
MSYOKI thank you for your response and i hope we can keep this conversation going an i urge other readers to join the dialog we can lern a great deal….in repose to your coment, i am not part of the design team as flatering that may be. I do agree with your sentiment that balance is lacking in general, but we are judging this project based on prety renderings only, without the spacial program as you comented on your post. a professional with your experience i hope you can agree with me that there is fierce competition in the architectural profession and in order to compete, compromises are inevitable. external factors beyond the architecs control may affect the overal design (budget,etc) but as trained proffessionals its the architecs responsibility to educate the client on the design intent and advise them against the bad solutions they may demand. this can be tricky if you hope to keep the commision considering the next architect is willing to compromise their design principles. as for the buildings designed decades ago…..how many of them are credited to kenyan architecs/firms? case in point, a south african firm BPM-SA is involved in the project above. My concern is how can we focus on the positive critiqe of local architecs/firms while holding them to high standards, which may elevate their profile and give them a better chance of competing…. as far as the sustainability issue i posted a comment on the green house article please feel free coment/critique
AN EXCELLENT, SLEEK AND ELEGANT KENYAN ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENT!
The Empire State Building has already been done- there’s really no need to rip off its art deco style (and bring it down to 23 stories, no less!).
I do not mean to sound harsh- I love some of the stuff Triad has done in the past. I think the Times Tower was a step in the right direction…but this?
But maybe we shouldn’t blame the architect. What about the client, and their need to make INFORMED decisions?
Thoughts, anyone?
exactly my sentiments – THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING IS ALREADY DONE – and done much better at that!!! stupid design…and am not blinking!!!
Martin, i stubled on the Azelea project http://theazalea.co.ke and if built it would add to the upper hill skyline parhars you could look into it, see if it fits in architecture kenya
This would definitely get a space. We will work something out.
Thanks Alex, I think if we had a forum to discuss design proposals, where the architect would upload conceptual images/drawings and get a critique from architects and designers outside the respective firms. This would really help create better architecture. Good points would be taken and the non-useful ones disregarded.
Musyoki what an exellent idea…i hope architecture kenya is takin note…i would also like to see small scale projects featured here…
Its in human nature to search for a sense of order or balance in life, transcending into the built environment, and thats why I guess the dynamics of this particular building are not going down well with everyone. In theory, even rendering and graphical representation, it is hard to fathom the wholistic effect the design would have, much like when Chris Bangle redesigned the BMW 7series and millions were appalled about the ‘disastrous’ changes the redesign had and how it would affect BMW sales, considering that is the flagship brand. Well, the vehicle was made and got rave reviews and the rest is history. I for one am a fan of Triad creations, though I sometimes question whether their ‘global’ (read Western) designs are much suited for Nairobi. Is our city losing its identity in its search for international acceptance or should there be an architectural policy encouraging ‘African-ness’ or something unique. On the other hand, are such designs only enhancing our regional appeal? I welcome this new addition to our city’s skyline…albeit juxtaposed against countless other marvels…even the Empire State building was ahead of its time and stood out like a sore thumb, but it solely defines the City of New York.
Could the location of the tower be geotagged using google earth? (http://picasa.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=43896) Maybe post the site plan? A more precise location would aid in discussing the merits of the tower. Also a typical floor plan of the tower would be helpful.
Major transformation?????seriously this building doesn’t strike much appeal & im sure Architects can come up with better designs with character.Take a cue from modern cities like Singapore or Hong Kong please.
alas! there is a new building meaning more guys with colour moving into upper hill….i wonder what all this guys will need….for sure they will have to eat somewhere…..i should find where to set up a restaurant in the area.
wow, how long to see it? They should have made it @least 30storey
hmmm.. but thats only a picture.. and will we have the budget for that?
WOW!
Hmmm, we can rightly call that speculative citizen journalism don’t you think?
I like the Coca-Cola Plaza…classy building…understated elegance! Not to mention its environmentally friendly features and conduice working atmosphere!
Got the
The building may look a bit innovative but could it have been done better? i find an expressionless building, wanting to display glamour but too shy to go full throttle. Triad should look around and come up with inspiring structures that explains and interpret Kenya and Africa generally in its natural perspective. From
here i will begin to praise our architecture for great work done. we dont want buildings here in Nairobi that are similar to concrete jungles of Chicago and expressionless and tired structures of Singapore. Lets express and inspire ourselves with the examples ampitheatre of KICC.
There is huge need for high quality office space in Nairobi, but there is also a need to come up with a building that reflect where Kenya and Nairobi want to stand for, now, in these times. Especially on this location. Nairobi needs a building that shows strength and unique-ness, a building that can be the illustration of the emancipation of the continent, the country and the city, a building that lasts long, which is sustainable (eco) and can be a landmark for the city. This building is just an illustration what is not needed; copying shapes from the past in a dull way. This building shows money-power and no grace, shows the copycat culture and no innovation, shows lazyness and no spirit. Please follow the international developments and borrow from the good trends and not from the short sighted developers; there a so many better alternatives to lean towards.
If you have been following the international developments in architecture, in high rise and in development then you can only conclude that this building has a very strong reference to what was being build some 20 years ago in Europe and the America’s (and people are now trying to think of methods to tear them down for being boring and useless). In Asia they build this kinda structures en masse just because it is relatively cheap and risk-free but there it is being calculated on a 15 or 20 year depreciation and to be broken down afterwards and in Kenya it might be calculated on that same terms, but then not broken down. So we will be stuck with it. We can only hope that a forrest of better buildings will take it out of sight asap.
very true its a pity they are even allowed to carry out any architectural work
UAP Towers soaring into the Nairobi skyline.
Have you ever wondered why Kenyan buildings have never been featured in magazines like architecture record, dezeen, home design etc?? It is because of such buildings. Zero innovation. This I will agree with the first comment it is an ugly building and doesn’t contribute anything to Nairobi’s skyline!!!!! We cannot compare great architects like FLW (my muse) to the architects who did this. We keep talking about sustainable design and designing suitably for our climate and yet we still get such disastrous buildings coming up. we should have a checklist with council that meets at least bare minim of designing suitably for the tropics. Also doing pigeon holes looking windows is a no no!!i may be late to the comments of this building but I was researching on my thesis in masters of architecture: environmental building science and came across this article. It is a good thing I am researching on retrofitting for environmental suitability and this will be the number one building that should be retrofitted. Other buildings in other countries were controversial but excellent in their own ways and that is why in Nairobi’s skyline people still refer to KICC as the skyline…why is it that white people have the best buildings in our country?? we as architects need to do better!!!