Kenyans adopt A-frame house design to save on construction cost
A-frame house design is among the new innovations Kenyans are quickly adopting to save on construction costs.
Due to the rising costs of building supplies like metals and cement in recent years, it has become more expensive to construct homes.
And as the cost of living continues to grow, Kenyans are swiftly adopting new ideas, including A-frame house designs.
Kenyans increasingly choose various cost-saving measures, including altering home designs and implementing new building technology, among others.
A distinctive feature of the home’s architecture is its triangular frame, which gives the structure an A-shaped appearance.
Real estate experts state that building a house is cheaper given the number of materials needed during the construction process.
Speaking to a local news outlet, Arnania Ogutu, an architect from Nairobi, revealed that the simplicity of the design saves costs when building houses.
“In most cases, an A-frame house doesn’t have interior walls dividing the house since houses are typically open spaces.
“Building interior walls of a house can be expensive, and you can imagine how much money you’ll save if you don’t budget for firing the bricks and cement for the interior walls,” he said.
He did, however, note that some homeowners choose inside barriers to distinguish various housing spaces. This could cause the price to increase slightly, he claimed.
A-frame homes are often constructed using steel and wood as the primary building materials. The sides of the home can then be covered with roofing materials like sheet iron.
A one- or two-bedroom home may cost Ksh2 million or more, depending on the area. The price, however, varies according to the size and type of materials utilized in the house.
Another reason why many home builders favor the A-frame design over other conventional home designs is that it is simpler to construct and requires less time to complete.
“Due to the distinctive shape of an A-frame, the structure is simply the same shape framed repeatedly down the length of the cabin or house.
“Often referred to as an extrusion structure, this iterative framing process allows for faster construction time,” explained Den, a global architecture firm, on its website.
The A-frame design is also gaining popularity in the Kenyan market as it offers room for creativity as a homeowner can play around with the open space.
In addition, the houses are pleasing because of the natural light that enters the house due to the sloping wall positioning.
Notably, several developers have used iconic designs to build homes for short-term rentals, including Airbnb. House designs are also common in tourist destinations.
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