Building Engineering magazine issue 13

ZWL $50. 0 0

BUILDING EN GINE E RIN G

H OM E A N D O F FIC E I IS SU E 1 3 I 2 0 2 0

Bathroom Boutique’s Byo New Home Read about it! Page 10.

18

Kitchen Island Designs.

37

Low Cost Building Material

ZIMBABWE GROWING TO NEW HEIGHTS

CONTACT BULAWAYO • Location:4 Ipswich Road CONTACT BULAWAYO Fife St Ext, Belmont • Location:4 Ipswich Road Fife / • Phone:+263 9 64249 St Ext, Belmont 78566 • Phone:+263 9 64249 / 78566 • Mobile:+263 782 787 966 • Mobile:+263 782 787 966 CONTACT CONTACTWATERFALLS WATERFALLS • Location:3 Induna,Induna, S. Mazarodze, • Location:3 S. MazaW/alls rodze, W/alls ••Phone:+263 8677006010 Phone:+263 8677006010 • Mobile:+263 782 740 014 / 15

• Mobile:+263 782 740 014 / 15

Toilet Suites PAGE 2 PAGE 2

Built in baths

Basins

CONTACT MSASA • Location:1 FeliceCONTACT Ave / Mutare Rd, MSASA • Location:1 Felice AveMsasa / Mutare • Phone:+263 4 480083 / 94 Rd, Msasa Mobile:+263 771 415 592/ 94 ••Phone:+263 4 480083

• Mobile:+263 771 415 592

East Wing, Ground Floor, Block 5, Celestial Park, Borrowdale, Harare Telephone: +263 - 712221207 Email: sales@thesteelbuildingco.co.zw Website: www.steelbuild.co.zw @Agristructures/Superstructures

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CONTENTS COVER FEATURE

ON THE COVER

10

KITCHEN ISLAND DESIGNS

18

STONE CLADDING

22

HOUSE FEATURE

26

PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN

34

LOW COST BUILDING MATERIAL

40

WALL ART

46

FRONT OFFICE DESIGN

50

WATER HARVESTING

52

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Wow – I get so excited when I read the first drafts of the Building Engineering magazine.

It just seems to be getting better and better!! Well done to all the Team, and to you, our valued readers, for all your feedback and engagement.

In this great edition we offer valuable information and insight into some very relevant issues facing us.

The article on RAIN WATER HARVESTING – is a must read as we face possible critical water shortages. Collection systems can be as simple as collecting rain in a barrel, to very elaborate and more costly systems, but a viable, eco-friendly way of supplying households and businesses with much-needed water. Get your system in place now!

Another very hot topic at the moment is PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN – making use of the site/location, climate and building materials eg. windows, walls and floors. New building designs enable us to collect passive solar energy, store it, transmit and release the energy thereby reducing heating and cooling bills. Direct solar energy is an additional resource. How could you add passive solar to your home?

Have a look at BATHROOM BOUTIQUE’S new Bulawayo home. What’s impressive is that this was built reusing about 70% of the concrete from the old building, thereby benefiting the environment and resources, and reducing construction costs. Whilst waiting to collect your order, why not enjoy their friendly snack bar?

MAGAZINE CONTRIBUTORS

Publisher: Address: Tel:

Afrique Infra Rapport P/L 89a Hawick road, Borrowdale, Harare 0242 886 188 0777 036 581 0772 932 805

Email: buildingengineeringmedia@gmail.com Marketing Tendai D. Satumba Arthur Mungule Design & Layout Building Engineering Magazine Photography Building Engineering Magazine

Our modern HOUSE ON A HILL comes with a pool accessed directly from inside the house! It can be used all year round as it was designed with a sunroof and aluminium foldable doors for temperature control which gives the feeling of being outdoors, yet indoors. Imagine a mid-winter swim whilst admiring the magnificent views of the valley and surrounding areas?

We also feature great information and suggestions for LOW COST BUILDING MATERIALS, adding a classy KITCHEN ISLAND, FRONT OFFICE DESIGNS and don’t forget the importance of your WALL ART - plus SO much more!

I hope you will love this edition as much as I did! Have you subscribed to get your edition of Building Engineering magazine? You don’t want to miss one!

Keep Going Greener!

Laurie.

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OUT OF AFRICA

READY TO COMPLETE YOUR HOME No home is quite complete without a real fire. And there is no fire quite like a Jetmaster.

Since 1951, Jetmaster has been conceptualising, designing and around the world.

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BATHROOM BOUTIQUE’S BULAWAYO NEW HOME

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C

onveniently located about 3km just outside Bulawayo’s central business district is the new home of Bathroom Boutique in Belmont, Bulawayo. The recently developed warehouse comes with ample and secure parking space for clients to buy as well load building material.

The new Bathroom Boutique branch saw the demolition of a building from 50’s turning the place into a center of sorts for building material ranging from plumbing, lighting, sanitary fixtures to ironmongery.

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Project contractor made use of the concrete from the old building where the concrete was recycled and used for the new project – a growing trend in Green building using about 70% concrete from the old building.

Reusing concrete can be a great way to reduce construction costs whilst also providing benefits to the environment as recycled concrete not only stays out of landfills but also replaces material that otherwise was to be mined and transported for use.

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The imposing brick and steel warehouse is made more aesthetically pleasing by the green facade design of the building as seen on the entrance of the building. Inside the branch is fully stocked with all your tiling, sanitaryware as well as a plumbing section for all your plumbing requirements. All this is well complimented by a snack bar and seating area where you can have a bite or refreshments whilst you collect your order. This is all proof of Bathroom Boutique’s over 25 years of commitment to excellence and service delivery.

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Main contractor - Peta Construction Subcontractor – Zeus Trading Steel structure – Agristructures Fencing – Tesa PAGE 14

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STEEL FABRICATION EXPERTS

ZEUS

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KITCHEN ISLAND DESIGNS

I

f you’re considering sprucing up, Below are a few ideas to consider for your redesigning your kitchen or you’re right kitchen island; in the middle of a building/renovation project and you’re wondering what options you have for that kitchen space then The slim kitchen island consider this your ultimate guide to kitchen island designs. You may be dealing with cramped kitchen cabinets or lacking ample kitchen counter space to fully utilize your gadgets such as your coffee maker, toaster or needing more space for that meal prep.

It is therefore no surprise today that most kitchen renovations today will include the addition of a kitchen island.

The move towards larger open plan kitchen extension has made the kitchen island to become an essential feature. It is not only the visual centerpiece in the space but it undoubtedly helps increase the kitchen’s efficiency and functionality.

The kitchen island serves several purposes from providing extra cooking prep space to even housing a sink and other appliances. When it comes to the kitchen island you can afford to go wild on this one with a bolder finish or color or perhaps an even more expensive finish which would normally be a prohibitive thing to do for an entire room.

There is a vast pool of options when it comes to material and design for the kitchen island. You can go for marble, granite, exotic timber or even reclaimed timber such as railway sleepers all depending on your desired finish. Whatever you do remember to include kitchen island lighting as this undoubtedly turns a good looking unit into a showstopper!

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There’s a huge misconception out there that you need huge kitchen space in order to fit in that kitchen island. A simple tongue and groove paneling can actually produce that slim kitchen island which can even double up as a breakfast bar and a loverhanging work station.

Power up that kitchen island You may have to consider including ample power sockets in your kitchen island, these are not only essential for making use of those kitchen appliances such as your mixers or food processors but also for charging laptops or phones.

Add a few bright bar stools/ create more seating When it comes to kitchen island designs a few bright colored bar stools can have a show stopping effect in your kitchen. However acquiring new furniture can be expensive, all the more reason why you may want to hold off on splashing money on bright colored furniture pieces. If that’s the case you may want to consider furniture pieces that can easily be switched when you no longer like them. For something even less permanent, a vase of flowers will do! If your

space lacks a proper dining table or you’re looking into creating a more casual bar-seating option, adding seating to the island is an easy way to increase functionality and make the environment more social for both guests and the cook. You can even create a counter overhang to tuck in chair/bar stools when not in use.

Create more storage In addition to creating more counter space, a kitchen island is also a way to add more storage options. This is greatly beneficial if appliances are taking up more of your cabinet space or you’re simply looking for a unique way to showcase some of your appliances.

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Make it multilevel You can even add another dynamic to your kitchen island by creating variation in height of your island. Using the island for multiple purposes such as food prep or eating, will maximize the functionality of the kitchen island. For example you can have an appliance at one level like a sink or stovetop then breakfast bar on a higher tier.

Add appliances Incorporating sinks or stovetops into the surface is one way to spread the workflow throughout the kitchen but installation can tricky and may require an expert to put in place the plumbing and ventilation. Overhead venting can be expensive and you’ll have give up some space for in cabinet pipes for the sink.

What ever you’re envisioning about your dream kitchen island design, we hope this article will be of great help to you!

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www.dansdesigns.co.zw

OFFICE | SCHOOLS | KITCHENS | BEDROOMS | BATHROOMS

13 Nufield Rd, workington road, Harare Phone: +263 242 710 137 / 242 710 124 Email: sales@dansdesigns.co.zw Dans furniture group

Dan’sfurnitureGI

Dan’s furniture group

Dan’s furniture group

STONE CLADDING

I

t’s a decorative finish/covering made up of real or artificial stone and can be installed on walls made of either concrete or steel.

Materials used for stone cladding can be natural stones like granite, slate or artificial material that looks like natural stone and are light in weight like veneer with a concretetype base that facilitates its installment.

Natural Stone options

Many types of stone are excellent cladding materials. These are generally divided into three geological groups; sedimentary rocks such as limestone and sandstone, metamorphic rocks such as slate and marble and lastly igneous rocks such as granite. The most common type of natural stone used for facade cladding are The major benefits of stone cladding are granite, limestone and sandstone, however that it’s relatively maintenance free, strong, marble and slate can also be used. durable and aesthetically pleasing. Stone cladding can be available in a variety of In selecting the best type of stone to use, architects textures, colors and patterns. It can also aid in must consider a number of factors including insulation or maintaining temperature of your appearance, intended use, size of the project home or office. Stone cladding is a relatively and perhaps most importantly the composite that inexpensive decor trend that’s gaining a lot of will provide adequate strength and durability. traction.

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Granite is a course grained stone that is made up of interlocking crystals. It is one of the most widely occurring stone in Zimbabwe and around the world and an extremely popular material for both interior and exterior cladding applications.

Granite is well known for its durability and permanent appearance of color and texture.

Slate: Slate is a fine-grained metamorphic stone that is a great building option for both interior and exterior stone cladding. Slate has several characteristics which makes it the material of choice such as its elegant appearance, high durability, excellent water resistance and low maintenance.

Limestone is a great option for building faces because it can be easily carved and shaped relatively easy due to its aesthetic diversity and flexibility.

There is a great variation in range of color and texture of natural stone. Texture varies from coarsley grained to finely grained and completely smooth. Bear in mind that some stone, such as limestone are susceptible to weathering.

Granite, however, tends to maintain its color and pattern for a very long time. Always consider the weathering characteristics of a particular stone before integrating it into your project.

Marble: Although Marble has a rich history, the challenges of working with marble and the continued rise of cheaper alternatives has resulted in the decline in use of marble as the facade material of choice for buildings.

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OTHER PRODUCTS

CAST STONE PRODUCTS

WALLING PRODUCTS

CEMENT PRODUCTS

BLOCKS

BRICKS

PAVERS

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60MM GREY RECTANGULAR PAVERS

80MM GREY INDUSTRIAL PAVERS

HOLLOW MAXI BRICKS

COMMON BRICKS

LOAD BEARING BRICKS

FACE BRICKS

4.5” CONCRETE BLOCKS

6’’ CONCRETE BLOCKS

9” CONCRETE BLOCKS

D SHAPE BLOCKS

CURBS

COPINGS

DRIP STONE

WINDOW SILL 0.5m

CORNER COPINGS

3m WALLING PILLAR

2.7m WALLING PILLAR

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1.5m SMOOTH PANEL

1.5m 3 PLANK PANEL

ROUGH COBBLES

SMOOTH DOUBLE COBBLES

SLABS

TILES

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LINTELS 1 - 3.5 m

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COLUMS (SPIRAL, ROUND)

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HOUSE FEATURE: HOUSE ON A HILL

O

ne of the best locations for a residence is on a hillside, from up there you can admire the entire landscape.

In this house feature, architect took advantage of the location and elevation to increase the

exterior appeal, as well as the view from the interior of the house as this establishes close dialogue with the landscape. The house was partially embedded into the slope which allowed the architects to include terraces on each level. Each level of the house offers magnificent views of the valley and surrounding areas.

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Natural stone cladding finish is a constant feature on the house which is seen on the front exterior of the house all the way into the interior of the home. The light colored exterior material of the house stands out against the landscape.

Project was also built in a way to ensure that it preserved the surrounding popular indigenous Msasa trees making the house to blend in with the landscape.

ARCHITECT - MUKAMBA ARCHITECTURAL PRACTICE MAIN CONTRACTOR - HERITAGE CONSTRUCTION ALUMINIUM SHOP FITTING - ALUMIN DESIGN STRUCTURES KITCHENS FITTED - ROMEO KITCHENS TILLING - SUPREME FLOORING

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This house feature perched on a hill on the outskirts of Harare comes with a pool connected to the home which can be accessed directly from inside the house which can be used all year round as it was designed with a sunroof and aluminum foldable doors for temperature control which gives the feeling of being outdoors yet indoors.

Even though the roof soars horizontally above the ground level, the base of the house still keeps in it grounded and connected to the land. As with the added benefit that comes with houses on a slope, all the levels of home are lit by natural light. When the built environment coexists with the natural environment as with this particular house design, it seems as if the house has grown out from The house is surrounded by concrete the site. exterior stairs create a cascading transition zone before flowing into the vegetated landscape, this is further enhanced by the staggered lighting fixtures in the stair risers.

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BUILDING A LASTING HERITAGE!!

Heritage Construction Company (Pvt) Limited is a wholly owned Zimbabwean company registered under Category ‘A’ of the Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association (ZBCA). We envision ourselves being a preferred provider of world class building and civil engineering construction services in Zimbabwe.

As a company, we are passionately committed to enhancement of the local built infrastructure by providing our varied clientele with high quality workmanship, timeously delivered at a fair cost, thereby ensuring client realisation of high value property, built for posterity.

Our organisation provides construction services to a wide spectrum covering the commercial, institutional, residential and industrial sub sectors aiming to meet the various building construction needs, on-site civil works including water and sewerage works, minor road works, parking areas and related storm water drainage.

Plot 137 Christon Bank Road, Christon Bank Office: 33 Caithness Road, Eastlea, Harare Postal Address: P.O.Box MP 920 Mount Pleasant, Harare Office VOIP: 08677103445 Mobile Phone: 0773 444 588/ 0772 238 714 Email Address: tsvetu.heritage@gmail.com

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We are a leading shopfitting company offering best service & quality products based on architectural specifications & international standards & of C.I.F.O.Z. class ‘A’ Category 10.

We specialize in: Aluminium Shopfronts, Windows, Doors Suspended Ceilings and Special Joinery, Bank Counters, Reception Counters, Display Units, Office Partitions etc.

CONTACT US 2 Joliffe Road, Southerton, Harare, Zimbabwe Tel: +263 4 660 542, 660 364, +263 4 665 150 Cell: +263 772 240 888 / +263772 244 689 Email: mcwoodshop@zol.co.zw Website: www.mcwood.co.zw

LIGHTING WORLD: HOME OF INNOVATIVE GREEN LIGHTING DESIGNS

W

With a well-equipped team to handle both projects and tenders, capable to quote and also ensure that a client’s requirements are met with the highest of standards. The team has a wealth of experience.

Lighting World is an authorized distributor for a number of outstanding manufacturers from Europe and the Far East, whilst being the sole distributor of Eglo Lighting, Luxram Lighting, Bree Lighting, Fumagalli Lighting and Leadsun Lighting products in Zimbabwe. hether it is for commercial or residential It is also an agent for other brands such as lighting, indoor or outdoor purposes, Schneider, Legrand and other Asian suppliers. providing focused, task-oriented illumination These suppliers have been carefully chosen or ambience with warmth, Lighting World to ensure that their clients get the best options is your one stop shop for all your lighting at affordable prices without compromising requirements. With a nationwide network on product quality. All the products in stock of three stores, two in Harare and one in adhere to the latest worldwide as well as Bulawayo and being in operation since local requirements.

2011, Lighting World has become the go to place for all your lighting requirements. Of huge interest is Lighting World’s Lighting World offers a wide range of light distribution of Leadsun products, Leadsun products, lamps and lighting accessories. is the world leading expert on state-of-theThe range of products include indoor lighting, art LED solar powered streetlights whose outdoor lighting, commercial lighting, solar huge demand continues to soar due to the lighting, traffic lighting plus a complete range incessant power cuts. They have an extensive of lamps and electrical sockets, switches and range of products, with some having battery circuit breakers. life lasting over 8 years. Lighting World has already supplied and installed many units to The head office located in Msasa, Harare various councils as well as to corporates. has a well-designed 1000 square meter showroom and warehouse, displaying Whatever your lighting requirements are, over 1 500 electrical and lighting products you’re guaranteed that Lighting World making Lighting World by far the largest can deliver quality products at competitive wholesaler and retailer of lighting products products without going through the hassle in Zimbabwe. The other two branches in of sourcing lighting from South Africa or Avondale and Bulawayo are well stocked to Europe! showcase products of the highest standard.

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Bulawayo Branch

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PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN

P

assive solar design takes makes use of a building’s location/ site, climate, and materials to minimize energy use. A welldesigned passive living space first reduces cooling and heating requirements by making use of energy-efficient strategies and then meeting the remaining load requirements in whole or partly with solar energy.

It is important to note that energy efficiency is the most cost-effective strategy for reducing heating and cooling bills before you add solar features to your new office or home design or even an existing building. You may have to consider working with building professionals experienced in energy-efficient designs.

Concept of Passive Solar Design The main concept of passive solar design is that the building materials such as windows, walls and floors are able to collect solar energy, store it, transmit and release the energy. This energy is then used in winter for warmth and used to reflect/reject the heat during summer.

Capturing heat Harnessing the sun’s power is useful in working towards becoming more energy efficient because its energy is free and in endless supply.

The simplest method of passive solar heating is sunlight shining through windows. This would mean large, sun-facing windows. When the sun’s heat streams directly through one or more of the large sun facing windows (aperture) this is known as direct gain. The greater the area of the glass, the higher the gain that is why passive solar designs are generally characterized by large windows. These windows are typically double glazed to ensure that the building not only traps the heat but retains it when the Sun goes down.

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Indirect gain means that the sun’s energy is captured by a window or wall that doesn’t directly lead into a living area.

This is meant to trap the energy and gradually release the heat to rest of the living areas through conduction, convection and radiation which are the 3 modes of heat transfer through solids, liquids and gases. The most common example of indirect gain is the Trombe wall and consists of a window that admits light onto a thick dark colored wall. The wall heats up very gradually and stores the solar energy that it releases slowly into the house for some hours afterwards, usually in the evening and at night. In some designs the wall is made of pipes in which water sits soaking up the energy and gradually releasing it into the house - water has a very high specific heat capacity implying that each litre of water is capable of storing a very large amount of water.

When it comes to isolated gain, the building has a sun trap of some built in, which maybe a solarium, conservatory or greenhouse.

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Storing heat As the sun does not shine consistently from the same inclination all the time and everyday passive solar living spaces need to store up the heat then slowly release it in the cooler evenings, nights and early mornings. This requires large walls or floors with a high thermal mass such as brick, stone or concrete. Thermal mass is usually painted black or dark colors so that it absorbs the maximum and reflects the minimum energy falling upon it. Not only walls and floors have a high thermal mass but even a brick fire place.

Ideally, thermal mass will release the captured heat gradually for 6-10 hours. It is therefore important that thermal mass is insulated against heat loses so it doesn’t the captured heat too quickly.

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Keeping a passive solar building cool in summer is just as important as keeping it cool in winter.

The architect would need to decide which rooms will require the most heat in winter and arrange those close together so that they soak most of the heat in daytime pass it on to the other room by conduction (direct contact) and convection (air movement). It’s important to note that passive solar design principles can also be applied to already existing buildings in various ways such as increasing glazing to capture more solar energy or by simply changing the use of rooms in a different way like moving from the front rooms to the back rooms to take advantage of the winter sunlight.

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BULAWAYO 3 Cardiff Street, Blemont Bulawayo Tel/Fax: 0972703/70388 Cell: +263 712 881 464 Email: tesaadmin@tesazim.co.zw

LOW COST BUILDING MATERIAL

J

ust as the demand for low cost housing continues to grow so is the rise in innovation and use of low cost building material.

most cost effective way of building a house. They are even available in stunning designs that come as a pack or system. Prefabricated panels save on labor costs and time. They also significantly reduce on site waste removal costs and eliminate Take a look at some of the cheap cost overruns. Today’s prefabricated panels can building material options available be easily incorporated into a design tailor made today: for the home owner producing an aesthetically pleasing home which doesn’t even look prefabricated.

Prefabricated panels

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Prefabricated materials are the very first port of call if you’re keen on saving money. It is definitely one of the fastest and

Shipping Containers There has been a surge of interest in shipping containers as one of the options in cheap building material. The containers can be combined to create uniquely designed structures that can be used either as an office or home.

Whilst shipping containers are one of the most environmentally friendly low cost building material, there are a number of things to consider if you choose to use them as building material. Due to the fact that shipping containers have been on long sea voyages, rust and dents can be a concern which is why people are now opting for that ’one trip‘ container or containers that come direct from the manufacturer, these are slightly more expensive as they will be in mint condition.

Also bear in mind that living spaces made up of containers will require insulation as well transport to your construction site.

However shipping containers are still a great option when it comes to low cost building.

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Concrete Concrete has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity. It is the chic, go-to material for those looking for that industrial style look home. Concrete comes with a lot of advantages, such as durability, sound suppression, weatherproof, insulation properties as well as being fireproof. All these properties help save money on utilities as well as insurance, making concrete one of the best alternatives in low cost building. It can also be left in its natural state or simply painted.

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Iron and industrial steel Iron beams can serve a dual purpose when it comes to home construction that is by forming a base structure for the house as well as providing that industrial chic decorative appearance. Steel is great for residential construction because of several qualities such as that it doesn’t warp, rot, split or crack. It also lasts a very long time and is also a great option for roofing as it lasts longer than the other types of roofing.

Traditional Brick Bricks are a relatively cheaper construction option. It looks better for far longer than many other construction materials. The only slight disadvantage is that they are labor intensive to install and require a professional bricklayer. In the long run bricks are cheap to maintain and aesthetically pleasing for a long time.

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We are a World Class company that specialises in steel works and welding, construction, civil engineering and suppliers of tailored security solutions to homes, businesses and public sector organisations throughout Southern Africa.

We are committed to providing state of the art solutions to all of our customers.

With a track record of over a decade we are known for providing: New Property Developments | Steel Structures and Balustrading | All designer gararge doors | All Capentry and Joinery such as walk in closets, kitchens and cabinets | Ceiling designs | Renovations | Landscaping and Pool Decking

CONTACT US add. Suite 8, 1st Floor Bervic Mall, Eastlea Shopping Centre tel. +263 242 746 294/5 mob. +263 778 529 885 sales. +263 714 714 245-8 email. info@otekazimprojects.com

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WALL ART

T

rying to figure out how to hang a piece of art in the right position is one of the age-old conundrums of interior design.

It is common knowledge that an improperly placed piece of art sticks out like a sore thumb, this is why it is important that you should get it right. There are a few basic rules to getting that beautiful piece of art correctly hung.

This is why we have come up with the ultimate guide to nailing it once and for all! The following will be a detailed step by step guide to ensuring that you not only position your piece of art correctly but it will also help you to find the perfect position to place the artwork.

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Get the right size artwork!

To start with, this is probably the most important rule, that is you have to get the appropriate size of artwork for the place that you want to place it. A piece of art that’s too big or too small will definitely end up looking out of place.

If you’re going to place the wall art directly behind a piece of furniture - like a painting over a sofa - then you have an easy task ahead.

Ideally, your sofa should be slightly longer than the piece of art on either side. The artwork should be generally two-thirds the size of your sofa.

However when it comes to hanging a piece of art on a standalone wall, it becomes a slightly different ballgame and this will require a little bit of math to set it up in a picture-perfect position.

Conventional wisdom states that the artwork should take up about 4/7 of the wall on which it is to be placed. Start by measuring the length and width of the wall, then multiply the length and width by 0,57(4/7).

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wall art to make a template to use, make a mark on the template to show where the wire or hook will be. By placing the paper template on the wall it will give you a chance to stand back and see how the wall art will look like from further back. You can then make adjustments from this, that you see fit.

Once you’re happy with the placement of the template you can then go ahead and place the actual wall art piece.

Gallery walls The challenge with setting up a gallery wall is that you have to come up with an arrangement that is aesthetically pleasing hence why people generally tend away from arranging one. When it comes to arranging a gallery wall, the key all lies in how you start. Once you have all the pieces in place, and have decided on a particular arrangement start by setting up the pieces on the floor so that you can easily make changes.

You have to choose a center piece and work

Ensure artwork placement is in sync with the room The rule of thumb was generally to place the artwork at eye level but this will definitely vary from one individual to the next one depending on their height. Nowadays it is now widely accepted that the center of the artwork should be generally 57 inches from the floor. To find the center of the artwork it is a matter of simply dividing the length by 2. Then measure the distance from the picture wire or nail hook to the top of the frame.

Subtract that distance from half of the artwork’s height and add that result to 57. Whatever the final figure you get, measure that distance up the wall to find where you should put your nail and mark it. However maths will never be a substitute for common sense in interior design. Whilst you can make use of these figures as a guide, you can still make necessary adjustments. You can adjust the artwork if see that it is leaving a slightly larger space.

Once you have selected the perfect spot for your artwork, you can go ahead and place your wall art, this may require two people for the job depending on the size of your artwork. You will require a piece of paper and tape to trace your

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Office no 26b Kugonachete Building Helensvale Borrowdale Harare 0773 798 981 0242 861838 HEATING MANUAL THERMOSTAT , HOSPITAL VINYL SHEETING, TILING, LAMINATES, CARPERTS, UNDERFLOOR HEATING SYSTEMS, CLADDING & BATHROOM WATER PROOFING PAGE 49

FRONT OFFICE DESIGN

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he reception area of a business is the first impression that clients or guests get from a company, it is therefore important that the area correctly conveys your brand and culture.

Designing the right office layout space is an important aspect when communicating brand and culture to visitors. The front office reception area should be an extension of your value system and what you are building. It therefore needs to be carefully designed into a space that is modern, functional and stylish, whilst at the same time projecting professionalism. For companies that welcome visitors on a regular basis, the reception area really is the public face of the company.

In the past, visitors and clients waited in a large space with a receptionist’s desk and comfortable seating area before entering a business’s working space.

Nowadays, more and more companies particularly startups are doing away with the reception area altogether by combining workspace with the reception.

Here are a few things to consider for your front office design;

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Color theme

The best material

Since the front office is an extension your brand you may to want to consider just using the same colors for your front office as with your corporate colors. This will cause visitors to relate to your brand as they visualize these colors. However in some cases the corporate colors may not be ideal for the front office in which case you may always opt for neutral colors. Light neutrals generally blend well with a wide variety of furnishing options. You can also use the same color combination for your flooring as well as your wall. Remember you can also inject some color into the space through wall art, pillows or rugs.

When it comes to selecting the best material for the main furnishings for your front office space there are three things to consider which are durability, comfortability and visual appeal.

Although you have to consider your budget you are better off going for more expensive material than one time shiny cheap material as you would want your reception area to be visually appealing for a long time. If you want something that will look and feel good for a longer period, leather is a great option.

Accessories

Consider small touches that would add comfort Lighting to your client such as a coat rack or space to put a wet umbrella. Ensure that there is enough If you are fortunate enough to have streams of surface space such as coffee tables for a client natural light flowing into your waiting area then to set down a beverage, folder or handbag. You by all means capitalize on it! Keep shades or can also include some reading material on the window blinds to a minimum. If you are in a tables. darker place, make use of soft lighting such as table lamps or other light fixtures. Use LED Technology lighting for a more natural feel. Make sure there is plenty of light in your space to ensure that your Sitting and waiting whilst doing nothing is not visitor can easily read and feel relaxed. only boring but also unproductive, consider mounting up a television in your waiting area or even granting your guest Wi-Fi access.

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WATER HARVESTING

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owadays we mainly depend on secondary sources of water like dams, lakes, groundwater or rivers whilst the primary water source is rainfall. Water harvesting is the capturing of rain water, where it falls, runs-off, catchment etc. It is direct rainfall collection, this water can be stored for later use and recharged into groundwater again. Traditionally this involves harvesting the rain from a roof, the rain will collect in gutters that channel the water in downspouts and then into some storage facility or tank. In essence, water harvesting means we recognize the rain’s value and try to utilize it when it falls. The purity of the water carefully collected from the roof is one of its most amazing attribute; if properly collected, it ranks up there with distilled water for the absence of impurities.

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Rainwater collection systems can be as simple as collecting rain in a barrel or as elaborate as harvesting rainwater into large cisterns to supply your entire household demand. Rainwater harvesting is becoming a viable way of supplying households and businesses with water.

The green building movement has also resulted in the continued rise of rainwater harvesting.

Many rainwater harvesting systems have a way of discarding the first run of water from the roof to avoid twigs, leaves or bird droppings from contaminating the collected water in a cistern.

Preventing this debris will also ensure that pumps won’t clog or contaminate the water.

You can use rainwater anywhere you use tap water. To be using drinking water to flush our toilets and water our lawns is wasteful and irresponsible especially in the light of water shortages across the country. Rainwater collection is a way to ‘green’ your home and lessen your environmental footprint.

Benefits of rainwater harvesting

Some of the for uses of rainwater can be;

- Rainwater is a relatively clean and absolutely free source of water.

- You will have total control of your water supply.

- Rainwater is great for plants and landscaping as it is not chlorinated.

- It can be an excellent backup source of water for emergencies.

- It uses simple techniques that are easy to maintain and inexpensive.

- The system can easily be retrofitted onto an existing building or installed on a new building.

- Less harm to the environment.

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- - - - -

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There are basically three areas where rainwater can be used; - Irrigation use.

- Indoor, non potable use.

- Whole house, potable use.

Watering the lawn or garden which can be done by connecting rainwater collection system to sprinklers or irrigation images.

Refilling fountains or fish ponds.

Refilling the swimming pool.

Washing cars.

Cleaning driveways.

Using for all indoor non potable fixtures ( toilets and washing clothes ) Using for all potable needs when properly filtered and disinfected.

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Methods of collecting rainwater The principle of rainwater collecting remain the same but what only differs is the scale of the system. Methods only differ on aesthetics and effectiveness.

Barrel method This is by far the most common method which many people are familiar with it involves installing a barrel at the downspout of the gutter to collect rainwater. You can even use a recycled barrel for this method and it can be easily implemented by an individual. It easily overflows, however collection is limited by the capacity of the barrel.

‘Dry’ method This method is a variation of the barrel method but it has a larger storage. The collection pipe ‘drys’ after each rain event since it empties directly into the top of the tank. ‘Dry’ method is relatively inexpensive and easy to implement as well as maintain.

‘Wet’ method This technique involves putting in place collection pipes underground in order to connect multiple downspouts from different gutters. The rainwater will fill the underground piping and the water will rise in the vertical pipes until it fills the tank.

The downspouts and underground pipes must have water-tight connections. The elevation of the tank inlet must be below the lowest gutter on the house. Tank can be located far way from the house and the method allows rainwater to be collected from multiple gutters and downspouts.

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We offer more than bituminous products, hot asphalt mix and road rehabilita�on. We are in the business of

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