ARCHITECTURE
Planning Systems Services Ltd Four Decades of Creativity Planning Systems Services Limited, better known simply as PLANNING, is one of the biggest names on the Kenyan architectural map. CR sought to understand from Management the journey the practice has travelled over the last four decades. Jim Archer - Founding Partner and Chairman
Trevor Andrews - Founding Partner and Director
Mumo Musuva - Managing Director
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R: You are approaching your 40th Anniversary. Please sum up the highlights of PLANNING of your decorated architectural journey. PLANNING: PLANNING had humble beginnings! Our offices were a narrow balcony in a car repair workshop in the Industrial area! PLANNING had one client Starehe Boys Centre - as well as two excellent personal track records from years in Uganda. A major breakthrough was winning of the Lower Kabete Lakeview Housing Competition, with Nairobi Homes as clients. PLANNING’S appointment for phase I of Kayole low income housing, for Kenya Building Society, followed. Then came a request from the Government of Kenya for PLANNING to extend State Lodge Sagana in preparation for a visit by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Starehe Boys Centre became an excellent introduction to Terry Childs of Braeburn Schools, with whom PLANNING has worked ever since. PLANNING then began to create work. The Australian High Commission on Riverside Drive emerged. Together with Quantity Surveyor John Marlee, PLANNING identified a dormant I.C.I.P.E. site for development. Barclays Bank provided construction finance; it worked out well as did a similar arrangement with Williamson House on Nairobi Hill. PLANNING then received National Awards for Lakeview Estate and the Australian High Commission. Fedha Towers, Windsor Golf and Country Club Hotel and Lonrho House followed in quick succession – strongly contrasting styles of design; the
Victorian Windsor and the ultra-modern Lonrho. PLANNING developed the Pamoja Shell of Steel, a rapid building concept, resulting in their International Award in Berlin 2002. By then, PLANNING was conscious of the buildup of rubbish and neglect of Nairobi’s rivers. The Community Cooker and Nairobi INTERVENTION emerged as PLANNING’s concerned response. Both have won numerous National and International awards and funds, with iNTERVENTION and Kipande Road emerging at MIPIM as second equal in the world in their Major Projects Award in 2009. PLANNING continues to strive to deliver quality design on budget and on time. What is the difference between PLANNING of 2016 and PLANNING of 20-30 years ago? The great difference is of course, the entry of the computer and demise of soft lead pencil. Also the dominance of email and the digital age! (Not, the founding Partners contend, always to the advantage of the quality of the built product!). PLANNING’s early years had two Partners and two to three staff; now there are over 60 working at PLANNING House. The Practice holds 26 National and 19 International awards for excellence in architecture. The new generation of Directors is taking over from Jim Archer and Trevor Andrews – both of whom are very happy in their new support roles. Describe the changing landscape on the architectural sector and how PLANNING has adapted to June 2016