Work Sample 2

The Blueprint

State of happiness

The Hydrotherapy room

Caroline Okello takes some time out to relax at Enashipai Spa with it's architect, Mark Kibutu.

The Female Waiting Lounge where the ladies while their time away as they wait for the therapists.

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The Blueprint

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NESTLED WITHIN ITS sun-kissed gardens, the tranquil Enashipai spa does not hint at challenges it presented during construction. “Construction was tough, just like any other construction process.

Completing a project here takes much longer than in the US,” says 39 year-old Mark Kibutu, the Kenyan born but New Jersey based architect commissioned to oversee the building process. “A project like this should have taken something like eight months but took three years. The building process began towards the end of 2009 and was complete towards the end of last year,” says Mark who worked with local experts to give the spa a local touch. Having heard of his involvement in the spa industry in New York, the owners approached him to lead the local team who did not have experiences in developing a spa.

During the design process, they exchanged information via email and Skype but during construction, he would visit the site at specific milestones – about twice a year.

The pleasures of the spa include separate men’s and women’s lounges, 6 specially designed private treatment rooms, and a VIP/couples special treatment room. “This is a world class spa offering the full spa experience,” he adds. Mark is the owner and partner at 2Ki Architects, a two-partner architectural firm based in New Jersey that offers architectural and design services for hospitality, salon and spa design.

“The layout was specific to the function, circulation and aesthetics that we required. The design goal was an introverted, African chic to help us create our own relaxing escape within our environment. Once you walk through the doors, you are in a different world; even though the exterior resembles the rest of the hotel,” he says. Materials, fixtures and equipment were sourced mainly from the US, China and locally.

Part of the challenge was the team did not have much experience in the construction spas. “There was an architect who had never done a spa before, an interior designer who’s never done a spa and a spa consultant who had never actually opened a spa so it was a challenge tying them all in and letting them know that this was just like building a house – maybe a little more tricky but not as intimidating as it seems.”

One of the massage rooms at the spa.

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Contributors

The Sensorial Space, a pre-treatment area where all clients begin their journey in our spa with a foot bath ritual.

Mark who enrolled for his degree in architecture at Nairobi University before transferring to the New Jersey Institute of Technology in 1997, stumbled onto his line of work.

“Doing spas is something that fell on my laps when I got out of college. Towards the end of college I worked for a design built firm and it was a fun process. The firm’s initial projects were salons and then later, spas and then we got stuck on spas for a while. I mean, we did restaurants and

a couple of homes but it’s the spas that stuck the most.”

His primary objective was to design a first world class spa in the region and for Mark, the outcome is very close to what they sought to achieve. “In my 14 years designing spas, I would say that this is one of the more successful designs that I've been involved in.

It easily beats many of the spas that we have been awarded "spa of the year" titles over the years.

The owners are very proud of the project. It is their gem within the establishment.” H&L

The signature 'Calabash Treatment Room'. This room is tastefully designed to feel like a cave.

The Rasul, a special mud bath room...ideal for couples

Mark’s Living Truths Who inspires you? I’ve gotten to work with very good designers throughout the years so there are no particular people that inspire me. But I can name firms that do what I like.

The Rockwell Group is a good example.

Your style? Pretty much contemporary.

What’s your favourite spa treatment? I’ve designed spas for close to 14 years and done more than fifty spas and out of all that I’ve probably had four massages in my life.

I’m not a spa goer.

What are your other interests? I love golf and hanging out with 6 year old son, Njenga.

What’s your favourite place in the world? In Kenya, I love Naivasha and Nanyuki. Other than that it is Vancouver, Miami and Mexico.

Who’s your favourite artist? I don’t have a particular artist that I love. I listen to different people depending on my moods.

Favourite Food? Chapatti and green grams.

The Siyara Spa's reception area.

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PRELIMINARY CONCEPTUAL DESIGN

MOMBASA ROAD

Mombasa Road - Preliminary Conceptual Design

1.0

SUMMARY

After a careful review of the project site, we are of the opinion that the site would best be utilized as a mixed use development incorporating sales, hospitality, convention and a design center.

2.0

ALLOWABLE FLOOR AREAS

A summary of the allowable floor areas is as follows: Total site area: 17,442 SM Permissible Plot Ratio: 3 Max building area: 17,442 x 3 = 53,326 SM The Max building area is to be utilized as follows: 1. Building 1: Podium and Tower: 23,000SM 2. Building 2-7: 6 Big Box stores totaling 7,326SM or 1,221SM each.

3. Building 8: Podium and Tower: 23,000SM

3.0

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS

A. Building 1: Podium and Tower.

1. Will be utilized as a showroom and design center.

2. Will occupy first three lots from Mombasa Road.

3. Will have four story podium. Each floor should have a height of about 6M. Each podium floor should have a floor area of about 3500SM. 4. Will have a 10-story tower. Each floor should occupy about 1500SM. 5. Overall Floor Area of Building 1 = (3500x4) + (1500x10) = 29,000SM 6. The space will be utilized as follows: • Podium = 14,000SM. Assuming 10% common areas/Circulation, the available area should have a total usable area of 12,600SM which can be divided into approximately 12 large showrooms (3 per floor) approximating 1,050SM. • Tower = 15,000SM. Assuming 10% common areas/Circulation, the available area should have a total usable area of 13,500SM or about 1,350SM per floor. First 3 Floors will house smaller showroom spaces about 4No. Per floor each averaging 350SM. The top 3 Floors will be occupied by office suites, about 14 suites per floor averaging 96SM. 7. Proposed uses would be as follows: • Podium Showroom 1:Plumbing Fixtures, • Podium Showroom 2:Lighting Fixtures, • Podium Showroom 3:Household Appliances/ cookers/fridges/dishwashers/ • Podium Showroom 4:Carpets, Floor Finishes, • Podium Showroom 5:Fabrics/Draperies/ Upholstery/window coverings, • Podium Showroom 6:Tile/ floor and Wall, • Podium Showroom 7:Door/ Window hardware, • Podium Showroom 8:Art Showroom, • Podium Showroom 9:Wall Coverings/ wall paper/ Paint 372 Broad St. Suite 4, Bloomfield NJ 07003 • telephone: 201.604.3239 • fax: 201.604.3669 w w w. 2 k i a r c h i t e c t s . c o m

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Mombasa Road - Preliminary Conceptual Design

• Podium Showroom 10:Electronics/ stereo equipment/ televisions/ • Podium Showroom 11:Kitchen cabinetry/Closets • Podium Showroom 12:Household Accessories Smaller showrooms will house similar uses but for those requiring smaller spaces. These tenants will typically fewer lines or will be more specialized. It is anticipated that the retailers will only carry minimum stocks at their showrooms. The offices will house related professionals such as architects, Interior Designers, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Interior Decorators and so forth.

B. Building 2-7: Big Box Stores 1. The Big Box stores will individually occupy plots 4-9 from Mombasa Road respectively.

2. Stores will total about 1221SM each and will have a maximum of two floors.

3. Although individual buildings they should be designed to appear as part of the entire development.

4. Proposed uses may be as follows: • Big Box 1: Household/ Commercial Furniture Showroom • Big Box 2: Stone Yard. Marble and Granite. Sales and Fabrication.

• Big Box 3: Building Materials Supply • Big Box 4: Lumber yard. Rough and Finished timber/ Doors/ Windows • Big Box 5: Building equipment sales and Rentals • Big Box 6: Outdoor/Garden Furniture, Plantings and Landscaping 5. Adequate parking to be provided for each including delivery and loading areas.

C. Building 8: Convention/Conference Center and Hotel 1. Will be designed as a convention/Conference Center with boutique Hotel.

2. Building 8 will occupy the final three plots.

3. Will have four story podium. Each floor should have a height of about 6M. Each podium floor should have a floor area of about 3500SM. 4. Will have a 6 floor tower. Each floor should occupy about 1500SM 5. Overall Floor Area of Building 1 = (3500x4) + (1500x6) = 23,000SM 6. The space will be utilized as follows: • Podium = 14,000SM. Assuming 10% common areas/Circulation, the available area should have a total usable area of 12,600SM or 3150SM per floor. First floor could have 1500SM convention space, 1 restaurant, 1 bar, reception/ waiting areas, hotel offices, other necessary services. 2nd Floor should have conference facilities of assorted sizes, dining room, 1 restaurant, 1 bar and ballroom. 3rd floor will house day spa, beauty salon, additional conference/ meeting rooms, etc. 4th floor will be the club floor accessible only to hotel guests with gymnasium, private bar/dining area, guest lounge and so forth.

• Tower = 9,000SM. Will be entirely occupied by hotel guest rooms. Should have swimming pool and pool bar on the roof. This are will be able to comfortably accommodate 150 hotel guest rooms.

Entire building will have a modern design with plenty of glass and steel. Underground (2 levels if necessary) parking will be provided below the two large buildings while on ground parking can serve the big box stores.

372 Broad St. Suite 4, Bloomfield NJ 07003 • telephone: 201.604.3239 • fax: 201.604.3669 w w w. 2 k i a r c h i t e c t s . c o m

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Mombasa Road - Preliminary Conceptual Design

4.0

DESIGN CONCEPTS

Image 1: Perspective - Msa Road View

Image 2: Perspective View

372 Broad St. Suite 4, Bloomfield NJ 07003 • telephone: 201.604.3239 • fax: 201.604.3669 w w w. 2 k i a r c h i t e c t s . c o m

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Mombasa Road - Preliminary Conceptual Design

Image 3: Perspective View - Hotel

Image 4: Perspective View

372 Broad St. Suite 4, Bloomfield NJ 07003 • telephone: 201.604.3239 • fax: 201.604.3669 w w w. 2 k i a r c h i t e c t s . c o m

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Mombasa Road - Preliminary Conceptual Design

Image 5: Perspective View

Image 6: Perspective View

372 Broad St. Suite 4, Bloomfield NJ 07003 • telephone: 201.604.3239 • fax: 201.604.3669 w w w. 2 k i a r c h i t e c t s . c o m

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PREVIOUS MAPLE AVE. ELEVATION

PREVIOUS REAR ELEVATION

REVISED MARKET STREET ELEVATION

REVISED REAR ELEVATION

PREVIOUS MARKET STREET ELEVATION

REVISED MARKET STREET ELEVATION