By EVELYNE WANJIKU cikueve_7@yahoo.fr
In Summary
- Lifeless jungle: Nairobi’s old buildings are disappearing at an alarming rate, robbing the city of its architectural heritage and foundation. Historians have taken note of the trend and warn that if the mindless destruction of old buildings continues, Nairobi will soon change from a beautiful city rich in aesthetics and heritage to an impersonal concrete jungle
From the days when Nairobi was nothing but a
swampy railway depot to the present day when skyscrapers pierce the sky,
a lot has changed about the city. Few people, however, know the history
behind the architectural snippets the city has to offer, which is why
there is rarely any hubris when some of the landmark buildings of
yesteryears are brought down to accommodate the capitalistic appetites
of the new Kenya.
But that should not be the case because the
architectural heritage of the city is tightly tied to its character and
history. Old pictures of Nairobi show its gradual evolution from a town
dominated by railway men, Asians, and colonialists to the thriving
business centre and seat of government that it has become in independent
Kenya.
Yet, despite this rich architectural history, old
buildings in the city are being pulled down at an alarming rate to pave
the way for gleaming structures that announce the departure of Nairobi
from its historical moorings.
For instance, Nairobi House, the first
three-storey building in Nairobi which stood at the present parking lot
that replaced Nairobi Stalls at the junction of Moi and Kenyatta
avenues, is one of the significant buildings we have lost to demolition.
The art deco houses of Parklands, Biashara Street, and Ngara are also disappearing in favour of skyscrapers.
What many seem to have conveniently forgotten is
that these old buildings represent an irreplaceable heritage that is an
important legacy of the present generation to the later ones, especially
in terms of culture, aesthetics, educational, and inspirational
benefits.
Old buildings give a sense of cultural
significance and allow us to experience architecture in a different way.
They serve as memorials, providing continuity to earlier times.
One can tell a lot about a city from the history
of its buildings, even about how a metropolis came to be. And
preservation leads to increased dialogue among children, parents, and
grandparents regarding our ancestors and history.
For instance, from studying the history of the
railway and its Nairobi headquarters and the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi,
one is able to tell a lot about early life in Nairobi as the city is
said to have developed around these two points. There is no
understanding the history of Nairobi without knowing the history of the
railway.
Old buildings also accentuate a city’s culture and
character by keeping its distinguishing features. It is not Rome until
you see the Colloseum, it is not the Vatican without St Peter’s
Cathedral, neither is it Paris without the Eiffel Tower. Such is the
significance of characteristic buildings to a city.
It is easy to duplicate the appearances of other
cities by replacing old buildings with modern ones, but this means that
little is left to remind people of the history of their city, and the
city lacks any unique characteristics.
Historical preservation of buildings is a growing
movement and adaptive reuse of those buildings is becoming popular. One
only needs to tour cities like Hong Kong, Rome, and Cairo to appreciate
the great charm and value that historic conservation of buildings can
give to a city.
Hong Kong has been called the “most thrilling city
on the planet”, partly due to its superb modern skyline, where modern
buildings adapt to the needs of the densely populated city. Citizens
here have recognised the need for their heritage and have preserved and
protected it. A historic walking tour of Hong Kong or Rome is an amazing
experience that emphasises the need for historical preservation.
The efforts of these cities have not been in vain.
Real estate agents in the old towns use their historical district
status as a marketing tool to sell properties.
Preservation of towns and buildings can also result in a positive economic impact for tourism. Properly maintained historical buildings or towns that are aesthetically cohesive and well promoted can be an important tourist attraction and, in that way, attract revenue from visitors.
Preservation of towns and buildings can also result in a positive economic impact for tourism. Properly maintained historical buildings or towns that are aesthetically cohesive and well promoted can be an important tourist attraction and, in that way, attract revenue from visitors.
In addition, historical preservation of buildings
also comes with educational benefits similar to those derived from any
historical preservation effort. Old buildings become a source of
inspiration and technological advances, a record of our communities and
us.
One cannot downplay the nostalgia that comes with
looking at where one has come from. The feeling is almost comparable
with the one we get when we look at old family photos or visit a place
we have not been to in a long time.
While striving to preserve historical structures,
it is also important to maintain the structure for continual use, so
buildings are not just museum pieces but function as useful assets to
the community.
Through adaptive reuse, the integrity of the
building is not compromised, its economic value does not go down, and
the space is not wasted.
A good example in Nairobi is Kipande House. Its
present occupants, Kenya Commercial Bank, have renovated the inside of
the building into a beautiful banking hall. Kipande House has maintained
its ancient look on the outside, but changed the inside to meet the
modern needs of its occupants.
This 1913 structure is gazetted as a monument,
alongside the old PC’s office (now the Nairobi Gallery), the McMillan
Memorial Library, and the National Archives.
Another example of how buildings can be preserved
is Lonrho House. The 20-floor structure was founded on a three-storey
1940s building called Consolidated House, once the headquarters of the
Standard newspapers. It consisted of two main three-storey blocks and
two separate one-storey units on the side, and its tenants refused to
move as they had leases expiring beyond the construction date.
The contractors decided to start building around it.
But the team had difficulties with conceptual
design and thus structural engineer I. B. Patel was invited to offer his
two cents’ worth. The problems included founding the office tower
between the existing structures, putting up a five-metre grid along the
length of the building dictated by the existing structures, and Nairobi
City Council building and planning regulations regarding plot ratio,
plot coverage, and light angles (based on adjacent buildings).
Today, Lonrho House stands tall as Nairobi’s
flagship structure in terms of technical flexibility. The areas
encompassing the retained building are remodelled as shops with
self-contained lavatories and stores incorporated in the redeveloped
area on which the spine of the office tower is founded.
The entrance to the lift and the main staircase
were deliberately kept small. The width of the plot is 31 metres and the
two pre-existing buildings are 12 metres and 14 metres wide, thus
dictating the office space floor at 12 metres wide.
The fact that a highly complex design was required
to solve many problems imposed by the existing structure will quickly
be forgotten by the general public. However, this construction, despite
being tasking, gave direction to how old buildings can be preserved
within new ones.
It gives an option to building owners who feel a
need to replace their small historical buildings with taller, modern
ones, and shows that we can have our cake and eat it, too. We do not
have to lose our heritage for us to have bigger space, modern buildings,
or skyscrapers.
The Scott Kirk Church in St Andrews Cathedral is
also a good pointer to how buildings can be preserved. When the
expansion of Uhuru Highway got underway, it was evident that the church
would have to be demolished. However, the church leaders approached
British Liberal leader David Steel and minister of St Andrew’s, Nairobi,
during the Mau Mau emergency for funds to move it. David Steel was the
moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1974-75
and played a prophetic and decisive role in the life of the church, both
in Africa and Scotland.
Scott Kirk Church was moved, stone by stone, from
across the road to its present location, and it looks just like it did
when it stood at its original location. It is presently a Lutheran
address.
The historical and cultural foundations of the
city should be preserved as a living part of our community life and
development in order to give a sense of orientation to its residents.
Without this, residents will continue to treat the city with apathy and
have no emotional attachment to it.
Buildings that are of major significance require
thorough historical research and knowledgeable attention. Such a
property is worthy of preservation or restoration.
The National Museums of Kenya has taken the
initiative to list and gazette old buildings that are of historical
significance to the city. There is an established Architectural Heritage
Advisory Committee that takes suggestions on buildings that should be
preserved in Nairobi.
Dialogues have been going on and people are
increasingly getting interested in the buildings of Nairobi. However,
more needs to be done to preserve our city. It is a fact that Nairobi
property owners would be more interested in historic preservation if
there were benefits to preserving historical sites and keeping things as
they were many years ago.
The government should provide incentives and resources to owners of historical buildings in order to promote their preservation.
Cities that have taken preservation seriously have
provided incentives such as tax laws and financial benefits that favour
owners of historical buildings.
They also provide tax credits for the restoration
of commercial buildings listed as monuments. State and local grants and
special tax deductions may also be available.
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