Cabral Opiyo

Muthithi Gardens. 227 Muthithi Gardens is a second row house located in a luxuriant yet secluded neighbourhood just off Kiambu Road. Screened from the hustle and bustle of a major road network, it feels as if one has stepped into a jungle devoid of sound further helped by the lush vegetation of the forest just beyond the property. The most important hallmarks for this house were plenty of natural light and correct use of the extensive gardens, those were the two aspects taken into huge consideration by the architect when designing the layout of the house The house itself is contemporary with all the necessary amenities tastefully absorbed into the overall design of the house. The client specifically wanted to be aware of the natural sounds of the surrounding seeing as there is a river flowing nearby and the sound of mini-waterfalls can be heard in the house further amplifying the sounds of nature. Also taken into consideration were the views afforded by the sheer location of the property eliciting feelings of peaceful isolation and oneness with nature. The architect incorporated the concept of levels into the design of the house making it an elevated house with views of the striking forest teeming with all kinds of trees beyond and the well maintained back garden. There is a hidden garden and a stretch garden to the side of the property that allows for effortless hosting of parties without your privacy being intruded upon. The architect was working with the idea of half levels seamlessly included in the design to account for the natural slope of the house which rises gradually as you move deeper into the building. Also incorporated in the effective use of space on the property is the presence of a huge carpark that can accommodate several vehicles without necessitating precarious parking manoeuvres. The reason for this extensive car port is the propensity of the occupants of the house to host guests regularly at their abode and therefore every aspect that would make their lives easier was incorporated into the planning and layout of the house. Internal layout & design The house has tastefully done Brown tiles that harmoniously jive with the internal décor of the house which has incorporated various earth tones to further augment the feeling of nature blending into the house. To invite warmth into the house, there is a liberal use of wood to complement the glass and brick used in various masses around the house. It is situated on a hill and one feels the grounding amplified by the materials used in the design and structure of the residence. The half-level concept comes in strongly into the guest wing that feels like a level elevated from the outside with the lounge and bedrooms in this wing also elevated. The movie room and office are also part of the half-level and are sunken and raised respectively to further throw you off kilter as you move through the feat of architecture. In fact, over forty metres there is a two point eight metre rise as you progress into the house, a fact that is almost unnoticeable until you pop out on a different level in different parts of the house. The most striking aspect of the house though is the floating staircase, a design coup that many prospective house owners dream of having in their dream houses but not many even attempt to install in their residences. The most readily discernible facet in the layout of the house is the space utilization which effortlessly flows into each other, not intruding on but rather enhancing the privacy of the occupants via ingenious use of solids and masses yet maintaining an airy openness. The infinite space makes the house feel less crowded upon even when there are several occupants and yet is still intimate enough to feel warm due to the materials like wood utilized to make it feel homely. Architecture as exploration of space is the sigil of the architect and one cannot help but feel that a master has been at work with the final product. The overall layout of the house is suited to a family that delights in hosting shindigs of all types especially for their young children. Including letting their young children have their friends over for hang outs in the game room and movie room in the basement which is a level below and is private enough to feel unobserved but also open enough for effective monitoring of their activities. The guest wing is also fairly autonomous due to the original intention of long term hosting of family from abroad without intruding on their privacy and feeling crowded in the house. The luxuriously appointed wing is self-contained and has a lounge, home-office and kitchen where the occupants can live without having to cross over into the main house. Amenities As a tastefully created space, the house has amenities that are tailor-made to the occupants of the house and the various activities they envision for their space. Some of these amenities include: a scullery or dirty kitchen where all the begrimed foods are prepared so as not to sully the house with spills and innumerable smells, a gourmet kitchen where the finer culinary cuisines are prepared and where guests can be accommodated comfortably and a formal dining for more auspicious formal meals for larger groups. All these were designed to flow into each other for different purposes depending on the occasion. The game room and movie room are also setup in one of the half-levels which is sunken so as not to interfere with the tranquillity of the rest of the house while also feeling unencumbered to stay silent. The rooms have enormous, floor to ceiling windows that take care of the aspect of needing lots of natural light in the residence. The master bedroom has a private balcony that has been designed in a way that preserves the privacy of the user seeing as the house is in between residences, one can therefore remain unobserved as they bask or sit on the balcony.