Enterprise

Unique green designs build a solid income for architect

green-design

DDC Architects CEO Kevin Oduor. PHOTO | SALATON NJAU | NMG

Kevin Oduor is hardly a man who sticks to norms.

During his studies at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) in Juja, he dedicated half of his time gaining experience at architectural firms

While his classmates concentrated on books, he was out there refining his art and skills in concept development at Symbion Group and at Innovative Planning & Design Consultants.

“After finishing university studies, as my classmates hit the road looking for jobs, I was frantically looking for clients for the business I had just started from scratch,” recalls Oduor, the founder and chief executive of Do Designs Consultants (DDC) Architects.

Armed with a resilient spirit and a passion for concept development in his two-bedroom home office in Ayany Estate in Nairobi, he set up DDC Architects in 2009.

He converted one of the rooms in the house into an office from where he managed his business activities.

“I know suiting up just to walk into the next room sounds crazy but I learnt early that one ought to have a certain mindset to achieve their goals,” said the 32-year-old currently pursuing a master’s degree in architecture — environmental design — at the University of Nairobi.

DDC Architects is today a far bigger business from its nascent days at Ayany Estate. The firm has a rich portfolio of clients having handled concept development, execution and construction work for several hotels, restaurants, office and apartment blocks

The firm’s main focus now is on environmental design consultancy, in response to market demand.

Oduor says sustainable architectural design and solid project management are the keys to developing affordable housing for the future.

DDC team comprises seven employees including two registered architects, two graduate architects, an administrator, an accountant and a technician.

In its seven years of existence, the company has handled sizeable projects including refurbishment of the Panari Hotel on Mombasa Road, design of a boutique hotel on Latema Road, master-planning and scheme design of a 200-unit housing estate in Athi River, design and building of an ultra-modern housing scheme in Kitengela and office fit out for Pathfinder International.

The firm was also involved in the construction of Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodges and a commercial modern office block in Githunguri, Kiambu, among other residential developments.

Riding on its reputation as an environmentally conscious firm, DDC Architects has secured projects in countries such as Tanzania, Burkina Faso and Cameroon, earning it an estimated annual revenue of Sh5 million.

“Our charges are regulated by our registration and regulatory body at a minimum of six per cent of the cost of construction projects,” says Oduor of the firm that he started with his savings of Sh200,000.
First came the deals for residential developments, which he says were only enough to make ends meet.

However, developed a passion for hotel and accommodation design after he was involved in the design and building of the Lake Nakuru Sopa Lodges. The project, which was client-driven, introduced him to the fast-paced world of the hospitality industry.

“Note that when you are designing a hotel you are customising it to fit various groups of people with a myriad of requirements including and not limited to the chef, security guard, hotel guest, manager and so on who all have very distinct demands,” he says.

He says the challenge involved in designing hotel and accommodation facilities also ignited his love for green buildings.

DDC Architects was recently contracted to upgrade the radiology departments of various public hospitals in Busia, Bondo, Kalacha, Marsabit and Ndanai Trans Mara, among others.

“Ecoeng Contractors which had won the civil works contract for General Electric to refurbish the radiology departments brought us on board because most of the work involved site inspection, design and building which is our forte,” says Oduor.