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To Build or to buy property? —P16 22 Km tarred on Blantyre-Zomba Road—P4 Window into quantity surveying—P8 Building, Security SPECIAL PULLOUT THE NATION 25 JULY 2013 & Architecture 2 3 Building, Security & Architecture Elnas Chimdima, executive secretary of Malawi Institution of Engineers The following are institutions and companies which are IL raising the C UN O Y C bar in the T E CI R Y Building, T N A F BL Security O ESY ESY rt U and O Architecture industry in C PHOTOGRAPH: Malawi Buildings serve different needs in society 1. AGA Building a secure Malawi 2. Beram Security uman beings initially lived many aspects as a civil engineering one-room wood-framed, masonry, dwelling units are often called in caves and under trees structure such as a house, worship or adobe dwellings to multi-million apartment buildings or apartment Hfor shelter. This was before centre or a factory for instance, that dollar high-rise buildings able to blocks to differentiate them from 3. Builders’ Base civilisation. has a foundation, wall, a roof and house thousands of people. ‘individual’ houses. The coming in of civilisation other things, that protect human Increasing settlement density in Houses may also be built in pairs marked a new philosophy in the beings and their properties from buildings (and smaller distances (semi-detached), in terraces where 4. Cement living of human beings. Different direct harsh effectS of weather such between buildings) is usually a all but two of the houses have others elements must come together before as rain, wind and sun. response to high ground prices either side. Products a human community develops to the Buildings come in a wide amount resulting from many people wanting Apartments may be built round level of sophistication commonly of shapes and functions, and have to live close to work for instance. courtyards or as rectangular blocks referred to as civilisation. been adapted throughout history Major types of buildings may be surrounded by a piece of ground of 5. Chemspec The first is the existence of for a number of factors, from classified due to usage. varying sizes. settlements classified as towns or building materials available, to Paints cities. This requires food production weather conditions, to land prices, Uses of buildings to be efficient enough for a large ground conditions, specific uses and Residential BUILDING AND minority of the community to aesthetic reasons. Residential buildings are called CONSTRUCTION 6. Far Distributors be engaged in more specialised Buildings serve several needs of houses or homes, though buildings SUPPLEMENT, activities, such as the creation of society, primarily as shelter from containing large numbers of separate PAGE 3 imposing buildings or works of art; weather and as general living space 7. Habitat for the practice of skilled warfare, and to provide privacy, store belongings above all the administration of a and to comfortably live and work. The landmark, and perhaps the most Humanity centralised bureaucracy capable of As a shelter, a building represents famous building in Malawi was St Michaels Malawi running the machinery of state. a physical division of the human and All Angels Church whose building work In this essay, we will dwell on habitat (a place of comfort and safety) spanned across 1888-1891. The architect, buildings, as the main product and the outside (a place that at times Reverend David Clement Scott, was in fact, of civilisation. In architecture, may be harsh and harmful). not an architect at all. 8. Link Building construction, engineering, real Buildings have also become objects estate development and technology. or canvases of artistic expression. In Construction of government buildings in The term building refers to any recent years, interest in sustainable the city of Lilongwe began in the late 1960s. planning and building practices 9. Metro human-made structure used or Lilongwe, officially the capital city of Malawi intended for supporting or sheltering has also become part of the design any use or continuous occupancy. process of many new buildings. since 1975, is a commercial centre with It may also refer to an act of modern buildings such as the Reserve Bank 10. Press Properties ARCHIVE FAST construction (i. e. the activity of Types of buildings FACTS of Malawi. building) and can be defined in Building types may range from SPECIAL PULLOUT THE NATION 25 JULY 2013 Building, Security 2 3 & Architecture Buildings should ensure safety BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SUPPLEMENT, PAGE 2 Houses which were built as a single dwelling may later be divided into apartments or bedsitters. They may also be converted to another use such as an office or a shop. Commercial Commercial buildings are those that are built for commercial use; they are mostly used as offices. Industrial or factory Industrial or factory buildings are the ones that are constructed for heavy machinery works. These may range from a motor workshop, factories, production units and many more. IL C UN Looking at different types and O uses of buildings, care has to be Y C T taken when constructing each, to E CI ensure safety for the inhabitants and R Y T the property. N A We have evidenced different F BL sad news in the recent past on the O collapse of buildings in different ESY ESY countries such as Ghana, Tanzania, rt U O and even our own case of Kips in Malawi. These incidences should act as a wake-up call to authorities and communities at large on the type of PHOTOGRAPH: C PHOTOGRAPH: buildings we are constructing. The design of the building matters. They have to be done by well qualified professionals. The building contractors also have to be competent as the durability of the buildings will depend on the quality of workmanship. To avoid such tragedies, it is necessary to engage qualified personnel. Y Work of Town or City planning BRAR If safety and security is to be N LI O ensured on the buildings constructed, I there is need for all building plans at to be approved by the town/city planning. This has been the major challenge on the low standard of buildings N PHOTOGRAPH: as most owners tend to change the plans that were approved, without Government offices in Blantyre seeking approval on the changed plans. are detrimental to construction and where to build. professionals work to secure from both government and the Some people even change the of buildings. Expansive soils such There are places that are their professionalism without any communities. use of the planned building thereby as cotton clay expand so much in marked no for buildings, and interference. Every citizen has a responsibility endangering the inhabitants. For the presence of water and contract these include road reserve areas, to ensure that buildings are secure example a building that has been substantially when dry. those that are under electricity Building materials at all times and the following have to designed as a residential building The volumetric changes lead to power lines, on high-pressure There are different types of be done to build a secure Malawi: is weaker in strength to cater to a cracking of buildings constructed supply water pipes and on top of building materials and the commonly 1. Always use the approved plans factory. on such soils. Solutions include soil secured places. used are cement, sand, burnt bricks, from the town or city planning. removal and replacement with well It is a must that professionals are concrete blocks, stabilised soil 2. Must consult professionals Work of professionals compacted gravel. Alternatively, consulted and plans approved by bricks and many others. (structural engineers, material Building and construction involves deeper foundations using piles or town/ city planners. With all these Building materials also affect engineers, electrical engineers, a lot of work and investigations stub columns to suitable strata can known, most people still choose to the strength of each building and mechanical engineers, architects depending on the size, type and use be employed. use shortcuts risking their lives or these are also chosen depending and, depending on the size of of the building. Weather conditions of the area the lives of the inhabitants. on the site condition. However, building, geological engineers Nevertheless, site condition will also determine the type of Some laws are there but they are due to ignorance and negligence, may be involved) when investigation is of paramount building or roofing style to endure not well known by citizens, and the people choose any material for any constructing a building. importance in as far as building the wind conditions. This calls for law enforcers are weak to enforce building and at any site and this 3. Never construct on a secured safety and durability is the need to consult professionals them, leading to chaotic situations also endangers the security of the land; road reserve, under concerned. when constructing buildings. within the towns. buildings constructed. electricity lines or on high- Site conditions are weather and Again, the fight against corruption Building a secure Malawi pressure supply water lines and subsoil conditions including ground Abiding by the law may well help curb the problems is possible but needs a lot of 4. Resist and refrain from water table. Some soil conditions Malawi has a lot of laws on how at hand; a society where qualified coordination and collaboration corruption. n Building, Security SPECIAL PULLOUT THE NATION 25 JULY 2013 & Architecture 4 5 Y RAR N LIB O I at PHOTOGRAPH: N PHOTOGRAPH: A bridge under construction along Zomba Road 22 kilometres tarred on ZA-BT road BRENDA TWEA “The contractor is also STAFF REPORTER complaining about theft of materials and diesel. Some communities were also hostile at orks on the re-construction commencement of the project, but of the Blantyre-Zomba this is no longer the case,” she WRoad are progressing well said.

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