Swimming in an ocean of books. Renovation of Shanghai Book City by Wutopia Lab | The Strength of Architecture

Project description by Wutopia Lab

“No man is an island; every book is a world.”

The Bookshop on the Shore

The Shanghai Book City, referred to by netizens as the “Crystal Palace,” officially reopened with a new look on October 28, 2023, after undergoing a two-year closure for renovations.

Challenge
The bookstore is for those who do not read.

In China, the number of people who maintain a reading habit is far less than those who do not read. The limited number of readers alone cannot save bookstores. Therefore, book cities need to be designed for more non-readers, enticing them

Continue Reading

MPs probe claims of Sh3.2B spent on KICC renovation

MPs have launched investigations into claims that the government spent Sh3.2 billion to renovate KICC ahead of the Climate Summit last year.

This is despite Parliament appropriating only Sh1.9 billion to refurbish the iconic facility for the global meeting hosted by President William Ruto.

The revelation emerged yesterday during the National Assembly’s Tourism and Wildlife Committee session with several local contractors.

The committee is chaired by Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki.

The contractors, who claimed to have done 80 per cent of the work, said they signed a prorated contract with China Wu Yi based on the total contractual sum of

Continue Reading

Kenyans Break Down Cost of Designing Permanent House: “Could Go to KSh 300k Based on Size”

  • The Kenya National Construction Authority (KNCA) sets building standards which architects should consider before planning a house
  • There have been incidents of house collapse resulting from poor designs employed by investors
  • Kenyans took to social media to analyze the cost of standard design work conducted by qualified architects
  • Adrian Gachewa – a graduate architect – revealed that a good design cost up to 6% of the construction cost and depends on the house size

Kenyans have shared their experience with the cost of designing a standard permanent house for residential and commercial purposes.

A house design should be approved and stamped.
A flat-roof house is completed and ready.
Continue Reading