Nairobi is the capital city of Kenya, in the African subcontinent. It’s a climatically balanced zone, because it preserves nature, amidst an urban sprawl. Nairobi is a bustling city which is developing a fast-paced system, with its infrastructure and has been able to conserve its natural diaspora. The city is growing, with rapid urbanisation, and other challenges with the infrastructure. However, Nairobi has been investing in green buildings and eco-friendly structures that define the cityscape. Let us explore the different green building practices adopted in the city and how they harmonise with the existing nature.
Green Buildings And Urban Green Spaces In Nairobi
Nairobi is a developing capital city of the country, also known as “The Green City Under The Sun” with its infrastructure well organised and the most intriguing part is the preservation of ecology that is seen throughout the city. Every area that you visit will have its little ecological bubble keeping the spaces earthy and green makes it less polluted. This amalgamation of infrastructure on one side and nature on another side exists without interfering with each other’s function maintaining harmony making it an example of balance. The entire city can maintain this ecology in a very efficient manner. Apart from this the infrastructure within Nairobi is developing keeping up with sustainable and green building strategies that have transformed its landscape.
Some Examples of green Buildings in Nairobi include Pope Paul VI Learning Resource Centre, Sandalwood Waterfront, and the UNEP Nairobi building. One among these is a notable example of green buildings including Strathmore Business School, with a LEED certification. Many other such buildings have been towering the skyline of Nairobi, influencing and impacting the way forward for the City.
Some parts of the City are equipped with buildings that have adopted vertical gardens or green walls which are grown using hydroponics on building structures. This is very popular in the City and can be seen in many parts of the City, it not only improves the air quality but also brings about an aesthetic appeal to those buildings. For Example, A Multi-level Car Parking in the mall (Sarit Centre), is inlaid with vertical gardens with planters enhancing the look as well as helping in absorbing the pollution in the area. There are multiple upcoming projects that have taken green building strategies, or ways in which they can impact global sustainability prospects.
The City is equipped with Abundant parks, and green spaces to maintain ecological balance. Some of these include Uhuru Park, Nairobi National Park, and Karura Forest which provides a beautiful and serene skyline, with the infrastructure thriving amidst lush green forests, and wildlife splurges co-existing with the surroundings. It can be considered as the lung that draws out pollution from those areas. Karura Forest is also a part of the Urban Forest management as it was threatened by encroachment. Today it is one of the largest malls in Nairobi, surrounding the Karura forest which is again a great example of how an urban complex exists independently surrounding the area of the forest.
Mindful Conservation And Green Policies
The Government of Kenya has been able to implement policies that have promoted green building solutions within the country. There has been constant Stir within the public in advocating for sustainable practices that have been able to implore options for the survival of nature in a growing city and its needs of infrastructure. Numerous policies and incentives have been taken to preserve natural ecosystems that have an impact globally. The National Climate Change Action Plan is another body developed to consider the implications of climate change within urban planning and design.
In Nairobi County, there have been initiatives taken into consideration for building energy-efficient systems, sustainable solutions and the durability of the resources used keeping the future in mind. The government has established a body that takes care of the green practices in infrastructure known as the Kenya Green Building Society (KGBS), which adheres to Global LEED standards (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design).
The City of Nairobi seems to be at the forefront of how to develop infrastructure and maintain the existing ecological balance of the area. It is not just planning and design but also a lot of policies and technology that have supported this harmonious condition. The promising future of the city amidst an ecological balance will prove to be beneficial for the world. As the City evolves, the future seems to hold better prospects for sustainable and green solutions for the City amid rapid urbanisation challenges. These challenges will only turn out to be a scope for opportunity and will demonstrate to the World how two distinctive aspects can co-exist harmoniously.
