This archive report was first published on 4 July 2020.
Study Rooms Gain Popularity in City Homes ¶
With the COVID-19 pandemic forcing people to stay indoors, many have rethought their home designs, and a study room or home office has emerged as a must-have feature in city homes.
According to Tony Burudi, a businessman who lives in Nairobi's Embakasi, the quarantine season has opened his eyes to the need for a study or a home office. He believes that developers should incorporate these features into the house, even if it means higher rents.
"Alternatively, developers can make bigger living rooms so that the occupants can set up their own working stations possibly at one corner of the room. But study rooms are a worthwhile addition in future home design trends," he says.
Veronica Nyambura, a communications assistant who lives in Thindigwa, Kiambu, notes that developers ill-advisedly fit as many houses in as minimal space as possible, making it hard for buyers or renters to enjoy the bliss of having these extra rooms.
"Confinement indoors tends to be tedious. People prefer open spaces even in the midst of their restrictions. This is why small gardens with greeneries around the house can be therapeutic. But a home library, a study or home office, are important too," she says.
Amos Kabiru, an internal accountant, who lives in Nairobi's Ruaka, suggests that a pantry should be another key additional feature in future homes.
"Sometimes I leave work late and when I get home, shops and grocery stores are always closed. Being able to keep sufficient food for long is essential," he says.
Lilian Nzula, the managing director of property investment firm, EnkaVilla Properties, notes that the pandemic has made people rethink their home designs and plans.
"Before the Covid-19 pandemic, developers and homeowners had already started embracing the outdoor aspect in building. The market is willing to pay an extra coin to have the comfort they are always looking for. We are dealing with a market that is aware of their desires and stops at nothing to enjoy the social aspect of their residential areas," she says.
However, Elly Yuaya, the sales manager at realty firm, Rama Homes, sees no shift in home designs.
