The multi-family apartment block

A multifamily apartment block is an example of how developers can get more from smaller spaces. And for an industry that strives to impress tenants, it is important to create dynamic, cutting-edge designs because first impressions count. According to Simon Peter Kazibwe, the creator of this design, the quality of an apartment design is strongly influenced by whether it will be used for residential or commercial purposes.

“A well-designed apartment will not only impress tenants but also enhance safety. To create a quality apartment, the site design and placement of the apartment building should have a consistent character and distinctive identity,” explains Kazibwe, an architectural designer from Royal Architects and Engineers.
This two-unit apartment block shares a corridor leading to each individual apartment door. This type of building is best suited for plots where the building will not block views, outlook or natural light access for adjacent sites or in urban centre areas where apartments are located above retail or commercial uses.

Features
The block has two individual apartments. Each apartment has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, dining room, living room, kitchen, store, and a shade.
The master bedroom is self-contained with a bathroom, walk-in closet and two private simple shades.
The second bedroom though slightly smaller in size, has an inbuilt closet, bathroom and one shade. Putting the bedrooms next to each other gives this apartment a quiet area for sleeping while leaving noisier spaces such as the dining room and kitchen on the other side of the house.
Each apartment has three shades and the master suite has its private shade.

There is provision for a rooftop terrace that can be used as an extra entertaining area or other family activities such as space for hanging laundry.

The estimated cost for this block is between Shs350m and Shs400m. The cost of the construction will vary according to the developer’s preference.

“With the combination of inflated raw materials costs and labour, finishing out apartment interiors and exteriors with high-end materials is sometimes more expensive than it should be.
“Some of the developers constantly push the envelope to offer more amenities, offer higher-end finishes, make the apartments look and feel unique. Things like that continue to cause apartment construction costs to increase,” Kazibwe explains.
He notes that particular materials are preferred by particular demographics.

“Adding technology to apartments, faux finishes, more expensive cabinetry and fancier fixtures are what will attract an upper class tenant,” he notes.
When dealing with more expensive materials that can give that apartment a marketing edge, Kazibwe advises developers to seek ways to offset the cost elsewhere.
One block can fit on 100ft by 100ft leaving parking space for cars.

How to upgrade apartments
Location: The classy tenant wants the apartment that is in a walkable distance from the main road which is professionally landscaped and maintained.
To keep your property on pace with trends; invest in the latest technology to serve Millennials.
multifamilyexecutive.com advises that you invest in luxury touches such as hardwood floors and designer furniture, yoga studios, wine rooms, infinity pools.

If you care about the environment, offering services like composting and bicycle parking at your multifamily unit is a natural fit.
If you rely on your renters to do their own tech, you are falling behind the trends. Increasingly, renters expect their apartment complex to provide high-speed internet and fibre optics in common areas.

-This is not a definitive plan, the actual plan can be got from an architect or architectural designer.

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