Top real estate development winners named

The 9th Africa Property Investment (API) Summit and Expo 2018, Africa’s largest investment and development conference, was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from September 20 to 21.

The expo recognised innovation and outstanding achievement across the entire property industry in 11 categories.

Property developers, suppliers and owners were given an opportunity to showcase their best projects and services. from across sub-Saharan Africa at the annual awards, which were on held on September 20.

Africa’s largest investment and development conference recognised innovation and outstanding achievement across the entire property industry in 11 categories. The categories covered projects and the leaders shaping the future of Africa’s real estate sector. The categories covered retail, office, mixed-use, green building, hotel, alternative asset, architectural design, high-end residential, logistics and best women in property.

The winning developments and people came from Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Nigeria, Mozambique, Namibia, Mauritius and Rwanda, and critically provided a moment of peer recognition for completed projects, said the Managing Director of API Events Kfir Rusin.

The projects were judged on a wide range of criteria, including location, infrastructure and transport access, integration into the environment, originality of the concept, technical and architectural quality, services offered, sensitivity to the local community, innovation, sustainability, corporate staff involvement, response to market demands, financial performance, occupancy, and the impact of the project on economic convergence.

Kfir Rusin, Managing Director of API Events, said. “We congratulate all the winners and finalists as well as their respective project teams. They have set an exceptionally high standard for real estate developments across sub-Saharan Africa and continue to shape the African built environment landscape. API Events is proud to be associated with these companies and wishes to aid in further pushing the boundaries of excellence for African property development.”

The entries were world-class and the panel of judges had a challenging time selecting the winners. Below are the winners for each category:

1. Best Retail Development: Baia Mall, Maputo, Mozambique. Award winning team, Actis Africa LLP

2. Best Office Development: Ecobank Ghana, Accra. Award winning team, ARC Architects.

3. Best Mixed-use Development: Two Rivers Mall, Nairobi, Kenya. Award winning team, Centum Real Estate.

4. Best Green-Building Development: Strathmore University, Kenya. Award winning team, Questworks.

5. Best Hotel Development: Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, Kigali, Rwanda. Award winning team, Radisson Hotel Group.

6 Best Alternative Asset (Refurbished Asset): KBC, Kigali, Rwanda. Award winning team, Century Rwanda.

7. Best Architectural Design: Radisson Blu Hotel & Convention Centre, Kigali, Rwanda. Award winning team, Radisson Hotel Group

8. High-End Residential: Primevillas, Lusaka, Zambia. Award winning team: Umran Construction Limited

9. Best Logistics/Industrial Development: ALP North Distribution Centre, Nairobi, Kenya. Award winning team, African Logistics Properties (ALP)

10. Best Woman In Real Estate: Bronwyn Corbett, CEO, Grit Real Estate Income Group.

11. Best Housing Development: Victoria Crest Homes, Lagos, Nigeria. Award winning team, Nedcom Oaks Ltd.

***

Kenya Homes Expo returns next month

The Blue Triangle Kenya Homes Expo will run from October 11 to 14 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC). The event, the 27th edition, is themed “Homes All”, The expo offers a platform for the government and the private sector to interact and seek ways of providing affordable housing.

As the real estate market grows, the expo continues to identify and harness opportunities that encourage people with an interest in real estate.

Apart from showcasing homes, the expo has greatly expanded it’s wings to host related concepts for the real estate market. According to its founder and Managing Director, Mr Daniel Ojijo, this year’s theme, reflects the growing needs of the real estate market today, where affordable housing is crucial.

Mr Ojijo emphasises the government’s call to private developers for partnership in the development of affordable houses for Kenyans, and urges stakeholders to embrace the development of affordable housing by reducing housing costs and offering alternative technology to potential homeowners.

The market trends have changed and now appeal more to the middle-income earners. Following closely behind South Africa, Nairobi is fast rising as Africa’s investment destination, and investors have taken great interest in the country, with the city being a springboard and gateway to East African markets.

Nairobi is an economic powerhouse in Africa in terms of the gross domestic product, and Kenya is ranked the 5th biggest economy in Africa.

Among the exhibitors showcasing homes at the event are Riruta Gardens in Dagoretti, Karibu Homes in Athi River, Rama Homes with houses in South C, Belasi Developers in Juja, Malberry Holdings with houses in Thika and Kiambu.

The Expo is among the platforms for investors to interact with the real estate market in East Africa.

The expo was launched in Nairobi 13 years ago, so far it has secured more than 200 exhibitors drawn from the real estate, finance, interior decor and design, building and construction industries. Over the years, the four-day event has attracted a footfall of more than 40,000 potential buyers.