Architect: Epitome Architects Limited

Client: Eng. George Alliy

Status: completed, 2014.

Photographs: Epitome Architects Limited

Tanhouse is 13 storeys office building located on plots 34/1 Urisno along Ali-Hassan Mwinyi road Kinondoni Municipality, Dar es Salaam. The building looks elegant with exceptional character from surround buildings.

The building has dedicated space for commercial activities such as banking, at the ground floor, parking bays at basement, mezzanine and first floor totaling to 97 parking bays. All other storeys are office spaces. Due to limited plot area for vehicles to maneuver and access mezzanine and first floor, two car lifts have been provided to support vertical circulation for vehicles.

Construction started back in 2011. “The client wanted to get the best of the best, something of his own, symbolism. That is all he wanted, so innovation was a key tool on our drawing boards and came up with that building” David Kibebe from epitome.

“We designed the building which can communicate in all four sides. From any side you approach the building, it display the same characters and catch the eye.” David Kibebe.

The curved columns at the corners and curved aluminum fins, both are non-structural members; bring the illusion of an egg and basket or whatever someone decide to define.

 In order to achieve the shape portrays, The floor sizes vary from each other. The first floor is bigger than the ground floor, and the second floor is bigger than the first floor. The middle floor (7th floor) is bigger than other floors. The floors above the 7th floor decrease in size to match those below the 7th floor.

The main entrance is emphasized by overhang canopy supported by three columns. The entrance leads to the bank hall and reception area. The building looks much taller because it has headroom of 4m floor to floor.

Vertical circulations (lift and stairs), and all supporting facilities such as toilets, power rooms, kitchenette service ducts are located at the Center core of the building. By doing this all rentable spaces are full of light and air at the edges of the building. “We managed to achieve 75% rental spaces while 25% being service/ circulation”. David Kibebe.