ONEWAY House, a beautiful three-story home is located in the heart of the historic Lamu Stone Town. In 2012 the award-winning architect Urku Sanchez transformed a dilapidated ruin into the now existing elegant structure. The renovations were carried out with sensitivity to the Swahili architecture and Islamic culture of Lamu. With four spacious ensuite bedrooms and various sitting areas, the house can comfortably accommodate up to 10 adults and is ideal for families or groups of friends.
A Swahili wooden door opens into a small courtyard. A wide stone staircase leads up to the first level. As one comes up the stairs the pool is directly ahead at the top of the stairs. Its cool water is a welcoming sight in the heat and a beautiful contrast to the whitewashed and stone walls. On the first-floor bedroom 1 and 2 are located on each side of a covered traditional veranda style sitting area. A part of the veranda is open next to the pool so one can either sunbathe or sit in the covered area. Bedroom 1 hosts a traditional Arabic Mashrabiya. This is an ariel window handcrafted from wood. It is located above one of Lamu town’s main alleys and offers a picturesque view of the sea through another narrow alley leading to the sea front. It is a perfect spot to sit back and experience the buzzing life of the local people while staring at the Indian Ocean.
A kitchen, dining area, and a guest toilet are also located on the first floor.
The second-floor hosts bedroom 3 and 4. Bedroom 3 has a spacious lounge adjoining it with a large day-bed, equipped with a mosquito net. The day-bed can easily be transformed into an actual bed to host up to two children. This makes bedroom 3 the perfect choice for a small family or a group of friends of up to 4. Both, bedroom 3 and 4 have their private sea view terraces with a day-bed and a table with chairs, where you can enjoy the breeze.
The third (top) floor consists of a spacious roof terrace, partially covered by a makuti roof, making it ideal for rain or shine. The spectacular sea view to the front and the Lamu architecture at the back, its spacious sitting space and a bar area makes the rooftop the perfect sundowner spot to relax after a sunny beach day. A quaint open-air toilet is located at the side through a small door.
All the bedrooms, the covered veranda on the first floor and the kitchen are fitted with ceiling fans. The four poster Swahili beds in all the bedrooms are fitted with mosquito nets and are locally hand crafted pieces of art, allowing an authentic Lamu experience. The traditional architecture of the house offers good wind circulation, essential for Lamu’s warm coastal climate.
Some before and after pictures of this exciting architectural feat can be found on the website of Urku Sanchesz under the project ONEWAY House.
For a small tour of the house check out our Youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0flvGI565Rk&feature=youtu.be
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