Homes in Rwanda come in various styles, forms, and shapes from mansions to bungalows to terraces. These different types of houses all have something unique about them.
Just like it is the western dream, owning your own home is also a dream for many Rwandans. Choosing the perfect home involves figuring out the ideal style for your family and making sure it fits your daily needs, so the number of beds, baths, size, location, etc, are all things to consider.
This article will shed light on some of the most popular types of houses being built in Rwanda today (pictures included). This will help you find a suitable residential property in Kigali or anywhere else across the country.
Mansion
A mansion is a very big luxury home, often upwards of 5,000 square feet in size. However, what actually qualifies as a mansion depends on opinion and location. Calling a home a mansion indicates a level of grandeur, style, and quality far above the normal in a given area. This correlates with the housing patterns of the rich and wealthy.
The size of a property as well as the number of rooms and bathrooms all play a part in defining what a mansion is but there are further defining features, such as entertainment facilities, leisure space, and luxury finishing.
Mansions can be found scattered across Kigali: with some of the most impressive being sited in Nyarutarama, Gacuriro, Kiyovu, Kibagabaga, etc.
Bungalow
A bungalow is typically a one-storey home, cottage, or cabin. It can either be detached or semi-detached. Bungalows originated in South Asia, with the name deriving from the Bengal region of India.
Bungalows are generally small in size: when it comes to square meters. Having said this, these days you can find bungalows that are very large which combine both technology and splendid architecture, to cater for the more urban lifestyles most live today.
Apartments
Apartments are among the most popular forms of housing in the world today. An apartment building is a combination of many separate homes stacked on top and next to each other. Each apartment acts as its own dwelling or living space.
The popularity of apartments has increased in Rwanda, as the population has become more urban in nature and the coming of many foreigners. Because of the space-saving advantages of building vertically, flats are frequently much cheaper to buy than other home types.
Penthouse
A penthouse apartment is a unit on the topmost floor of a multistorey apartment building or hotel. What differentiates a penthouse from other apartments, is its luxury features or elements.
Penthouses are often the most expensive forms of housing in a given market. These types of houses are the largest, the most exclusive and offer the best views in a given apartment building.
Terraced house
A terrace, terrace house, townhouse, or row house: is a single-family home that is usually set over two or three floors. A terrace house sits side-by-side with other terraces (joined together) forming a tight row down a road or block or the inside of a gated estate.
Terraces are generally more affordable than detached and semi-detached homes and thus have become more desirable in certain places particularly in Kigali.
Semi-detached house
A semi-detached house (sometimes called a “semi”) is a single-family home that shares a single wall with the next house. This style differentiates it from terraced houses (with shared walls on both sides), and detached houses (with no shared walls). You can find single-storey semidetached homes (bungalows) and semis that are spread over two floors.
Detached house
Another popular type of house in Rwanda is the detached house. These can be found in the affluent parts of Kigali, Musanze, Bugesera, Rubavu, and other secondary cities.
Detached houses are associated with the rich and famous, and feature some pretty impressive architecture. Although not as large as mansions, they are often just as luxurious depending of course on tastes and how they are finished/furnished.
Detached houses are great for people that like their privacy and for those with larger families.
Duplex
In the Rwandan context, a duplex can be thought of as a house where two different units (on two different floors) are stacked on one another like apartments. In essence, a duplex is like having two different houses in the same home.
When one mentions a duplex in Rwanda: this can also be called either a detached, semi-detached, or terraced house depending on how the duplex is designed/arranged.
In conclusion
Whether you are looking to build, rent or buy your own home. It is important to know which type of home will fit your requirements. With this article, we have gone over some of the most popular types of houses in Rwanda today. From apartments to bungalows to mansions you are sure to find something that suits your taste and budget.
