Salinity: The costly headache that shapes coastal architecture

One of the streets in Mombasa's Old Town. [Omondi Onyango,Standard]

Settling along the coast, where the breeze blows gentlest and holidaymakers love to lounge, is easily every person's dream.

However, with the prestige, and the proximity to the sea, comes a cost - that dream house, and even the posh car, could be damaged due to repeated exposure to the saline ocean water.