Architecture in Kuwait, from mud houses to modernism

KUWAIT: Kuwait witnessed a radical urban renaissance, following the discovery of oil, as the simple mud houses turned into huge villas built of cement, following the latest modern designs. Kuwaiti historian and author of ‘Glances Of Kuwait’s Modern History’ book Fahad AlAbduljaleel said that earliest description of the Kuwaiti architecture dates back to 1709, by traveler Haj Murtadha Bin Olwan.

Olwan visited Kuwait as he was coming for ‘Hijaz’ western coast of Saudi Arabia-describing it as a simple town, with primitive buildings similar to those in AlAhsaa -eastern coast of Saudi Arabia- but simpler. The architecture commenced in Kuwait back in the 17th century in the central city called ‘Baheeta’ overlooking the Arabian Gulf, and close from Al-Seif Palace and the old Kuwait’s Port, he added.

The rich families then built their houses from the sea rocks, while the poor families built mud houses, that would unfortunately easily collapse during seasons of heavy rains as it happened in the year of ‘Rajbeya’ in 1872, and years of ‘Haddamah’ in 1934, and 1954, he said.

The sea rock houses had the advantage of cooling the hot air during the summer, and that they would stand still against the heavy rains, he affirmed. Among the most famous builders’ families were namely Al-Bannai, AlRubah, Al-Bahoo and Al-Farhan, Al-Abduljaleel said.

The radical quantum leap in the Kuwait architecture took place during the reign of late Sheikh Abdullah AlSalem Al-Sabah, as people during late 1950s and early 1960s moved to new residential areas that were named according to alphabetical order. The modern buildings then depended on engineers, architectures, designers and specialists coming from various countries like Lebanon, Egypt Jordan, UK, Poland, Czech, besides other nations. — KUNA