Old Treasures

I'll be showing you guys pictures of old and historic buildings found around Kuwait. You will find that the architecture of these buildings is very different than that of today. Prepare yourselves for a ride into the past.

 

 

 The photograph above is of Dickson House Culrural Centre, which was originally the residence of the first British political agent Colonel Dickson. It is a classic example of early 19th century Kuwait architecture. The style of design is a mixture of European colonial and Arabic.

 

These photographs are of "Dewan Saleh Al Mulla" which is a traditional gathering of men house or area. This simply designed building was built in 1919. Teakwood is used for the doors and the window frames as you can see which gives a very traditional and authentic sense to the whole building.

 

There are other numerous old buildings that have been carefully looked after and at times reconstructed, however mainting the simplistic and traditional Kuwaiti style. These buildings are extremely important and their histories must be treasured by the country's people.

 

To get more information about the history of some Kuwaiti buildings, visit these websites:

http://www.archofkuwait.com/topics/design/historical

http://www.liveworkexplore.com/kuwait/exploring/attractions/heritage-sites/dickson-house_417174

http://www.kuwait-history.net/vb/showthread.php?t=1738

 

 

Mosques

The number of beautiful Mosques in Kuwait are countless, especially in Kuwait City. A building need not be extravagant to be able to catch one's eyes. I'll be showing you guys lovely looking mosques of simple architecture and old designs that have survived in Kuwait for many years and hopefully will continue to do so!

The photograph below is of an old Mosque in Kuwait City called Masjed "Yassin  Al Qenai". This mosque's construction had begun since 1784 so it has been around for a really long time. As you can see the design is very simple and modest yet very fine. Of course it has been renewed over the years...

This Mosque below is one of the very well known mosques here in Kuwait and you must have seen it some point when driving down the Gulf Road. It's called "Sheikh Nasser Mosque" located in Ras Salmiya. The mosque was completed in 1981. It has a very unique design and is visually unusual. It's roof is made up of steps into a triangular shape with a minaret that has a similar design.

 

 

This is the Entrance of the "Sheikh Nasser" Mosque.

This beautiful mosque in the photograph above is located in Down Town, Kuwait. It is known as the "Al Khalifa Mosque" and is one of the first large and oldest mosques in Kuwait.

 

In the photograph above is a mosque that was built recently and is lo

cated right next to the Souq Mubarakiya. It has a very modern design. The photograph next to it is a picture of the entrance of the mosque with the door made of wood surrounded by intriquitely placed patterns.

 

 And finally we end with the Grand Mosque, known as "Al masjed Al Kabeer", that is also located in Kuwait City. This is the largest mosque in Kuwait. Light penetrates through 144 windows of the mosque and opens 21 teakwood doors for prayers. The mosque is designed with the 99 names of God all around. You can sense stability and power from the usage of symmetry with the design that which makes it attractive to the human eye. It is currently under construction.

 

For more information in regards to mosques and architecture in Kuwait visit:

http://www.ykuwait.net/vb/showthread.php?t=93775

http://udini.proquest.com/view/history-of-architecture-in-kuwait-pqid:1902390461/

 

 

Souq Mubarakiya

 

Souq Mubarakiya is an old traditional Kuwaiti market area that is famous for having the most delicious "sambousek" sold there as well as many different shops and traditional restaurants. It's a place where you can basically find anything and everything that you need. Not to mention the fact that it's building design is just spectacular and unique. It's a beautiful place to visit to truly be in the presence of Kuwaiti culture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The shops are very old, nonetheless contain good quality products and are of reasonable prices. Doors of shops are made of wood and the architecture overall of Mubarakiya is traditional and Arabian.

Bars and arches are mainly used in the beautiful design and almost everything is made of wood to give that old, traditional sense. Colours used are also very earthy, such as brown, yellow and orange.

 

Pillars are also incorporated into the design along side the bars. This gives a great sense of space between each building and in the daylight, as you can see in the photographs, the light passing through creates many shapes of shadows.

 

 
For more information about great spots to visit in Kuwait and Souq Mubarakiya, visit:
http://www.tripadvisor.com.eg/Attraction_Review-g294003-d1930049-Reviews-Souk_Al_Mubarakiya-Kuwait_City.html
http://rhgrnbaarhsfqa.dnset.com/fine/contactus.php
 

Souq Sharq

 

Souq Sharq. This architectural phenomenon is one of the very first shopping malls in Kuwait. I personally believe that this mall has the most beautiful design when compared with the others and is truly one of a kind. I might be biased when it comes to this as it reminds me of my childhood days spent running around those water sprinklers, watching the water spray from side to side while cutting through it.

 

Of course the most attractive part of this mall is the marina. You can just sit on one of those benches

and look out into the lovely waterfront. Its a great place to visit even if you weren't shopping.

The Architect of this masterpiece is Iranian which is quite evident as you can really sense some Middle Eastern designs throughout every inch of the building.

 

 

The overall design of Souq Sharq is very traditional and Middle Eastern. As found in many of the buildings in Kuwait, pillars are very often used by architects. The photograph above also shows that many there are many details carved and placed in the design.

 

 

Below in the picture is another example of the usage of pillars which, as you can see, has a beautiful effect.

 

 
For more information on Souq Sharq, please visit:
http://www.nrec.com.kw/En_Souq_sharq.cms
http://kuwait-city.cityseekr.com/venue/268877-souk-sharq-mall
 

The Dhow

 

Being in Kuwait, you are bound to find a ship here and there even if it were on land. The Dhow (ship) plays a huge role in Kuwaiti architecture. These ships in the photograph for example can be found at the Radisson Blu Hotel. They are not only built for the purpose of looking at them as they are also used as ballrooms for when hosting or holding events.

 

 

I liked this arrangement of the elements shown in the photograph above as it portrayed the olden times of the Kuwaiti people from the design of the seats as well as the Dhow. 

 

 

 The design seen above was for a deck of a ship. I liked the usage of columns and keeping it authentic by using wood. The columns are highlighted and beautiful shadows rest on the ground from the sunlight coming through which makes this design very suitable for the sunny days of Kuwait.

 

 

Here again in the photograph above you can see the light coming through in between the columns.

 

This is an entryway for the suites at the Radisson Hotel which I think is beautiful because of the elements of line and light.

 

 

I really think it's great how Kuwait still holds on to its old cultures and traditions that is clearly shown through its architecture. More of that will be shown in my upcoming posts as well as Kuwaits modernized architecture so keep checking!

 

For more information, please visit these websites:
http://www.kuwaitboom.com/history/eng_ver/eng_main.htm
http://www.tsck.org.kw/detailPage.aspx?PageId=16