Kuwait's architecture is a combination of
old and new; traditional and modern; simple and extravagant.
Kuwait's old houses were simple structures, but adorned
with paintings, mosaic patterns and ornamentation. A typical
house had a central courtyard with a series of rooms built
around it. The Bayt-Al-Bader, Sadu House, Dickson House
are among the few houses that remain intact giving us an
insight into Kuwaiti architecture 150 years ago. The construction
activity that took place during the oil boom years was more
focussed on gigantic towers and eight-lane motorways where
the design was completely modern. The reconstruction of
Kuwait after the Iraqi invasion saw a different style. The
buildings are modern but they retain traditional design.
They
incorporate the latest architectural technology as well
as elements of traditional Islamic design such as the central
courtyard, fountains etc. The Kuwait Towers, the national
symbol, can be seen from most angles within Kuwait City
and the areas around it. It comprises three towers, one
of them boasts an observation deck that gives a panoramic
view of Kuwait City and the Arabian Gulf.
The National Assembly Building, designed by
the famous architect who designed the Sydney Opera House,
is a cement structure based on the form of a Bedouin Tent.
The Grand Mosque is the largest and most modern of Mosques,
decorated with Islamic designs and calligraphy both on the
inside and outside.
The 220 ft tall Liberation Tower is another
example of Kuwaiti contemporary architecture. Its construction
was halted because the Iraqi invasion.
The work continued in 1993 and the tower was officially
opened on March 10, 1996, hence the name "Liberation
Tower".
Many of the world's greatest architects have
contributed to the skyline of Kuwait.
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