LOCATION: KUWAIT CITY, KUWAIT SHEIKH ABDULLAH INTERNATIONAL

ARCHITECTS: SSH
AL-SALEM CUTURAL CASE
PROJECT YEAR: 2018
CLIENT: AMIRI DIWAN STUDY by
CENTER ANANT & AYAN Traditional Kuwaiti architecture…is typically enveloped by
a plain façade masking the inner sanctum of the
building that can only be discovered beyond the
threshold of the door. Our proposal realises the
importance and keeps intact the fundamentals of Arabic
buildings, which serve the practical purpose of climatic
control and essential need for privacy, while
it is a cultural complex located in Kuwait City Kuwait. reinterpreting them in a contemporary layout that
It consists of six main components-The Natural History Museum, Science Museum, encourages openness and permeability, particularly
Space Museum, Arabic Islamic Science Museum, Fine Arts Centre and the external when addressing the main street and other public
spaces known as the Public Realm spaces
The museums present Kuwaiti, Islamic, and Arab culture and history and is named
He added that creating “simple and well-executed”
after the late Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah who was the 11th ruler of Kuwait,
forms allow the internal exhibition spaces to remain
the first Amir and the founder of modern Kuwait.
flexible through the use of clear-glazed, recessed shop
Each museum building will contain an array of permanent and temporary
fronts that offer views deep into the museums from the
world-class exhibits, installations and artworks. Walking beneath the canopy
landscaped areas of the complex, as well as from the
of the complex’s street is a journey full of surprises, with stunning views deep
‘street’ level
into the heart of the museums where visitors will see framed vistas of
priceless exhibits. The project encourages visitors to explore through the
creation of various pockets and landscaped areas, which
are designed for socialising as well as creating a flow of
FEATURES REALTED TO THE FORM OF THE space

BUILDING The concept of the central street also imparts a sense of

cultural heritage, but the complex’s design reimagines
and presents that heritage using 21st century materials.
Evoking a traditional urban environment Traditional architecture diverts the breeze and creates
common to the Middle East, the shade to cool the spaces below, while modern
architectural identity of the complex is technology enabled the creation of the cultural centre’s
driven by a central ‘street’ that forms the canopy to do the same
spine of the project. Serving multiple
functions, the ‘street’ creates a point of he influence of Islamic architecture is very much
orientation, transporting visitors from the engrained into the design of the complex,” Dennison
city entrance from the south of the site added.
toward the sea in the north-east. It also
becomes a space for events, where a series Islamic geometric patterns have been merged with a
of blocks are formed on either side of the contemporary aesthetic to produce a design that
street. evokes the traditional with the futuristic,

The complex also includes an external sunken courtyard that houses a 300-seat
theatre, café and multifunctional reception area. An additional café and information
centre stands outside the main museum halls, while enclosed linear travellators
connect from the landscape to the car park in the basement level.
The museum buildings and the circulation between them are shaded
and partially climatically controlled using a solar shade canopy, which is
200 m long with cantilevers of 30 m. The inverted structure allowed the
installation of 2,000 LED-lit shingles, which were parametrically designed
and DMX controller-linked to provide evening light shows and daytime
shade.

Each block creates a unique environment, specific for the distinct functions, and
The material chosen by SSH for the exterior cladding and
[with] the use of streets and squares, breaks down the enclosure and provides
roof paving of the complex was also carefully selected. The
physical and visual links between the uses. The positions of the blocks help activate
approved stone, named Skyline, is a true marble from
the street on both sides with the end blocks forming gateways
Turkey with a clearly defined vein orientation in the quarry
strata. Skyline has all the technical and aesthetic
characteristics to meet the stringent requirements of the
project.