Category

Architecture

Barrak Al-Babtain 9
0
Architecture
December 28, 2009

Shamiya House

I'm becoming very encouraged because of a perceptible shift in attitude towards outdoor space in Kuwaiti clients. People are finally understanding the outstanding value that a well designed roof garden or courtyard can provide. Maybe it's just a reaction to the wonderful weather, but it's…
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Barrak Al-Babtain 3
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ArchitectureUrban
December 16, 2009

Arraya vs Salhiya

We have discussed Arraya complex before, where we mentioned the need to create a public, outdoor space rather than the traditional all-inclusive, controlled and heavily monitored mall. Yet Arraya does have something of that nature within the complex. Arraya Plaza is rectilinear in shape, situated…
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Barrak Al-Babtain 0
0
ArchitectureNeighborhoodUrban
November 4, 2009

Neighborhood Identity

This is the final post discussing the 13 points of good neighborhood design as described by the Congress for the New Urbanism. All of these ideas aren't meant to be a guide for how to build new neighborhoods. There is nothing in the list that…
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Barrak Al-Babtain 7
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ArchitectureNeighborhoodUrban
October 26, 2009

Residential Variety

Most of our residential neighborhoods can be described as a sprawl of very large houses packed fairly close to each other. Why is there such little variety in the type of dwelling? Even when people attempt to create a dense living arrangement, it is usually…
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Barrak Al-Babtain 17
0
ArchitectureEnergyUrban
September 3, 2009

Qortuba 2.0

I've lived in Qortuba all my life. There is something very wrong in the way it has evolved. Like all modern Kuwait, it's a planned residential development. First, the government divided up the land and laid roads and power lines. People built their homes on…
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Barrak Al-Babtain 27
0
Architecture
August 20, 2009

Kuwait Courtyard House

This is a home I designed as a modern interpretation of a traditional Kuwaiti courtyard house. It is not a stylistic evolution; I am not trying to make the old mud houses look modern and sexy, rather I began by defining what made the old…
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Barrak Al-Babtain 13
0
Architecture
August 1, 2009

Boring Schools

What is a school? Is it simply a building where children go to learn about the world, or is it more important? It's a cliche to think that our greatest natural resource is not the oil under our feet, but those kids in our schools.…
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Barrak Al-Babtain 8
0
Architecture
July 26, 2009

No Boxes, Please

I'm beginning to be concerned about a very bad trend in Kuwaiti residential design. Clients are asking for a 'modern' look and style without really understanding what it is they're asking for. To most people, it means a cold, boxy, straight edged look with lots…
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