AGi architects completes Wafra Living project in Kuwait
Wafra Living by AGi architects is an innovative housing organisation in Kuwait, a new type of multi-family living as a social response to housing needs in the country. The design is guided by the requirements contemporary life while balancing traditional norms, and reintroduces urban life to the building level.
Wafra Living is designed as a high-rise building set back from the street, with an L-shaped building defining the street edge. It is conceived to maximise privacy within the community, whilst providing ample natural light and usable indoor and outdoor common spaces. Cuts have been made on the ground floors of the front building to provide better views for the tower apartments. The complex combines at different levels domestic and collective scales that are both private and public.
The architecture defines the edge of the block and creates a series of open spaces within the plot for the community, with various uses. The building cantilevers off the ground to draw street life into the building. The ground floor level opens up to the neighbourhood with accessible retail facilities on the street level, integrating into the urban fabric, and links up to a high square through an inclined, stepped garden. The project is composed of 16 types of living typologies -ranging from two bedroom to four-bedroom duplex- distributed across five cores to cater to a variety of tenants. The project public amenities include multiple gardens, gyms, pools, kids playing areas, squash court, public terraces and community multi-purpose space. A “High Square” is created. It acts as a large-scale, private communal area for all tenants that includes various landscaped pockets, pools, and access to the gym to enjoy leisure activities in a more private setting.
The building envelope provides a safe environment for the inhabitants, protecting them from the hustle and bustle of the street. From this level, one can see an aluminium mesh: a double skin that climbs the internal facade containing the emergency routes, and conceals the various service spaces that do not relate to the public. Behind the lattice are the five cores, which connect the residential floors. Passive design techniques and innovative materials are used to maximise thermal insulation and minimise light consumption, also enhancing ventilation of the building, avoiding the “heat-island” effect that occurs in this type of urban development.
With the pandemic, typologies like this one have taken on a renewed interest as they offer a variety of ‘communal’ and public space and how crucial it is to our well-being as a society. Wafra Living is socially driven, environmentally responsive and behavior-conscious. This development has set an example of how to approach urban issues and redefining areas; thereby becoming a catalyst for the city’s future growth.
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John Cullen launches Kuwait studio
John Cullen, the leading global luxury lighting design company, is launching its second studio in the GCC in Kuwait. The launch of the studio is line with the company’s expectations for strong growth in the regional luxury design and lighting market in the GCC.
“Following reopening of the economy after the pandemic-induced slowdown in 2020, we are seeing a resurgence in the luxury market in the GCC,” said Peter Rowledge, regional director for John Cullen Lighting. “Despite Covid-19 related restrictions on business operations, we managed to have a profitable year and have embarked on some exciting projects in the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar including luxury homes and hotels.
“We are expecting 2021 to see continued momentum in the luxury design sector, particularly in underserved markets such as Kuwait and Qatar. Globally, John Cullen represents refined design engineering, creativity, art and function for connoisseurs of luxury. We have extended the same commitment to our clients in the region while adapting to local sensibilities and design aesthetics of our partner architects, interior designers and property owners,” he said.
The Kuwait studio will be headed by Mohamad Sukar, who brings with him over 10 years of experience in the luxury lighting industry in Kuwait. Sukar will work closely with architects, interior designers & property owners to create bespoke lighting solutions in collaboration with the design and product team based in Dubai.
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The Assima Project by Pace in Kuwait is nearing completion
Kuwaiti real estate giant, Salhia Real Estate Company, is collaborating with mega retail project expert, Pace, to deliver yet another ambitious, mixed-use development: The Assima Mall and Tower. The project, currently under construction, is already carving a unique place for itself on the national landscape, well before works are completed.
Set to become a world-class destination for high-end shopping, entertainment, and leisure, the Assima development will feature three distinctive components: a shopping mall, a commercial tower and a five-star residence hotel. The project takes its name from the Arabic word for capita city – in an effort to reflect its small city persona; bringing all the conveniences of a mini-city in the heart of downtown Kuwait, while offering a variety of other key services, as well as a number of lifestyle and leisure facilities.
Ghazi Al Nafisi, chairman of Salhia Real Estate Company, said: “As visionary developers, we believe that the malls-of-tomorrow must be experiential and customer-focused. That is why we have created unique entertainment-oriented offerings at Assima to engage visitors at every possible touchpoint. Moreover, the project will actively boost the commercial value of Kuwait’s capital city and heighten its allure as a vibrant business and commercial hub. In terms of progress, we are pleased to have reached significant milestones with the Assima project. Every measure was taken to ensure the project’s adherence to the timeline in the safest and most efficient manner, given revised project timelines as a result of the pandemic”. According to Al Nafisi, the project is on track for completion by the end of 2021.
Tarek Shuaib, CEO at Pace, said: “As partners of development, we are always keen on playing an active role in the ongoing efforts develop the region’s retail and entertainment sectors, as well as promote both foreign and domestic tourism. Upon its completion, Assima will become the latest in our portfolio of first-class mixed-use developments that are now considered prime destinations for leisure, tourism and entertainment, for both locals and international visitors”.
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SSH is appointed as the Design and Supervision Consultant for Byout Hessah Development in Kuwait
SSH is excited to announce its involvement as Design and Supervision Consultant for the newly-launched Byout Hessah development, Package 2, of United Real Estate Company’s Hessah AlMubarak District in Kuwait.
Nestled within Hessah AlMubarak District’s modern, all-inclusive mixed-use neighbourhood, Byout Hessah offers a luxurious contemporary living community with a unique mix of townhouses and apartments with stunning views stretching from the Arabian Gulf to the heart of Kuwait City.
Byout stands out as a bold enclave inspired by Kuwait’s vision of future living, embracing high-end modern architecture harmonised by exclusivity and privacy. With a BUA of 47,000sqm, the development comprises 40 luxury townhouses and two 12-floor residential buildings with 104 upscale apartments, featuring spacious open plan designs, welcoming natural sunlight. Set amidst landscaped surroundings and conveniently located next to Hessah AlMubarak District’s retail and dining hub and other commercial components, residents will enjoy a live-work-play lifestyle.
As the first ever comprehensive, mixed-use district in Kuwait, Hessah AlMubarak District showcases residential buildings, serviced apartments, offices, clinics, health clubs, commercial activities, retail as well as food and beverage offerings. Once complete, the total leasable BUA of the development will be 381,000sqm.
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Stunning Waldorf Astoria Kuwait to make an autumn debut
Located within The Avenues, the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Kuwait is preparing to make its grand debut later this year. The stunning property features 200 contemporary, spacious and sun-drenched deluxe rooms, and suites with panoramic views of the glittering Kuwait City skyline.
Guests will enjoy a transformative journey of the senses at this ultra-luxurious property, from exquisite dining venues offering a range of mouthwatering delicacies and refreshing mocktails, to the awe-inspiring 13,560sqft Waldorf Spa that will leave them feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. The hotel’s exclusive Club Lounge redefines luxury, combining intimacy and comfort with a bespoke service. Meanwhile, beautiful meeting and event spaces – including a spectacular Grand Ballroom – provide idyllic venues for unforgettable celebrations or tailored corporate events.
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Pace reaches 30% completion milestone for the New Maternity Hospital in Kuwait
In efforts to upgrade the level of national healthcare and address the increase in demand of patient flow rate in the country, the Ministry of Public Works of Kuwait is collaborating with the leading regional multi-disciplinary firm, Pace, to undertake the construction of one of the largest healthcare projects in the region – the New Maternity Hospital. The new facility, to be ultimately handed over to the Ministry of Health, aspires to bring together all aspects of maternity care to a single complex, creating a specialised hospital.
For the New Maternity Hospital, the firm has been mandated with providing a full suite of construction services including the architectural design, construction supervision, infrastructure design and MEP works. The scope of work for this integrated and specialised medical facility also entails furnishing, medical equipment provision, and operational maintenance.
Upon completion, the hospital will accommodate 789 beds, with 460 rooms for patients and 198 intensive care rooms for premature infants, in addition to 27 operating theatres to serve obstetric, gynaecologic and IVF needs. The hospital will also include 58 delivery rooms and 74 outpatient clinics; providing a dedicated environment complete with its own support facilities.
Tarek Shuaib, CEO at Pace, said: “As trusted partners of national development for over 50 years, we continue to deliver mega development projects with the highest standards of construction quality and design excellence, including large-scale healthcare projects. We are proud to have in our portfolio some of the country’s most notable medical landmarks”.
The Hospital’s main building will consist of three large towers for in-patient beds situated atop a dense clinical podium, and adjacent to the out-patient clinical buildings, parking and a multi-level entry atrium. An Emergency Department, part of the critical care component of the facility, will tie to the wider emergency response network of the region. The Annex Building will host ambulatory services, administrative offices and an auditorium.
The spectacular site for this project, located on the coast of Kuwait Bay in the Al-Sabah Health Zone, offers a particularly exciting location to develop an environment with strong connections to the sea. Upon the client’s request the project design offers 70% of the in-patient rooms a view of the adjacent bay and coastline. Being located close to the bay area, the New Maternity Hospital will be equipped with a massive sea wall (water breaker) along the 320 metres shoreline as part of its green design. There is also a landscaping plan for the external areas and rooftops.
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