Mutual Life

What are the main elements of the Kuwaiti private houses?  How can we identify it? To find the proper answers for these questions, the history books of Kuwait will always be the first source of information to find these answers. A home has to find a balance between the environmental factors of the site and the lifestyle choices of its inhabitants.

For sure, there are different kinds of views for the people to construct their own dream houses and in fact it is the human nature that people are  different from each other. Privacy issue will be the main concern for the Kuwaiti citizens when they start to think of having a house for living. We all have a basic desire for personal privacy. None of the Kuwaitis want the interior of his house to be visible from the outside for pedestrians or people passing by which will allow them to see what is happening inside except for those who are not the original people and their desire is having a giant transparent windows to show the passersby their furniture’s, palm trees and the magnificent exterior. Moreover, some people try to show the price labels of the furniture in order to get a prestigious view.  Other people tend to have big windows and whenever they want more privacy, they would close them with shutters.

Giant Windows Houses

    Because of these reasons, they do not know what they want as some people want to show that they are wealthy. It is a waste of materials and money but in their point of you it is worth it. They have the wrong point of view for designing the house. Our climate is the key to define this identity. For example, in summer it is hot, dry and the winds come from the north western direction. In winter it is cold and rarely humid. The design simply will be a courtyard surrounded by rooms.

Courtyard Surrounded by Rooms





                  The design of a courtyard house (Arabian house) will create a ventilation system by creating that courtyard.  In summer, the hot air will get out from the house from the courtyard and the cold air will be preserved and in winter, it will be cold and beautiful place to live in. The design will be simple and beautiful. Clear governmental rules and regulations will create pleasant results. The design will create a historical place that will be nostalgic to the old times of the old Kuwaiti people which the design was token from the old ancient Roman metropolis.

                At the end, the government have to make a clear vision of designing houses for the citizens. They have to make restrictions for building and every Kuwaiti have to follow it and to have a consistency when someone starts to build his or her own house.  Penalties must be harsh and equal against the citizens so people will not think about breaking the rules. We need to have a clear identity and vision to give it for the next generations. The government have to build houses that cover the citizens need.  The citizen is free to choose whether to live in an apartment or house.  He is free to choose if he want a big or small house.  So, the government must be flexible with the citizens as the citizens are living in a Democratic country.  As long as the citizen is not breaking rules and regulations, he has the chance to do whatever he view that is suitable for him.  

Mishal AlMusaileekh
Photographs taken by Mishal Al Musaileekh