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Status

Unbuilt

Date
2018

Location

Salmiya, Kuwait

Team
Fouad Samara
Jad Abi Fadel
Nohad Bechara
Chirine Kai

A spearhead into the future

جادك الغيث إذا الغيث همى يا زمان الوصل بالأندلس
لم يكن وصلك إلاّ حلماً في الكرى أو خلسة المختلس

Extract from an Andalusian poem, by Lisan Eddin Alkhatib (1313 – 1374), on the longing for precious rain.
The Kuwait Fund for the Advancement of Science is a firm commitment by Kuwait towards the betterment not only of Kuwait and its society but of the entire world. Our competition entry aims to be an embodiment of that noble position taken up by the spear heading institute, fittingly planned for relocation to Ras Al Ard – in itself a spearhead into the sea … into the future.
Of great importance is the value placed on the public open space that is the thriving 21km long Corniche. We propose extending it with the new buildings becoming an integral part of it, creating a necessary and obvious dialogue between the extended public space and KFAS, in itself an integral part of Kuwaiti society.

 

The cloud

From the Coastal Ring Road, one sees a cloud like structure in the distance, hovering above Ras Al Ard, promising – like a cloud promises rain – something valuable and noble.

 

A delicate presence

The building has immense presence. But a presence that is not overbearing or heavy. It is dematerialized in form and colour, and permeable. It is not like anything around it, but engages with everything around it. It is delicate, but has presence.

 

A seamless flow between the built and natural

At grade, the Corniche and its lush planting no longer come to an abrupt end, but go through and under the KFAS Corporate Head Office Building. A series of low slung pavilions scattered within the garden form the second part of the KFAS Corporate Head Office Building where limits of building and vegetation become blurred. Full glass merges inside with out; the delicate tartan grid structure invites climbers to take over.

 

A destination and gateway

Further along the extended public space, the KFAS Convention Centre appears as a minimalist sculptural mass – a strong urban entity intended to instill order within the urban chaos around it. We also felt the KFAS Convention Centre has two roles to play: one as destination, the other as gateway.
Destination as the Convention Centre that sits within the extended public park, and gateway as we felt the walk along the Corniche needs to culminate in something spiritual. Something that spoke of Kuwait’s
past, but also of its future.
We felt that the sea was where we wanted to be at the end of that physical walk; looking out, looking back.

 

A metaphor of discovery

A promenade architectural continuing the Corniche walk goes through the Convention Centre inviting visitors and passers by to interact with its inner space. The path eventually leads out on to a pier that extends out into the open sea seemingly endlessly – again a metaphor for the endless path of learning and discovery.

 

The amphitheatre

Along the pier, an amphitheatre rises to one side and a floating pier on another. With Ras Al Ard as a background, the amphitheatre offers an opportunity at self examination and reflection – a dramatic venue for events intended to invite people to look at things differently and critically, something necessary if we are to rise up to the challenges of the 21st Century.
The pier establishes an immediate link with the sea – a crucial component of Kuwait’s historical being.