Making Kuwait: Tradition vs. Modernity

THE 8th IASTE CONFERENCE (UN)BOUNDING TRADITION: The Tensions of Borders and Regions DECEMBER 12-15, 2002. HONG KONG

Making Kuwait: Tradition vs. Modernity Dr. Yasser Mahgoub Department of Architecture, College of Engineering & Petroleum Kuwait University

Introduction ď Ž This

paper discusses the tension between the forces of tradition and modernity as exemplified in the making of Kuwait city. ď Ž It

argues that this tension is gaining momentum as reflection of tensions between traditional and modern values in cultures all over the world.

Introduction ď Ž The

tensions between tradition and modernity are active in the countries of the Gulf area since the middle of the 20th century when they witnessed rapid development and change following the discovery of oil with economic quantities in the region. ď Ž These

tensions are more evident and magnified than in other parts of the world.

The state of research in the area  Culturo-geographical

– Latin America – South-east Asia – Eastern Europe – Middle east – Former USSER – China – Gulf countries

Areas

The state of research in the area ď Ž Theories:

Globalization

Gary Madison suggest that "we now have a name for the dynamics at work in the present stage in the development of civilization: globalization.� He identifies the phenomenon of globalization as having 5 main aspects; economic, political, technological, social and cultural. (Madison, 1998)

Social

Economic

GLOBALIZATION Political

Cultural

Technological

The state of research in the area  Theories:

Globalization

Hemalata Dandekar points out that in the diverse discourse on globalization, analysis of its implications for the physical fabric of local place, particularly for the local space of city neighborhoods, has remained relatively neglected. She asks, “What are the manifestations of globalization in tangible reality, in the physical spaces and places of the emerging city of the twenty-first century?” She adds that “for architects and urban planners, the various impacts of the generic phenomenon termed “globalization” on the three dimensional built form of city real estate promise to be crucial in determining how, and in what arenas, their professions will play a role in the next century. (Dandekar, 1998)

The state of research in the area ď Ž Theories:

Globalization

Gail Satler suggests an analytic paradigm for reading architectural forms and offers "a definition of globalization that understands the essential need to preserve and respect diversity as well as house seemingly disparate philosophies of space, people, and their interactions with and within the built form." It recognizes other cultures to be as essential to the existence of the dominant form and it considers whether, at some point, all the marginal cultures carry enough weight to transform the center - eventually shifting the center of that space from where only the dominant form can be viewed to where cultures meet and contest, rather than absorb or are absorbed. “ (Satler, 1999)

The state of research in the area  Theories:

Globalization

Wu Liangyong proclaimed that “we are realizing that globalization and regionalization are like two sides of a coin and thus are inseparable. One cannot deny the existence of the other without negative effects. In varying circumstances, the weight of globalization and localization will be different.”

As he put it, “The world is therefore a large garden where blossoms may cross-fertilize to cerate new varieties of their time.”

He has developed “a theory of INTEGRAL ARCHITECTURE which shares many basic ideas of ‘organic architecture’, ‘regional architecture’, and ‘new picturesque’ among others.” (Liangyong, 2000)

The state of research in the area  Theories:

Cultural Change

Amos Rapoport suggests that relatively consistent factors always become recognizable in traditional architectural landscapes next to formal variety, which are more or less derived clearly from physical or empirical human conditions: Mobility, Perception of space, Economic situation, Material and technological conditions, Human tradition, Development, …

He adds that, “During cultural changes "certain elements (peripheral) are given up not only willingly but eagerly for new ones, but that others (core) are retained until the latter end.” (Rapoport, 1989)

PERIPHERAL

CORE

The state of research in the area ď Ž Theories:

Area specific

P.J. Rimmer and H.W. Dick argue that globalization has made the paradigm of the Third World City obsolete in south-east Asia. Since the 1980s in most leading cities of south-east Asia, developers have acquired massive land portfolios and invested huge sums of capital to the point, as in Thailand, of actually destabilizing the national financial system. What has emerged is a pattern of new town developments integrated with industrial estates, toll roads, ports and airports. Although new to south-east Asia, the situation is familiar enough. They argue that “it is now timely to reintegrate debates over south-east Asian cities with mainstream First World and global debates.� (Rimmer , 1998)

The state of research in the area ď Ž Theories:

Area specific

Chris Abel argues that "looking at Kuala Lumpur or Singapore today, it is easy to conclude that the forces of a globalized consumer culture have all but won." (Abel, 1994) He identified the visual attributes of familiar Western models as: 1. The Central Business District 2.

The air-conditioned office towers 3.

The McDonald's franchises 4.

The shopping centers selling the same consumer products 5.

The jam-packed highways spreading out into the suburbs, and 6.

The suburbs themselves, with their 'Dallas'-inspired mixture of neo-classical and Spanish-style villas

The state of research in the area ď Ž Theories:

Area specific

El-Sheshtawy et al argue that third world cities especially those which have witnessed rapid growth within the last two decades - are moving towards a "co-existence" model which takes into account forces of modernization and change (globalization) while at the same time responding to the preservation of traditional elements within the society.

They noted that the "paradox" of attempting to "join the universal civilization" while responding to local conditions is resolved in the city of Dubai through the development of an open air-museum and by catering to "traditional" elements thus maintaining (or sustaining) vital soci-economic networks. (El-Sheshtawy et al, 2000)

The state of research in the area ď Ž Theories:

Area specific

Omar Khattab argues that "the Arab city has experienced dramatic changes during the second half of the 20th century and that "these changes have occurred in the political, economic, and cultural arenas, and are especially evident in architecture." (Khattab, 2001)

Background

ď Ž Kuwait

was mostly isolated from external influences until the discovery of oil during the 1940's.

Kuwait Before 1950

Kuwait Before 1950

Old Walls of Kuwait

Kuwait Before 1950

Desert Tents

Houses

Gulf Ports

Market

Kuwait Before 1950

Kuwait: Traditional Houses Courtyard house closed from the outside and open to the inside courtyard; called alhoush.

Al Badr House

Kuwait: Traditional Houses

Al Awadi House

Al Dabous House

Kuwait: Traditional Houses

Al Ibrahimi House

Al Asousi House

Kuwait: Traditional Diwans

Al Assosi Diwan

Kuwait: Traditional Diwans

Al Shamlan Diwan

Kuwait: Kuwait After 1950 ď Ž Kuwait

went through a rapid process of modernization and cultural change started by its first planning in 1950 by the British office MINOPRIO, SPENCELY AND P.W. MACFARLANE (1951).

Old Kuwait City Master Plan 1952

Kuwait: Kuwait After 1950 They regarded the following matters as being of primary importance in the “replanning” of the town: 

Modern road system.

Zones for public buildings, industry, commerce, schools, etc. 



Zones for new houses.

Sites for parks, sports ground, and other open spaces. 

New Kuwait City Master Plan 1952

Kuwait: Kuwait After 1950 

The creation of beautiful and dignified town center, particular attention being given to the Safat and the siting of public buildings.



The planting of trees and shrubs among the principal roads and at other important points in the town.



The provision of improved main roads linking Kuwait with the adjoining towns and villages.

Town center and Safat Square

Kuwait: Kuwait After 1950 ď Ž The

use of traditional local materials and techniques, which are often considered archaic and obsolete, was abandoned in favor of modern imported material and construction techniques

Demolition of the old walls in 1957

Kuwait City planning

Before 1950

1970

1952

1967

1977

1994

Aerial view of Kuwait City 1992

The case of Kuwait Kuwait shares the experience of many cities of Third World countries around the world that include visual attributes of familiar Western models as:

1. The Central Business District

The case of Kuwait 2. The air-conditioned office towers

The case of Kuwait 3. Fast-food franchises

The case of Kuwait 4. The shopping centers selling the same consumer products

The case of Kuwait 5. The highways spreading out into the suburbs

The case of Kuwait 6. The suburbs themselves, with their 'Dallas'-inspired mixture of neo-classical and Spanish-style villas

The New Styles of Architecture The new styles of architecture entered the Gulf area after the discovery of oil through two venues (Ibrahim, 1985): 1. The first venue was large projects of monumental architecture that were designed and constructed by Western architects without any economic or technical limitations in designing these projects.

2. The second venue was domestic architecture built by individuals in the form of private houses or apartment buildings. This was mostly designed and constructed by local or Arab architects who were influenced by economic, cultural and social requirements of the owner who usually imposed his views on the architect.

Examples from Kuwait Kuwait Towers Information: Location: Ras Ajoza, Sharq, Kuwait International Consultant: Vatten Byggnad, Byran, Sweden Architects : Sune Lindstrom & Malene Bjorn Local Consultant: Date of construction: 1971-1978 Site Area: 83.000 meter square Cost: 7 million KD

Sea view

Concept: The Arabian rose water sprinklers

Night views

Interior view

Plan

Entrance

Details

Examples from Kuwait Chamber of Commerce & Industry Information: Location: Mubarak Al- Kabeer/ Al- Shuhadaa intersection Kuwait City International Consultant: HLW Int’l-Christopher Choa Local Consultant: Al- Jazeera ConsultantsAhmad A. Al- Jihayem Date of construction: January 1994 to October 1999 Area: 35,000sq meters Cost: KD 11.4 million Concept: Caravanserai

Drawings

Examples from Kuwait The Scientific center Information: Location: Waterfront at Ras Al Ardh , Salmiya International Consultant: Cambridge Seven Associates Inc. Local Consultant: Gulf Consultants Date of construction: 1996 to 2000 Area: 18,880 square meters Cost: $ 75 million

Plan

Exterior view

Interior views

Sea view

details

Examples from Kuwait

Arab Organizations Headquarters Building Information: Location: Shwaikh, Kuwait

Entrance door

Exterior views

Concept: The Courtyard

Interior view

Woodwork Details

Entrance

Examples from Kuwait The Kuwaiti Heritage Village at Kuwait Magic Information: Location: Abu Hlifa, Kuwait International Consultant: Philip Lion Area: 26,792 square meters Elevation

Concept: Traditional village

Exterior view

Site Plan

Details

Modern-Traditional Style There is an interest in revival of Kuwaiti traditional architecture has evolved among many Kuwaiti architects. Several trials are made to develop contemporary architecture with identity and style.

Comparing Traditional and Modern Architecture Climatic solutions Air condition

Barjil

Glass

Courtyard

Openings

Material

Modern

Vernacular

Comparison between traditional and modern climatic solutions

Comparing Traditional and Modern Architecture Neighborhood Planning

Modern neighborhood

Modern

Vernacular

Vernacular and modern neighborhood planning

Traditional neighborhood

Comparing Traditional and Modern Architecture Old and New houses

House

Courtyard

Garden

House

Modern house design

Modern House Design

Vernacular House Design

Modern and traditional house design

Traditional house design

Comparing Traditional and Modern Architecture Old and New streets

Modern streets

Traditional streets

Areas of conflict between Tradition and Modernity Identity

Tradition Constant

Modernity Changing

Boundaries

Loosely defined

Well defined

Mobility Space

Low speed - slow transition Internal - static

High speed - quick transition External – dynamic

Place

Sense of place

Place of senses

Development Economy

Slow Equal poor

Fast Unequal rich

Material and Technology

Local - simple

Imported – complex

Human tradition

Shared

Individualized

Conclusions The clash of styles that exists in the built environment is a product of an uncontrolled globalization process that started at the middle of the 20th century.

The Clash of Styles

Different architectural styles side by side

Venues for Action While there are still many lessons to be learnt from studying the response of different cultures to globalization, there are several venues for action to start with: – – – – – – – –

Lessons from the traditional architecture Building codes and regulations Municipality committees Architectural education Professional practice Public awareness Sustainable architecture Regional Architecture

Thank you.