residential complex by studio madouh questions archetypal kuwaiti architecture

in kuwait city, studio madouh has completed a residential complex that seeks to question the homogenization of urban environments. named ‘residential nasima’, the development blends into the existing urban fabric — a gesture intended to help preserve the region’s culture while still allowing progress. ‘as kuwait city moves towards drastic and rapid modernization, the architectural values that should protect the culture, traditions of the city, and the individual are starting to disintegrate,’ say the architects.

all images by nelson garrido

in the layout of the scheme, studio madouh references both the natural landscape and historic urban clusters. the design, and its configuration, confronts two archetypes seen throughout the region: standard, rectilinear, symmetrical city plot dimensions, and the use of native stone and white concrete. ‘the design works backwards from the basic volume of the zoning envelope — essentially the cube,’ explains the design team. ‘then the monolithic volume is chiseled through a series of cuts informing internal use, sun shading, and access.’

the residential complex seeks to question the homogenization of urban environments

containing eight individual properties, ‘residential nasima’ encompasses over 4,000 square meters of built area. ‘the forceful exterior voids are cut into the building envelope, celebrating a reading of interior program and shading as well as allowing natural light,’ continues studio madouh. ‘individual housing units are in filled into the larger site massing, allowing a medium between privacy and open public views.’

the design works backwards from the basic volume of the zoning envelope

the monolithic volume has been chiseled through a series of cuts

the resultant form is defined by internal use, sun shading, and access

‘residential nasima’ contains eight individual properties

the development encompasses over 4,000 square meters of built area

the scheme seeks to blend into the existing urban fabric

forceful exterior voids are cut into the building envelope

the project becomes dramatically illuminated by night

the housing development is located in rawda, kuwait

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project info:

date: 2012 – 2015
status: completed
location: rawda, kuwait
area: 2,100 sqm
program: residential compound
architect: studio madouh
associate: JBA collective

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