Arab Organizations Headquarters:
Client:
Location :
Site:
Date:
Cost:Arab Fund for Economic & Social Development
Kuwait
Shuwaikh
1987-1990
1991-1994
$100 million
The Headquarters of Arab Organizations located in Shuwaikh on a 12,000 square meter site. The building houses four Major Arab Organizations: The Arab Fund for Social & Economic Development, Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries, Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation and the Arab Maritime Petroleum Transport Company. The building comprises 10 floors and two basements that provide a total area of 54,000 square meters. The ground and first floor are for multiple uses by the four organizations and include meeting halls, library and cafeteria. The upper floors are designated for use as offices and surround an air-conditioned, naturally lit atrium. The two basements accommodate 400 car parking spaces and all mechanical services. The building elevations are clad with light gray granite and are dotted with deep set slanted windows and gray tinted reflecting glass. The decorations within the building are geometric in pattern following an Islamic design. The central atrium is anchored by a majestic eight story high mashrabiya. A vast suspended glass wall spanning 5 floors is located on one face of the building. Finishes, within the building, were executed by craftsmen from Syria, Morrocco, Egypt and Kuwait. Over 7,000 construction documents were produced to execute the building. The building has been widely acclaimed as both a technical and aesthetic masterpiece. With its innovative architecture, it has become a national landmark of Kuwait.
