Search Database
The Kuwait Water Towers
Location
Kuwait City
Country
Kuwait

Architect/Engineer/Team
(Collab.) Bjorn & Bjorn Design with Vattenbyynadsbyran (VBB)

Construction
1969/1976

Project Status
Built
Building Type
Water tower

Notes
Winner of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in 1980. The project was commissioned to the Swedish firm VBB by the Kuwait Ministry of Electricity and Water in 1967. Kuwait's Emir, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah wanted one part of the scheme to have a landmark quality so Malene Bjorn was added to the team. The design consists of three towers, two of them containing water tanks. The main tower has two spheres, one containing a restaurant, banqueting hall and an indoor garden while the other has a revolving cafeteria and a viewing platform glazed with triangular pieces of glass held in an aluminum space frame. The structures have become a symbol of Kuwait City.
Sources

World Architecture A Critical Mosaic, Middle East, Vol. 5, pp. 132-133

Aga Khan Award

Contemporary Architecture in the Arab States (Kultermann), pp. 176-178

Information in this database is updated constantly. Do not hesitate to send us comments, information, or illustrations (with appropriate credits) to database@arab-architecture.org
View of the three central towers
Source: Aga Khan Award for Architecture
© © Aga Khan Award for Architecture
View of the mushroom-shaped towers
Source: Aga Khan Award for Architecture
© © Aga Khan Award for Architecture
View during construction
Source: Aga Khan Award for Architecture
© © Aga Khan Award for Architecture
Plan
Source: Aga Khan Award for Architecture
© © Aga Khan Award for Architecture