Interview about Slabs House Residential Home, winner of the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award 2019
The Slab House was designed to juxtapose construction materials, combining wood, concrete, and steel. The design is at once hyper-modern yet discreet. The huge windows are an immediate focal point, but they are protected from the weather and street-view by concrete slabs. Gardens feature heavily in the property, both on the ground level and at the first floor, allowing the residents to feel connected to nature as they interact with the property, creating a unique flow as one moves from the entrance to the living areas.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsThe use of slabs enhances privacy, which is a common feature of Kuwaiti culture. This design solution respects the cultural emphasis on maintaining privacy while allowing natural light to penetrate the space, creating a harmonious balance between openness and seclusion.
The gardens at both ground level and the first floor of the Slabs House Residential Home create a unique connection with nature, serving as a special feature of this house. This vertical integration of green spaces was inspired by the desire to blend modern living with natural elements, offering residents a refreshing environment that promotes relaxation and well-being. It enhances daily living by providing private outdoor areas on multiple levels, fostering a sense of tranquility and connection to nature, even within an urban setting.
The juxtaposition of wood, concrete, and steel in the Slabs House Residential Home was carefully curated to balance modern aesthetics with Kuwait’s architectural heritage. Concrete was chosen for its durability and ability to create a sense of solidity and privacy, reflecting the region’s emphasis on secure, private spaces. Wood adds warmth and a natural texture, softening the overall design and creating a welcoming atmosphere, while steel brings a contemporary edge, symbolizing innovation and progress. Together, these materials tell a story of tradition meeting modernity, blending Kuwait’s cultural values with sleek, modern design principles.
The design of Slabs House Residential Home carefully balances Kuwait’s extreme weather conditions with a desire for openness and an airy atmosphere. Environmental considerations played a central role in the architectural process. The use of protective concrete slabs shields the interior from harsh sunlight while allowing for strategic airflow to keep the home cool. Floor-to-ceiling windows are positioned to optimize natural light without compromising insulation, reducing reliance on artificial lighting. Additionally, integrating shaded green spaces helps regulate temperature and creates a microclimate around the house. These features combine to enhance comfort while reflecting a sustainable and climate-responsive design approach.
The Silver A’ Design Award recognized the Slabs House Residential Home for its innovative use of space, achieved through a careful balance of intimacy and openness within the 600-square-meter plot. The design process focused on maximizing functionality while creating a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor areas. Protective concrete slabs were strategically positioned to provide privacy for intimate spaces, such as bedrooms and family areas, without sacrificing the openness of communal zones like the living and dining areas. Floor-to-ceiling windows and vertical gardens further enhanced this balance, fostering a connection to nature while ensuring each space felt private and purposeful. This thoughtful spatial arrangement transformed the compact plot into a harmonious, multi-functional living environment.
The research phase of Slabs House Residential Home drew deeply from Kuwait’s architectural history, influencing its modern interpretation through structural elements and spatial organization. Traditional Kuwaiti homes prioritize privacy and climate adaptability, often featuring enclosed courtyards and thick walls for insulation. These principles inspired the use of protective concrete slabs to create shaded, private spaces while promoting airflow. Similarly, the spatial organization reflects the cultural emphasis on family-oriented living, with distinct zones for communal and private activities. By reinterpreting these historical elements through a modern lens—integrating contemporary materials and open layouts—the design honors Kuwait’s architectural heritage while addressing the needs of today’s lifestyle.
The concrete slabs in Slabs House Residential Home were envisioned as a multi-functional architectural element from the outset, evolving to balance aesthetic appeal with practical needs for privacy and security. During the concept phase, the slabs were designed to act as visual shields, inspired by Kuwait’s cultural emphasis on privacy. Their placement was carefully planned to protect interior spaces from direct sightlines while maintaining openness through strategic gaps for natural light and ventilation.
The journey begins with a partially enclosed entryway, offering a sense of shelter and anticipation. From there, the design guides residents and visitors through a carefully curated progression, using spatial thresholds such as textured walls, strategically placed slabs, and changes in ceiling height to subtly define each area.The transition into the living areas was crafted to feel expansive and inviting, with open-plan layouts that blur the boundaries between indoor and outdoor spaces. The interplay of light, materials, and views ensures that each movement through the home feels intentional, creating a fluid narrative that connects the spaces while maintaining distinct functions. This choreography reflects the home’s modern aesthetic and cultural roots, offering both comfort and elegance.
The elevated position naturally shields the home from street-level disturbances, aligning with Kuwait’s cultural emphasis on seclusion. It allowed for the creation of expansive floor-to-ceiling windows without compromising privacy, offering unobstructed views of the surroundings while maintaining the home’s intimate feel.Additionally, the elevation influenced the placement of outdoor spaces, such as terraces and gardens, which were designed to capitalize on the height for panoramic vistas and a sense of openness. It also guided the integration of protective concrete slabs, ensuring they framed views strategically while harmonizing with the environment. This thoughtful approach transformed the elevation into a defining feature, merging the home’s architecture with its natural context.
By relocating these units out of sight, we were able to preserve the clean, minimal lines of the building’s facade, allowing the architectural elements, such as the concrete slabs and floor-to-ceiling windows, to take center stage without interruption.Functionally, this choice maximized usable space within the home, ensuring that the interiors remained uncluttered and organized. It also contributed to the overall efficiency of the design, as the rooftop location allowed for better distribution of utilities and maintenance access, without compromising the aesthetics of the living areas.This integration of technical considerations with the design allowed for a more cohesive and refined overall experience, where the mechanical elements support the home’s modern look while remaining unobtrusive and efficient.
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