Interview about Abstract House Residential Home, winner of the A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award 2019
The residence utilizes a modern aesthetic while retaining a central courtyard, which evokes the traditional Kuwaiti practice in the building of houses. Here the residence is allowed to acknowledge both past and present, without clashing. The water feature at the steps of the main door sweeps outwards, the floor to ceiling glass helps keep the spaces more open, allowing the users to go between outside and inside, past and present, effortlessly.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsIn Abstract House, I sought to reinterpret this classic element in a way that aligns with modern living. The courtyard was reimagined as a central, open-air space that acts as a natural focal point, drawing light and airflow into the home, while its surrounding walls provide privacy and shield the interior from the external environment. By incorporating minimalist materials and clean lines, I preserved the timeless essence of the traditional courtyard but presented it in a way that complements the home’s sleek, abstract design.This fusion of past and present informed my broader design philosophy, where cultural traditions are honored, yet expressed in new, contemporary forms. The result is a home that respects the local heritage while offering a forward-thinking approach to space, functionality, and aesthetics.
The water feature is designed to enhance the visual flow of the home, acting as both a transitional space and a symbolic bridge between the external environment and the internal experience. Its reflective surface captures light and the surrounding architecture, creating a dynamic interaction with the home’s materials and structures. This element embodies the core concept of bridging traditional and contemporary architecture by using a familiar, cultural motif—water—but presenting it in a simplified, sleek form that aligns with the modern aesthetic of the home.In the overall narrative, the water feature marks the entrance as a threshold, where the calming, reflective qualities of water invite visitors into the home, setting the tone for a seamless fusion of heritage and modernity. It serves as a visual and sensory link between the past and the present, enhancing the home’s narrative of cultural continuity within a contemporary context.
The narrow passage was initially conceived as a way to define distinct zones within the home, creating a sense of separation between public and private areas without sacrificing the openness and transparency typical of modern design. The 30-meter length of the passage allowed for a deep visual connection across the house, while the central garden served as a calming focal point that brings nature into the heart of the home, enhancing the sense of serenity.The decision to use double-glazed glass was driven by both functional and aesthetic considerations. It maximizes natural light and provides unobstructed views of the garden, blurring the boundaries between the interior and exterior. At the same time, it ensures insulation and soundproofing, maintaining the home’s energy efficiency and comfort.
Culturally, the design had to respect the strong local emphasis on privacy, which is deeply rooted in Kuwaiti architecture. To address this, the transparency of the glass was balanced with the strategic use of design elements such as strategic shading, protective walls, and carefully positioned landscaping. These elements shield the interior from direct view, allowing the glass to remain open and expansive without sacrificing privacy.Moreover, the use of frosted or tinted glass in certain areas further enhanced privacy without compromising the aesthetic goals of transparency and lightness. This careful balance ensures that the home remains in harmony with cultural values, offering both openness and seclusion, while maintaining an inviting, contemporary design that fosters a strong connection with the outdoors.
Concrete finish was selected for its raw, industrial quality, which grounds the design in a sense of permanence and strength. Concrete is a material that evokes modernity and minimalism, and in this home, it serves as the structural backbone, creating a solid, tactile foundation that contrasts beautifully with the more refined materials used elsewhere. The use of concrete also echoes traditional architectural forms found in the region, where mass and solid structures are key elements of local design.White sigma—a refined, smooth, and light finish—was chosen to complement the concrete’s weightiness and create an airy, luminous contrast. This material enhances the sense of openness and spaciousness, reflecting light and contributing to the home’s clean, minimalist aesthetic. White also symbolizes purity and simplicity, aligning with the home’s modern, unadorned design language.Black marble was selected for its sophisticated, luxurious texture and deep, contrasting color. It introduces a sense of elegance and timelessness, creating a refined juxtaposition against the other materials. The black marble serves as an anchor within the interior spaces, offering visual weight and grounding the more ethereal, lighter finishes of concrete and white sigma. This contrast between light and dark materials not only enhances the aesthetic impact but also represents the balance between tradition and modernity in the home’s design.
The decision to add multiple levels was influenced by the need to balance privacy with openness. By expanding vertically, we were able to create distinct zones within the home—public, semi-public, and private areas—while maintaining a sense of openness and fluidity. The upper levels allow for private bedrooms and quiet spaces, elevating the home above street-level noise and activity, and providing enhanced views of the surrounding landscape. The lower levels remain focused on communal areas, such as the living, dining, and kitchen spaces, ensuring that these areas stay connected to the outdoors through the use of large glass elements and open floor plans.The vertical expansion also allowed for the inclusion of a central garden and the strategic placement of outdoor spaces across different levels, creating a dynamic connection between nature and the home. This not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the residence but also provides opportunities for interaction with nature at different heights, offering unique experiences of light, shadow, and air circulation at various times of the day.
Functionally, the courtyard acts as a climatic buffer, allowing for the circulation of fresh air and providing passive cooling by reducing heat buildup in the interior. It also serves as a visual and sensory focal point, offering views from various rooms while maintaining privacy. The use of native plants and water elements within the courtyard further contributes to cooling, creating a microclimate that mitigates the harsh outdoor environment.Aesthetically, the courtyard enhances the home’s design by introducing a natural, organic element that contrasts with the sleek, modern materials of concrete and glass. It brings a sense of tranquility and balance to the interior spaces, fostering a harmonious connection between the built environment and nature. The integration of the courtyard creates a visual flow, allowing light to penetrate deep into the home, while the strategic placement of walls and glass ensures that privacy is maintained from the outside.
To address this delicate equilibrium, I employed several strategies: 1. Strategic Placement of Windows: The window openings were carefully placed to provide maximum light and ventilation while maintaining privacy. Windows facing the street or other homes were kept minimal and strategically positioned high on the walls or behind protective features like concrete slabs or screens. This ensures that the interiors are not exposed to public view while still benefiting from natural light. 2. Use of Shading Devices: To control the intensity of sunlight, particularly in Kuwait’s hot climate, I integrated architectural elements such as overhangs, concrete fins, and sliding screens. These not only provide shade but also filter natural light, creating soft, diffused light inside the home, which enhances comfort while respecting privacy. 3. Floor-to-Ceiling Glass with Vertical Gardens: For a more open feel, floor-to-ceiling glass panels were incorporated in private areas, such as the central courtyard, but these were often surrounded by tall vertical gardens or framed with architectural elements that shielded the view from external observers. This allowed for expansive views without sacrificing privacy, bringing a connection to nature into the home. 4. Glass and Reflective Materials: In areas where more transparency was desired, such as the central courtyard or living areas, I used high-quality, double-glazed glass to ensure energy efficiency while maintaining a sense of openness. The
1. Client’s Vision and Preferences: Early in the design process, the client expressed a desire for a home that balanced privacy with openness, incorporated modern aesthetics, and responded to the climate and cultural context of Kuwait. This feedback helped shape the overall direction of the project, guiding decisions such as the inclusion of a central courtyard for natural ventilation, the use of high-performance materials like double-glazed glass, and the strategic placement of windows to enhance light and views without compromising privacy. 2. Adaptation of Space and Functionality: As the design evolved, the client’s input on how they envisioned the use of space played a pivotal role in the layout. They wanted the home to function as a flexible space that accommodated both social gatherings and quiet, private retreats. This feedback influenced the decision to incorporate distinct zones, with the central courtyard serving as a focal point, and the integration of multi-level living areas to create separation between public and private spaces. 3. Material Selection: The client’s preferences for luxurious, timeless materials also played a key role in the selection of finishes like concrete, black marble, and white sigma. Their desire for an elegant, modern aesthetic with a sense of permanence and natural beauty guided the choices of materials that would not only enhance the visual appeal but also withstand the harsh climate.
1. Integration of Modernity with Tradition: The design of Abstract House reflects an evolving architectural dialogue that blends modern materials and techniques with traditional cultural values, such as privacy and respect for the natural environment. Future projects in Kuwait may follow this approach, incorporating modern aesthetics and cutting-edge technologies while still addressing the deep-rooted cultural preferences for seclusion, family-oriented living, and connection to nature. 2. Climate-Responsive Design: Given Kuwait’s harsh desert climate, there is growing recognition of the need for climate-responsive architecture. Abstract House exemplifies how design can address environmental challenges through strategic use of materials, shading, and passive cooling systems like the central courtyard. This project could inspire more designers to incorporate energy-efficient and sustainable design solutions, such as passive solar heating, natural ventilation, and smart climate control, to reduce reliance on mechanical systems and enhance the home’s comfort. 3. Privacy with Transparency: The way Abstract House addresses the delicate balance between openness and privacy, especially through its carefully considered window openings, glass elements, and strategic landscaping, could inspire future designs to explore innovative ways to create transparent, light-filled interiors without compromising cultural values around privacy. This could lead to a more nuanced approach to spatial planning in residential architecture, where privacy and openness coexist seamlessly.
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