Article source: PAD10 Architects

Of resemblance to the social housing typology, Pearl-Marzouq complex, ‘Lou’lou’at Al-Marzouq’, embodied the complete opposite; a private housing for the affluent. Built in the early 70’s on al-Ras, a peninsula-like landform; with remoteness from the city center, al-Deira, yet at a distance close enough to be gazed at. With its red roof tiles and warm sandstone walls, the building infused a Mediterranean feel to the Arabian Gulf. For white collar expats partaking in the spur of Kuwait’s economy, it was home away from home. Similarly, it was convincing for well-to-do locals to substitute the privacy of their single residences, seeking a new ‘urbanized’ experience, by claiming their prime villa-like duplexes and penthouses with an elevated vantage point back to the city and its sea. The excitement inherent to this dense typology, was further amplified by subverting the building law to equate the number of floors to skip-stop elevator corridors. Connecting midway to duplex apartments, the area (sqm) was almost doubled, as the building height from its surrounding.

Image Courtesy © Sylvette Blaimont

• Architects: PAD10 Architects
• Project: Pearl Marzouq Complex
• Location: Ras, Kuwait
• Photography: Sylvette Blaimont
• Client: Aqarat Real Estate Co.
• Lead Architect / Designer: Naji Moujaes
• Team: Johnny Salman, Peter Cleven, Mohammad Nizamuddin, Rohan Almeida, Raymund Yadao, Alia Azzeh, Aline Bablanian, Kholoud Salman, Yousef Nizami, Adiba Farhan
• Gross Built Area (square meters or square foot): 40,000sqm
• Completion Year: 2016

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