Socio-Cultural Sustainability of Housing Environments in Kuwait

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Under the umbrella of

XXIInd UIA World Congress of ArchitectureXXIInd UIA World Congress of ArchitectureU I A 2 0 0 5 I S T A N B U LU I A 2 0 0 5 I S T A N B U L

THEMATIC SECTION 3: ARCHITECTURE OF CITIESTHEMATIC SECTION 3: ARCHITECTURE OF CITIESHousing in CitiesHousing in Cities

Socio-Cultural Sustainability of Socio-Cultural Sustainability of Housing Environments in KuwaitHousing Environments in Kuwait

Dr. Yasser MahgoubDepartment of Architecture, College of Engineering & Petroleum

Kuwait University

July 2005, Istanbul – TURKEYJuly 2005, Istanbul – TURKEY

IAPS-CSBE ‘CULTURE AND SPACE IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT NETWORK’IAPS-CSBE ‘CULTURE AND SPACE IN THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT NETWORK’SOCIAL CHANGE AND SPATIAL TRANSFORMATION IN HOUSING ENVIRONMENTSSOCIAL CHANGE AND SPATIAL TRANSFORMATION IN HOUSING ENVIRONMENTS

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IntroductionIntroductionCities of the Gulf countries

have witnessed rapid urbanization during the second half of the 20th century.

After the discovery of oil, they were transformed from traditional settlements to modern planned cites in a very short period of time.

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IntroductionIntroductionThe city-state of Kuwait is one

the Gulf countries that went through this rapid change and transformation.

This paper studies the impact of the rapid urbanization process on the housing environment in Kuwait in terms of it sustainability.

It argues that this rapid planned change and urbanization did not permit the city to develop in a sustainable manner.

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MethodMethodThe paper analyzes the

impact of rapid urbanization

process that occurred during

the second half of the 20th

century on the quality of

housing environment in Kuwait.

It suggests avenues for achieving a sustainable environment in Kuwait and attempts to extract lessons useful to other contexts.

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MethodMethodIt adopts a framework proposed by Wheeler that

suggests the utilization of main characteristics of

urban sustainability to analyze the quality of life in the

urban housing environment. (Wheeler, 1998, p. 439)

These characteristics include: 1. Compact, efficient land use

2. Less automobile use, better access

3. Efficient resource use, less pollution and waste

4. Restoration of natural systems

5. Good housing and living environments

6. A healthy social ecology

7. A sustainable economics

8. Community participation and involvement

9. Preservation of local culture and wisdom

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MethodMethod

The paper utilizes the method

of comparative analysis between

the past and the present urban

housing environment in Kuwait

to highlight the impact of sudden

economic, social and cultural

change produced by its rapid,

planned urbanization during the

second half of the 20th century

on the quality of urban life..

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The term "sustainability" was first offered in 1987 by the

United Nation's World Commission on Environment and

Development in its report Our Common Future, known as

the Brundtland Report.

According to that document,

"Sustainable development is development

that meets the needs of the present without

compromising the ability of future generations

to meet their own needs.”

Theoretical Background: Theoretical Background: Definitions of SustainabilityDefinitions of Sustainability

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In the Istanbul Declaration, the Heads of State or

Government and the official delegations of countries

assembled at the United Nations Conference on Human

Settlements (Habitat II) in Istanbul, Turkey from 3 to 14

June 1996, endorsed the universal goals of ensuring

adequate shelter for all and making human settlements

safer, healthier and more liveable, equitable,

“sustainable” and productive.


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The concept of sustainable development has been The concept of sustainable development has been

initially debated and interpreted in terms of initially debated and interpreted in terms of the limits of the limits of

the earth to accommodate human activitiesthe earth to accommodate human activities, thus, , thus,

‘‘ecological sustainabilityecological sustainability’ was the early concern. ’ was the early concern.

As the concept develops, ‘As the concept develops, ‘economic sustainabilityeconomic sustainability’, ’,

‘‘social sustainabilitysocial sustainability’, and ‘’, and ‘cultural sustainabilitycultural sustainability’ have ’ have

gradually been incorporated as key dimensions of gradually been incorporated as key dimensions of

sustainable development. sustainable development.


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Further, the Further, the linkageslinkages between these between these different different

dimensionsdimensions of sustainability should be fully taken into of sustainability should be fully taken into

account, and that they should not be isolated from one account, and that they should not be isolated from one

another.another.

(Khan, 1995; Williams, et al, 2000)(Khan, 1995; Williams, et al, 2000)

The real power of The real power of the concept of sustainabilitythe concept of sustainability lies lies

in its in its integration of economic, social, and ecological integration of economic, social, and ecological

systemssystems, previously studied and dealt with separately, previously studied and dealt with separately

(Center for Sustainable Communities, Tutorials, 1995.)(Center for Sustainable Communities, Tutorials, 1995.)

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Theoretical Background: Theoretical Background: Aspects ad Levels of SustainabilityAspects ad Levels of Sustainability

Equity Environment

Economy

Economy, Resources and

Energy

Psychological, Social and

Cultural

Pollution, Waste and Health.

Sustainability Building

Interior Space

Global

Regional

Country

City

Neighborhood

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Background: Kuwait before 1950Background: Kuwait before 1950

Prior to 1952 Kuwait was a vernacular settlement overlooking the Arabian Gulf and composed of courtyard houses built using mud brick along narrow alleys.

The city was surrounded by protective wall with several gates.

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Old Walls of Kuwait

Kuwait Before 1950 Kuwait Before 1950 Kuwait Before 1950 Kuwait Before 1950

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PortTents

Houses Market

Kuwait Before 1950 Kuwait Before 1950

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The urban structureThe urban tissue

Traditional market - souq

Alleys and streets

Dwellings - Diwans Courtyard Houses

Kuwait Before 1950 Kuwait Before 1950

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Courtyard house closed from the outside and open to the inside courtyard; called alhoush.

Kuwait Traditional HousesKuwait Traditional Houses

Al Badr House

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Al Ibrahimi House Al Asousi House

Kuwait Traditional HousesKuwait Traditional Houses

Al Awadi House Al Dabous House

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Kuwait After 1950 Kuwait After 1950 After the discovery of oil, the rulers of the country

selected the British firm Monprio, Spencly and

Macfarlen to propose a “Plan” for the development of

the city.

The 1st Kuwait Master Plan 1952

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They regarded the following matters as being of primary importance in the “re-planning” of the town:

(a) the provision of a modern road system appropriate to the traffic conditions in Kuwait,

(b) the location of suitable zones for public buildings, industry, commerce, schools, and other purposes,

(c) the choice of zones for new houses and other buildings needed in residential areas, both inside and outside the town wall,

(d) the selection of sites for parks, sports ground, school playing fields and other open spaces,

(e) the creation of a beautiful and dignified town centre,

(f) the planting of trees and shrubs along the principal roads and at other important points in the town, and

(g) the provision of improved main roads linking Kuwait with the adjoining towns and villages.

Kuwait After 1950 Kuwait After 1950

2020

Demolition of the old walls in 1957Demolition of the old walls in 1957

The “Plan” led to the demolition of the walled city and its traditional houses to provide land for economic and public facilities and the establishment of western style neighborhoods surrounded by modern highways for cars and vehicles.

Kuwait After 1950 Kuwait After 1950

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Kuwait Master Plans

1952 1967

1970 1977

Before 1950

1994

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Kuwait City Planning

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Typical Neighborhood Planning

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Contemporary Environment in Kuwait Contemporary Environment in Kuwait

Air-conditioned office towers

Fast-food franchise Modern shopping centers

Highways spreading out into suburbs

Neighborhoods and villas

Kuwait downtown business center

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C o u r ty a r d

V e rn a c u la rH o u se D e s ig n

M o d e rn H o u seD e s ig n

H o u se

H o u seG a r d e n

Modern house design

Traditional house design

Comparing Traditional and Modern EnvironmentsHouse Design

Comparing Traditional and Modern EnvironmentsHouse Design

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Vernacular and modern neighborhood planning

VernacularModern

Modern neighborhood

Traditional neighborhood

Comparing Traditional and Modern EnvironmentsNeighborhood Planning

Comparing Traditional and Modern EnvironmentsNeighborhood Planning

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Comparison between traditional and modern climatic solutions

Material

Openings

Courtyard

Barjil

VernacularModern

Air condition

Glass

Comparing Traditional and Modern EnvironmentsClimatic Solutions

Comparing Traditional and Modern EnvironmentsClimatic Solutions

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Modern streets

Traditional streets

Comparing Traditional and Modern EnvironmentsOld and New streets

Comparing Traditional and Modern EnvironmentsOld and New streets

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Analysis of Sustainability of Urban EnvironmentAnalysis of Sustainability of Urban Environment1. Efficient resource use, less pollution and waste1. Efficient resource use, less pollution and waste

• Dependency on non-renewable energy source for the production of electricity and water.

• Dependency on artificial air-conditioning, ventilation and lighting systems.

• Inefficient utilization of energy sources through design that does not adhere to appropriate requirements to reduce the heat gain and heat transfer in public buildings.

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Analysis of Sustainability of Urban EnvironmentAnalysis of Sustainability of Urban Environment2. Less automobile use, better access2. Less automobile use, better access

• Urban environment planning encourages the use of cars as primary means of transportation raising the levels of air pollution and increases traffic problems.

• The rising number of cars, coupled with lack of adequate parking places inside houses, resulted in occupation of sidewalks by sheds for cars, creating socially hostile neighborhoods.

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Analysis of Sustainability of Urban EnvironmentAnalysis of Sustainability of Urban Environment3. Community participation and involvement3. Community participation and involvement

• Private cars occupying sidewalks under sheds of different types and colors cause visual pollution while pedestrians walking in the middle of the street.

• This phenomenon is the outcome of changes made in the building bylaws permitting the construction of more area within the lots and reducing the possibility of parking cars inside the houses.

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Analysis of Sustainability of Urban EnvironmentAnalysis of Sustainability of Urban Environment4. A healthy social ecology4. A healthy social ecology

• The urban environment is segregated. Houses and residential areas are separated from other activities according to zoning regulations.

• This resulted in typical, monotonous neighborhoods for citizens, while commercial and business activities are located in the downtown and districts occupied by expatriates.

Downtown

Expatriates housing,

shopping & entertainment

Citizens housing.

Industri

al

Expatriates housing.

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Analysis of Sustainability of Urban EnvironmentAnalysis of Sustainability of Urban Environment5. Preservation of local culture and wisdom5. Preservation of local culture and wisdom

• Destruction of the majority

traditional architecture

buildings during the

implementation of the “Plan”

in the 1960’s.

• The deteriorating condition

of the handful remaining

buildings is raising a concern

of their complete absence in

the near future.

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Analysis of Sustainability of Urban EnvironmentAnalysis of Sustainability of Urban Environment5. Preservation of local culture and wisdom5. Preservation of local culture and wisdom

• Modern “villas” lack shared style and character.

• Distance between outward looking villas is not appropriate to maintain acceptable levels of privacy required by people of a culture that value privacy highly.

• Windows and balconies facing each other allowing visual intrusion into neighboring houses. They are seldom utilized due to dependency on air-conditioning and privacy requirements.

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Analysis of Sustainability of Urban EnvironmentAnalysis of Sustainability of Urban Environment6. Good housing and living environments6. Good housing and living environments

• The community feeling,

characteristic of the

traditional neighborhood,

was not maintained due to

lack of spaces to allow

social contact

opportunities.

• The occupation of

sidewalks by cars reduced

the chances of neighbors

meeting or kids playing in

the streets that are not

safe for them.

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Analysis of Sustainability of Urban EnvironmentAnalysis of Sustainability of Urban Environment6. Good housing and living environments6. Good housing and living environments

• Unlike the traditional environment where neighbors enjoyed social relationships in the narrow alleys, the contemporary neighborhood environment encourages isolation and separation between families and neighbors.

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Analysis of Sustainability of Urban EnvironmentAnalysis of Sustainability of Urban Environment7. Compact, efficient land use7. Compact, efficient land use

• Large, vacant, and undeveloped lots of lands are common inside and outside the downtown area are contributing to the visual discontinuity of the urban landscape.

• The existence of deserted, deteriorated houses in the downtown and major streets is another aspect of visual pollution.

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Analysis of Sustainability of Urban EnvironmentAnalysis of Sustainability of Urban Environment8. A sustainable economics8. A sustainable economics

• The planning did not provide

adequate housing for Kuwaitis

in the downtown area. Only

one, unsuccessful housing

project for the Kuwaitis called

Al-Sawaber is located within

the old city.

•Living in the suburbs

contributed to the absence of

Kuwaitis from the downtown

area and its unsustainable

economic conditions.

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Analysis of Sustainability of Urban EnvironmentAnalysis of Sustainability of Urban Environment8. A sustainable economics8. A sustainable economics

• The downtown is only used

as a shopping area and not a

place for living by the

Kuwaitis.

• There are efforts to bring

the Kuwaitis back to the

downtown, but without

adequate housing that

satisfies their new needs, the

downtown will continue to be

occupied by expatriates only.

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Analysis of Sustainability of Urban EnvironmentAnalysis of Sustainability of Urban Environment9. Restoration of natural systems9. Restoration of natural systems

• No serious attempts are made

to utilize solar energy for the

production of electricity in order

to reduce the current

dependency on the use of oil to

help restore the badly damaged

natural system.

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Conclusion and RecommendationsConclusion and Recommendations

Kuwait still has a long way to go to regain a viable Kuwait still has a long way to go to regain a viable

urban environment. urban environment.

Urgent measures that should be taken include; Urgent measures that should be taken include; – the the renovation and reconstruction of badly damaged renovation and reconstruction of badly damaged

traditional buildingstraditional buildings, ,

– the the development of mixed use downtown development development of mixed use downtown development

strategystrategy, ,

– the the provision of appropriate housing units to encourage of provision of appropriate housing units to encourage of

Kuwaitis to live in the downtownKuwaitis to live in the downtown, ,

– the the integration of housing and commercial activitiesintegration of housing and commercial activities, and , and

– implementation of revitalization projects for the downtown implementation of revitalization projects for the downtown

areaarea..

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Conclusion and RecommendationsConclusion and Recommendations The above measures are expected to be faced by The above measures are expected to be faced by

obstacles that the policymakers and urban planners obstacles that the policymakers and urban planners in Kuwait should try to overcome. They include:in Kuwait should try to overcome. They include:

Building bylaws and regulationsBuilding bylaws and regulations:: Conflicting and continuously changing building Conflicting and continuously changing building bylaws and regulations are major contributors to the bylaws and regulations are major contributors to the deteriorating quality of the urban environment in deteriorating quality of the urban environment in Kuwait. Kuwait.

Modifications of building regulations were mainly Modifications of building regulations were mainly concerned with increasing building volume and floor concerned with increasing building volume and floor area, through the increase of floor area ratio and the area, through the increase of floor area ratio and the reduction of setbacks, on the expense of quality of reduction of setbacks, on the expense of quality of the environment and community comfort.the environment and community comfort.

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Conclusion and RecommendationsConclusion and Recommendations Neighborhood designNeighborhood design: :

The “outdated” approach to neighborhood design The “outdated” approach to neighborhood design practiced by the Public Authority for Housing Welfare practiced by the Public Authority for Housing Welfare since its foundation in 1954 should be modified to since its foundation in 1954 should be modified to improve the quality and design of future improve the quality and design of future neighborhoods. neighborhoods.

New neighborhood design guidelines should be New neighborhood design guidelines should be implemented to achieve a sustainable neighborhood implemented to achieve a sustainable neighborhood design.design.

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Conclusion and RecommendationsConclusion and Recommendations The carThe car: :

The car is a commodity that should be The car is a commodity that should be accommodated in the planning and design of urban accommodated in the planning and design of urban environments. environments.

Parking for private cars should not occupy the Parking for private cars should not occupy the sidewalks provided mainly for pedestrians.sidewalks provided mainly for pedestrians.

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Conclusion and RecommendationsConclusion and Recommendations Zoning RegulationsZoning Regulations::

Mixed use planning should be encouraged to improve Mixed use planning should be encouraged to improve the livability and excitement of the urban the livability and excitement of the urban environment. environment.

Segregation between functions and peoples proved Segregation between functions and peoples proved to be disadvantageous. It only succeeded in creating to be disadvantageous. It only succeeded in creating hostile and unfriendly environment.hostile and unfriendly environment.

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Conclusion and RecommendationsConclusion and Recommendations The building industryThe building industry: :

Encouraging the building industry to be sustainable Encouraging the building industry to be sustainable in the use of material and construction methods in the use of material and construction methods could be achieved through economic incentives. could be achieved through economic incentives.

Inadequate knowledge and publications regarding the Inadequate knowledge and publications regarding the concept and methods of sustainable development in concept and methods of sustainable development in Arabic is hindering the development of public Arabic is hindering the development of public awareness and participation. awareness and participation.

Society’s willingness to recognize and solve Society’s willingness to recognize and solve environmental problems depends more upon the way environmental problems depends more upon the way these claims are presented by a limited number of these claims are presented by a limited number of people than upon the severity of the threats they people than upon the severity of the threats they pose.pose.

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Conclusion and RecommendationsConclusion and RecommendationsWhile the problems of the urban environment in Kuwait While the problems of the urban environment in Kuwait

might be similar to urban problems found in other parts of might be similar to urban problems found in other parts of

the world, they require uncommon solutions to avoid the the world, they require uncommon solutions to avoid the

mistake of copying solutions from other parts of the world. mistake of copying solutions from other parts of the world.

The solutions should be stemming from the local context The solutions should be stemming from the local context

and conditions.and conditions.

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Thank you.Thank you.

Socio-Cultural Sustainability of Housing Environments in Kuwait

Design

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