Roofing in Kuwait

Kuwait town, founded in the early 18th century, was built of sea stone, rubble and mud brick, with roofs of mangrove poles imported from East Africa. Oil-era planning from the 1950s swept most of the old town away, and Kuwait is now known for modern landmarks such as the Kuwait Towers and Jørn Utzon's National Assembly.

Climate and hazards

Kuwait has extreme summer heat, which made windcatchers close to a necessity in traditional houses, and some houses installed them.

Roofing history

Old Kuwait. Wood was scarce, so mangrove poles imported from East Africa were used for roofs, along with a few select woods from India. Walls were of stone from the sea, rubble stone with thick mud plaster, and mud brick. Houses were built around central courtyards; wealthier families had several. Early surviving mosques include Alkhamis Mosque (1772-73) and Abd AlRazzag Mosque (1797). Najdi architecture from central Arabia also influenced Kuwaiti building.

Planning era. The first master plan was commissioned in 1952, and the old city wall was demolished as it was carried out.

Modern landmarks. The National Assembly building, designed by Jørn Utzon in 1972, was completed in 1982. The Kuwait Towers, built in 1971-1976 and opened to the public in 1979, combine water towers with tall conical spires above spherical tanks; in 1980 the Kuwait Water Towers system, including the Kuwait Towers, received the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.

Traditional and vernacular roofs

• Flat roofs on mangrove poles: imported poles carrying mats and earth (see chandal-roof).
• Windcatchers: in some traditional houses.

Roofing today

Flat reinforced concrete roofs are standard.

Notable roofs

• Kuwait Towers (opened 1979): conical spires over spherical tanks.
• National Assembly (designed 1972, completed 1982): by Jørn Utzon.

Local roofing terms

See chandal-roof for Gulf terms.

Sources and gaps

Detailed climate data for roofing, data on roofing material shares and information on modern roofing materials, codes and industry in Kuwait: published information is limited.