We have been passing by Al Hamra for years not realizing the architectural significance of this building, it is the highest concrete structure in the world, they really turned this building into an icon. I know a few people who have been working on Al Hamra Tower for over 5 years now, and I’m happy they are getting the recognition they deserve for their work, its sad how much bureaucracy they faced in Kuwait which was a huge hurdle when they were making an amazing building for Kuwait. They even offered to expand and adjust the roads in the surrounding area to accomodate for the extra traffic that this building will cause but the Baladiya refused. At one point they had to educate the Baladiya (Municipality) about structural codes and regulations regarding sky scrappers since they dont have any regulation for it and they aren’t really bothering to educate themselves. I’m a big fan of Discovery Channel, I always enjoy these types of shows and I was proud to see a building such as this representing Kuwait. For once it feels like its not just about commercial return but creating an icon and I think that is what they have done with the building. This is the whole episode that can be watched here, and looking down from that height I would be freaked out.

The Kuwait Architectural Students Association is proud to invite you to attend “Module 7”, the 7th Annual KASA Exhibition. The exhibition compiles and displays the last year’s worth of work conducted, designed and constructed by the students of Kuwait University’s Department of Architecture.

The opening ceremony will be held under the patronage of his excellency Sheikh Talal Al-Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Subah at 7pm, on April 4th 2010 at the Avenues Mall, Phase II

The exhibition will run from April 4th to April 8th.

Follow KASA on twitter to get live updates of the event: KASA Twitter

Facebook event page: KASA Facebook

The one thing I think we are lacking in Kuwait is architectural creativity and in this case our students are not given the chance to exercise these newly gained skills. I like seeing works of young architects because they may be free of the conventional bounds, and in this case the KASA exhibit in Avenues. I’m going to check it out when I have the chance next and I think every else should as well.

T-Square Magazine will be hosting its second dinner night under the theme “Why Design? Cause and Effect”. The theme of the night will be the theme of our upcoming 8th issue of T-Square Magazine. The night will include 4 presentations from 4 different Architects, an exhibition showcasing students work and a timeline of the history of the Department of Architecture at Kuwait University.

Organized by T-Square Magazine, a student based architectural magazine together with KASA(Kuwait Architectural Student Association) and AIAS(American Institute for Architecture Students) “A Night for Architecture” at the Americani Cultural Center. January 13, 2010 6-9pm.

I’m a fan of architecture so I’m curious to check this exhibit out, and especially since checking out their magazine online, a lot of great articles and amazing pictures.

Link: T-Square Magazine

Now Dubai started off 2010 with a bang, with the renaming of Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa, making it the new image of Dubai. You have to hand it to them even with the downturn they are facing that they still made a huge show of this. The fountain was fantastic, its the same company that did the fountain for the Las Vegas hotel in Bellagio. The funny part is that they did not release the exact height of it until the launch of the building yesterday, at 828 meters it is the tallest building in the world. They are also planning ahead that if anyone trys to build one taller then them they have a crane up top to build more floors if they need to, to stay the tallest building.

Just to put a few buidlings in perspective this is the new Burj Dubai in comparison to a few other famous buidlings. I have seen it quite a few times and I’m still impressed when I see the size of it, and its not just one buildilng, its multiple buildlings formed into one giant skyscrapper. The red ones are getting built, some soon to finish and others a little longer down the line, and the black ones are a few of the tallest buildings in the world, click on the picture for a larger and clearer image.

This is probably the coolest looking Tree House I have ever seen. Its being built in New Zealand as a restaurant just outside of Auckland. I think I have always liked or wanted a tree house from watching the Simpsons in the early 90s but this is just amazing in comparison. 

Link: GIzmodo