The site for the new Kuwait Stock Exchange was chosen near the sea, in the central business district of Kuwait City. Just opposite the Grand State Mosque, it is situated at the intersection of two major roads. The site is restricted and opens only onto two streets.

The main element of the building is the Market Hall, and this occupies the central area of the site. It is a three-storey, column-free space, entered directly via the main entrance at the intersection of the adjacent streets. The hall is surrounded on the ground, first, and second floors by galleries of glass fronted brokers' rooms, and a public concourse. The Market Hall is covered by a roof terrace with 48 pyramidal glass domes for the lighting of the hall. This same terrace is set out as a water garden court which is bounded at the north and east by an L-shaped, glazed block of offices which overlooks the garden. The upper portion, at roof level, is completed by two bridge floors parallel to the streets. These floors support a roof structure which protects the inner core from excessive solar gain. The shading roof is a light metallic 'eggcrate' structure. Furthermore, the architectural expression of the sculptural cubic block is emphasized by the very restricted choice of external materials, largely polished granite and glass.

It is a reinforced concrete building with steel lattice beams and a RC structure for bridge accomodation,. It is clad in red granite and bronze heat reflecting-glass in bronze frames.


Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture