The centrepiece of Kuwait’s new national cultural district comprises a Theatre Centre, Music Centre, Conference Centre, and National Library for Historical Documents. Married with futuristic design, complex geometric forms inspired by Islamic architecture create each building’s richly textured, sparkling outer skin of steel encased in titanium and glass, with some varying-density mashrabiya panels. This both offers climatic protection and generates dramatic public spaces with an interplay of light and shadow. Inner structures are concrete, regulating temperature through thermal mass. Over 8,000 square metres of decorative calligraphy integrated into interior cladding features the eponymous Sheikh’s sayings promoting culture and development.

Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture