Arab Organization Headquarters Building tour

6/26/14

I am sitting in the airport in Madrid, Spain. I have another almost 2 hours before boarding and can’t get the internet to work. So, it seems like a good time to catch-up on the text part of this.

The Saturday before I left Kuwait I had the opportunity to visit the Arab Fund (or Foundation) Building.

Arab Foundation Headquarters from outside the front entrance

model of the front

model of the back

The Arab Organizations Headquarters Building blends modern architectural techniques with traditional artisan crafts.

hand-carved wooden screen panel that replicates the tiled panel on the wall behind it.

hand-carved light covers. The round ones are domed.

wood parquet on underside of stairwell

detail of hand carving on outside entryway

Hand tiled mosaic waterfall wall and pool inside entry

Completed in 1994, it is home to four major Arab organizations: the Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development, OAPEC (Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries), the Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation and the Arab Maritime Petroleum Transport Company. Here’s a link from which you can take a virtual tour: http://www.arabfund.org/aohq/kuwait.htm NB: It doesn’t do it justice.

It was a small tour and this building features many of the different Arab countries’ styles and cultures.

nine story Egyptian mashrabiya (wooden beaded screen made with no metal)

stained glass in Moroccan prayer room

view from the inside of the mashrabiya

Mamluk meeting room with massive inlaid table and carved oak ceiling

modern meeting room, pillars and pedestal are marble

diwaniya reception room

white marble hand-carved screen surrounds the top in multi-function hall

Damascene Room

Tunisian Room

It is a fairly plain building from outside, but has incorporated many “green” features in its construction: the windows are angled to allow light, but not the direct sun that creates so much heat. It is aesthetically gorgeous! Air vents are subtly disguised within the opulent architecture and décor of each room. Several treaties and accords have been signed within the rooms of this grand building. In fact, we were being toured around as they were preparing for an Arab summit meeting the next day.