located on the southern part of kuwait, areia is a series of geometric residences designed by AAP (associated architects partnership) overlooking the manmade canals of sabah alahmed alsabah maritime city. as part of a planned community the five houses are developed using the same architectural language to ensure a sense of continuity and harmonious proportion while slight variations add a layer of complexity and uniqueness to each residence.

all images © joão morgado

AAP interpret the kuwaiti way of life into a program that takes into account the project’s proximity to the seafront. blurring the boundaries between interior and exterior, the main living areas of the ground floor are coupled with patios, gardens and pools and offer inhabitants the flexibility to combine spaces according to their needs.

on the opposite edge of each plot, next to the entrance, stands the diwanyia, a formal social gathering space for guests. associated with the traditional daily life, the diwanyia is considered an indispensable feature of kuwaiti residences.

the partially perforated walls of the upper floors, which are reserved for family bedrooms, offer wide views over the city without compromising the residents’ privacy. when the absence of shade is tolerable, rooftops make for leisure spaces that combine lounge and seating areas for socializing and experiencing the sunset.

photographed from the road by joão morgado the residences appear as a repetition of the same design while a more heterogeneous facade is experienced from the canal. with a simple and neutral approach, the design contradicts the architectural anarchy that characterizes other residential projects in the area, introducing a functional, minimalist aesthetic to the development of the city.

project info:

name: areia

location: al khiran, kuwait

architecture:AAP associated architects partnership

design team: abdulatif al mishari, osvaldo de sousa, rui vargas

collaborators: telmo rodrigues, carla barroso, pedro miranda, alba duarte, lionel estriga, carlo palma, mohammed karout, emanuel grave, antónio brigas, elvino domingos, joão costa, hassan javed, duarte correia, mariana neves, luís esteves

landscape design: susana pinheiro

interior design: leonor feyo

MEP: rúben rodrigues, vando beldade, mohammed hassan

project management: Asbuilt

use: residential

area: 2063 sqm

project year: 2017

photography: joão morgado