Kuwait Towers - Scandinavian Architecture in the Middle East
The architecture award winning Kuwait Towers were designed to resemble traditional Arabian rosewater sprinklers, and are considered to be the symbol of modern Kuwait. They are featured on the one Kuwaiti Dinar banknote, and even can be found on the 500 tenge bill in Kazakhstan.
The towers are in fact part of a water distribution project started in the 70s because there was a need to locate 9000 cubic meters of water at the northern part of Kuwait City near the shore. Because of the prominent location, the late Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed wanted a more appealing design for the water towers. So the Swedish engineering company VBB presented three different designs to the Amir, and he chose the present design. The towers were officially inaugurated on 1st March 1979. The spheres were inspired by Islamic art mosaics, coated with 55000 Chinese steel plates painted in eight colors to symbolize the azure color of the sea and the sky. Inside the towers you can experience a 360 degree panoramic view of Kuwait City from a revolving observation platform. Kuwait Towers are located at the shore of the Arabian Gulf across from Dasman’s palace, the late Amir’s compound.