Kuwait Conference Centre
Client:
Kuwait Government
Year of Completion:
1991
In 1991 it was Kuwait's turn to host the annual conference of the Gulf Co-operation Committee but bombing during the Gulf War had badly damaged much of the country, including the Bayan Palace and state apartments. A conference facility suited to royalty and heads of state had to be designed, built and fitted out in little more than 100 days! Architen Landrell was lucky enough to win the contract to manufacture and install a new conference centre to be ready for 23rd December 1991.
The tight deadline was met and in addition, the visual aspect of the project - based on traditional Bedouin Tents - received high acclaim. This major project demonstrated the main advantage tented structures have over the more conventional building types in that they can be erected in a relatively short period of time.
The conference facility was designed to be dismantled and reassembled, but has a minimum design life of ten years. In fact, at the end of the conference, it was decided that at least one of the structures would remain to be used as a theatre or as a reception for foreign dignitaries.
