The Kuwait Towers are now on UNESCO’s tentative list to become a World Heritage site. The first report was submitted back in May and later accepted by UNESCO in July. It’s only the first step but if it does get approved, then the Kuwait Towers will become the first modernist building in the entire Gulf region to be designated a World Heritage Site.
There are a number of reasons UNESCO found the Kuwait Towers a suitable candidate including the fact that when the Kuwait Towers was designed and built it was a complex task to allocate a big volume of water at a high level, in an elegant object and in such a delicate location. The symbolism behind the Kuwait Tower also sparked their interest, Kuwait being a barren dry desert while the Kuwait Towers representing water, the symbol of life. It’s an interesting report which you can check out [Here]
But, as many of you are aware, the Kuwait Towers are currently closed and although my investigation didn’t result in a conclusive reason to whats going on right now, I did manage to get some idea.
For a building to become a World Heritage Site it’s not an easy process involving a lot or requirements. If the Kuwait Towers does becomes a World Heritage Site then it will no longer just belong to Kuwait but it will belong to all of humanity (figuratively speaking). So if later someone in Kuwait decides they want to change the spheres from blue to gold and cover them in Swarovski crystals, they would have to get permission from UNESCO first. But, for the Kuwait Towers to become a World Heritage Site it also needs to be restored to the original state and this is where I understood the issue is.
The Kuwait Towers were undergoing an internal makeover to make the interior look more Kuwaiti. To UNESCO that means destroying the integrity of the building and UNESCO requires the interior to keep its original elements. For the Kuwait Towers to gain the World Heritage status, they now need to flip through all the old documents and photos and try to restore the Kuwait Towers interior as close as possible to the original state from railings to the carpet.
On a similar note, the Kuwait National Assembly Building which was designed by the Opera Sydney House architect Jørn Utzon was also submitted to UNESCO to become a World Heritage Site. Sadly it was rejected with the main reason being the huge ugly extension that was built adjacent to it.
For a wealth of information on the Kuwait Towers and some construction related documents, check out my favorite source [Here]
11 replies on “Kuwait Towers could become a World Heritage Site”
Someone mentioned in an interview why the towers were closed. he said one of them might collapse.
https://youtu.be/Qy_mlu6HXQ8
But im not sure if his information is real.
It was a rumor
All that effort just to get certified by UNESCO? And in the end, how does it benefit us… the people living here?
Don’t worry you won’t have to do any work the expats will take care of it. Want a cupcake?
The kuwait towers is the pride of a nation and if you don’t care about it there are plenty of other Kuwaitis and expats who do and are willing to put the effort to restoring it to it’s former glory.
Are you claiming Kuwaitis won’t help restore the towers?
There are Kuwaitis involved in the restoration process.
misread your post, never mind
Duuuuude, Mark.. I guess you completely misinterpreted what I said. I was asking how is it benefitting US ALL here in Kuwait? I’ve never asked anything about locals or expats! We all know they’ve been closed down for a couple of years now?
And I hate the concept of cupcakes btw. And frozen yoghurt 😀
It’s a big deal!
“a natural or man-made site, area, or structure recognized as being of outstanding international importance and therefore as deserving special protection. Sites are nominated to and designated by the World Heritage Convention (an organization of UNESCO).”
I really hope this is the beginning to restore the architectural gems, or whatever is left from them, in kuwait.
Ministry of information should reinstall the grills and get rid of the blue cladding and pink entrance.
The towers are being prepared for a renovation/rehabilitation program. A thorough process of washing/cleaning – repairing the damaged concrete & steel plates – repainting will start very soon.
There is no structural problem signaled yet, so no collapsing.
It`l like polishing your old jewelry to make it shiny again and restore it`s true value.
Swarovski crystals. 😂😂😂😂😂. Good one ha ha