Since we are on the subject of beautiful buildings that are being demolished, the Palace of Justice building in the city is next once the new location that is under construction is completed. The Palace of Justice building was designed in the late 70s by the Scottish architect Sir Basil Spence, the same architect behind the Coventry Cathedral.
There has been an uproar in this decision on Twitter with people asking that the building be saved and repurposed into a hotel or something. Hopefully, that happens but doubt it.
24 replies on “Palace of Justice to be Demolished”
OMG. Please don’t.
Can you please tell me the exact location? Google Maps isn’t showing your same photos when I search Ministry of Justice in Kuwait City. Thank you!
Sorry thats my mistake, the building is actually called “Palace of Justice”
https://goo.gl/maps/XzkcWHmc9V2Mi3Hv6
I’m currently working at the New Palace of Justice project. It’s 100% that the old building will be demolished because the new building is being build in two phases, and the second phase will be demolished and then both phases will be merged into one big building. And this building will be incomplete without it’s second half.
Hey Tahir,
Is this project still under construction or already completed?S
It’s 100% that the building will be demolished because the New Palace of Justice is being build in two phases. First phase is already under construction and second phase will be constructed after the demolition of old palace of justice. And both phases will merge into one big building. This project will be incomplete if the old building is not demolished and second part is completed
Oh please tear that F&*%#$ down!
I got married in that building……ggggggrrrr
lol
😂
You win 🥇
😂😂 Our sympathy with you.
I said it before and I’ll continue to say it. Hundreds of Kuwaitis gave up their homes, livelihoods and memories to build that building in the name of societal progress. Now it’s time for a new building to take its place in the name of progress. If you are happy to hold up progress because you are too selfish to realise that your childhood is over then I feel sorry for you. Buildings of my childhood were torn down to make better structures that my future successors will enjoy and I am happy to give up my past for so they can enjoy their future because they will outlive me and my memories.
You think replacing an important landscape with a generic glass tower is progress? That’s the opposite of progress. If you want “progress” how about fixing the roads? Or stop putting up billboards every 10m and instead plant trees. Or how about just not cut down trees even? Maybe implement a sidewalk plan for the city and commercial areas? Or how about work on improving public transportation? Those I can assure you would contribute to progress but demolishing an important building to replace it with a glass one contributes to progress as much as much as those smart toilets on the Gulf Road contributed to tourism.
You sir are epic… couldn’t have said it better Mark 👏🏻
👌🏻
Let me make something clear, beauty isn’t progress. This is not just a glass building, it’s a much larger and more efficient building that allows the judiciary system to work better. If you think a pretty building and trees are progress then that is completely wrong. Progress is efficiency. A tree contributes nothing to the economy while billboards contribute to the economy, they provide jobs and allow businesses to flourish. While I do agree that the transportation system is shit.. why fix it? Kuwaitis are the ones who vote and they all have cars, unless Kuwaitis use public transportation then things change. Dont get offended but it’s a bit rich talking about public transportation when you yourself own 3 cars and you dont use public transportation. Smart toilets contribute to the income of the tourism company thingy, it is practically completely self sufficient and generates income rather than relying on the government for every penny the company uses. Why do you think the metro is taking forever? The government doesn’t care about it, Kuwaitis won’t use it. Kuwaitis do not like the government borrowing money for projects that won’t benefit Kuwaitis, the airport will benefit locals which is why they are trying to complete it asap, these huge detours will benefit Kuwaitis and they are being speeded up. The airport will help a small portion of Kuwaitis so it will never be built.
Sidewalks.. in the 50 degree heat or the freezing cold? Considering people dont even bother using public transportation you want the government to waste money on sidewalks just so you can skateboard? Nah.
But one thing I do agree with are the quality of the streets but honestly they are working on them so give them time. I know I sound bitchy but this is the truth, progress is ugly. Progress provides jobs and services that locals want and benefit from. Why does mourooj have these pretty trees and sidewalks n crap? Cause they want you to visit while Kuwait doesn’t, it has oil and until Kuwait wants tourism (which I doubt it does) then it will take no consideration to beauty and revenue/voteless endeavours. Mark you have been here long enough to know how the game works.
Yeah trees are useless and nobody uses sidewalks 👌🏻
Progress can be ugly but it can also be sustainable.
In a country with soaring temperatures, a policy of demolish and re-build will only exacerbate the problem. Planting trees and reducing use of plastics are 2 solutions that are relatively easy to implement.
And your views on public transportation and other issues impacting expats are abysmal. Take the example of the thousands of poorly constructed residential buildings or the pollution caused by poorly maintained buses. This isn’t progress and impacts everyone living here.
Efficiency is more than building a building. Efficiency is investing in education and ensuring that institutions are transparent and fair.
On a side note; sidewalks are important. They allow people to exercise and I think we can both agree on the importance of that in Kuwait.
Sorry, I’m going to bite on this.
Trees serve no purpose? So the 10 degree drop in temperature below the shade of the branches will not attract people to meet? These people will not require refreshment; pavement cafes and similar will not form? In thousands of locations around the world (I’m making a big assumption here, but I’m sure you’ve even visited some of them) shaded boulevards are where people meet to pass time, are you saying they’re all doing in wrong and not contributing to the economy? Just think of the Spanish plazas where people go to meet and pass time.
Why fix the transport?
Do you not use the roads? Can you not see how inefficient they are? large numbers of cars pumping out exhaust gasses are not considered to be a problem by you?
Mass transit systems are used around the world to move large numbers of people efficiently with little pollution. The service opens up areas which were considered to be inaccessible, this enriches areas which were previously though to be of little worth.
Development around transit stations is a big thing, this has huge financial benefits to the country, people like to live near the stations for easy transport, these people need businesses (shops etc) and services (leisure facilities, gyms etc).
Yes Kuwaitis are using cars, but so are all the other nationalities in the country as there is no alternative. If there was a viable choice do you really think everybody would spend hours sitting in a queue of traffic each day or would they prefer to take a metro service allowing fast travel?
Most people in the country are fully aware of mass transit, the Kuwaitis have all travelled to large cities in other countries with bus and metro services, Kuwaitis have even admitted to using the services when there. The expats are generally familiar with public transport systems and willing to use them.
So if there were a transit service in place, just think how many expat cars would be removed from your beloved highway network, think how much space there would be for Kuwaitis to sit in traffic without the expat community taking up their roads – would this not be one of your main desires?
You say the airport will benefit locals, do you mean that it will benefit Kuwaitis leaving to go on holiday to visit other countries, maybe going to experience the pavement café culture of Paris or Rome: shopping trips in New York; visits to London, holidays to Dubai – where the mass transit services will likely be utilised?
Footways (and cycleways) provide a great service, if it was known there was going to be a safe route to walk between two points in the city with proper designated safe road crossings, and the natural shade of trees or the man made canopies making the walk cooler and more pleasant do you seriously think people wouldn’t use them? Again are people around the world all wrong?
You are correct that Kuwait has oil, this seems to be the only industry some people worry about, the nation needs to diversify. There’s a massive, highly educated, young population of Kuwaitis all ready to take on the world in business and industry, but the more antiquated views are pushing them away.
Tell me I’m wrong…
sorry I can’t help it. You’re actually right.
going back into Camel era !
When will they learn that replacement does not equal better. Can Kw leaders take a note of other countries with ancient structures? We all know about them, hordes of visitors and turism, just to see these “old” relics. Learn Kuwait! OMG the demolishing game goes on n on n on. Sad.
Growing up my mother used to call that place the Palace of Injustice considering all the blatant corruption that takes places in there. As an adult who has spent half my life growing up dealing with that place trying to protect our rights, i wish it was imploded years before. “Muslims helping Muslims”
Yay! Once again they found something to demolish. I am more and more convinced that someday they’ll demolish the Towers for the sake of Progress
Sad to see it go. To not repurpose the Palace of Justice into something, anything……(go fill in the blank) is Justice denied.
I’d have quite liked to see it repurposed into a public library/reading hall, art gallery or even a townside airport check in facility.
Anyone for MOMA Kuwait inside the old Palace of (Citizen) Justice ?