There’s a block of very old Kuwaiti houses in Salmiya near my place which I keep passing by all the time. I keep telling myself I should pass by and take pictures but I never did and then today I noticed they put up a fence around them. I figured they’re getting ready to demolish the houses so when I got back home I picked up my camera and went to take some pictures.
I hope they consider saving and refurbishing whatever they can from these houses but my guess is they’re planning to demolish them since they might be too damaged to repair. Too bad since I like these old houses.
20 replies on “Before they get demolished”
Sad that most things heritage or cultural gets demolished in order to make space for some disgusting franchise restaurant or mall…………
yeah it is but over time i’ve gotten used to the fact that very few care about the past.
Where is it located?
It’s right near that Beirut shop and Palms restaurant.
I think it’s more about what the owner want’s to do with it, we can’t change the mentality of people, they don’t see any money in leaving it old also here they want fast money something slow and steady isn’t favourable. funny thing is the owners of these places are always multi-millionaire that this place wont really effect them in a bad way if they make it a heritage place and wont increase in their profite if they change it to something modern.
But they can’t! They’re supposed to be national landmarks… a sign of old culture! We need to protest.
OMG! I’ve got to go take some pics and video so I can show my kids when they get older! Thanks Mark for getting some before they destroy it. I can’t believe they are destroying everything from the past. It’s like they all want to forget where they came from. God forbid someone sees how they used to live. They didn’t always have ridiculous mansions and expensive cars. Someone should stop running away and try to save what’s left. Let’s protest!
I’m with you!
It is a pity that such old structures are brought down. Such places can be renovated. The entire history of Kuwait is wiped out.
People relax they are building a Kuwait Heritage Village
right next to Souq Sharq by the beach near Seef Pallace should be a good glimpse at the past life in Kuwait, you also have a Yoom El Bahhar EL Kuwaiti and the Village in Warfra and Jahra Pallace and more Old house in el Jiblae and near el Seef that have been transformed to Museums and Galleries or Diwan’s
Building new buildings to look like old ones is not the same as preserving the original old buildings.
I agree Mark. How long has it been since they started building it? They also “accidently” knocked down some old houses that were supposed to be renovated.
Kuwait city has old mosques from 1810 or 1850s or so
many of them next to Marafi and other next to Borsa
check them out my friend, they are still standing yet renovated !!
Can you find out some information about the cemetery near the city bus stand in salmiya? In 1998 I saw a few coffins being moved around and they had dates from 30’s and 40’s. They were blue box coffins.
my office actually overlooks the graveyard but i’ve never seen anyone enter it yet alone any movement of the sort.
abdou is talking about the graveyard in salmiya not the one in Kuwait City….
well the law states that 120 yrs approx should pass from the last burial then they can turn it into a closed park for 2-5 yrs and then open it or construct something.. i believe this will happen in 10-15 yrs time
NOOOOOO, What the hell is wrong with Kuwait ? Do they enjoy destroying my Heritage ?!
I lived in a house just like that as an American in1970 in maiden hawalli for a number of years. I swept the courtyard, assisted with cooking in an unairconditipned kitchen. We slept on the roof when the electricity went out. We had a cistern in the center courtyard and a truck would deliver water.
Hi Mark! I recently found your page and I’ve been so inlove with it. I am also into Kuwait’s past and I understand how sad it is for them to demolish old building that they can reserve for Cutural stuff and save it for the future generation. This building you took a picture of was a “Sabah Furniture making”. They transferred to another location in Shuwaikh. You wont believe haha I actually live in one of the Old 5 Buildings infront of it. The first one 🙂 My mom started living here since 1996 and I was born in 1998 and we still live here in this buiding till now! It’s crazy really. Even if its old its perfect because it’s close to every place we want to go to. It’s sad to leave it as it has so much memories for me and my mom. I hope other people appreciate these old structures as much as we do. The house may be worn out from the outside but the inside is still strong and good! You just have to love the house and take good care of it like we do. 😀