I just found out via Kuwait Times that the Sawaber complexes are being prepared for demolition soon. I think I’m more sad about Sawaber getting demolished than I am about Bayt Lothan. Why demolish the buildings instead of restoring them? They’re beautiful buildings, with huge apartments (295 square meters), lots of outdoor space and most importantly, they’re located right in the heart of the city. I’d love to live there and I’m sure many others would as well.
You can check out the article on Kuwait Times [Here], but if you’re looking for an interesting historical read on Sawaber, check out this research paper called “The Destruction of Modernist Heritage: The Myth of Al-Sawaber” by Asseel Al-Ragam [PDF]
11 replies on “Sawaber to be Demolished Soon”
think of the bright side to this, we will have a new huge kickass food mall placing it maybe!
This is the first time i feel disappointed about a demolition
Personally, I say good riddance.
Yes, old and funky looking building that restoring it could be viable. But it doesn’t have such a historical or cultural significance that we would go crazy over.
Restoring something thats cranky isn’t wise. There was a fire once there, so restoring it would leave a thing or two that should’ve been checked (Like a gas pipe or rusty water pipe), even if you do it super professionally (Letting alone the fact that, well, we’re in Kuwait).
Of course, wishfully hoping they’d build something useful, not yet another food mall…
Then again, it belongs to the government (I’m not sure which ministry exactly, I can be wrong here though). There’s a chance it won’t turn to another mall. Then again, we’re in Kuwait.
I remember when this huge building project was being constructed in the mid 1980s, I used to be a student at a school (Al-Siddiq) just facing the street. It looked special back then.
Bad for the economy. That’s really sad no matter what going to build instead
Back during highschool days, one of the best / most memorable wednesday night parties took place at Sawaber!!!
DAAMNNN.. old school shit
It would have been nice to live in but have you actually gone recently? The place is in total disrepair, I walked throughout it once and it looked like a crackhouse.
Unfortunately as is the normal case in Kuwait total demolition is cheaper than the effort they’d need to put in to fix this place.
I know its current condition, meant after restoration it would be a great place to live
This sucks. Loved taking pictures there.
“Continuous Maintenance” is an alien concept in most parts of Kuwait. Many buildings and houses, both private and public, are simply left to decay and then torn down and rebuilt
I can see Sawaber every day from my office window and while it has indeed become an eyesore, it has potential for renovation and restoration
What a shame
Everything in Kuwait gets demolished, even its history. I’m so heartbroken to see the old historic houses being torn down. Aside from Beit Sadu my children will have nothing to reflect their past heritage. While Sawaber will be missed, what I miss most is the opportunity to teach the next generation something meaningful, that there is more to their history than making room for the next restaurant.