Designed by Studio Toggle, ‘House in Mishref’ in Kuwait City is comprised of two interlocking houses clad in Omani stone. The buildings are stacked on top of each other and are organised around a traditional courtyard which cuts across all the floors. The building is home to two brothers and their families, each with different lifestyles and needs for privacy in a communal space.
Forged out of a marriage of concrete and stone, the complex is L-shape and occupies 1.5 storeys. The homes are vertically connected by a spiral staircase secured at both ends of the building. The stairs at the edge of the courtyard lead from the basement to the ground floor, whilst a second staircase runs across the second floor.
A fountain and trees beside the stone courtyard separates the homes and black louvres shield areas of glazing to create graduations in light within the interiors (for the well-being and privacy of the families). The courtyard is aligned with fruit trees and a fountain that resembles gardens from the Moorish Alcazars. Thin louvres placed within the white exterior of the building keeps certain areas private, while others look directly out to the wider landscape.
Omani stone is a pale, beige coloured stone quarried in Oman. The material is especially good for all types of construction needs, from courtyards, to pools and countertops. Within the House in Mishref, the stone complements the inside of the building which is a neutral palette of natural wood and white shades, aligned with the furniture and fittings. On the building’s rooftop, a pool and an area of decking provides views of Kuwait City whilst the louvered windows across the building’s façade softens the architectural volume across the space.
Architects: Studio Toggle Architects
Photography: João Morgado
