The Kuwait Towers are three towers of reinforced concrete in Kuwait City.They are located in downtown kuwait City, just off the seawars side of Arabian Gulf street.They occupy promontory shaped like the curled shaft of a traditional dagger that juts into kuwait bay.
Kuwait Towers is one of the main tourist attractions in the State of Kuwait.The towers were designed by Sune Lindström and Malene Björn and built by Energoprojekt, a company from Belgrade, Yugoslavia. They opened to the public in March 1979. In 1991, after the liberation of Kuwait City during the First Gulf War, the towers were surveyed for structural damage.
Kuwait Towers is one of the main tourist attractions in the State of Kuwait.The towers were designed by Sune Lindström and Malene Björn and built by Energoprojekt, a company from Belgrade, Yugoslavia. They opened to the public in March 1979. In 1991, after the liberation of Kuwait City during the First Gulf War, the towers were surveyed for structural damage.
The kuwait towers pleasingly express a commbination of modern architectural themes and traditional Islamic design,with comparisons being made to slender minarets and the blue-tiled mosques of Bukhara and Samarkhand.There are no other highrise buildings in the general area of the Kuwait Towers,which contributes to thier easy visibility and popularity with photographs.
Since the Kuwait Towers officially opened in March of 1979.they have to symbolize the weath and prosperity that has boosted this formaly sleepy backwater into the world's eleventh richest country per capita.
The reference to "liquid gold" refers to Kuwait's immense oil wealth:although it ranks just 157th by size,the country boasts the
world's fifth largest oil reserves.It can also refer to water,a precious commodity in this hot,dry,desert country.Though they may not look like
water towers,storing water is actually the primary function of the kuwait Towers:two large spherical tanks on the towers hold a combined 4,500 cubic meters (158,915 cu ft) of water.The spherical exteriors of the water tanks are covered by 55,000 circular plates of Chinese steel tinted in eight different colors.The concrete portions of the towers are painted white and are tipped with aluminium for protection from lightening.
In 1980,the Kuwait Towers were awarded the coveted Aga Khan prize for Islamic architecture.
Since the Kuwait Towers officially opened in March of 1979.they have to symbolize the weath and prosperity that has boosted this formaly sleepy backwater into the world's eleventh richest country per capita.
The reference to "liquid gold" refers to Kuwait's immense oil wealth:although it ranks just 157th by size,the country boasts the
world's fifth largest oil reserves.It can also refer to water,a precious commodity in this hot,dry,desert country.Though they may not look like
water towers,storing water is actually the primary function of the kuwait Towers:two large spherical tanks on the towers hold a combined 4,500 cubic meters (158,915 cu ft) of water.The spherical exteriors of the water tanks are covered by 55,000 circular plates of Chinese steel tinted in eight different colors.The concrete portions of the towers are painted white and are tipped with aluminium for protection from lightening.
In 1980,the Kuwait Towers were awarded the coveted Aga Khan prize for Islamic architecture.
All three towers are mainly made of reinforced concrete but that’s where a little individuality sets in.The main tower is the tallest of the trio, standing 187 meters (613.5 ft) in height and comprises two balls. The ground floor comprises the external applications and the training room.A large water tank is built into the main tower’s lower portion and just above it, at the 82 meter (269 ft) mark, you’ll find the Ofok Restaurant and two other eateries.
Breakfast buffet from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. for ladies only, except Fridays and official holidays. Family breakfast buffet. Lunch buffet from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dinner buffet from 19:30 p.m. to 23:30 p.m. for families. The menu is regularly changed every day. Oriental show.
Higher up on the main tower at the 123 meter (403.55 ft) level, a second, smaller “Viewing Sphere” rotates once every half hour giving visitors on the observation deck a magnificent 360 degree view of Kuwait City and its environs including the nearby AquaPark..Open Weekends from 9:00 am to 23:00 am. it is devided into two parts.
First Part: Fixed 120 meters in height. Full rotation every helf an hour. Gift Shop, Cafeteria, Snacks and refreshments. Telescope installed for viewing the area surrounding the towers and the Kuwait city.
Middle Tower is 147 meter above sea level. A water tank with a capacity of one million gallons. A starting point for visiting the two towers and the surrounding area.
The third, or “small” tower, standing 113 meters (370.75 ft) high, contains electrical equipment and a bank of lights that illuminate the other two towers at night.
Breakfast buffet from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. for ladies only, except Fridays and official holidays. Family breakfast buffet. Lunch buffet from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dinner buffet from 19:30 p.m. to 23:30 p.m. for families. The menu is regularly changed every day. Oriental show.
Higher up on the main tower at the 123 meter (403.55 ft) level, a second, smaller “Viewing Sphere” rotates once every half hour giving visitors on the observation deck a magnificent 360 degree view of Kuwait City and its environs including the nearby AquaPark..Open Weekends from 9:00 am to 23:00 am. it is devided into two parts.
First Part: Fixed 120 meters in height. Full rotation every helf an hour. Gift Shop, Cafeteria, Snacks and refreshments. Telescope installed for viewing the area surrounding the towers and the Kuwait city.
Middle Tower is 147 meter above sea level. A water tank with a capacity of one million gallons. A starting point for visiting the two towers and the surrounding area.
The third, or “small” tower, standing 113 meters (370.75 ft) high, contains electrical equipment and a bank of lights that illuminate the other two towers at night.
Some other services are:TRAINING ROOMS -This service has been recently introduced. They present one of the most renowned places for booking training rooms. They provide the latest required equipment. There are day and evening sessions.
OUTSIDE CATERING-A new service that has been recently introduced and has been a huge success. It provides various menus including all Arab, oriental and western dishes, as well as the possibility of organizing parties outside where necessary.
DASMAN-For private parties and gatherings of businessmen. An ideal place with a seating capacity of 50. lt is also considered one of the most luxurious rooms of the towers for reception and provision of welcoming drinks.
VALET PARKING-On your arrival at main entrance point the driver takes the car to the private shading visitors parking.
The First Gulf War began on August 2nd, 1990, when Saddam Hussein of Iraq invaded Kuwait on the pretext of seizing back his country’s “lost 19th province.”
It wasn’t until mid-January of 1991 that American-led coalition forces began air bombardments against the Iraqi Army and following a 100-hour ground campaign that began on February 25th, Kuwait regained its sovereignty. Seven months of Iraqi occupation, however, had left an ugly mark on Kuwait.
The sabotaging of hundreds of Kuwaiti oil wells as part of a “scorched earth” policy is well documented, but Saddam’s troops were also responsible for other actions intended to erase all reminders of an independent Kuwait. One of these actions concerned the Kuwait Towers. Besides causing damage to the towers’ exteriors with gunfire and shrapnel, Iraqi soldiers intentionally destroyed the towers’ electrical utilities and vandalized interior facilities. One supposes it could have been worse.
Throughout the balance of 1991 and well into 1992, damage sustained to the Kuwait Towers (estimated to be 70 percent) was repaired and essential technical and comfort facilities were restored to their original condition. Repairing the damage cost an estimated KD 2 million. It was an inspirational occasion for proud Kuwaiti citizens when, on December 26th of 1992, the Kuwait Towers were officially re-opened to the public by Finance Minister and Planning Minister Nasser Al-Roudhan.
Although the 50th anniversary of Kuwait’s independence occurs on June 19th, 2011, the country has denoted February 25th as Kuwait’s National Day and February 26th as Liberation Day. We can expect the sky above Kuwait City’s waterfront to be lit up with fireworks on June 19th.We can also count on the Kuwait Towers taking center stage in the celebrations, as over the past 30-odd years they’ve emerged as the most famous visual symbol of the nation.
2011 was an extra special year for Kuwait as it was deemed “50-20-5”: the 50th year of Independence, the 20th year since Liberation after the Gulf War, and the 5th year of Ascension of the current Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
OUTSIDE CATERING-A new service that has been recently introduced and has been a huge success. It provides various menus including all Arab, oriental and western dishes, as well as the possibility of organizing parties outside where necessary.
DASMAN-For private parties and gatherings of businessmen. An ideal place with a seating capacity of 50. lt is also considered one of the most luxurious rooms of the towers for reception and provision of welcoming drinks.
VALET PARKING-On your arrival at main entrance point the driver takes the car to the private shading visitors parking.
The First Gulf War began on August 2nd, 1990, when Saddam Hussein of Iraq invaded Kuwait on the pretext of seizing back his country’s “lost 19th province.”
It wasn’t until mid-January of 1991 that American-led coalition forces began air bombardments against the Iraqi Army and following a 100-hour ground campaign that began on February 25th, Kuwait regained its sovereignty. Seven months of Iraqi occupation, however, had left an ugly mark on Kuwait.
The sabotaging of hundreds of Kuwaiti oil wells as part of a “scorched earth” policy is well documented, but Saddam’s troops were also responsible for other actions intended to erase all reminders of an independent Kuwait. One of these actions concerned the Kuwait Towers. Besides causing damage to the towers’ exteriors with gunfire and shrapnel, Iraqi soldiers intentionally destroyed the towers’ electrical utilities and vandalized interior facilities. One supposes it could have been worse.
Throughout the balance of 1991 and well into 1992, damage sustained to the Kuwait Towers (estimated to be 70 percent) was repaired and essential technical and comfort facilities were restored to their original condition. Repairing the damage cost an estimated KD 2 million. It was an inspirational occasion for proud Kuwaiti citizens when, on December 26th of 1992, the Kuwait Towers were officially re-opened to the public by Finance Minister and Planning Minister Nasser Al-Roudhan.
Although the 50th anniversary of Kuwait’s independence occurs on June 19th, 2011, the country has denoted February 25th as Kuwait’s National Day and February 26th as Liberation Day. We can expect the sky above Kuwait City’s waterfront to be lit up with fireworks on June 19th.We can also count on the Kuwait Towers taking center stage in the celebrations, as over the past 30-odd years they’ve emerged as the most famous visual symbol of the nation.
2011 was an extra special year for Kuwait as it was deemed “50-20-5”: the 50th year of Independence, the 20th year since Liberation after the Gulf War, and the 5th year of Ascension of the current Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
By - SANGHAMITRA NATH
photographs sourced from Flickr.com
photographs sourced from Flickr.com
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