Villa Hadeed is a 1,730 M2 private residence located in the suburbs of Kuwait. The design of the villa extended over a period of two years during which the architect made sure to clearly grasp the living requirements and space program put forth by the client. The architect wanted to avoid as much as possible the pressures and cost increases that are a result of design changes made during the construction phase. Another advantage gained from this time period was the ability to study how the clients moved between spaces in their old residence, as well as the way in which they interacted with each other according to role, age and gender. One of the challenges encountered during the design was in creating a home that could comfortably house a varying number of residents.
The permanent residents are owner and wife who often cater to large numbers of guests. In addition, there are several members of staff who assume a semi-permanent status. The temporary residents are the clients’ children and grandchildren who come for mostly short, sometimes lengthy visits from abroad. Therefore, the house can have a range of six to fifteen residents at once. As a solution to this, the architect proposed dividing the house into zones. The semi-open basement holds the car park, pool and barbecue area, gym, living/entertainment space and service quarters. This program demanded the large floor space and visual seclusion available below ground. The ground floor holds the casual and formal living rooms, kitchens and dining room and two landscaped gardens situated at the front and back of the residence welcoming visitors. The first floor holds the suites of the owner and his wife, a pantry and living room as well as an office located strategically at the front of the house with a view of the main street.
The children’s quarters are located on the second floor along with a book and technology room. The back of the roof holds more service quarters and a mechanical room while the front is free, open space to be used flexibly. While the separation of zones provides the different occupants with desired degrees of privacy, sectional cuts between floors encourage dialogue and interaction. Double height spaces and open terraces allow the residents to have shared views across all the floor levels. Almost all bedrooms have balconies looking onto the more quiet back garden while the living and entertainment areas have views onto the pool or front garden. Contrary to local practice, the service quarters were integrated into the residence to avoid moments of alienation and give the volumes of the house a homogenous appearance in plan and elevation.
Another challenge faced by the architect was deciding on a façade treatment that can withstand the harsh heat and frequent sandstorms of the Persian Gulf region. After much experimentation, the choice rested on ceramic granite which is a very durable non-porous, smooth material. When hit by layers of dust, the ceramic tiles take on a thin film of sand which can enhance their original color rather than giving them a polluted look. The tiles were chemically bonded onto locally manufactured, white aerated concrete block of high insulation performance. Variation in wall thickness was also used as a way of counteracting heat transfer. The clients’ request to have airy, naturally lit rooms with big windows also made it essential for the architect to choose the right type of tinted, insulated glass that can function well as climate control.
After a year and a half of construction, Villa Hadeed was ready to accommodate its satisfied residents.
All images Courtesy of M2H Studio
