kuwait city's popular 360° mall is quickly becoming a site for world-class international architecture. OMA was slated to design a concept
department store centered around showcasing the burgeoning creative industries in the region. the translucent megastore is a
flexible space that acts as both a public event venue and consumer-driven department store, set to house a range of international fashion brands.
commissioned by kuwaiti sheikh majed al-sabah, the forthcoming exhibition hall makes use of its culturally engendered and elegantly meticulous
arabic geometries to seamlessly integrate into the circular plan of the neighboring mall. retailers will work alongside a contemporary public forum for
the city over three levels of generously glazed galleries. these partitioned spaces recall famous kuwaiti open air markets, called souks,
whose typology makes for individual brand development. walls with circular cut outs will function as both transverse corridors and frames for
shifting views. the effect is such that the space will be ever-changing and fully customizable. while the manifold structure supplies ample light
during the day, the effect is reversed at night when the architecture becomes a beacon of new possibilities and cultural exchange.
models show the translucent box in situ as in nestles into the round mall
image © frans parthesius / OMA
retailers have the liberty of creating their own brand identity within the confines of the porous box
image © frans parthesius / OMA
the galleries serve multiple functions, both cultural and commercial
image © frans parthesius / OMA
recalling open-air markets typical of the area, the exhibition hall's spaces will also showcase a rich design and artisanal culture
image © frans parthesius / OMA
circular wall perforations preform the double function of dynamic aperture and practical walkway
image © frans parthesius / OMA
the hall is expected to adjust to a multitude of programs
image © frans parthesius / OMA
floor plans
elevation diagram
plan diagram
