SDA 2022 Entries

• Public Building - Public Buildings used by the public for any purpose, such as assembly, education, entertainment, government, healthcare, transport or worship. This will also include civic centres, community centres, libraries, visitor centres, culture, health + wellbeing, faith, education, sports venues and stadia, transport, central + local government, entertainment and event venues

Cost of project: Confidential
Completion date: 1st April 2019

The design team were commissioned to re-imagine the interiors for the new American International University in Kuwait, which strives to shift cultural norms by empowering the people of Kuwait to become leaders, creators and innovators through interdisciplinary education. Armed with the client’s vision, the design team crafted a concept inspired by a young group of Kuwaitis, dedicated to rebuilding their natural landscape after decades of upheaval through the planting of 350,000 trees.

The interior design embodies attributes of these desert trees through the exploration of warmth, pattern, canopy and dappled light. The campus’ interstitial spaces pull from the qualities of middle-eastern seed pods (vibrant colours, unique forms and textures) resulting in environments that promotes creative thinking and informal collaboration.

The client wanted to create a world-class campus which would attract and retain the very best students and academics. The goal was to empower students to become creators, not just consumers. The team developed a series of key design drivers were established:

Fostering community:
The Student Union offers a mix of environments that encourage this community of commuters to stay on campus and foster connections.

Oasis for learning:
In response to the region’s harsh climate, the library serves as a campus destination that is fueled by natural light, plantings and comfortable learning environments.

Flexibility and adaptability:
The project was designed to use space efficiently while being ready for change. AIU is designed with the future in mind, able to adapt to support an evolving curriculum.

Wellness:
The college inspires a cultural shift centered around physical fitness by opening an on-site fitness and health centre. The feature stairs throughout the campus encourage movement.

For a project of this scale, that encompassed three buildings, there were over 240 products specified. This array of products enabled the design team to meet the key design drivers for the project.

Colourful destinations:
Students are guided through the campus by colourful, spatial landmarks which explore qualities of middle eastern seed pods through the use of protective postures and modern shifts in colour.

Diversity of settings:
Within these colourful environments are a variety of spaces for students and staff to focus, collaborate and reflect. Sourcing Interface Carpet, Shaw Carpet and Kvadrat Fabrics, the diverse settings have their own personality which enabled a variety of environments and reinforced wayfinding by colour.

Inspiring platforms:
At the heart of the campus is the state-of-the-art lecture hall, which is designed to inspire students and staff through authentic connections with industry leaders and scholars.

Wayfinding tools:
Thoughtfully placed architectural wayfinding devices are used in tandem with colour to support students, staff, and guests navigate the campus.

Durable and Timeless Materials:
Consistent, durable details throughout the campus tie the three buildings together and ensure AIU’s interior will stand the test of time.

The design team was commissioned to re-imagine the interiors of three buildings for the new American International University (AIU) in Kuwait, which strives to shift cultural norms by empowering the people to become leaders, creators and innovators.

the design team crafted a concept inspired by a young group Kuwaitis determined to rebuild their natural landscape after decades of upheaval. Over 350,000 trees were planted throughout the Kuwait desert in an effort to increase biodiversity, improve air quality, and reduce the number of sand storms. This motivated group of individuals embody the qualities AIU hopes to instill within all of their graduates.

The design team also used a selection of sustainable materials and efficient lighting where possible throughout the 450,000 sqft campus.

Wellness: The college inspires a cultural shift centered around physical fitness by opening an on-site fitness and health centre. The feature stairs throughout the campus encourage movement.

Building Community:
AIU is a commuter campus, the design team focused on creating environments that encouraged students to stay on campus and build their own community

Unique Methods: As our scope did not include a member of our design team working full time on site during construction, high expectations for quality needed to be met in working with local fabricators. As a result, we were able to add site visits to ensue craftsmanship and quality were appropriately met.

Armed with the client’s vision, the design team crafted a concept inspired by a young group of Kuwaitis, dedicated to rebuilding their natural landscape after decades of upheaval through the planting of 350,000 trees. The interior design embodies the attributes of these desert trees through the exploration of warmth, pattern, canopy, and dappled light. The campus’ interstitial spaces pull from the qualities of middle-eastern seed pods (vibrant colours, unique forms and textures) resulting in environments that promote creative thinking and informal collaboration. These spatial elements combine to form a campus that feels established and firmly focused on the country’s future leaders.