Villa Moda Souk al-Manshar, Kuwait City Store, Kuwaiti Shop, Photo, Design

Fahaheel District Retail Development : Kuwait City Shop

Villa Moda Souk al-Manshar, Fahaheel district retail building – design by Sybarite Architects

25 Nov 2009

Villa Moda Kuwait

Villa Moda Souk al-Manshar
Al-Manshar, Fahaheel
Kuwait Free Trade Zone
Kuwait City, Kuwait

Design: Sybarite Architects, London, UK

Villa Moda Souk al-Manshar

While the Fahaheel district in Kuwait City is conservative and predominantly Bedouin in culture, it doesn’t lack a love of fashion. Although women mainly wear the veil, there is a passion for handbags, shoes, jewellery and other accessories. The client’s brief was to bring the past and present together, to create the motley, chaotic feel of a bazaar within a modern luxury department store.

Villa Moda Souk al-Manshar Kuwait Villa Moda Kuwait Villa Moda Villa Moda Kuwait

A system was conceived of circular pods of different finishes and sizes that are sliced at angles and randomly scattered over the two floors. These pod slices create varying perspectives throughout the store and can be heavily merchandised inside and out to help create a ‘souk’ feel. Each tenant followed specific design guidelines to ensure their areas worked alongside the client pods, maintaining a cohesive style and look to the overall store. The contemporary backdrop of polished concrete floor, sleek white walls and ceiling together with gloss lacquered finishes and pastel colour scheme create an interesting contrast to the traditional merchant ‘stalls’ of the pods.
A ‘street’ café encourages customers to relax, creating an traditional atmosphere of community where people can meet, visit and people-watch.

Villa Moda Souk al-Manshar – Building Information

Client: Villa Moda (Sheikh Majed al-Sabah)
Architect: Sybarite, London, UK (Simon Mitchell, Torquil McIntosh, Nicola Lewis)
Site Architect: Villa Moda Lifestyle, Kuwait (Abeer Seikaley)
Main Contractor: PMI (Project Management Int’l), Kuwait (Ramzi Rizkallah)
Photographer: Simon Collins
Shop Area: 3,150 m²
Completed: Apr 2008

Villa Moda Souk al-Manshar Shop Kuwait images / information from Sybarite

Sybarite

Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait

New Kuwait Architecture

Contemporary Kuwait Architectural Selection

Kuwaiti Architecture Designs – chronological list

Villa Moda
Design: eldridge smerin, Architects
Villa Moda Kuwait
photo : Ake Son Lindman
Villa Moda Kuwait
Eldridge Smerin was responsible for the design of Villa Moda’s main entrance area and lounge, public spaces and staircases, two levels of multi-brand fashion space, restaurant and café managed by the Caprice group, as well as the landscaping around the building.

Kuwaiti Buildings – Selection

Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre Building, Arabian Gulf Street, Salmiya, Kuwait City
Architects: SSH
Sheikh Abdullah al Salem Cultural Centre
photography : SSH
Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre Building

Wafra Tower, Hessa Al Mubarak District
Architects: OMA and Pace
Wafra Tower Kuwait City
image courtesy of OMA
Wafra Tower

Al Hamra Firdous Tower project, Kuwait City
Design: SOM Architects
Kuwait City Tower : MIPIM/Architectural Review “Future Project” Award 2008

Al Sharq Tower Building
Architects: Atkins
Al Sharq Tower

City of Silk, Subbiya, Kuwait Bay
Eric Kuhne & Associates
City of Silk : massive city-scaled waterfront development, incl. new airport + seaport

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