Bashar Al Salem
Architect Bashar AlSalem is a founder/ partner of Kayan,
a Kuwait-based architecture firm.
He is a principal architect, leading a
team of young architects producing residential and commercial projects. Prior to Kayan, he was
a senior architect and
a project manager with SSH, a member of the Sphere Design Group, and worked with various government entities on projects including the Failaka Island design. Diwaniya: From hospitality to architecture
AlSalem will be discussing the architecture of diwaniyas in Kuwait, and how it stems from hospitality in the local culture. A Kuwaiti diwaniya is a traditional reception area where business colleagues and guests are received and is a representation of the importance of hospitality in Kuwait’s culture and traditions. The presentation will focus on the definition of a diwaniya, the history of hospitality in Kuwait, and the architectural design elements of a diwaniya. The second part of the presentation will focus on the difference between local historic diwaniyas and contemporary diwaniyas being designed and built in Kuwait today.