Coordinates	34°03′″N118°15′″N
Official name	Kuwait City
Other name	Madinat Al Kuwayt
Native name	مدينة الكويت
Settlement type
Dot x	|dot_y
Pushpin map	Kuwait
Pushpin map caption	Location of Kuwait in Kuwait
Coordinates region	KW
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	Kuwait
Subdivision type1	Governorate
Subdivision name1	Al Asimah
Leader title1
Established title
Established title2
Established title3
Unit pref
Area total km2
Area land km2
Area metro km2	200
Population as of	2005 estimate
Population total	151060 (2008)
Population metro	2380000
Timezone	EAT
Utc offset	+3
Coordinates display	inline,title
Elevation footnotes
Postal code type
Footnotes	}}

Kuwait City (Arabic: مدينة الكويت, transliteration: Madīnat al-Kuwayt), is the capital of Kuwait. It has a population of 2.38 million in the metropolitan area. Located at the heart of the country on the shore of the Persian Gulf, and containing Kuwait's parliament (Majlis Al-Umma), most governmental offices, the headquarters of most Kuwaiti corporations and banks, it is the political, cultural and economic center of the emirate.

Kuwait City’s trade and transportation needs are served by Kuwait International Airport, Mina Al-Shuwaik (Shuwaik Port) and Mina Al Ahmadi (Ahmadi Port) 50 kilometers to the south, on the Persian Gulf coast.

History

Kuwait City was first settled in the early 18th Century by the Al-Sabāh clan, later the ruling family of Kuwait and a branch of the Al-Utūb tribe (that also included the Al-Khalīfah clan, the ruling family of Bahrain), and their leader, Sheikh Sabāh I. Its name may have derived from an earlier abandoned fort located there, called "Kūt" (كوت) – Arabic for a fortress by the sea.

The settlement grew quickly, and by the time its first wall was built (1760), the town had its own dhow fleet of about 800 and trading relations to Baghdad and Damascus. It was a successful and thriving sea port by the early 19th Century.

It was unclear whether or not Kuwait was part of the Ottoman Empire, and as a result, tensions often broke out between the sheikhdom and the empire. These tensions peaked when, in 1896, Sheikh Mubārak Al-Sabāh assassinated his brother, the emir Muhammad Al-Sabāh, over Mubārak's deep suspicion that the Ottoman Empire was willing to annex Kuwait.

In exchange for British naval protection, Mubārak was not to negotiate or give territory to any other foreign power without British consent. With the discovery of oil in 1936, the city’s standard of living improved dramatically, including health and education services.

On August 2, 1990, Iraqi forces seized the city and on August 8 they annexed the emirate. During the occupation, the city was extensively damaged and many buildings were destroyed after it, including the Kuwait National Museum.

After Iraqi forces retreated from Kuwait in January–February 1991, foreign investors and the Kuwaiti government were actively involved in modernizing the city and turning it into a world-class business hub. Many hotels, shopping malls and offices were built in the city indicating the economic growth since the war.

Geography and climate

Kuwait City has an arid climate, with very hot summers, little rainfall and dust storms.

Summer temperatures range from 38 to 46 degrees Celsius. A summer heat wave can see temperatures soar as high as 50 degrees, and higher. Winters are much cooler than summer.

Summer rainfall is very rare, and normally nonexistent. The wettest month is January, typically with only six days of any rain. Rain may occur in the spring and its frequency increases around November. On average, Kuwait City sees about 32 wet days, and 333 dry days.

Dust storms occur at times during summer from the shamal wind. Dust storms can occur anytime of year but occur mostly during summer, and less frequently during autumn.

Suburbs

Although the districts below are not usually recognized as suburbs, the following is a list of a few areas surrounding Kuwait city:

{| | valign="top" |

Abdullah Al Salem عبدالله السالم

Al Andalus الاندلس

Bayan بيان

Bneid Al-Qar بنيد القار

Al Da'iya الدعية

Al Dasma الدسمه

Al Faiha الفيحاء

Farwaniya الفروانية

Al Ahmadiالأحمدي

Hawalli حولي

Al Jabriya الجابرية

Kaifan كيفان

Khaitan خيطان

Mahboula المهبولة

Al Mansouriah المنصورية

Mishref مشرف

| valign="top" |

Al-Nuzha النزهه

Al Qadisiya القادسية

Qurtoba قرطبة

Al Rumaithiya الرميثية

Al Salmiya السالمية

Abu Halifa أبو حليفة

Mangaf المنقف

Sabah Al-Salem صباح السالم

Salwa سلوى

Al Shamiya الشامية

Sharq شرق

Al Shuwaikh الشويخ

Shuwaikh Port الميناء شويخ

South Khaitan خيطان الجنوبي

Al Surra السره

Al Yarmouk اليرموك

AlKhaldiya الخالديه

Al jahrah الجهره

kabd كبد

esherj عشيرج

sabiya الصبيه

Al Shaab الشعب

Sabah Al Nasser صباح الناصر

|}

Economy

Kuwait’s booming economy has allowed many international hotel chains to enter agreements to open hotels in the country. According to the Kuwait Hotel Owners Association, over twenty-five new hotels are planned or in construction, including the following:

Hotel Missoni Kuwait – now open

Golden Tulip Kuwait – opening late 2011

Hilton Olympia Kuwait – opening late 2011

Ibis Sharq – now open

Jumeirah Messilah Beach Kuwait – opening mid-2011

InterContinental Kuwait Downtown – opening late 2010

InterContinental Kuwait at The White – opening early 2013

The Square Capital Tower – opening late 2011

Novotel Mina Abdullah Resort – opening late 2011

Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at The Gate of Kuwait – plans are in motion to open within the next few years.

By 2012, over 3,000 rooms are expected to be added to Kuwait’s current hotel inventory.

The city is also home to a large variety of shopping malls, which serve as the basis of Kuwaiti social life. Famous malls such as the Avenues, Marina World and the 360 Mall house many internationally-renowned retail and food/beverage brands, as well as provide sheltered, indoor areas to relax. Several more, such as the Mall of Kuwait, the Al Hamra Center and Symphony Centre are expected to enter service within the next five years.

Transport

In 2008, a railway network connecting Arab states of the Persian Gulf was proposed, although work is yet to start. A metro network was designed, with four lines and stations across the entire city and suburbs. Although it has faced considerable delays, the project is expected to commence construction sometime in 2011 and open parts of the first two lines by July 2016.

Kuwait International Airport is the primary airport for the country serving a wide variety of local and international destinations.

Twin towns — sister cities

Kuwait City is twinned with:

Tunis, Tunisia Beirut, Lebanon Beverly Hills, USA Cannes, France Dubai, UAE Gaziantep, Turkey Monaco, Monaco Marbella, Spain London, England Paris, France

Gallery

See also

JW Marriott Hotel

Madinat al-Hareer

List of diplomatic missions in Kuwait

Tourism in Kuwait

External links

Kuwait City at "goruma"

Kuwait Directory Kuwait Business Links

References

Category:Populated places in Kuwait Category:Capitals in Asia Category:Populated coastal places in Kuwait Category:Port cities and towns in Kuwait Category:Port cities and towns of the Persian Gulf Category:Districts of Al Asimah

ace:Al-Kuwait (banda) af:Koeweit (stad) am:ኩዌት ከተማ ar:مدينة الكويت arc:ܟܘܘܝܬ (ܡܕܝܢܬܐ) frp:Koveyit (vela) bn:কুয়েত সিটি zh-min-nan:Kuwait Chhī be:Горад Кувейт be-x-old:Кувэйт (горад) bo:ཁུ་ཝི་ཐི། (རྒྱལ་ས།) bs:Kuvajt (grad) bg:Кувейт (град) ca:Al-Kuwait cs:Kuvajt (město) cy:Dinas Kuwait da:Kuwait City de:Kuwait-Stadt et:Al-Kuwayt el:Πόλη του Κουβέιτ es:Kuwait (ciudad) eo:Kuvajturbo eu:Kuwait Hiria fa:کویت (شهر) hif:Kuwait City fr:Koweït (ville) fy:Koeweit (stêd) gd:Cubhait (baile) gl:Kuwait (cidade) ko:쿠웨이트 시 hy:Էլ Քուվեյթ hi:कुवैत नगर hr:Kuwait io:Kuwait-Urbo id:Kuwait City os:Эль-Кувейт it:Madinat al-Kuwait he:כווית סיטי ka:ელ-ქუვეითი sw:Jiji la Kuwait ht:Kowèt lv:Kuveita (pilsēta) lt:Kuveitas (miestas) lmo:Cità del Kuwait hu:Kuvaitváros mk:Кувајт (град) mr:कुवेत शहर ms:Bandar Kuwait mn:Кувейт хот nah:Āltepētl Cuhuait nl:Koeweit (stad) ja:クウェート (市) no:Kuwait (by) nn:Kuwait by nov:Kuwayt Urbe oc:Kowait (vila) pms:Sità dël Kuwait pl:Kuwejt (miasto) pt:Kuwait (cidade) ro:Kuweit (oraș) ru:Кувейт (город) sco:Kuwait Ceety sk:Kuvajt (mesto) ckb:کووەیت (شار) sr:Кувајт (град) fi:Kuwait (kaupunki) sv:Kuwait (stad) tl:Lungsod ng Kuwait th:คูเวตซิตี tg:Ал-Кувейт tr:Kuveyt (şehir) uk:Ель-Кувейт ur:کویت شہر ug:كۇۋائىت شەھىرى vi:Thành phố Kuwait vo:Kuväyt war:Syudad han Kuwait yo:Kuwait City zh:科威特市

Coordinates	34°03′″N118°15′″N
native name	دولة الكويتDawlat al-Kuwayt
conventional long name	State of Kuwait
common name	Kuwait
image coat	Coat of Arms of Kuwait-2.svg
symbol type	Emblem
national anthem	Al-Nasheed Al-Watani
official languages	Arabic
demonym	Kuwaiti
capital	Kuwait City
largest city	capital
government type	Constitutional hereditary emirate
leader title1	Emir
leader name1	Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
leader title2	Crown Prince
leader name2	Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah
leader title3	Prime Minister
leader name3	Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah
leader title4	Speaker of the National Assembly
leader name4	Jassem Mohammed Abdulmohsen Al-Kharafi
sovereignty type	Establishment
established event1	First Settlement
established date1	1613
established event2	Anglo-Ottoman Convention
established date2	1913
established event3	Independence from the United Kingdom
established date3	19 June 1961
area rank	157th
legislature	Majlis al-Umma
area magnitude	1 E10
area km2	17,820
area sq mi	6,880
percent water	negligible
ethnic groups	33.9% Kuwaiti Arabs45.9% Other Arabs13.5% South and East Asian1.9% Iranian4.8% Europeans and Americans
population estimate	3,566,437
population estimate year	2010
population estimate rank	130th
population density km2	167.5
population density sq mi	433.8
population density rank	68th
gdp ppp	$136.495 billion
gdp ppp year	2010
gdp ppp per capita	$37,848
gdp nominal	$131.315 billion
gdp nominal year	2010
gdp nominal per capita	$36,412
hdi	0.771
hdi rank	47th
hdi year	2010
hdi category	high
currency	Kuwaiti dinar
currency code	KWD
time zone	AST / KSA
utc offset	+3
time zone dst	+4gmt
utc offset dst	+3
Date format	dd/mm/yyyy (CE)
drives on	Right
cctld	.kw
calling code	965
website	http://www.e.gov.kw/sites/KgoEnglish/portal/Pages/PortalMain.aspx }}

The State of Kuwait (; , Dawlat al-Kuwayt) is a sovereign Arab nation situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Arabian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the Arabic أقوات "akwat", the plural of قوة "kout", meaning fortress built near water. The Emirate covers an area of 17,820 square kilometers (6,880 sq mi) and has a population of about 3.6 million.

Historically, the region was the site of Characene, a major Parthian port for trade between India and Mesopotamia. The Bani Utbah Tribe were the first permanent Arab settlers in the region and laid the foundation of the modern emirate. By the 19th century, Kuwait came under the influence of the Ottoman Empire, and after World War I, it emerged as an independent sheikhdom under the protection of the British Empire. Kuwait's large oil fields were discovered in the late 1930s.

After Kuwait gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1961, the nation's oil industry saw unprecedented economic growth. In 1990, Kuwait was invaded and annexed by neighboring Iraq. The seven month-long Iraqi occupation came to an end after a direct military intervention by United States-led forces. Around 773 Kuwaiti oil wells were set ablaze by the retreating Iraqi army resulting in a major environmental and economic catastrophe. Kuwait's infrastructure was badly damaged during the war and had to be rebuilt.

Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government, with Kuwait City serving as the country's political and economic capital. The country has the world's fifth largest oil reserves and petroleum products now account for nearly 95% of export revenues, and 80% of government income. Kuwait is the eleventh richest country in the world per capita. In 2007, it had the highest human development index (HDI) in the Arab world. Kuwait is classified as a high income economy by the World Bank and is designated as a major non-NATO ally of the United States.

History

In the 4th century BC, the ancient Greeks colonized an island off Kuwait's coast, now known as Failaka, and named it "Ikaros". By 123 BC, the region came under the influence of the Parthian Empire and was closely associated with the southern Mesopotamian town of Charax. In 224 AD, the region fell under the control of Sassanid Empire and came to be known as Hajar. By the 14th century, the area comprising modern-day Kuwait became a part of the Islamic caliphate.

The first permanent settlers in the region came from Bani Khalid tribe of Nejd and established the state of Kuwait. In 1756, the people elected Sabah I bin Jaber as the first Emir of Kuwait. The current ruling family of Kuwait, al-Sabah, are descendants of Sabah I. During the rule of the Al-Sabah, Kuwait progressively became a center of trade and commerce. It now served as a hub of trade between India, the horn of Africa, the Nejd, Mesopotamia and the Levant. Up until the advent of Japanese pearl farming, Kuwait had one of the largest sea fleets in the Persian Gulf region and a flourishing pearling industry. Trade consisted mainly of pearls, wood, spices, dates and horses. In 1899, Kuwait entered into a treaty with the United Kingdom that gave the British extensive control over the foreign policy of Kuwait in exchange for protection and annual subsidy. This treaty was primarily prompted by fears that the proposed Berlin-Baghdad Railway would lead to an expansion of German influence in the Persian Gulf. After the signing of the Anglo-Ottoman Convention of 1913, then Emir of Kuwait, Mubarak Al-Sabah, was diplomatically recognized by both the Ottomans and British as the ruler of the autonomous caza of the city of Kuwait and the hinterlands. However, soon after the start of World War I, the British invalidated the convention and declared Kuwait an independent principality under the protection of the British Empire. The 1922 Treaty of Uqair set Kuwait's border with Saudi Arabia and also established the Saudi-Kuwaiti neutral zone, an area of about 5,180 km² adjoining Kuwait's southern border.

On 19 June 1961, Kuwait became fully independent following an exchange of notes between the United Kingdom and the then Emir of Kuwait, Abdullah III Al-Salim Al-Sabah. The Gulf rupee, issued by the Reserve Bank of India, was replaced by the Kuwaiti dinar. The discovery of large oil fields, especially the Burgan field, triggered a large influx of foreign investments into Kuwait. The massive growth of the petroleum industry transformed Kuwait from a poor pearl farming community into one of the richest countries in the Arabian Peninsula and by 1952, the country became the largest exporter of oil in the Persian Gulf region. This massive growth attracted many foreign workers, especially from Egypt and India.

Kuwait settled its boundary disputes with Saudi Arabia and agreed on sharing equally the neutral zone's petroleum reserves, onshore and offshore. After a brief stand-off over boundary issues, Iraq formally recognized Kuwait's independence and its borders in October 1963. During the 1970s, the Kuwaiti government nationalized the Kuwait Oil Company, ending its partnership with Gulf Oil and British Petroleum.

In 1982, Kuwait experienced a major economic crisis after the Souk Al-Manakh stock market crash and decrease in oil price. However, the crisis was short-lived as Kuwait's oil production increased steadily to fill the gap caused by decrease in Iraq's and Iran's oil production levels following the events of the Iran–Iraq War. In 1983, a series of six bomb explosions took place in Kuwait killing five people. The attack was carried out by Shiite Dawa Party to retaliate Kuwait's financial support to Iraq during its war with Iran.

Kuwait had heavily funded Iraq's eight year-long war with Iran. After the war ended, Kuwait declined an Iraqi request to forgive its US$65 billion debt. An economic warfare between the two countries followed after Kuwait increased its oil production by 40 percent. Tensions between the two countries increased further after Iraq alleged that Kuwait was slant drilling oil from its share of the Rumaila field.

On 2 August 1990, Iraqi forces invaded and annexed Kuwait. A long-time ally of Saddam Hussein, Yemen's President, Ali Abdullah Saleh was quick to back Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait. Saddam Hussein, then President of Iraq, deposed the Emir of Kuwait, Jaber Al-Sabah, and initially propped up a puppet régime before annexing Kuwait and installing Ali Hassan al-Majid as the new governor of Kuwait. During the Iraqi occupation, about 1,000 Kuwaiti civilians were killed and more than 300,000 residents fled the country. After a series of failed diplomatic negotiations, the United States-led coalition of thirty-four nations fought the Gulf War to remove the Iraqi forces from Kuwait. On 26 February 1991, the coalition succeeded in driving out the Iraqi forces, restoring the Kuwaiti Emir to power. Kuwait paid the coalition forces US$17 billion for their war efforts.

During their retreat from the coalition, the Iraqi armed forces carried out a scorched earth policy by damaging 737 oil wells in Kuwait, of which approximately 600 were set on fire. It was estimated that by the time Kuwait was liberated from Iraqi occupation, about 5 to of oil was being burned in a single day because of these fires.

Oil and soot accumulation had affected the entire Persian Gulf region and large oil lakes were created holding approximately 25 to of oil and covering 5% of Kuwait's land area. In total, about of oil was released into the Persian Gulf and an additional 2% of Kuwait's of crude oil reserves were burned by the time the oil fires were brought under control. The fires took more than nine months to extinguish fully and it took Kuwait more than 2 years and US$50 billion in infrastructure reconstruction to reach pre-invasion oil output. Kuwait has since largely recovered from the socio-economic, environmental, and public health effects of the Persian Gulf War.

Politics

Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy and has the oldest directly elected parliament among the Arab states of the Persian Gulf. The head of state is the Emir or Sheikh, a hereditary office. A council of ministers, also known as cabinet ministers, aids the Prime Minister, and appoints and dismisses diplomats. Legislative power is vested in the Emir and the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution. The Emir of Kuwait is immune and inviolable: any criticism against him is not tolerated and punishable by law. He can dissolve the National Assembly and call a national election, or in cases of national emergency can dismiss the National Assembly outright and assume supreme authority over the country. The Emir is the commander in chief of Kuwait's armed forces. The Emir has authority to grant pardon from the death penalty or prison.

The National Assembly consists of fifty elected members, who are chosen in elections held every four years. Government ministers are also granted membership in the parliament and can number up to sixteen excluding the fifty elected members. According to the Constitution of Kuwait, nomination of a new Emir or Crown Prince by the ruling Al-Sabah family has to be approved by the National Assembly. If the nominee does not win the votes of the majority of the assembly, the royal family must submit the names of three other candidates to the National Assembly, and the Assembly must approve one of them to hold the post. Any amendment to the constitution can be proposed by the Emir but it needs to be approved by more than two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly before being implemented.

There have been several conflicts between the Emir, the government and the National Assembly over various policies. The National Assembly was suspended from 1976 to 1981, from 1986 to 1991 and from May 1999 to July 1999, due to irresolvable conflicts between some members of the government and the Assembly. The Assembly was dissolved again in May 2009 by the Emir leading to the resignation of Prime Minister Sheik Nasser Mohammad al-Ahmad al-Sabah and the rest of the Cabinet. Nationwide elections were held on May 16, 2009.

More than two-thirds of those who reside in Kuwait do not hold Kuwaiti citizenship and thus cannot vote in parliamentary elections. Additionally, prior to 2005, only 15% of the Kuwaiti population were allowed to vote, with all "recently naturalized" citizens (i.e. those of less than thirty years' citizenship), and members of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces excluded. On 16 May 2005, Parliament permitted women's suffrage by a 35–23 vote.

The decision raised Kuwait's eligible voter population from 139,000 to about 339,000. In 2006, Kuwaiti citizens were estimated to be more than 960,000. In 2005, the former Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah announced the appointment of the first woman as a cabinet minister, Massouma Mubarak. She was designated Planning Minister and Minister of State for Administrative Development Affairs. During the 2008 parliamentary elections, 27 of the 275 candidates were women. However, none of them won. In the parliamentary elections on 16 May 2009, 16 female candidates contested for 50 seats for a four-year term. Four female candidates won their seats and became Kuwait's first female lawmakers.

In April 2010, Kuwait's government, unhappy about possible democratic change in Egypt by Mohamed ElBaradei's National Association for Change, deported 17 Egyptians for trying to organize a local chapter of the Association in Kuwait.

Heads of Kuwait

Supreme Commander: Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Executive Branch: Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah

Legislative Branch: Jassem Al-Kharafi

Judicial Branch: Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Kuwait Courts

Foreign relations

[[File:Diplomatic missions of Kuwait.png|thumb|400px|Location of diplomatic missions of Kuwait: ]]

Kuwait's foreign policy is based on the principles of clarity, straightforwardness and quiet diplomacy. It aims at strengthening constructive cooperation with other countries on the basis of mutual respect, and non-intervention in the internal affairs in accordance with the principles of fairness and justice. Kuwait's foreign policy is also concerned with the maintenance of its own independence, sovereignty and freedom of political decision.

Kuwait is a member of the Arab League. Kuwait actively supports and works for the advancement of the Arab League's principles and all its associated organizations.

Kuwait is also a member of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council or GCC. The GCC is a group of oil rich (Arab) states located in the Persian Gulf, including Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. Citizens of the GCC can travel to other GCC countries with their civil identification (ID). The GCC functions in a similar way to the European Union.

Kuwait joined the United Nations on May 14, 1963 thereby becoming the 111th member of the world body.

Geography and climate

Located in the north-east corner of the Arabian Peninsula, Kuwait is one of the smallest countries in the world in terms of land area. It lies between latitudes 28° and 31° N, and longitudes 46° and 49° E. The flat, sandy Arabian Desert covers most of Kuwait. The country is generally low lying, with the highest point being above sea-level. It has nine islands, all of which with the exception of Failaka Island are uninhabited. With an area of , the Bubiyan is the largest island in Kuwait and is connected to the rest of the country by a long bridge. The land area is considered arable and sparse vegetation is found along its 499 km long coastline. Kuwait City is located on Kuwait Bay, a natural deep-water harbor.

Kuwait has some of the world's richest oil fields with the Burgan field having a total capacity of approximately of proven oil reserves. During the 1991 Kuwaiti oil fires, more than 500 oil lakes were created covering a combined surface area of about . The resulting soil contamination due to oil and soot accumulation had made eastern and south-eastern parts of Kuwait uninhabitable. Sand and oil residue had reduced large parts of the Kuwaiti desert to semi-asphalt surfaces. The oil spills during the Gulf War also drastically affected Kuwait's marine resources.

The spring season in March is warm and pleasant with occasional thunderstorms. The frequent winds from the northwest are cold in winter and spring and hot in summer. Southeasterly winds, usually hot and damp, spring up between July and October; hot and dry south winds prevail in spring and early summer. The shamal, a northwesterly wind common during June and July, causes dramatic sandstorms.

Governorates

Kuwait is divided into 6 governorates (muhafazah). The governorates are further subdivided into districts.

align="right">5 120Al KuwaitAl FarwaniyahJahraHawalli DistrictMubarak Al-Kabeer (city)

bgcolor="#ffffff" colspan="25" width="80%" valign="right"	<
! Subdivision	Capital city>Capital	! Area km²	! Population Census of 2005	! Created
Al Ahmadi Governorate	Al Ahmadi1)	Al Ahmadi	|	393 861	Al Asimah Governorate (Kuwait)>Al Asimah
Al Asimah Governorate (Kuwait)	Al Asimah (Al Kuwayt)2)	|	200	261 013	original Governorate
Al Farwaniyah Governorate	Al Farwaniyah	|	190	622 123	Al Asimah Governorate (Kuwait)>Al Asimah
Al Jahra Governorate	Al Jahra3)	Al Jahra ||	12 130	272 373	Al Asimah Governorate (Kuwait)>Al Asimah
Hawalli Governorate	Hawalli	|	84	487 514	original Governorate
Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate	Mubarak Al-Kabeer	Mubarak Al-Kabeer ||	94	176 519	Hawalli Governorate>Hawalli
TOTAL	|	17 818	2 213 403
1) The Saudi-Kuwaiti neutral zone					Neutral Zone was dissolved on Dec. 18, 1969, and the northern part with 2590 km² was added to Al Ahmadi (with small part in the northwest added to Al Jahra)
2) including the List of islands of Kuwait					islands of Failaka, Miskan, and Auhah
3) including the List of islands of Kuwait					islands of Warbah and Bubiyan

Economy

Kuwait has a GDP (PPP) of US$167.9 billion and a per capita income of US$81,800, making it the 5th richest country in the world, per capita.

According to the 2008 Index of Economic Freedom, Kuwait has the second-most free economy in the Middle East. In March 2007, Kuwait's foreign exchange reserves stood at US$213 billion. The Kuwait Stock Exchange, which has about 200 firms listed, is the second-largest stock exchange in the Arab world with a total market capitalization of US$235 billion. In 2007, the Kuwaiti government posted a budget surplus of US$43 billion.

Kuwait has a proven crude oil reserves of 104 billion barrels (15 km³), estimated to be 10% of the world's reserves. According to the Kuwaiti constitution, all natural resources in the country and associated revenues are government property. Being a tax-free country, Kuwait's oil industry accounts for 80% of government revenue. Petroleum and petrochemicals accounts for nearly half of GDP and 95% of export revenues. Increase in oil prices since 2003 resulted in a surge in Kuwait's economy.

Kuwait's current oil production of 2.8 million bpd is expected to increase to 4 million bpd by 2020. To realize this production target, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation plans to spend US$51 billion between 2007 to 2012 to upgrade and expand the country's existing refineries. However, the country's economy was badly affected by the global financial crisis of 2008. In 2009, the Central Bank of Kuwait devised a US$5.15 billion stimulus package to help boost the economy.

Other major industries include shipping, construction, cement, water desalination, construction materials and financial services. Kuwait has a well developed banking system and several banks in the country date back to the time before oil was discovered. Founded in 1952, the National Bank of Kuwait is the largest bank in the country and one of the largest in the Arab world. Other prominent financial institutions based in Kuwait include the Gulf Bank of Kuwait and Burgan Bank, which is named after the largest oilfield in the country.

Kuwait's climate limits agricultural development. Consequently, with the exception of fish, it depends almost wholly on food imports. About 75% of potable water must be distilled or imported. The government is keen on decreasing Kuwait's dependence on oil to fuel its economy by transforming it into a regional trading and tourism hub. The planned US$77 billion Madinat al-Hareer (City of Silk) is the largest real estate development project in the Middle East. The Central Bank issues Kuwait's currency, the Kuwaiti dinar. As of December 2007, the dinar was the highest-valued currency unit in the world.

In 2007, estimated exports stood at US$59.97 billion and imports were around US$17.74 billion. Petroleum, petrochemical products, fertilizers and financial services are major export commodities. Kuwait imports a wide range of products ranging from food products and textiles to machinery. Kuwait's most important trading partners are Japan, United States, India, South Korea, Singapore, China, European Union and Saudi Arabia. Japan is the largest customer of Kuwaiti oil followed by India, Singapore and South Korea.

On January 5th,2010,Kuwait has started the construction of Salmiya Park.The Heads said "it would take atleast 4 years to complete Salmiya Park"

Education

The State of Kuwait is directing its attention towards Inclusive Education, which provides opportunity to all children, irrespective of their social class, including children with special needs. Kuwait education system is marked by several achievements in recent years. As of 2005/06 Kuwait allocates 13 percent of all public expenditure to education, which is comparable to the allocation of public funds to education in many OECD countries but lower than other Arab countries. For the same years the public expenditure on education as a percentage of GDP was 3.9 percent in 2005/12 which is well below the percentage of GDP spent by OECD countries on education.

As of 2005, the literacy rate of Kuwait is 93.3 percent. Kuwait is facing challenges in improving the quality of education at all levels and to build capacities of students' from a young age. The Ministry of Education is also making efforts to incorporate women into the educated workforce through various programs, for instance the 1989 initiative to establish daytime literacy clinics for women. The Kuwaiti government also offers scholarships to students accepted in universities in United States, United Kingdom and other foreign institutes.

There is also higher education, which has improved drastically in the past years. The largest university is Kuwait University which is free for Kuwaitis and has over 1,500 faculty members and 22,000 students. There are also a number of private institutions such as American University of Kuwait, Gulf University for Science and Technology, the Australian University of Kuwait. The American University of The Middle East, Box Hill College Kuwait and Maastricht Business School Kuwait.

Kuwait has the highest literacy rate among the Arab world with 94%, up from 93.3% in 2005 (as stated above).

Demographics

As of 2007, Kuwait's population was estimated to be 3 to 3.5 million people, which included approximately 2 million non-nationals. Kuwaiti citizens are therefore a minority of those who reside in Kuwait. The government rarely grants citizenship to foreigners to maintain status quo. In 2008, 68.4% of the population consisted of expatriates. The net migration rate of the country stood at 16.01, the third highest in the world.

Ethnic groups

About 57% of the population in Kuwait is Arab, 39% South and East Asian, and 4% are classified Bidoon ('without' – stateless Arabs). In 2009, more than 580,000 Indian nationals lived in Kuwait, making them the single largest expatriate community there. In 2003, there were also an estimated 260,000 Egyptians, 100,000 Syrians and 80,000 Iranians in Kuwait. After Kuwait was liberated from the Iraqi invasion and occupation, most of the 400,000 Palestinians living in Kuwait were expelled because of their government's open support for the Iraqi Forces.

Languages

Kuwait's official language is Modern Standard Arabic. Kuwaiti Arabic, a Gulf Arabic sub-dialect, is Kuwait's colloquial dialect. English is widely understood and often used as a business language.

Religion

About 85% of the population in Kuwait identify themselves as Muslims. Between 70% to 80% of Muslims in Kuwait belong to the Sunni Sect and 20–30% are Shi'as. Majority of the Shias follow the Twelvers school. Despite Islam being the state religion, Kuwait has a large community of Christians (est. 300,000 to 400,000), Hindus (est. 300,000), Buddhists (est. 100,000), and Sikhs (est. 10,000). Hindus account for the largest number of expatriates in Kuwait.

Members of religious groups not mentioned in the Quran, such as Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists, are not allowed to build places of worship or other religious facilities. However, such groups are allowed to practise privately in their homes and can engage in religious activities, including public marriage and other celebrations, without Kuwaiti government interference.

Culture

The influence of Islamic and Arab Culture on its architecture, music, attire, cuisine and lifestyle is prominent as well. The most distinctive characteristic of local Kuwaiti culture are diwaniya that is explained below. Briefly, it involves large reception rooms used for male social gatherings attended mostly by family members and close friends.

While, unlike neighbouring Saudi Arabia, the Islamic dress code is not compulsory, many of the older Kuwaiti men prefer wearing dish dasha, an ankle-length white shirt woven from wool or cotton while the minority of women wear abaya, black over-garment covering most parts of the body. This attire is particularly well-suited for Kuwait's hot and dry climate. Western style clothing is very popular among the youth of Kuwait.

Seafood has been the mainstay of the Kuwaiti diet for centuries. The Arabs in the Persian Gulf region played a crucial role in the spice trade between India and Europe and spices have remained an important ingredient of Kuwaiti cuisine. Traditional Kuwaiti cuisine includes "Machboos diyay, machboos laham, maraq diyay laham" which borrows heavily from South Asian cuisine and Arabian cuisine. "Imawash" is another popular dish. As in other Arab states of the Persian Gulf, Kuwait takes part in the tradition of Qarqe'an during the month of Ramadan. 74.2% of adults aged 15 and over are overweight in Kuwait, making the country the 8th fattest in the world.

Before the discovery of oil, pearling formed a crucial part of Kuwait's economy. Pearl fishery, known as ghaus, suffered decline after the advent of Japanese pearl farming. However, Kuwait's pearl industry laid the foundation of its rich maritime history. Dhows, large wooden ships made from teak wood imported from India, became an indistinct part of Kuwait's maritime fleet and dhow building is still practiced in this Persian Gulf state.

Kuwait's architecture is largely inspired by Islamic architecture. The most prominent landmark in country, the Kuwait Towers, were designed by Swedish architect Sune Lindström and are a unique blend of traditional minaret and modern architectural designs. The National Assembly of Kuwait, another famous landmark building, was designed by the famous Danish architect Jørn Utzon and completed in 1972.

Sawt is the most prominent style of Kuwaiti music and is performed by oud (plucked lute) and mirwas (a drum), with a violin later supplementing the arrangement. The Bedouins are known for an instrument called the rubabah, while the use of oud, tanbarah (string instrument) and habban (bagpipe) are also widespread.

Transportation

Kuwait has an extensive, modern and well-maintained network of highways. Roadways extended 5,749 km, of which 4,887 km is paved. In 2000, there were some 552,400 passenger cars, and 167,800 commercial taxis, trucks, and buses in use. On major highways the maximum speed is 120 km/h. Since there is no railway system in the country, most of the people travel by automobiles. The government plans to construct US$11 billion rail network which will include a city metro for its capital. Bus services are provided by City Bus and state-owned Kuwait Public Transportation Corporation.

Kuwait has speed cameras in all highways and main roads and traffic lights, which captures the cars that speed or cross a red light, the Kuwaiti government spent over 450 million USD on these speed cameras in cooperation with the traffic Police. There is only one civil airport in Kuwait. Kuwait International Airport serves as the principal hub for international air travel. State-owned Kuwait Airways is the largest airline in the country. In 2001, the airline carried 2,084,600 passengers on domestic and international flights. In 2004, the first private airline of Kuwait, Jazeera Airways, was launched. In 2005, the second private airline, Wataniya Airways of Kuwait was founded.

Kuwait has one of the largest shipping industries in the Persian Gulf region. The Kuwait Ports Public Authority manages and operates ports across Kuwait. The country’s principal commercial seaports are Shuwaikh and Shuaiba which handled combined cargo of 753,334 TEU in 2006. Mina Al-Ahmadi, the largest port in the country, handles most of Kuwait's oil exports. Construction of another major port located in Bubiyan island started in 2005. The port is expected to handle 1.3 million TEU when operation starts in 2008.

Media

Kuwait has one of the most vocal and transparent media in the Arab World. In 2007, Kuwait was ranked first in the Middle East and the Arab League by Reporters Without Borders in the freedom of press index. Though the government funds several leading newspapers and satellite channels, Kuwaiti journalists enjoy greater freedom than their regional counterparts. The state-owned Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) is the largest media house in the country. The Ministry of Information regulates all media and communication industry in Kuwait.

In 1998, there were 15 media stations, which are 6 AM and 11 FM radio stations and 13 television stations. In 2000, there were 624 radios and 486 television sets for every 1,000 people. In 2001, there were 165,000 Internet subscribers served by three service providers. Kuwait has ten satellite television channels of which four are controlled by the Ministry of Information. State-owned Kuwait Television (KTV) offered first colored broadcast in 1974 and operates five television channels. Government-funded Radio Kuwait also offers daily informative programming in four foreign languages including Arabian, Urdu, Tagalog and English on the AM and SW.

In 2009, Kuwait had seventeen newspapers companies in circulation. Kuwait is represented by three English dailies: Kuwait Times, Arab Times and Al-Watan Daily. There are 16 Arabic daily newspapers besides the English newspapers.

A press law forbids insulting references to God and Islamic prophet Muhammad. Another law which made leading newspaper publishers eligible for hefty fines for criticizing the ruling family was lifted in 1992. Leading newspapers continue to impose self-restraint while remaining uncritical of the emir. However, no such restraint is observed while criticizing the government.

Celebrations

Each year, the people of Kuwait celebrate 25th and 26th of February, as the national and liberation day respectively.

See also

Outline of Kuwait

Architecture of Kuwait

Human rights in Kuwait

Index of Kuwait-related articles

List of Kuwaitis

Military of Kuwait

Telecommunications in Kuwait

List of companies of Kuwait

Tourism in Kuwait

List of birds of Kuwait

Kuwaiti Football Records

List of football clubs in Kuwait

Kuwait national football team

Kuwaiti Premier League

References

External links

The Office of the Emir of Kuwait

Diwan of the Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait

The Economy of Kuwait at FedBrain

Kuwait Directory Kuwait Business Links

Kuwait Answers website WKuwait Answers Network

Category:Member states of the Arab League Category:Western Asian countries Category:Arabic-speaking countries and territories Category:Constitutional monarchies Category:Emirates Category:Member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Category:Middle Eastern countries Category:Member states of OPEC Category:Member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Category:Persian Gulf countries Category:States and territories established in 1961 Category:Western Asia Category:Member states of the United Nations

ace:Kuwait af:Koeweit als:Kuwait ang:Cuwait ar:الكويت an:Kuwait arc:ܟܘܘܝܬ (ܐܬܪܐ) frp:Koveyit ast:Kuwait az:Küveyt bn:কুয়েত zh-min-nan:Kuwait be:Кувейт be-x-old:Кувэйт bcl:Kuwait bo:ཁུ་ཝི་ཐི། bs:Kuvajt br:Koweit bg:Кувейт ca:Kuwait cv:Кувейт ceb:Kuwait cs:Kuvajt cy:Kuwait da:Kuwait de:Kuwait dv:ކުވެއިތު nv:Kóóweiʼ dsb:Kuwait dz:ཀུ་ཝེཊ་ et:Kuveit el:Κουβέιτ es:Kuwait eo:Kuvajto ext:Kuwait eu:Kuwait fa:کویت hif:Kuwait fo:Kuveit fr:Koweït fy:Koeweit ga:Cuáit gv:Yn Choowait gd:Cubhait gl:Kuwait - الكويت gu:કુવૈત hak:Khô-vî-thi̍t xal:Кувейтин Нутг ko:쿠웨이트 haw:Kuete hy:Քուվեյթ hi:कुवैत hsb:Kuwait hr:Kuvajt io:Kuwait ilo:Kuwait bpy:কুয়েত id:Kuwait ia:Kuwait ie:Kuwait os:Кувейт is:Kúveit it:Kuwait he:כווית jv:Kuwait kn:ಕುವೈತ್ pam:Kuwait ka:ქუვეითი ks:कुवैत kk:Кувейт kw:Koweyt rw:Koweti sw:Kuwait kv:Кувейт ht:Kowet ku:Kuweyt la:Cuvaitum lv:Kuveita lb:Kuwait lt:Kuveitas lij:Kuwait li:Koeweit ln:Koweit jbo:ku,uait lmo:Kuwait hu:Kuvait mk:Кувајт ml:കുവൈറ്റ്‌ mr:कुवेत arz:الكويت ms:Kuwait mn:Кувейт nah:Cuhuait na:Kuwait nl:Koeweit ne:कुवैत new:कुवेत ja:クウェート pih:Kyuuwait no:Kuwait nn:Kuwait nov:Kuwayt oc:Kowait uz:Quvayt pnb:کویت ps:کوېټ km:គុយវ៉ែត pms:Kuwait nds:Kuwait pl:Kuwejt pt:Kuwait kbd:Кувейт crh:Küveyt ro:Kuweit qu:Kuwait ru:Кувейт sah:Кувейт se:Kuwait sa:कुवैत sco:Kuwait sq:Kuvajti scn:Kuwait simple:Kuwait ss:IKhuwathi sk:Kuvajt (štát) sl:Kuvajt szl:Kuwejt so:Kuwayt ckb:کووەیت sr:Кувајт sh:Kuvajt su:Kuwait fi:Kuwait sv:Kuwait tl:Kuwait ta:குவைத் tt:Күвәйт te:కువైట్ th:ประเทศคูเวต tg:Кувайт tr:Kuveyt udm:Кувейт bug:Kuwait uk:Кувейт ur:کویت ug:كۇۋەيت vi:Kuwait vo:Kovätän fiu-vro:Kuveit zh-classical:科威特 war:Kuwait wo:Kowet wuu:科威特 yi:קואווייט yo:Kuwait bat-smg:Kovėits zh:科威特

Coordinates	34°03′″N118°15′″N
Name	Jean Nouvel
Nationality	French
Birth date	August 12, 1945
Birth place	Fumel, Lot-et-Garonne, France
Alma mater	École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts
Practice	Ateliers Jean Nouvel
Significant buildings	Arab World Institute, Paris Culture and Congress Centre, Lucerne Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis Torre Agbar, Barcelona Musée du quai Branly, Paris Fondation Cartier, Paris
Significant projects	Louvre Abu Dhabi (in progress) Philharmonie de Paris (2012)
Awards	Aga Khan Award for Architecture (Arab World Institute), Pritzker Prize, Wolf Prize in Arts }}

Jean Nouvel () (born August 12, 1945) is a French architect. Nouvel studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and was a founding member of Mars 1976 and Syndicat de l'Architecture. He has obtained a number of prestigious distinctions over the course of his career, including the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (technically, the prize was awarded for the Institut du Monde Arabe which Nouvel designed), the Wolf Prize in Arts in 2005 and the Pritzker Prize in 2008. A number of museums and architectural centres have presented retrospectives of his work.

Family and education

Nouvel was born August 12, 1945, in Fumel, Lot-et-Garonne, France, the son of Renée and Roger Nouvel who were teachers. His family moved often when his father became the county's chief school superintendent. His parents encouraged Nouvel to study mathematics and language, but when he was 16 years old he was captivated by art when a teacher taught him drawing. Although he later said he thought that his parents were guiding him to pursue a career in education or engineering, the family reached a compromise that he could study architecture which they thought was less risky than art.

When Nouvel failed an entrance examination at the École des Beaux-Arts of Bordeaux, he moved to Paris where he won first prize in a national competition to attend the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts. From 1967 to 1970, Nouvel earned his income as an assistant to architects Claude Parent and Paul Virilio, who after only one year, made him a project manager in charge of building a large apartment complex.

Nouvel and filmmaker Odile Fillion married and have two sons, Bertrand, who is a post-doctorate computer scientist working at the University of Chiba in Japan, and Pierre, who is a theater producer and designer at his company, Factoid. With his second wife Catherine Richard, Nouvel has a daughter, Sarah. He lives now with Mia Hägg, who is a Swedish architect working at her practice Habiter Autrement (HA) in Paris.

Practice

By age 25, Nouvel completed school and entered into his own partnership with François Seigneur. Parent sent them work, and gave Nouvel a valuable recommendation to the directorship of the seventh edition of the Biennale de Paris where for fifteen years, Nouvel designed exhibits and made contacts in the arts and theater. Soon into his career, Nouvel became a key participant in intellectual debates about architecture in France: he co-founded the Mars 1976 movement in 1976 and, a year later, the Syndicat de l'Architecture. Nouvel was one of the organizers of the competition for the rejuvenation of the Les Halles district (1977) and he founded the first Paris architecture biennale in 1980.

In 1981, Nouvel won the design competition for the Institut du Monde Arabe (Arab World Institute) building in Paris, whose construction was completed in 1987 and brought Nouvel international fame. Mechanical lenses reminiscent of Arabic latticework in its south wall open and shut automatically, controlling interior lighting as the lenses' photoelectric cells respond to exterior light levels.

Nouvel had three different partners between 1972 and 1984: Gilbert Lezenes, Jean-François Guyot, and Pierre Soria. In 1985, with his junior architects Emmanuel Blamont, Jean-Marc Ibos and Mirto Vitart, he founded Jean Nouvel et Associés. Then, with Emmanuel Gattani, he formed JNEC in 1988. Ateliers Jean Nouvel, his present practice, was formed in 1994 with Michel Pélissié and is one of the largest in France, with 140 people in the main office in Paris. Ateliers Jean Nouvel site offices are in London, Copenhagen, New York, Rome, Madrid and Barcelona. As of 2008, they are working on 40 active projects in 13 countries. Nouvel designed a flacon for L'Homme, an Yves Saint Laurent fragrance, in a limited edition launched in 2008.

Pritzker Prize

Nouvel was awarded the Pritzker Prize, architecture's highest honour, in 2008, for his work on more than 200 projects, among them, in the words of The New York Times, the "exotically louvered" Arab World Institute, the bullet-shaped and "candy-colored" Torre Agbar in Barcelona, the "muscular" Guthrie Theater with its cantilevered bridge in Minneapolis, and in Paris, the "defiant, mysterious and wildly eccentric" Musée du quai Branly (2006) and the Philharmonie de Paris (a "trip into the unknown" c. 2012).

Pritzker points to several more major works: in Europe, the Cartier Foundation for Contemporary Art (1994), the Culture and Convention Center in Lucerne (2000), the Opéra Nouvel in Lyon (1993) , Expo 2002 in Switzerland and, under construction, the Copenhagen Concert Hall and the courthouse in Nantes (2000); as well as two tall towers in planning in North America, Tour Verre in New York City and a cancelled condominium tower in Los Angeles,

In its citation, the jury of the Pritzker prize noted:

Of the many phrases that might be used to describe the career of architect Jean Nouvel, foremost are those that emphasize his courageous pursuit of new ideas and his challenge of accepted norms in order to stretch the boundaries of the field. [...] The jury acknowledged the ‘persistence, imagination, exuberance, and, above all, an insatiable urge for creative experimentation’ as qualities abundant in Nouvel’s work.

Projects

Nouvel has designed a number of notable buildings across the world, the most significant of which are listed below. As part of the announcement of Nouvel's Pritzker Prize, the Hyatt Foundation, which awards the prize, published a full illustrated list of Nouvel's architectural work, including projects which were never built, projects in construction and designs for which construction has yet to start. In 2001 director Beat Kuert filmed a documentary about five of Nouvel's projects titled Jean Nouvel.

Proposed

In March 2010, Jean Nouvel presented his plans for the National Museum of Qatar.

Jean Nouvel is one of the architects involved in the designing of the new Slussen in Stockholm. On Tuesday 05/27/2008 Nouvel's design won the contest for the upcoming Tour Signal in La Défense.

In February 2008, Nouvel agreed to design a 45-story luxury condo tower in upscale Century City section of Los Angeles, California. The tower will be of modern design—it is designed to maximize views of the Los Angeles Country Club from the units and is opposed by both homeowners associations in Beverly Hills for the shadows it will cast on many small homes and its next door neighbor, Beverly Hills High School. In November 2006, Hines commissioned Nouvel to build a new 75-story tower, named the Tour de Verre, next to the Museum of Modern Art in Midtown Manhattan. The tower will house a hotel, luxury apartments and three floors (2nd, 4th, and 5th) will be used by MoMA to expand its exhibition space. The tower has ignited a controversy in New York City, with many objecting to the tower, and Community Board 5 has rejected the project. In April 2007, Jean Nouvel associated with Marshall Day Acoustics Ltd won the competition to build a new Orchestra Hall (Philharmonie de Paris) in Paris, close to Cité de la Musique (opening in 2012) The Centre for Sustainable Development in Le Havre, France. The project includes the construction of a 120 m high tower on a former seaport area. The project is currently on hold because of an important increase in projected costs.

Under construction

In March 2007, the Louvre announced it would build a Louvre branch in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, on Saadiyat Island. Jean Nouvel was chosen as architect. The museum is expected to be completed by 2013. A 20-story condo tower built on a parking lot at 11th Avenue and 19th Street in New York City. The tower is next to the Venus (mural) (1970) by New York painter Knox Martin on the south side of Bayview Correctional Facility and will block the 10 story mural from view. (Expected completion in 2010. The Wall Street Journal reported in August 2008 that the project is some $50 million over budget and one year behind schedule) In Montpellier the new Hôtel de Ville designed in partnership with François Fontès is under construction and scheduled for completion in 2011.

Central Park redevelopment plan in Sydney will see 11 new buildings in partnership with architects such as Norman Foster to recreate an abandoned brewery occupying almost four inner-city blocks. Nouvel's 120 meter One Central Park is his first project in Australia, and will feature a cantilevered mirror hanging over the central square off of the side of the building.

Tower 25 in Nicosia, a 17-stories tall building in the center of the town.

Completed

2010 - London - One New Change

2010 - Baku, Azerbaijan - Baku Museum of Modern Art 2009 - Apartment Building at 100 11th Avenue (Nouvel), in Manhattan. 2009 - Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhagen Concert Hall 2008 - Genoa, Italy – Pavilion B, Genoa Exhibition Centre

2008 - New York City, U.S. - 40 Mercer Street Residences

2006 - Minneapolis, Minnesota – Guthrie Theater

2006 - Paris, France – Musée du quai Branly

2005 - Madrid, Spain – Reina Sofía Museum expansion

2003 - Barcelona, Spain – Torre Agbar (Office) 2002 - Murten, Switzerland – Monolith of Expo.02 2001 - Cologne, Germany – KölnTurm 2001 - Prague, Czech Republic – Zlatý Anděl (Office / Retail)

2000 - Lucerne, Switzerland – Culture and Convention Center (Performance Space / Conference Hall / Museum / Restaurant)

2000 - Lucerne, Switzerland – Reconstruction of The Hotel (Hotel / Restaurant-Bar)

2000 - Mons, Belgium – Science Park (Museum)

2000 - Nantes, France – Palais de Justice (Institutional)

1999 - Bregenz, Austria – Interunfall (Office / Housing)

1999 - Rueil-Malmaison, France – Foundation Cognac-Jay (Hospital)

1999 - Strasbourg, France – Schutzenberger Brewery (Restaurant-Bar)

1999 - Wismar, Germany – Technology Center (Office)

1998 - Paris, France – Musée de la Publicité (Museum)

1998 - Tokyo, Japan – Dentsu Building (Office / High-Rise)

1995 - Berlin, Germany – Galeries Lafayette (Retail / Office)

1995 - Lille, France – Eurallille (Retail / Office / Housing)

1994 - Hérouville-Saint-Clair, France – Social Center (Institutional)

1994 - Boisseuil, France – Pôle de Lanaud, Genoscope (Office)

1994 - Paris, France – Fondation Cartier (Office / Cultural)

1993 - Bezons, France – ZAC Parmentier (Housing)

1993 - Lyon, France – Renovation of the Nouvel Opéra (Opera House / Restaurant)

1993 - Périgueux, France – Vésunna Gallo-Roman Museum (Museum)

1993 - Saint-Imier, Switzerland – Cartier CTL (Industrial)

1993 - Tours, France – Conference Center (Conference Hall)

1993 - Tours, France – Housing (Housing)

1993 - Tours, France – Tourism Office (Office)

1993 - Tours, France – Parking (Transportation)

1992 - Dax, France – Hôtel des Thermes (Hotel / Restaurant)

1992 - Hérouville-Saint-Clair, France – Perception (Institutional)

1992 - Issy-les-Moulineaux, France – CLMBBDO (Office)

1992 - Tours, France – Bus Terminal (Transportation)

1991 - Blois, France – Poulain (Industrial / Office)

1991 - Cap d'Ail, France – Pierre et Vacances (Housing)

1990 - Freiburg, Germany – Interdica (Industrial)

1989 - Bouliac, France – Hôtel Saint-James (Hotel / Restaurant-Bar)

1989 - Nancy, France – INIST (Office)

1989 - Paris, France – ADP Offices (Office)

1989 - Paris, France – Bailly Apartments (Housing)

1988 - Paris, France – Galleries Bailly (Cultural)

1988 - Paris, France – Hit Parade (Retail)

1988 - Saint-Herblain, France – Onyx (Performance Space)

1987 - Combs-la-Ville, France – La Coupole (Cultural)

1986 - Marne-la-Vallée, France – Gymnase du Luzard (Sport)

1987 - Nîmes, France – Dhuoda (Education)

1987 - Nîmes, France – Nemausus 1 (Housing, 114 apartments)

1987 - Paris, France – Arab World Institute (Cultural / Museum)

1987 - Saint-Ouen, France – Housing (Housing)

1986 - Nîmes, France – Sport Center (Sport)

1984 - Antony, France – Les Godets (Education)

1984 - Belfort, France – Municipal Theater (Performance Space)

1983 - Paris, France – Yves Dauge Offices (Office)

1982 - Kerjouanno, France – SEA Center (Education / Leisure)

1982 - Paris, France – Péniche Club de Presse Renault (Restaurant-Bar)

1980 - Antony, France – Collège Anne Franck (Education)

1979 - Bezons, France – Val-Notre-Dame Clinic (Hospital)

1979 - Troyes, France – Devoldere Residence (Housing)

1978 - Troyes, France – Dick Residence (Housing)

1976 - Paris, France – Trocadero Library (Institutional)

1974 - Périgueux, France – Delanghe Residence (Housing)

1974 - Trélissac, France – Kindergarten School (Education)

1973 - Villeneuve-sur-Lot, France – Delbigot Residence (Housing)

1972 - Paris, France – Baillais – Printing House (Office)

1971 - Paris, France – Plateau Beaubourg (Cultural)

Abandoned projects

1989 - The Tour Sans Fins (Office/High-Rise) at La Défense, France, was never realized. Nouvel's winning design, proposed as Europe's tallest building in 1989, was to change ground up from granite, followed by aluminum, stainless steel and finally glass—"increasingly diaphanous before disappearing into the sky".

Awards and distinctions

Nouvel and the buildings which he designed have received a number of distinctions during his career, the most prestigious of which are listed below.

Individual distinctions

2008 - Pritzker Prize 2005 - Wolf Prize in Arts Honorary degrees from the University of Buenos Aires (1983), the Royal College of Art, London (2002) and the University of Naples (2002). Honorary fellow of the American Institute of Architects (1993) and of the Royal Institute of British Architects (1995). In 1997, Nouvel was named Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. He first joined the order in 1983. He is also Chevalier de la légion d'honneur.

Distinctions for projects

1989 Aga Khan Award for Architecture for the Institut du Monde Arabe. In 1987, the building also won the Équerre d'Argent awarded yearly to the best building in France. * 2010 Wallpaper Design Award, Best new public house category for Copenhagen Concert Hall

Retrospectives

2005 - Louisiana Museum of Modern Art 2001 - Centre Pompidou, Paris

References

; Sources consulted

; Endnotes

External links

Jean Nouvel - Official website

Jean Nouvel biography and works

Vanity Fair Interview

Buildings by Jean Nouvel

Category:1945 births Category:Living people Category:People from Lot-et-Garonne Category:Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur Category:French architects Category:Pritzker Prize winners Category:Aga Khan Award for Architecture winners Category:Recipients of the Royal Gold Medal Category:Wolf Prize in Arts laureates

ar:جان نوفيل az:Jan Nuvel zh-min-nan:Jean Nouvel ca:Jean Nouvel cs:Jean Nouvel da:Jean Nouvel de:Jean Nouvel es:Jean Nouvel eu:Jean Nouvel fa:ژان نوول fr:Jean Nouvel gl:Jean Nouvel hr:Jean Nouvel id:Jean Nouvel is:Jean Nouvel it:Jean Nouvel he:ז'אן נובל ka:ჟან ნუველი hu:Jean Nouvel nl:Jean Nouvel ja:ジャン・ヌーヴェル pl:Jean Nouvel pt:Jean Nouvel ru:Нувель, Жан sah:Жан Нувель sk:Jean Nouvel fi:Jean Nouvel sv:Jean Nouvel th:ฌ็อง นูแวล tr:Jean Nouvel uk:Жан Нувель vi:Jean Nouvel zh:让·努维尔

Jørn Oberg Utzon, (), AC (9 April 1918 – 29 November 2008) was a Danish architect most notable for designing the Sydney Opera House in Australia. When the Sydney Opera House was declared a World Heritage Site on 28 June 2007, he became only the second person to have his work recognised as a World Heritage Site while he was still alive.

Early life and career

Utzon was born in Copenhagen, the son of a naval engineer, and grew up in Denmark. From 1937 he attended the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts where he studied under Kay Fisker and Steen Eiler Rasmussen. After graduating in 1942, he went to Sweden to work for Gunnar Asplund. After the end of World War II and the German Occupation of Denmark, he returned to Copenhagen. In 1946 he visited Alvar Aalto in Helsinki. From 1947–48 he travelled in Europe in 1949 in the United States and Mexico. In America he attended Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's school in Arizona. In 1950 he established his own studio in Copenhagen.

Opera House design

In 1957 he unexpectedly won the competition to design the Sydney Opera House. Although he had won six other architectural competitions previously, the Opera House was his first non-domestic project. The designs he submitted were also little more than preliminary drawings. One of the judges, Eero Saarinen, described it as "genius" and declared he could not endorse any other choice.

Utzon refined his original conceptual designs for the shells over several years. One particular difficulty was that the Cahill government was so eager to commence the project that they arranged for the engineers, Ove Arup and Partners, to put out tenders for the podium without adequate working drawings; this work actually began in 1959 while Utzon was still in Denmark working on the final plans.

The extraordinary structure of the shells themselves represented a puzzle for the engineers. This was not resolved until 1961, when Utzon himself finally came up with the solution. He replaced the original elliptical shells with a design based on complex sections of a sphere. Utzon says his design was inspired by the simple act of peeling an orange: the 14 shells of the building, if combined, would form a perfect sphere. Although Utzon had spectacular, innovative plans for the interior of these halls, he was unable to realize this part of his design. In mid-1965 the state Liberal government of Robert Askin was elected. Askin had been a 'vocal critic of the project prior to gaining office.' His new Minister for Public Works, Davis Hughes, was even less sympathetic. Elizabeth Farrelly, Australian architecture critic has written that

Utzon soon found himself in conflict with the new Minister. Attempting to rein in the escalating cost of the project, Hughes began questioning Utzon's capability, his designs, schedules and cost estimates. Hughes eventually stopped payments to Utzon. Unable to pay his staff, Utzon was forced to resign as chief architect in February 1966 and left the country never to return. Utzon has never seen the completed work that brought him international renown.

When Utzon left, the shells were almost complete, and costs amounted to only $22.9 million. Following major changes to the original plans for the interiors that finally rose to $103 million.

In an article in Harvard Design Magazine in 2005, Oxford University professor Bent Flyvbjerg argues that Utzon fell victim to a politically lowballed construction budget, which eventually resulted in a cost overrun of 1,400 percent. The overrun and the scandal it created kept Utzon from building more masterpieces. This, according to Flyvbjerg, is the real cost of the Sydney Opera House: "Utzon was thirty-eight when he won the competition for the Opera House - how would the work of the mature master have enriched our lives? We'll never know. That's the high price Sydney has imposed by its incompetence in building the Opera House."

The Opera House was finally completed, and opened in 1973 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia. The architect was not invited to the ceremony, nor was his name mentioned.

Selected buildings

Major built projects:

Water tower in Svaneke, Bornholm, Denmark, 1949–1951

Architect's own house, Hellebæk, Denmark, 1950–1952 image

Middelboe house, Holte, Denmark, 1953–1955 image

Kingo Houses, Elsinore, Denmark 1956–1960

Elineberg Housing, Helsingborg, Sweden, 1954–1966. Built by Swedish partners Erik and Henry Andersson image

Planetstaden housing project in Lund, Sweden, 1956–1958. Built by Swedish partners Erik and Henry Andersson.

Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia, 1956–1973

Fredensborghusene, courtyard housing, Fredensborg, Denmark, 1959–1962 image

Melli Bank University of Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran, 1959–1960 archnet page

Hammershøj care centre, Elsinore, Denmark, 1962–1966. Built by Birger Schmidt. image

Bagsværd Church, Bagsværd, Denmark, 1968–1976 image

Espansiva building system, pre-fabricated single family houses, Denmark, 1969

Can Lis, Architect's own house, Majorca, Spain, 1971–1973 image

National Assembly of Kuwait, Kuwait City, Kuwait, 1972–1984 archnet page

Paustian Furniture Store, Copenhagen, Denmark, 1985–1987 image

Can Feliz, Majorca, Spain, 1991–1994

Skagen Odde Nature Center, Denmark, 1989 (completed by his son Jan Utzon in 1999-2000)

Major unbuilt projects:

High School in Elsinore, Denmark, 1958–1962

Architect's own house, Bayview, Sydney, Australia, 1963–1965

Museum dedicated to the work of artist Asger Jorn, Silkeborg, Denmark, 1963

Theatre, Zurich, Switzerland, 1964–1970

Jeita Theatre, Lebanon, 1968.

Stadium, Jedda, Saudi Arabia, 1969

Awards and recognition

1967 C. F. Hansen Medal

1973 RAIA Gold Medal from the Royal Australian Institute of Architects

1978 RIBA Royal Gold Medal

1980 The Daylight and Building Component Award

1982 Alvar Aalto Medal

1992 Sir John Sulman Medal

1992 Wolf Prize

1998 Sonning Prize

2003 Pritzker Prize

Death and honours

On 17 May 1985, Utzon was made an honorary Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). He was also involved in redesigning the Opera House, and in particular, the Reception Hall, following an agreement made in 2000. In March 2003, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Sydney for his work on the Opera House. Utzon's son accepted the award on his behalf as Utzon himself was too ill to travel to Australia. He was also given the Keys to the City of Sydney. In 2003, he received the Pritzker Prize, architecture's highest honor.

In March 2006, Queen Elizabeth II opened the western colonnade addition to the building that was constructed by Utzon in the last years without having been to Australia since 1966. His son, Jan, took his place in the opening ceremony instead, saying his father "is too old by now to take the long flight to Australia. But he lives and breathes the Opera House, and as its creator he just has to close his eyes to see it."

On 28 June 2007, the Sydney Opera House was declared a World Heritage Site.

Utzon died in Copenhagen on 29 November 2008, aged 90, of a heart attack in his sleep after a series of operations. He died having never returned to Australia to see the completed opera house. On 2 December 2008 the Parliament of New South Wales passed a special motion of condolence to honour Utzon's life and work

On 25 March 2009, a state memorial and reconciliation concert for Utzon was held in the Concert Hall at Sydney Opera House.

Literature

Interview with Utzon, October 1992

Arkitektur (magazine), Copenhagen 1947 #7–9, essay Tendenser i nutidens arkitektur by Jørn Utzon and Tobias Faber

Arkitektur (magazine), Copenhagen 1970 #1, essay Additiv arkitektur by Jørn Utzon

Zodiac 5 (magazine), Milan 1959

Zodiac 10 (magazine), Milan 1962, essay Platforms and Plateaus: Ideas of a Danish Architect by Jørn Utzon

Zodiac 14 (magazine), Milan 1965

Sigfried Gideon: Space, Time and Architecture. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1967

Kenneth Frampton: Studies in Tectonic Culture. Cambridge, Mass. & London: MIT Press, 1995. ISBN 0-262-56149-2

Françoise Fromonot: Jørn Utzon, The Sydney Opera House. Corte Madera, California: Gingko Press, 1998. ISBN 3-927258-72-5

Richard Weston: Utzon — Inspiration, Vision, Architecture. Denmark: Edition Bløndal, 2002. ISBN 87-88978-98-2

J.J. Ferrer Forés: Jørn Utzon. Obras y Proyectos. Works and Projects. Spain: GG 2006. ISBN 978-84-252-2060-9

Katarina Stübe and Jan Utzon, Sydney Opera House: A Tribute to Jørn Utzon. Reveal Books, 2009. ISBN 9780980612301

See also

Architecture of Denmark

References

External links

Utzon Center

Pritzker Architecture Prize 2003, including essays and photographs.

The Kingohouses website

The Sydney Opera House history

Competition drawings submitted by Jørn Utzon to the Opera House Committee

The Edge of the Possible, 58 minute documentary, 1998, Dir: Daryl Dellora, Film Art Doco Pty Ltd

Design by Deception: The Politics of Megaproject Approval

Obituary in The Economist, 11-Dec-2008.

Category:1918 births Category:2008 deaths Category:Danish architects Category:Modernist architects Category:20th-century architects Category:Modernist architecture in Scandinavia Category:Pritzker Prize winners Category:Recipients of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal Category:Recipients of the Royal Gold Medal Category:Honorary Companions of the Order of Australia Category:People from Copenhagen Category:People from Aalborg Category:Deaths from myocardial infarction Category:Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts alumni Category:Winners of the Nykredit Architecture Prize Category:Wolf Prize in Arts laureates

ar:يورن أوتسون zh-min-nan:Jørn Utzon ca:Jørn Utzon cs:Jørn Utzon da:Jørn Utzon de:Jørn Utzon et:Jørn Utzon es:Jørn Utzon eu:Jørn Utzon fa:یورن اوتزان fr:Jørn Utzon gl:Jørn Utzon ko:이외른 우촌 hr:Jørn Utzon id:Jørn Utzon is:Jørn Utzon it:Jørn Utzon he:ירן אוטזון ka:იორნ უტზონი hu:Jørn Utzon nl:Jørn Utzon ja:ヨーン・ウツソン no:Jørn Utzon nn:Jørn Utzon pl:Jørn Utzon pt:Jørn Utzon ro:Jørn Utzon ru:Утзон, Йорн simple:Jørn Utzon sk:Jørn Utzon sr:Јерн Уцон fi:Jørn Utzon sv:Jørn Utzon ta:ஜோர்ன் அட்சன் th:ยอร์น อุตซอน tr:Jørn Utzon uk:Йорн Утзон vi:Jørn Utzon zh:约恩·乌松