(with photos)
KUWAIT, Aug 12 (KUNA) -- Traditional Kuwaiti homes stand as a testament to Kuwait's history and culture.
A number of these buildings have been used as cultural centers recently.
One of these buildings is "Al-Bader House"; a house built in 1837 part of Abdulmohsen and Abdulaziz Yousef Al-Bader's estate. The house was maintained in good condition when it was turned to the Museum and Relics department in 1968. In 1976, the building temporarily housed the National Museum of Kuwait.
The Bader House was constructed using materials common at the time, such as sea rock, clay, and palm shingles. The building remains well-maintained today as it is the Folk Music Department's main office.
"Dickson House" is another building that speaks of Kuwait's history. The building, on the Arabian Gulf Road, was used for 50 years as HQ for the offices of the British political commissioners in Kuwait. The building was designed in the tradition of British colonial homes in India, with terraces surrounding the main building.
The building is a tangible representation of 200 years of strong relations between Kuwait and Britain. Dickson House was restored under the supervision of the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters (NCCAL) through a donation by the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR).
The "Sadu House" built in 1936 was the first home to be built using reinforced cement in Kuwait. The house was designed according to popular Islamic-Indian architecture. It was adopted by the government in the 1960's when a wave of modern buildings overtook Kuwait.
The building became known as the Sadu House in 1980 as it became home to the folk craft known to Bedouins; Sadu making is the traditional craft of weaving wool into a variety of products ranging from tents to clothing.
