AGi Architects' Innovative Design for Kuwait's GDIS: A Blend of Strength and Transparency

Award-winning design reflects the duality of technology and security in a modern governmental structure

AGi Architects, in collaboration with Bonyan Design, have created a unique architectural marvel for the General Department of Information System (GDIS) in Kuwait. The design, which won the Golden A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2014, embodies a conceptual duality of technology and security, making it a strong civil icon for Kuwait's Ministry of Interior Affairs.

The design proposal for the GDIS, with a total gross area of 135,482 sqm, is based on three principles: representativeness, security, and functionality. The building design aims for the clear transmission of its conceptual duality. On one hand, it reflects technology, innovation, and transparency, while on the other, it embodies strength, stability, and security inherent to the Ministry of Interior Affairs.

This concept is driven in the building by two contrasting layers that are superimposed onto one another. From afar, the building is perceived as a light volume elevated from the ground floor, becoming a landmark in the urban landscape for the citizens. A closer approach reveals the massiveness of the stone plinth, a lower part of the building that is open to the public. The main gates and lifts from the ground hold the upper levels' lighter glass structures that house the offices of the various departments.

The design team, led by Joaquín Pérez-Goicoechea and Nasser B. Abulhasan, faced creative, technical, and research challenges in developing this design. Yet, they successfully turned the complex into a representation of Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior Affairs, balancing the need for a strong, secure structure with the desire for a transparent, innovative design.

The design's unique properties and its successful embodiment of the conceptual duality it derives from, earned it the prestigious Golden A' Design Award in 2014. This award is granted to marvelous, outstanding, and trendsetting creations that reflect the designer's prodigy and wisdom. They are venerated products and bright ideas that advance art, science, design, and technology, embodying extraordinary excellence and significantly impacting the world with their desirable characteristics.

In conclusion, AGi Architects, in collaboration with Bonyan Design, have created a unique architectural marvel for the GDIS in Kuwait. This design not only serves its functional purpose but also stands as a symbol of the blend of technology and security, reflecting the modern face of Kuwait's Ministry of Interior Affairs.