Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait.

Architect: Pace.

The Kuwait Capital Markets Authority (CMA) is a symbol of the modern State of Kuwait and was established in 2010 as the guardian of the financial stability of the Kuwait Stock Exchange. It approached Pace to design a dynamic new permanent home for 1,200 employees on the peninsula of the Arabian Gulf Sea with a clear objective of providing a pleasant, supportive, safe and healthy environment. The concept extracts inspiration from Kuwait’s tradition and creates a structure that mirrors the organisation’s own through a series of stacked courtyard ‘houses’ enveloped within a glass and stone facade. The building plot sits within an irregular rectangle bound by roads on three sites and the views will be spectacular. The design of the building is designed to reflect the structures, organisation and interrelationships of the CMA, creating a simple, well-ordered and easily understood environment for staff and visitors.

The building’s stone façade is inspired by Kuwait’s old city, with large openings to capture views and smaller openings to protect from direct sunlight. Elevations facing away from the sun are open and embrace sea views, providing transparency and transparency to articulate the ultimate gesture of trust.