04.03.2011
BDP’s Manchester Studio has successfully bid for a transport and planning framework masterplan for the Salmiya district of Kuwait City; the formal signing of the 14 month contract, with a value in excess of £2m, took place in January.
Salmiya district is an existing urbanised area on the Gulf Coast of approximately 20 sq km. Growing congestion, pressures for redevelopment and a recognition of the existing poor quality of place have led the Kuwait Municipality to commission this work which will set in place the infrastructure, planning and design guidelines to enable the transformation of the district over the next 15 years.
BDP has been challenged to create a sustainable masterplan for Salmiya district to keep it car-friendly, but also flexible for future growth. This will include more strategic siting of any new public works such as schools, universities and hospitals in relation to residential zones, plans for improved public transport provision, and better all-round pedestrian access to Salmiya’s shops and civic amenities.
In addition the BDP-led Salmiya masterplan will work in harmony with the third Kuwait masterplan known as 3KMP. The 3KMP is an umbrella development strategy for the whole of Kuwait which is designed to help cope with the intensive economic and population growth anticipated in the region over the next 20 years.
Francis Glare, head of urbanism at BDP’s Manchester Studio said: “We would like to acknowledge the importance of the collaboration with our local consultants OBD and their contribution to the winning of this project. We believe this will be a growing area of work for us, as a new place-making approach starts to be applied to first generation Middle Eastern cities.”
“The Manchester studio already has extensive experience working in the Middle East and North Africa region, including projects in countries such as Syria, Libya and Egypt, and such commissions reflect BDP’s growing reputation as not only as outstanding architects and engineers globally, but also as international masterplanners and urbanists.”
ENDS
SKV Communications – Award winning PR Agency Manchester – 0161 838 7770
