My World Tuesday~4: National Assembly
My World Tuesday is a meme that shows the world around us. It’s simple and can be played by those who wish to show their part of the world.
This interesting white building with its distinctive canopy is the National Assembly Building of Kuwait and is called Majlis Al-Umma in Arabic. It was designed by the famous Danish architect, Jørn Utzon, who also designed the Sydney Opera House.
Until recently, suffrage was limited to male Kuwaiti citizens above the age of 21 whose ancestors had resided in Kuwait since 1920. On May 16, 2005, the Assembly passed a law in support of women’s suffrage, allowing women to vote and run for office.
The modernity yet traditionality of the State of Kuwait is represented in its National Assembly building that was completed in 1985. The white of the building reflects the beautiful waters just beyond the building on the opposite side of Arabian Gulf road, from where I took these shots last week. The large canopy, which covers the entire building below hovers above an open courtyard and the sweeping roofs are said to have been designed to evoke Bedouin sentiments about whom I had written briefly here.
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Indica-in-Q8 
November 11, 2008 at 2:06 pm
BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS AND PLACE!!
have a nice week 🙂
November 11, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Beautiful building, and I like the idea of the roof evoking the Bedouin tents.
Thanks for sharing your world with us.
November 11, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Indica: That is a wonderful story of women rights in you country. Your country may be one of the most modern in your area of the world.
November 11, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Hey, congratulations on the women’s suffrage thing…
November 11, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Beautiful architecture and I am glad to hear that women now have the vote and can run for office as well. Kuwait is a most progressive country, I just hope it does nt become too modernized or do I mean westernized.
November 11, 2008 at 5:02 pm
This was really interesting and a real look into your part of the world.
November 11, 2008 at 5:15 pm
The sweeping roof is very lovely. I don’t think that style of architecture would work well here in Canada because we get so much snow, but it’s striking!
November 11, 2008 at 6:28 pm
I am always awed by the beauty of your country and architechture. This is just more of it. Thank you for participating in My World. Your world intrigues me.
November 11, 2008 at 11:02 pm
This is very interesting. It must be a beautiful place! Wonderful photos:)
November 11, 2008 at 11:05 pm
i lived and taught in kuwait for four years and i remember this building well, i will be back every week to get a glimpse of this city once more.
November 11, 2008 at 11:25 pm
A wonderful building. Thank you for joining MWT.
November 12, 2008 at 1:19 am
Thanks for opening a window to your world.
Hallo from Germany
Hartmut
November 12, 2008 at 2:34 am
Thanks for this information. That’s a beautiful building. Just made me think of how architecture unites!
November 12, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I did know about the suffrage issue because I follow world issues very closely, but I’ve never seen this building before. Amazing canopy.
November 12, 2008 at 3:04 pm
really good subject, and such an informative post.
November 13, 2008 at 12:09 am
thank you for sharing with us the history of suffrage in your country. it is sometimes forgotten by many that women in many parts of our world still are unable to vote or voice their views.
November 13, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Just to clarify:
I am a citizen of India, currently employed in Kuwait, and am NOT a Kuwaiti national. Kuwait is my temporary place of residence. However, I consider it was a triumphant day in May 2005 when a law was passed in favor of women’s suffrage in Kuwait that gave them the right to vote.
Thank you very much for your visit and kind words here. Every word of encouragement is appreciated.
– celine
http://indicaspecies.blogspot.com
November 25, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Thanks for telling that things are chanching in your world a lot.
There are many nordic architects planing projects in the arabian world, and they are doing a good job.
Hallo from Germany