Khiran Pearl
About the project
Khiran Pearl — also known as Al Khiran Hybrid Outlet Mall — is Kuwait’s first hybrid outlet and leisure destination. Located within a marina-front development, it forms part of a broader 70,000 m² multi-use complex that includes retail, hospitality, and residential offerings. The building, spanning 750 meters in length, is composed of interconnected covered malls and a series of plazas that open to the sea, offering panoramic views and immersive public experiences.
The shopping complex is crowned with a unique glazed roof structure covering approximately 37,000m², composed of steel-framed portals running linearly along the development and striking skylight plaza canopies. These sculptural roof elements provide a high level of transparency, while carefully balancing structural performance and environmental responsiveness.
The process
Atelier One was engaged to provide structural engineering and façade design services for the glazed roof superstructure and entrance façades — key architectural and experiential features of the development. Working in close collaboration with the architects CRTKL (UK) and the wider delivery team, we developed a system that is as elegant as it is resilient.
The project’s structure is divided into three key components:
Malls: a series of portal frames (18m span, 4m bay spacing) cumulatively running along nearly 1 km, each segment fixed at mid-points and supported by sliding details away from the centre to accommodate significant thermal movement in the harsh desert climate.
Plazas: five distinctive roof forms with spans of up to 40 m, designed using interlaced pyramidal geometries supported by custom-fabricated trapezoidal steel beams. The design balances transparency and shading, providing abundant daylight whilst ensuring high thermal comfort. Similarly to Malls, Plaza roofs are subject to complex support conditions resulting from high thermal loads and interaction with the concrete sub-structure below.
Entrance façades: Eight structurally independent entrances — five on the Marina-facing South-East elevation and three on the North-West car park elevation. Each entrance of up to 40 m in width and 18 m in height, combining high-performance curtain walling with bespoke solar-control elements.
Due to the building's orientation and Kuwait’s extreme solar exposure, careful consideration was given to g-values and U-values across the development to optimise occupant comfort without compromising the architectural intent. In total, over 37,000 m² of insulated glazing units were used across the roof.
The façades required particularly complex thermal and shading solutions. Custom-designed aluminium sunscreens and deep-profile louvres were integrated into the structural envelope to manage solar gain and glare while maintaining visual connectivity and transparency.
The outcome
Khiran Pearl demonstrates how engineering-led design can create spaces that are environmentally responsive, spatially generous, and visually refined. The roof and façades form a part of the user experience – not only by providing a point of architectural interest but also sheltering visitors while enhancing their connection to the marina and the natural light.
The structure has been meticulously engineered for durability and serviceability over a 60‑year design life, with a total structural steel weight of over 1,800 tonnes across malls and plazas. The entrance façades, although structurally independent from the roof, were fully integrated into the overall design vision - supporting energy efficiency, climate responsiveness, and spatial drama.
Khiran Pearl sets a new benchmark for hybrid commercial design in the region, showcasing the potential of lightweight, high-performance structures in demanding climates.
Credits
Structural Engineer: Atelier One
Architect: CRTKL (UK)