![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W67SLPI6PXFPY43YAHHKCEORUE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f8daccc88d895ad31f803fd080ebae743e3537e5283e4dd83e3ffd7335cf7746&width=400&height=225)
Baloush Bus Terminal, Kuwait City, 1984-8. INCO, L. Chyczewski, Anna Wisniowska, Krzysztof Wisniowski. Photo by L. Stanek, 2014.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DKOKUU7I5XCIDAJCLF7YXAEFJM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e640880528f3b13df285632700e1b14561d31f3860f39417a1b3575eeec8a1be&width=400&height=225)
An entry to the competition for the Municipality and Town Planning Department, Abu Dhabi, 1979, external view. Shiber Consult (Kuwait), Wojciech Jarząbek, Edward Lach. Private archive of Edward Lach, Wrocław (Poland).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WJGYJFJF73JJSDGO7U5N6E2LVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=b3e5d26ecc266465339ca7b802f60f3c0d2fa0a73601c177d9eb90475806fb4a&width=400&height=225)
Dimitar Bogdanov (third man standing from the left) discusses the model of the Hamma Center, Algiers (Algeria), Private archive of Borislav Bogdanov, Sofia (Bulgaria).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M7BXJR33FM3CEWB5SIPCL2C5DE.jpg?smart=true&auth=7ef8545fcf9032f030610dc5abad6df59fbc24535057b6a625fc62b27d4d2d8d&width=400&height=225)
Main Bus Terminal, Abu Dhabi, 1980-91. Bulgarproject (Bulgaria), Kuno Dundakov, Stanka Dundakova. Photo by L. Stanek, 2015.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B55YUCOHPKKL32HFLC4R4NUY44.jpg?smart=true&auth=9ac641a964353e66c9068e9286ca9055e45261a64b2511dad705bbcdc3a33f9f&width=400&height=225)
Audit Bureau Headquarters Building, Kuwait City, 1986-96. KEG, Wojciech Jarząbek, Edward Lach. Photo by L. Stanek, 2014.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4NSPGCBK5R2SP42O62NH2HSMAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=8b0c31a7254f189974b86179cd55ec895b48d4d19aa248f6a6b356de34cbe06b&width=400&height=225)
Municipality and Town Planning Department, Abu Dhabi, 1980, situation plan. Bulgarproject (Bulgaria), Dimitar Bogdanov. Private archive of Borislav Bogdanov, Sofia (Bulgaria).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XGPGRCWODDS7OI7FSMBXXJOK34.jpg?smart=true&auth=2abd14d7950637dae392a4380e1c420602e627b79f953758193763ca5f0c8dda&width=400&height=225)
The BCCI (1978) and the Arab Monetary Fund (1982) buildings, Abu Dhabi. Fitzroy Robinson Partnership (UK), Peter Mlodzianowski. “The Buildings and Projects of the Fitzroy Robinson Partnership in the Middle East," n.d. Private archive of Peter Mlodzianowski, Bucks (UK).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M7DZYMG6QVMP5FVEVFUSXUXQUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1d83cf64976ffceeca54e600ec107dae673bf44d9ebb0ef4c156f79799ea5ff&width=400&height=225)
"Buildings and Hotels," designed and constructed by Technoexportstroy. "Technoexportstroy" (Sofia: Technoexportstroy, n.d.).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XASG7D7P4UWXV7HCWYIR4T2M7Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=03285ae60fd15724e07c8e24b8b7b659ad3eead3be7d8d4e014a8a7a74c0cce1&width=400&height=225)
Municipality and Town Planning Department, Abu Dhabi, 1979-85, North-East elevation. Bulgarproject (Bulgaria); Dimitar Bogdanov. Private archive of Borislav Bogdanov, Sofia (Bulgaria).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLR3VTKRY234HX3JG2Z3ZKE4HM.jpg?smart=true&auth=398d00cd532b352c384fd2f35360704bcd34fa2d37475628f28c681ae4918530&width=400&height=225)
Sabah al-Salem Neighborhood Site C (Kuwait), general plan, 1978. Shiber Consult and INCO, Andrzej Bohdanowicz, Wojciech Jarzabek, Krzysztof Wisniowski. Private archive of Krzysztof Wisniowski, Wrocław (Poland).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VBP3EAC7ER3SR4V27MRIQRTMYY.jpg?smart=true&auth=eafc7bf6aa46fcc39e7c193ce2580fbf379aef4b7d0fd8589c47c8e407351d0e&width=400&height=225)
Al-Othman Center, Hawally, 1995. KEG, Wojciech Jarząbek, Edward Lach. Photo by L. Stanek, 2014.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UZTI7M3MK22AHMRN2KDOBLCNYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=88bb767d439cfa6bb8de940d12ad594d626141927936c85d2c63ae5a2cd00223&width=400&height=225)
Sabah al-Salem Neighborhood Site C (Kuwait), 1977-82. Shiber Consult and INCO, Andrzej Bohdanowicz, Wojciech Jarząbek, Krzysztof Wiśniowski. Photo by L. Stanek, 2014.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W67SLPI6PXFPY43YAHHKCEORUE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f8daccc88d895ad31f803fd080ebae743e3537e5283e4dd83e3ffd7335cf7746&width=400&height=225)
Baloush Bus Terminal, Kuwait City, 1984-8. INCO, L. Chyczewski, Anna Wisniowska, Krzysztof Wisniowski. Photo by L. Stanek, 2014.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DKOKUU7I5XCIDAJCLF7YXAEFJM.jpg?smart=true&auth=e640880528f3b13df285632700e1b14561d31f3860f39417a1b3575eeec8a1be&width=400&height=225)
An entry to the competition for the Municipality and Town Planning Department, Abu Dhabi, 1979, external view. Shiber Consult (Kuwait), Wojciech Jarząbek, Edward Lach. Private archive of Edward Lach, Wrocław (Poland).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WJGYJFJF73JJSDGO7U5N6E2LVI.jpg?smart=true&auth=b3e5d26ecc266465339ca7b802f60f3c0d2fa0a73601c177d9eb90475806fb4a&width=400&height=225)
Dimitar Bogdanov (third man standing from the left) discusses the model of the Hamma Center, Algiers (Algeria), Private archive of Borislav Bogdanov, Sofia (Bulgaria).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M7BXJR33FM3CEWB5SIPCL2C5DE.jpg?smart=true&auth=7ef8545fcf9032f030610dc5abad6df59fbc24535057b6a625fc62b27d4d2d8d&width=400&height=225)
Main Bus Terminal, Abu Dhabi, 1980-91. Bulgarproject (Bulgaria), Kuno Dundakov, Stanka Dundakova. Photo by L. Stanek, 2015.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/B55YUCOHPKKL32HFLC4R4NUY44.jpg?smart=true&auth=9ac641a964353e66c9068e9286ca9055e45261a64b2511dad705bbcdc3a33f9f&width=400&height=225)
Audit Bureau Headquarters Building, Kuwait City, 1986-96. KEG, Wojciech Jarząbek, Edward Lach. Photo by L. Stanek, 2014.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/4NSPGCBK5R2SP42O62NH2HSMAQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=8b0c31a7254f189974b86179cd55ec895b48d4d19aa248f6a6b356de34cbe06b&width=400&height=225)
Municipality and Town Planning Department, Abu Dhabi, 1980, situation plan. Bulgarproject (Bulgaria), Dimitar Bogdanov. Private archive of Borislav Bogdanov, Sofia (Bulgaria).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XGPGRCWODDS7OI7FSMBXXJOK34.jpg?smart=true&auth=2abd14d7950637dae392a4380e1c420602e627b79f953758193763ca5f0c8dda&width=400&height=225)
The BCCI (1978) and the Arab Monetary Fund (1982) buildings, Abu Dhabi. Fitzroy Robinson Partnership (UK), Peter Mlodzianowski. “The Buildings and Projects of the Fitzroy Robinson Partnership in the Middle East," n.d. Private archive of Peter Mlodzianowski, Bucks (UK).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/M7DZYMG6QVMP5FVEVFUSXUXQUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=f1d83cf64976ffceeca54e600ec107dae673bf44d9ebb0ef4c156f79799ea5ff&width=400&height=225)
"Buildings and Hotels," designed and constructed by Technoexportstroy. "Technoexportstroy" (Sofia: Technoexportstroy, n.d.).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XASG7D7P4UWXV7HCWYIR4T2M7Y.jpg?smart=true&auth=03285ae60fd15724e07c8e24b8b7b659ad3eead3be7d8d4e014a8a7a74c0cce1&width=400&height=225)
Municipality and Town Planning Department, Abu Dhabi, 1979-85, North-East elevation. Bulgarproject (Bulgaria); Dimitar Bogdanov. Private archive of Borislav Bogdanov, Sofia (Bulgaria).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLR3VTKRY234HX3JG2Z3ZKE4HM.jpg?smart=true&auth=398d00cd532b352c384fd2f35360704bcd34fa2d37475628f28c681ae4918530&width=400&height=225)
Sabah al-Salem Neighborhood Site C (Kuwait), general plan, 1978. Shiber Consult and INCO, Andrzej Bohdanowicz, Wojciech Jarzabek, Krzysztof Wisniowski. Private archive of Krzysztof Wisniowski, Wrocław (Poland).
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VBP3EAC7ER3SR4V27MRIQRTMYY.jpg?smart=true&auth=eafc7bf6aa46fcc39e7c193ce2580fbf379aef4b7d0fd8589c47c8e407351d0e&width=400&height=225)
Al-Othman Center, Hawally, 1995. KEG, Wojciech Jarząbek, Edward Lach. Photo by L. Stanek, 2014.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UZTI7M3MK22AHMRN2KDOBLCNYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=88bb767d439cfa6bb8de940d12ad594d626141927936c85d2c63ae5a2cd00223&width=400&height=225)
Sabah al-Salem Neighborhood Site C (Kuwait), 1977-82. Shiber Consult and INCO, Andrzej Bohdanowicz, Wojciech Jarząbek, Krzysztof Wiśniowski. Photo by L. Stanek, 2014.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/W67SLPI6PXFPY43YAHHKCEORUE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f8daccc88d895ad31f803fd080ebae743e3537e5283e4dd83e3ffd7335cf7746&width=400&height=225)
Baloush Bus Terminal, Kuwait City, 1984-8. INCO, L. Chyczewski, Anna Wisniowska, Krzysztof Wisniowski. Photo by L. Stanek, 2014.
Abu Dhabi architecture: Eastern European design meets Arab character
Exploring how a socialist brand of architecture from Eastern Europe influenced the buildings we see today in Abu Dhabi
Nick Leech
06 March, 2020
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