The first house of its kind in Kuwait’s history, Al Sadu House, was built in 1936 by Youssef Al-Marzouq. The house overlooks the seafront, and is designed with four open courtyards that exhibit many Indian decorative influences, particularly in the wooden doors sourced from Karachi and the distinctive iron window units. Al Sadu House’s structure was innovative for its time, being constructed primarily with stone and reinforced with concrete, which made it the first house in Kuwait to utilize such building materials.
In 1938, the property changed ownership and came into the hands of Shereen Behbehani, who made notable additions, including a new floor and European-style fireplaces in the diwaniya rooms. In the 1970s, the house was acquired by the state under the ministry of information, and later transferred to the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters.
In 1980 the house was transformed into Al Sadu House, a center dedicated to preserving and promoting the traditional art of weaving, particularly Sadu weaving, which is a hallmark of Kuwaiti heritage that people love to visit, as this place remains dedicated to educating the public about the history and significance of Kuwaiti textiles, while nurturing the creativity and productivity that has shaped the country’s cultural identity.