Is it OK to Photograph Houses in Kuwait?

I have this hobby, rather fascination, with the design of the houses that were built in the 60′s after discovering oil in Kuwait. Now over 50 years old, many of those houses are unkempt or rundown but you can still see the beauty of their architecture. There is something about the details, the way a doorway is curved or a ceiling is slanted that is just irresistible and balconies are almost always present. A stark contrast to the soulless concrete cubes with boring facades and gabs for windows being built now a days to house rentals.

Sadly many of those gorgeous old 60′s houses are being torn down to make way for new houses. Some of the newer houses built are quite modern, most others are the horrible rental cubes, but whenever I pass by a site where an old futuristic designed house used to stand I feel a pang of sadness. That’s why I found myself one day taking pictures of any 60′s house I pass by before it was too late but whenever I lift my camera to snap a picture of a house, there is almost always an angry passerby who seems incredulous and confused with my action.

Why the confusion? I’m not sure but I never really cared or stopped to explain. I do have many pictures and yet I’m not sure what I’m going to do with them for the time being. I am however pondering the following question: is it OK to take a picture of a house? The house is sitting there in the open and you can pass by it all day long if you wish to. There are no people in the pictures and the house is empty with no one living inside and there are clear signs its going to be torn down soon “graffiti on the wall says so anyway”. Therefore I’m assuming no one should mind me taking a picture. How about new houses? Especially those ultra modern gorgeous creations popping up sporadically around Kuwait? Most likely its up to their owners but again they are out there available for all to see, what difference does a photograph make after all?

What do you think? Would you mind if you saw someone taking a photograph of your house or a neighbour’s house? Whether it was new and beautiful or old and gorgeous? And why?

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