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Kuwait currently suffers from a housing crisis, due to policies and executive procedures. This condition made worse by the widespread view among citizens that large houses are better and a lack of understanding of how urban planning and appropriate interior design can contribute to smaller liveable spaces. To address these problems, decision-makers and planners need to seek new solutions that are acceptable to the people. This paper seeks to contribute to this process by presenting the results of research designed to clarify the concept of urban density among Kuwaiti citizens and investigate their views on high-density housing and the pro and cons of smaller dwelling sizes. The authors approached this by means of an electronic questionnaire, which also sought to identify citizens’ housing priorities. The questionnaire was completed by 464 Kuwait residents, and in this paper, the answers are analyzed, both generally and according to demographic characteristics. The results confirm Kuwaitis’ general vagueness about the concept of housing density and their lack of acceptance of alternatives to the traditional town house. More specifically, Kuwaitis have a negative opinion of high-density housing, associating it with overcrowding and lack of privacy. When asked about their impressions of small houses, the most frequent response was negative, with respondents citing absence of privacy as the major issue, along with having no private garden. However, some pointed to prices, good use of space and closeness to services as possible advantages. Residential area, safety, price and availability of parking were top priorities among all respondents. The overall conclusion is that the Kuwaiti housing problem can only be solved by using a range of experts to create new solutions that differ from the traditional town house, taking into account the opinions and requirements of the people. It will also be necessary to educate citizens about the alternatives available.
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