Amman Forum

Amman, a city known for its cultural heritage and diversity, faces a pressing challenge – preserving its identity amid rapid urbanization and modernization. Traditional socio-cultural spaces, once hubs of interaction and exchange, have been overrun by car-centric infrastructure, repurposing them for parking and diminishing their pedestrian appeal. This struggle between tradition and modernity raises concerns about the loss of Amman’s cultural heritage, potentially erasing historically significant sites that define the city’s character.

The architectural project in Amman offers a visionary solution to this challenge. It seeks to create transitional living spaces that bridge the gap between Amman’s rich history and its promising future. This initiative reimagines traditional Ammani public spaces in a contemporary manner, leveraging spatial memory to reconnect with the past.

The primary goal is to provide communal living spaces for the city’s residents while preserving its cultural heritage. The design philosophy centres on a harmonious blend of traditional and modern architectural elements to counter the relentless urbanization. The result will be a transitional statement, honouring Amman’s historical roots while embracing its future. Ultimately, this project will lay a solid foundation for the city’s continued growth and prosperity.

Situated in Ras Al-Ain, Amman, the project site holds a pivotal position bridging the contemporary Cultural Strip of Ras Al-Ain and the traditional Jabal Al Akhdar residential area, representing the essence of downtown Amman. Initially conceived as a cultural center, the site has deviated from its vision over time, transforming into a weekend-only market, leaving it largely abandoned during the rest of the week.

Project Program:

The program is defined by the concept of the flexibility and temporary Spaces vs Fixed Spaces

Community Zone: This zone primarily serves the needs of the local community by providing a flexible and adaptable public space. It hosts various events and includes a temporary market, benefiting the local economy and preserving the site’s historical memory.

Knowledge Zone: The Knowledge Zone serves as a bridge between the community and culture. It offers a cultural urban space with interactive libraries, supporting facilities, street libraries, bookshops, an art workshop, and a gallery that connects the urban and architectural spaces.

Cultural Zone: The Cultural Zone engages the community in cultural activities through open workshops, temporary stores, an urban gallery for displaying and selling locally made products, a community kitchen, a multi-purpose gallery zone adaptable for various activities, and an underground gallery with a timeless and elegant design suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

Design Philosophy

– Respecting Local Architectural Character and provide a contemporary character: The design pays homage to Amman Downtown’s local architectural character with small blocks of varying heights, traditional materials like stone, and contemporary elements such as glass and steel louvres in the building’s openings.

– Urban Alley Experience: The project aims to recreate the unique Ammani alley experience by combining hidden and open spaces. Solid walls define the main path, leading to open urban pockets that encourage activity and engagement.

– Roof as a public Space: The project emphasizes the sociocultural significance of rooftops. The sloped roofs covering the cultural zone buildings serve as a connected platform, linking the ground-level public space and Ras al Ain. They are designed to be accessible for communal use, with some connecting to residential areas at the back of the site.

– Underground Gallery: The underground gallery is conceived as a journey through time and culture, bridging the historical and contemporary aspects of the site’s context. The use of rough natural stone and controlled natural lighting creates a strong connection to the project’s overarching concept.