Lweibdeh Edge

Our world faced large damages through COVID-19, especially on the socializing aspect due to lockdown circumstances. According to a BBC survey, 40% of people who suffer loneliness are in the 16 – 24 age range. Moreover, CDC survey by Harvard masters’ students shows that 63% of young adults suffered anxiety, depression, and loneliness due lack of social interaction during COVID-19 lockdown period. Luckily, the pandemic is near to end, and the lockdown is finally over and the Jordanian community are thirstier for public spaces and social interaction that allows people to communicate with new people from diverse backgrounds, to communicate with their city and culture that they were kept away from for 1 years, as it represents a demand in human Instinct.

Lweibdeh Edge is a social hub and breather for Amman community to make up for the lack of socializing and community isolation through COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. The project lays on the edge of Jabal Lweibdeh facing Jabal Amman and Downtown, on 2 high sloped plots, that used to act as lookout point on Amman scape. Therefore, the project will provide transition access between 3 main districts that have a strong identity and represent Amman culture in addition to restoring site old function as lookout point on old Amman scape in more mature way and wider view range.

The project program contains 4 categories with variations to attract people from different interests and backgrounds to enhance social interaction. Educational zone that contains knowledge spaces like library, lecture halls and reading steps. Socializing zone that contains spaces like social halls, communication rooms, and local bazar. Culture and arts zone which consists of 3 subzones, visual arts spaces like stepped galleries, theatrical arts like theatre, and music like recording studio. Finally, observation platforms and bridge to provide visual connection between users and context that reflect part of old Amman culture.

The project layers are carved within the mountain with adaptation to the slope gradually to reflect the identity of site and the mountainous nature of Amman in general. Layers spreading direction on the site are parallel to the contour lines and to the view in order to reduce slope effect on spaces and maximizing view range towards Amman scape. Indoor spaces depth extended within the mountain freeing the visible layers to be used as lookout platforms on different levels to restore site old function as lookout point in more mature way. The transition between site’s 2 plots and towered the distracts will be provided by two means, through stepped underground galleries under the street that separate the 2 plots, and through observation bridge above the street that is connected with vertical circulation cores on each land plot. The transition axis is emphasized by vertical walls that define project entrances from the 4 directions.

Since the project is located in a sensitive site in Amman, project levels are connected by large stairways and steps that are considered key elements define the identity of Amman as respond to its mountainous topography and connects Amman levels, in addition of being great environment for socializing activities like small talks. Moreover, murals and graffiti artworks cover some project walls as it also became an element related to Amman covering old buildings walls giving them more artistic touch and giving an open to air gallery atmosphere.

Massing adapt the behavior of the Edge and the surrounding skyline in order to blend with mountain, using masses roofs as Lookout Platforms on different levels, providing full visual connection with the views and between the platforms themselves allowing social interaction between users, and between the context making smooth transition between the top and bottom of the mountain with full experience promenade. Indoor spaces are partly cut inside the mountain, providing natural thermal insulation making them warm in winter and cool in summer, providing comfort zone with minimizing heating and cooling costs.

Natural lighting and ventilation provided by large openings on southern façade and skylights on the roofs, covered with Solar Glass that allows only visible light rays in, preventing from Ultra-Violet and infarted rays, instead converting them to electric energy by the Carbon Coating on the glass, taking advantage of the large solar radiation on Southern elevation. This power is used in artificial lighting reducing building working costs. Moreover, the glass façade reflect the surrounding context transforming the façade to well designed mirror of the magnificent