URBAN DESIGN & REGENERATION
location: Jabal Amman District - Amman - Jordan
Introduction: An Urban Regeneration Project of the Old Downtown area in Amman, Jordan.
Introduction: An Urban Regeneration Project of the Old Downtown area in Amman, Jordan.
The downtown area in Amman still possess that value of authenticity that is gradually disappearing from the rest of Amman. Therefore, one main concern was preserving the existing intimacy and genus loci while adding life to it. Our Area of intervention is on the hillside between two main and busy arteries.
The main characteristic of the area is the extreme slope. Therefore, stairs are of vital importance not only physically, but also socially. Due to the deterioration of the area of study caused by the sudden gentrification of the main streets surrounding the area, there was a need to revitalize the area economically, socially, culturally, and provide it with services that help people to achieve a better quality of life. Recently, it has been decided to introduce a Faculty building for Colombia University and one for the German Jordanian University. Taking that into consideration our concept was as follows.
The main characteristic of the area is the extreme slope. Therefore, stairs are of vital importance not only physically, but also socially. Due to the deterioration of the area of study caused by the sudden gentrification of the main streets surrounding the area, there was a need to revitalize the area economically, socially, culturally, and provide it with services that help people to achieve a better quality of life. Recently, it has been decided to introduce a Faculty building for Colombia University and one for the German Jordanian University. Taking that into consideration our concept was as follows.
Concept: Hybrid Urban Campus Hybrids occur in nature, where they serve the important evolutionary function of increasing genetic variety. The closer the similarity, the more successful the hybrid.
Ingredients added to expose an already existing symbiotic relationship. The main intervention focused on the integration of lifestyles between the already existing local fabric and the emphasized social fabric of students.
We introduced a main promenade penetrating through the middle area of the mountain side where it includes many deteriorated deserted and some inhabited building of bad physical condition. We proposed that inhabited houses along the promenade can act as guest houses, while face-lifting deserted houses to act as clustered housing units for international students.
Through our proposal we emphasized on the existing educational aspect of the area. where an addition of a 3rd university building will be available for investment.
Throughout the main promenade, as seen on the figure (red) different needed hubs have been added ( Music, Art, Language, Science, Library and Fitness). Where locals can play the administrative role. The Promenade connects the whole area horizontally after it was totally separated, emphasizing the concept of integrating the locals & the students.
Individual Work: My action Area was mainly the Music Hub & Pass through Plaza.
Music Hub: In my proposal I decided to adaptive reuse the existing buildings to be divide as follow: Building for Music classes for the university students. Bulding for Music classes for the school students. Building for the administration & storage. Outdoor theatre where festivals, Graduation ceremonies a performances could take place.
Regulation: Winter concerts allowed only in the weekend fill 10 pm Summer Concerts allowed in the week days till 12pm and in weekends till 2am Performances that does not make noise affecting the neighbours are allowed anytime.
Pass Through Plaza: where Plaza, Cafe & Cubicles will take place. Propose Partnership with Wild Jordan to allow us to Infill in the empty space. Allow Wild Jordan to use underground levels on the same level of Plaza Revenue generating opportunity from cafe & working cubicles is distributed between Great Amman municipality & Wild Jordan.
