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Completed Projects
Construction work was completed on the TIMCO vehicle body factory in the Zarqa free zone. Darb (Design Associates and Research Bureau) designed the 5,000 square-meter factory, which includes a workshop building, a paint shop building, and an administration and services building. The structure incorporates a pre-cast, pre-stressed structural skeleton, and pre-cast façade panels.
Construction work was completed on a sponge factory in Hanina in the Madaba area south of Amman for the Allied Conversion Industries Company. Architect Wael Hamarneh designed the 3,000 square-meter project.
Construction work was completed on warehouses in Petra, Jordan for the Jordanian Ministry of Health. The 4,000 square-meter warehouses will provide hospitals and health centers in the Tafila, Aqaba, and Ma’an governorates with medical supplies and equipment. Also, in an effort to improve health services in the south, the Ministry of Health is planning to construct three health centers in the villages of Rajef, Jabra, and the southern Shara region at a total cost of 500,000 JD (704,000 $US). The centers, which have a combined area of 6,000 square meters, are expected to be functional by the end of the year. (Source: al-Ra'i, July 14, 2002)
Initiation of Projects
The Ministry of Public Works and Housing initiated work on the renovation and maintenance of the Departure Hall of the Amman Civil Airport in Marka for the Jordan Civil Aviation Authority. The extension and renovation of the buildings is expected to cost 650,000 JD (915,000 $US), and is part of plan to renovate Jordanian civil airports at a total cost of 1.4 million JD (2 million $US). (Source: al-Ra'i, July 10, 2002)
Completed Designs
Bilal Hammad Associates completed designs for the interior of the Jordan – Kuwait Bank headquarters. The interior works are expected to cost 110,000 JD (155,000 $US).
Darb (Design Associates and Research Bureau) completed designs for the Sakkab Construction Material Factory in Sahab near Amman. The project covers an area of 6,000 square meters and comprises a two-floor steel factory that includes offices and a showroom.
Mounir Hajjiri and Partners completed designs for the Jumeira Department Store in the Abdoun district of Amman for entrepreneur Simone Sakkab. The 12,000 square-meter project is expected to cost 4.3 million JD (6 million $US).
Mounir Hajjiri and Partners completed designs for the Ministry of Awqaf building in the ‘Abdali area in Amman, adjacent to the King Abdullah Mosque, for the Ministry of Islamic Awqaf, Affairs and Holy Places. Mounir Hajjiri and Partners had won the competition for the design of the 19,000 square-meter project in 1999. The project is expected to cost 6 million JD (8.5 million $US).
The Municipality of Zarqa completed designs for a waste separation plant in Zarqa. The project, which is being carried out in cooperation with the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) and the Center for the Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE), aims at alleviating the health risks associated with waste dumps. Solid waste management is a priority in the Municipality of Zarqa, where the amount of refuse transported daily from the city is estimated at 300 tons, and the total cost of transporting it reaches 1.8 million JD (2.5 million $US) a year. (Source: al-Ra'i, July 2, 2002.)
Competitions
Jafar Tukan and Partners participated in a competition for the design of the Sheikh Mohammad bin Ibrahim Mosque in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for Ar-Riyadh Development Authority. The project covers an area of 7,085 square meters.
S. M. Dudin Architects and Engineers were awarded first prize in a closed competition for the design of a four-star hotel in the Tala Bay Tourist Complex in Aqaba for the Jordan Projects for Tourism Development Company. The project occupies an area of 35,000 square-meters and is expected to cost 11.4 million JD (16 million $US).
New Commissions
GDAR Group was commissioned to design a 24,000 square-meter investment building in Amman for the Intermediate University College.
Jafar Tukan and Partners, in a joint venture with the Canada office of Hellmuth, Obata + Kassabaum (HOK), were chosen through a closed competition to design the master plan for the ‘Abdali Regeneration Project in the ‘Abdali district of Amman for the state-run National Resources Investment and Development Corporation (NARIDEC). The project is located on a 33.4-hectare state-owned land that housed the headquarters of the Jordanian Armed Forces and other security agencies. These are being relocated to other areas in Amman in order to transform the site into a multi-purpose business district.
The project is expected to take six to nine years before completion, and will include a university, as well as commercial and residential areas. The project is expected to attract considerable investment because of its strategic location between the Amman downtown area and Shmeisani, the city’s financial district.
S. M. Dudin Architects and Engineers were commissioned to design the Mushtaha Trading Center in downtown Aqaba for Jamal Mushtaha and Brothers. The 4,850 square-meter project is expected to cost 1 million JD (1.4 million $US).
Lectures
Jafar Tukan, architect and principal of Jafar Tukan and Partners delivered a lecture at Darat al-Funun – The Khalid Shoman Foundation entitled The Dialectic of Time in the Architecture of Amman.
Rami Daher, assistant professor at the Department of Architecture at the Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, delivered a lecture at the Jordanian Architects Society as part of its series of lectures entitled Architects and Projects.
Yasir Sakr, assistant professor at the Department of Architecture at the University of Jordan, delivered a lecture at Darat al-Funun – The Khalid Shoman Foundation entitled The Art of Islamic Architecture: Al-Haram Al-Sharif.
Seminars
The Architectural Section at the Jordan Engineers Association (JEA) held a one-day seminar entitled Housing and Investments.
Other News
Architect Rasem Badran, co-principal of the architectural firm Dar al-Omran, received an honorary Ph.D. from the Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid to honor his contributions to the field of architecture. Rasem Badran, who was born in 1945, received his architectural education in Germany at the Technical University in Darmstadt. He worked in Germany from 1970 to 1973 before moving to Amman, where he eventually established his own architectural office that today is known as Dar al-Omran. He has won numerous international architectural competitions, including those for the Qatar Islamic Arts Museum (1997), the Sidon Sea front Development (1996), Darat al-Malik Abd al-Aziz Complex in Riyadh (1994), the Qasr al-Hukm Mosque and Palace Complex in Riyadh (1985), and the Baghdad State Mosque (1982). He also is the recipient of architectural awards such as the Palestine Award for Architecture (1997), the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (1995), and the Arab Architecture Award of the Organization of Arab Cities (1990). In addition, Badran has served on a number of international architectural juries, including the International Jury of the Jamaican General Governor’s Award for Architecture (1992), the Master Jury of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture (1989), and the Master Jury for the Organization of Arab Cities (1985). His work has been published extensively in architectural books and magazines. Badran is the first architect to receive an honorary Ph.D. from a Jordanian university.
Rasem Badran
An agreement was signed between the General Corporation for Environmental Protection and a joint venture between the Consulting Engineering Center (CEC) and the German engineering company Fichtner for the preparation of designs and studies for the construction of a hazardous solid waste treatment plant in Swaqa, sixty kilometers east of Amman. The 430,000 JD (606,000 $US) project, which is being funded by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, will be carried out in two phases over a period of ten months. (Source: al-Ra'i, July 2, 2002.)
An agreement was signed between the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN). Accordingly, the agency will provide a 240,000 JD (338,000 $US) grant to RSCN for the development of ecological tourism in the Mujib reserve, support of the ongoing handicraft projects in the reserve, and the construction of tourist facilities, a camp, and a visitor and information center. (Source: al-Ra'i, July 14, 2002.)
Completed Projects
Construction work was completed on the Al al-Bayt Foundation for Islamic Thought in al-Hussein National Park in Amman. Mihrab for Islamic Architecture designed the 2,100 square-meter complex for the Municipality of Greater Amman. The project, which includes a library, lecture halls, and administration buildings, cost around 1 million JD (1.4 million $US). (Source: al-Ra'i, August 5, 2002).
Construction work was completed on al-Jumrok Intersection project, named after the Customs Department in the industrial area of Jweideh in eastern Amman. The Municipality of Greater Amman carried out the construction of the 470-meter-long, four-lane, two-way underpass stretching north-south on Prince al-Hassan Street, and the 360-meter-long, four-lane, two-way overpass stretching east-west on al-Huriyya and al-Hizam streets. The 3.7 million JD (5.2 million $US) intersection constitutes a major link in the 39-kilometer outer ring road beginning and ending at the Sixth Circle. The outer ring road is still 5 kilometers away from being completed. The new intersection is part of the municipality’s overall plan to improve areas in east Amman and to ease traffic congestion in the city. (Source: The Jordan Times, Aug 18, 2002)
Initiation of Projects
Construction work began on the Lubb Village Restoration Project located in the village of Lubb in the Madaba Governorate. CDG (the Community Development Group Engineering and Management Associates) designed the 2,470 square-meter project for the Noor al-Hussein Foundation. The project is located on a 2,000 square-meter plot, and consists of the renovation of a traditional 470 square-meter structure to include a restaurant, crafts workshop, and administration offices. Ahmad Abawini Contractors are the contractors for the project, which is estimated to cost 97,500 JD (137,300 $US).
One of the most significant objectives of this project and similar ones initiated by the Noor al-Hussein Foundation is empowering local communities through preserving traditional buildings for the benefit of the communities, and developing training programs for the local workforce that aim at reviving handicrafts.
Construction work began on the interior of the E-Government Project Management office floor at the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology in Amman. CDG (the Community Development Group Engineering and Management Associates) designed the 650 square-meter project, which is funded by the Amir II program (Achievement of Market-Friendly Initiatives and Results program), an economic opportunity project funded by USAID (the United States Agency for International Development) and implemented in partnership with the Jordanian private sector and government. The project is expected to cost 49,000 JD (69,000 $US). It is intended as an opportunity for the newly restructured ministry to create a space that serves as a “showcase” model for e-government.
Construction work began on the Dead Sea Panoramic Complex, which includes a museum and a panoramic lookout terrace overlooking the Dead Sea. The Consolidated Consultants for Engineering and Environment and Pacific Consultants International (PCI) of Tokyo, Japan designed the project, which is being funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) through the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and is expected to cost 3.6 million JD (5.1 million $US). Plans also are underway for the construction of a 12-kilometer road that will link the Dead Sea with the project. (Source: al-Ra'i, August 9, 2002)
Construction work began on the basic infrastructure works for the pilot phase of the urban complex to be located on the site of the old military camp of the city of Zarqa. SIGMA Consulting Engineers, in association with the Jordanian Consulting Engineers and the Egyptian firm Sabbur, designed the master plan of the 25 square-kilometer site. The state-run National Resources Investment and Development Corporation (NARIDEC) is in charge of administering the project, which will include residential neighborhoods, shopping centers, and various service facilities. The pilot phase of the project will provide housing for 23,000 inhabitants, but the whole project is intended to accommodate about 500,000 people over the next twenty years. The project will help relieve population densities and infrastructure pressures in Zarqa, which is one of the most densely populated urban centers in Jordan. Zarqa, the country’s second largest city, has a population of 750,000 inhabitants.
Construction tenders for the project were awarded to three local construction companies at a cost of 10.4 million JD (14.6 million $US). The total cost for the project is estimated at 500 million JD (700 million $US). (Source: al-Ra'i, August 11, 2002)
Completed Designs
The Jordanian Ministry of Public Works and Housing and the Ministry of Culture completed designs for a 3,000 person outdoor theater at the Royal Cultural Center in Amman. Plans also are underway to construct attached studios to provide live broadcasts of events held at the theater. The total cost of the project is estimated at 200,000 JD (282,000 $US). (Source: al-Ra'i, August 11, 2002)
The Municipality of Greater Amman completed designs for a “linear” park along King Abdullah II Street. The park is situated between the visitors’ entrance to al-Hussein Medical City and al-Sha’b Garden. The 3 million JD (4.2 million $US) project is meant to complement the al-Hussein National Park project, and will include skating, cycling and pedestrian paths, sports fields, and restaurants. (Source: al-Ra'i, August 22, 2002)
New Commissions
Jafar Tukan and Partners, in association with the Ankara-based Aysel Insaat Taahhut Ticaret A.S., were commissioned to design the new general headquarters complex of the Jordanian Armed Forces in Amman. The site, which is bordered by al-Hussein Medical City, will include about 30 buildings.
Competitions
Jafar Tukan and Partners and Yasir Sakr, Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Jordan, in association with an atelier of his newly graduating students, participated in a competition for the design of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo for the Egyptian Ministry of Culture. The museum will occupy a 480,000 square-meter elevated site that is located 2.5 kilometers from the Giza Pyramids, and its costs are estimated at around 350 million $US. The new museum will house over 100,000 artifacts to be transferred from the existing National Museum in central Cairo, built in 1902.
Lectures
Samia Rab, assistant professor of architecture and heritage management at the American University of Sharjah (AUS), delivered a lecture in Amman entitled International Charters and their Relevance to Restoration of Historic Cities in the Islamic World. Rab’s recent research has focused on documenting and analyzing examples of contemporary architecture and urban design in Pakistan, Italy, Australia, and the United Arab Emirates that seek to establish or retain indigenous and regional identity. She also is developing the region’s first post-graduate program in Heritage Management, which will be located at AUS. Turath (Heritage Conservation Management and Environmental Design Consultants) organized the lecture as part of its summer lecture series.
Other News
As part of the series entitled Biography of an Innovator, Jordan Television filmed an episode on architect Rasem Badran, co-principal of the architectural firm of Dar al-Omran. The 45-minute episode chronicles Badran’s development through his early years, showcasing his ideas and projects through interviews and documentation of his work. The Arabic-language television series presents figures who have made important contributions to the literary, artistic, and cultural development of Jordan. The episode will be aired on Jordan Television in early 2003.
Rasem Badran
The Jordanian Ministry of Health floated a tender for the construction of a new building to house the ministry and its affiliated departments at a cost of 7 million JD (9.9 million $US). The new premises, which will be located close to Prince Hamza Hospital in Tabarbour, east of Amman, are expected to incorporate eighteen health departments currently scattered around Amman. The new 18,000 square-meter project will save the treasury nearly 300,000 JD (423,000 $US) in annual building rent. (Source: The Jordan Times, Aug 5, 2002)
The Higher Council for Building has developed a draft law for new building specifications that aims at enforcing the implementation of the Jordanian Building Code, which addresses issues including construction quality and general safety in buildings. The draft law, which will be presented to the Jordanian Cabinet for approval, contains strict clauses relating to construction practices and certification mechanisms for building plans. The Higher Council for Building is comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, the Ministry of Municipal, Rural and Environmental Affairs, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, the Municipality of Greater Amman, the Housing and Urban Development Corporation, the Jordan Engineers Association, the Jordan Contractors Association, and the Faculty of Engineering and Technology at the University of Jordan. (Source: al-Ra'i, August 6, 2002)
The Municipality of Greater Amman will carry out projects at a total cost of 205 million JD (289 million $US) as part of its five-year plan. Projects planned for the next five years include the Abdoun Valley Bridge project and the traffic intersections at the Fourth Circle, the Shmeisani Safeway, and the Tobacco Company in the Ras al-‘Ayn area. Other projects include the construction and rehabilitation of garbage dumps in Ghabawi and Ruseifa, the construction of a new slaughterhouse in Amman, a station for measuring air and noise pollution, and public transportation hubs, and the development of landscaping efforts in Amman, including the al-Hussein Park. (Source: al-Ra'i, August 8, 2002)
The Japan Bank for International Cooperation has approved the Municipality of Greater Amman’s decision on qualifying contracting companies for participation in a tender for the construction of the Raghdan Bus Terminal in central Amman. The site of the project covers about 34,000 square meters, and includes built-up areas of 1,000 square meters. The project was designed by Tibah Consultants and Pacific Consultants International (PCI) of Tokyo, Japan, and is an integral part of a comprehensive plan for the rehabilitation of central Amman. Funding for the project is being provided by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). (Source: al-Ra'i, August 12, 2002)
The Municipality of Greater Amman is carrying out designs and studies for the Jabal al-Taj Tunnel, which will connect the Roman Theater Street with al-Yarmouk Street. The 950-meter-long, four-lane, two-way tunnel is expected to alleviate traffic congestion in downtown Amman, and to provide a link in the Jordan Ring Road in the direction of al-Yarmouk, al-Sha’air, and al-Hizam streets. (Source: al-Ra'i, August 14, 2002)
The Jordan Projects for Tourism Development Company awarded a contract for the construction of the first phase of the Tala Bay Tourist Complex in Aqaba to al-Fadel Construction Company. The initial stage of the first phase of the project includes seven buildings to be used for both commercial and residential purposes, with a total area of 15,000 square meters. Upon completion of the first phase, fifteen buildings will be constructed around a marina basin.
The 355 million JD (500 million $US) Tala Bay Tourist Complex project is one of the largest tourism projects under development in the country. It is located 14 kilometers south of Aqaba and will cover an area of 267 hectares. The project will accommodate a mixture of tourist and residential developments such as hotels, villas, apartments, sports centers, an 18-hole golf course, and a 30,000 square-meter marina. (Source: The Jordan Times, Aug 16, 2002)
The Municipality of Greater Amman announced a comprehensive plan for the rehabilitation of pavements, paths, and bridges within the municipality’s jurisdiction at a total cost of 5 million JD (7 million $US). The plan includes the construction and installation of pedestrian bridges and the rehabilitation of existing pavements, as well as upgrading the city’s street lighting. There are 7 million meters of curbstones, 10 million square meters of pavement, and 52 pedestrian tunnels and bridges in Amman. The municipality also has carried out work on providing handicapped access to roads at a total cost of 250,000 JD (352,000 $US). In addition, it is in the process of reassessing plant selection criteria for street planting so as to increase the use of native tree species. (Source: al-Ra'i, August 29, 2002)
ASEZA (Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority) is concentrating efforts aimed at developing and rehabilitating infrastructure networks and public services in Aqaba. About 7 million JD (9.9 million $US) are being dedicated to projects relating to road enhancement and the beautification of plazas and street medians. (Source: al-Ra'i, August 31, 2002)
Completed Projects
Construction work was completed on the expansion of the headquarters of the Jordan - Kuwait Bank in the ‘Abdali district, Amman. Bilal Hammad Associates designed the 3,017 square-meter, 1.75 million JD (2.46 million $US) project. The project consists of major renovation and expansion work that includes the construction of a tower structure connected to the main building by a steel bridge, the addition of a retracted floor to the main building, and the introduction of a semi-transparent canopy along the building’s main street facade.
The Jordan-Kuwait Bank building before the expansion project
The Jordan-Kuwait Bank building after the expansion project
Initiation of Projects
Construction work began on the “linear” park along King Abdullah II Street, between the visitors’ entrance to al-Hussein Medical City and al-Sha’b Garden. The Municipality of Greater Amman designed the 3 million JD (4.2 million $US) project that is meant to complement the al-Hussein National Park project, and will include skating, cycling and pedestrian paths, sports fields, and restaurants. (Source: al-Ra'i, September 1, 2002)
The Municipality of Greater Amman began construction work on the Ahl al-Kahf Junction at the intersection of al-Hizam, Sahab, Abu Alanda, and al-Aqmar streets. The 2.5 million JD (3.5 million $US) project consists of a four-lane, 300-meter tunnel, in addition to free loops that guarantee an unobstructed flow of traffic in all four directions. The tunnel is the latest of a series of tunnels that have been constructed in Amman over the past two decades to alleviate traffic congestion problems in the city. (Source: al-Ra'i, September 1, 2002)
Construction work began on the rehabilitation of the old municipality building of the Salt Greater Municipality in downtown Salt. The 25,000 JD (35,000 $US) project is partially funded by the Jordanian Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs. The 520 square-meter two-story building will function as a computer and information network center, and also will include a children’s library, a permanent art exhibition, and a center for geographic information systems to be established by Al-Balqa’ Applied University. (Source: al-Ra'i, September 23, 2002)
Completed Designs
Bitar consultants completed designs for the C-Town Department Store in the Shmeisani district of Amman for the American Department Stores Company. Bitar Consultants also carried out the interior and landscaping designs for the 9,000 square-meter project, which is expected to cost 3 million JD (4.2 million $US).
Bitar Consultants completed designs for the C-Town Department Store in the Jabal al-Hussein district of Amman for the American Department Stores Company. Bitar Consultants also carried out the interior and landscaping designs for the 5,600 square-meter project, which is expected to cost 1.2 million JD (1.7 million $US).
Dar al-Omran, in association with the Libyan Engineering Consultants Office for Utilities, completed designs for the first phase of the Islamic University of Kano. This first phase of the project is expected to cost 9.23 million JD (13 million $US). The master plan for the university, which was designed by the Libyan Engineering Consultants Office for Utilities, includes a mosque, an Islamic orientation center, a center for Sufi groups, offices for the International Islamic Call Society, and a library and publication center.
Faris Bgaeen completed designs for the interior of the Falcon Rock Hotel in the city of Karak in southern Jordan. The 5,500 square-meter, 56-room hotel is expected to cost 2.5 million JD (3.5 million $US).
Mawshour completed designs for the interior of a branch for the Arab Banking Corporation (ABC) in the Wihdat area of Amman. The 280 square-meter project is expected to cost 158,000 JD (222,500 $US).
Mounir Hajjiri and Partners completed designs for the San’a Mall in San’a, Yemen for the Government of Yemen and the Adhban Group International. The 50,000 square-meter project will be the first modern shopping mall to be constructed in Yemen.
S. M. Dudin Architects and Engineers completed designs for the Amman World Trade Center in Amman for the Jordan Holiday Hotels Company. The 22,000 square-meter project is expected to cost 5 million JD (7 million $US). MEDA E/M Engineers are providing the engineering consulting services for the project.
Dr. Yaghmour and Associates Consulting Architects completed designs for the Wadi ibn Hammad Touristic Development Project in Wadi ibn Hammad, 10 kilometers north of Karak, for the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The 3,000 square-meter project is expected to cost 100,000 JD (141,000 $US), and will provide services for tourists in the area, which is known for its natural hot mineral water.
Dr. Yaghmour and Associates Consulting Architects completed designs for the Ain Sara Development Project in Ain Sara in Karak for the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. The 7,000 square-meter project, which is expected to cost 100,000 JD (141,000 $US), aims at developing the area and providing facilities to encourage local tourism. Ain Sara is an important tourist location in Karak that is comprised of a water spring and stream.
New Commissions
The Royal Court of Morocco appointed Dar al-Omran as an international consultant to a local Moroccan committee working on a 2,500-hectare project for the development of the Bouregreg Valley located between the Moroccan cities of Rabat and Sala. The project involves planning, infrastructure and environmental design, as well as architectural design of the entire area of the valley, which stretches 26 kilometers from the Bouregreg River mouth on the Atlantic Ocean to the artificial lake formed along the river by a dam constructed during 1970s.
Dar al-Omran’s role includes providing consultancy support to the Moroccan team through several workshops and lectures, as well as carrying out field studies on other Moroccan cities.
The Salt Greater Municipality commissioned the design of a conference hall to be located on the ground floor of the municipality building in Salt. The 300 square-meter multi-purpose hall is expected to cost 100,000 JD (141,000 $US). (Source: al-Ra'i, September 23, 2002)
Competitions
Ammar Khammash Architects were awarded first prize in a closed competition that the Jordanian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities organized for the site development of the Yarmouk Battle site in Saham, on the banks of the Yarmouk Valley in northern Jordan. The project site covers an area of 10,000 square meters, with built-up areas of 110 square meters. Participants in the competition included Bilal Hammad Associates, Dr. Yaghmour and Associates Consulting Architects, and Tahhan and Bushnaq Architects.
Beit al-Mal Saving and Investment for Housing Company (Beitna), in association with the Architectural Section at the Jordan Engineers Association (JEA), organized a competition for the design of the Beit al-Mal Commercial Center to be located in Beitna City along al-Yarmouk Street in eastern Amman. (Source: al-Ra'i, September 1, 2002)
Jafar Tukan and Partners were awarded first prize in a competition for the design of the Deposit Insurance Corporation headquarters in the Shmeisani district of Amman. The project occupies an area of 3,000 square-meters, and is expected to cost 1 million JD (1.4 million $US).
Jafar Tukan and Partners, in a joint venture with the Abu Dhabi-based Khatib and Alami Consolidated Engineering Company, participated in a competition for the design of the Jum’a al-Majid Tower in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The 61,000 square-meter project consists of a 42-story tower and an 8-story parking building.
The University of Jordan organized a closed competition for the design of the newly conceived Faculty of Fine Arts. The 10,900 square-meter faculty will include three departments: Visual Arts, Music, and Performing Arts. The architectural offices invited to participate in the competition were Jafar Tukan and Partners, Sigma Consulting Engineers, Med Design, and Faris and Faris Architects in collaboration with Arabtech-Jardaneh Consulting Engineers and Architects.
News from Academia
Eighteen students received their bachelor's degree in architecture from the Applied Sciences University in Amman and five from the Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid.
Farid al-Shomali was appointed assistant professor at the Department of Architecture at the Applied Sciences University in Amman. His area of concentration is Computer Aided Architectural Design (CAAD).
Lectures
The Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development organized a lecture and a discussion session on the theme of Urban Heroes at the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague. Ashok Bhalotra, architect and member of the Board of the Prince Claus Fund, delivered a lecture entitled Diverscity, which was followed by responses from discussants Mohammad al-Asad, director of the Center for the Study of the Built Environment in Amman, and Ole Bourman, editor of the Dutch architectural magazine Archis.
Exhibitions
An exhibition and seminar on traditional Islamic arts was held at the Amman City Hall in the Ras al-‘Ayn area. The event, which was organized by the Institute of Traditional Islamic Arts at al-Balqa' Applied University, included lectures on calligraphy, miniature painting, geometry, symbolism, aesthetics, and metaphysics in Islamic art.
Seminars
A regional refresher course for alumni of the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies in the Netherlands entitled Inner-City Revitalization was held in Amman in cooperation with the Housing and Urban Development Corporation and the Egyptian Training and Urban Studies Institute. Seventeen specialists from Jordan, Egypt, Yemen, Sudan, and Syria participated in the course that took place over a period of ten days, and included case studies in inner-city revitalization. A memorandum of agreement was signed between the three institutions for the implementation of a cooperation program to promote knowledge exchange and capacity building. (Source: al-Ra'i, September 23, 2002)
Other News
Three web sites were added to the portfolio of Ammar Khammash Architects as part of the architectural office’s research activities in the areas of planning and rural development. www.jordanflora.com explores the native plants of Jordan; www.aqabazone.com discusses the insensitive building activities that have negatively impacted the cultural and natural heritage of Aqaba; and www.azraq.org is the web site for the Azraq Rehabilitation Project.
The Municipality of Greater Amman began design studies for the construction of a public park in the Basman area, along al-Istiqlal Street in Amman. The 10-hectare park will include sport fields, cycling paths, art exhibitions, an IT center, and family recreational spaces, and is expected to cost 4 million JD (5.6 million $US). (Source: al-Ra'i, September 23, 2002)
The Jordanian Ministry of Education awarded the construction tender for the regional education directorate building in the Southern Mazar region in the south of Jordan to a local contracting company. The 500,000 JD (704,000 $US) building is part of the ministry’s plans for the construction of schools and educational facilities in the Southern Mazar region at a total cost of 2.94 million JD (4.14 million $US). (Source: al-Ra'i, September 30, 2002)
The Jordan Engineers Association (JEA) awarded a tender for the finishing works of the Professional Associations Complex in Salt to a local contracting company. Construction of the 2,100 square-meter project is expected to cost over 100,000 JD (141,000 $US). (Source: al-Ra'i, September 30, 2002)
The Jordan Engineers Association (JEA) approved 15,082 building design contracts covering a total area of 4.89 million square meters during the first nine months of 2002. In comparison with the first nine months of the year 2001, this shows a 5.3% rise in the overall approved building areas, despite an 8.9% decline in the number of approved building contracts.
Completed Projects
Construction work was completed on the concrete skeleton and stone works of the Historical Avenue (Promenade of Jordan) project located in al-Hussein National Park in Amman. The municipality will invite artists in early November to participate in the production of the artwork that will be located along the mural. Mawshour designed the 5,000 square-meter project for the Municipality of Greater Amman. A stone-carved mural addressing Jordan’s history through the ages lines the 400 meter-long avenue that leads to the King Hussein Memorial. The project is expected to cost 2 million JD (2.8 million $US). (Source: al-Ra'i, October 9, 2002).
The Municipality of Greater Amman announced the opening of the Classical Chinese Garden in al-Hussein National Park in Amman. The project, which is located on an elevated plot in the heart of the 700,000 square-meter park, is a gift from the Beijing Municipality to the Municipality of Greater Amman. The garden is composed of Chinese classical landscaping elements consisting of pine trees and rocky landscapes, a spring pavilion, an equatorial sundial, and an intertwined dragon pillar. (Source: The Jordan Times, October 16, 2002).
Initiation of Projects
Construction work began on the Fiat and Opel Showrooms along Mecca Street, Amman. Faris and Faris Architects designed the 2,300 square-meter project for the Jordan Company for Central Investing and Consulting.
The Opel and Fiat Showroom
The Opel and Fiat Showroom
Construction work began on the Amman World Trade Center in Amman. S. M. Dudin Architects and Engineers designed the 22,000 square-meter project that is expected to cost 5 million JD (7 million $US) for the Jordan Holiday Hotels Company. MEDA E/M Engineers are providing the engineering consulting services for the project, and MED Contracting is its contractor.
Construction work began on the illumination of the Amman Citadel. The Dutch team consisting of architect Tom Postma and lighting designer Rob Jansen carried out the lighting study and design for the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities and the Municipality of Greater Amman. The illumination of the complex addresses its outside walls and architectural elements to ensure the visibility of the citadel from all parts of the city, in addition to lighting the inner area to provide a route for visitors during events. The project is expected to cost around 50,000 JD (70,000 $US).
The Municipality of Greater Amman has begun moving the existing infrastructure networks to make way for the construction of the new interchange at the intersection of Wasfi al-Tall and al-Sharif Nasser streets, and the nearby intersection of al-Sharif Nasser and Abdul Hameed Sharaf streets. The relocation of services is estimated to cost 250,000 JD (352,000 $US) and will include sewage, water, and electricity networks. The new intersection aims at addressing problems of traffic congestion at the area known as the "Safeway junction" through restructuring the existing traffic-light intersections into non-intersecting overpasses and underpasses. This project is the latest of a series of such traffic intersection projects that have been carried out in Amman over the past two decades, and that aim at relieving traffic congestion in the city. (Source: The Jordan Times, October 7, 2002)
Completed Designs
Dr. Yaghmour and Associates Consulting Architects and Engineers completed designs for the Taphco Pharmaceutical Factory in Algeria. The 15,000 square-meter project comprises a main factory building, in addition to administration buildings, and a laboratory. The project is expected to cost about 11.4 million JD (16 million $US).
Competitions
Med Design International were awarded first prize in a closed competition for the design of the newly established Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Jordan. The 15,000 square-meter faculty will include three departments: Visual Arts, Music, and Performing Arts. Other architectural offices invited to participate in the competition were Jafar Tukan and Partners, Sigma Consulting Engineers, and Faris and Faris Architects in collaboration with Arabtech-Jardaneh Consulting Engineers and Architects. The project is expected to cost 4 million JD (5.6 million $US).
Tahhan and Bushnaq Architects were awarded first prize for the design of the Abd al-Rahman bin 'Awf Mosque in Amman for the Ministry of Islamic Awqaf, Affairs and Holy Places. The 1,700 square-meter project is expected to cost 500,000 JD (704,000 $US).
Bitar Consultants were awarded first prize for the design of five Prototype Primary Schools in Zarqa and Mafraq for the Ministry of Education. The schools, which have a combined area of 14,400 square meters, are expected to cost 2.1 million JD (3 million $US).
News from Academia
Parysatis Papadopoulou Symeonidou, associate professor at the Department of Architecture at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, spent a week at the Department of Architecture at the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) in Irbid. During her stay, she participated in design studios, and also gave a public lecture that dealt with the social, economic, and political aspects of the making of cities, especially those that architects often fail to recognize. Her visit comes as part of a collaboration agreement between JUST and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The Department of Architecture at the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) in Irbid participated in the Fourth Arab Architectural Exhibition for Graduation Projects that took place in Baghdad. The Department of Architecture at JUST had initiated the idea of the exhibition and organized the first one in October 1999.
Lectures
Rami Daher, assistant professor at the Department of Architecture at the Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, delivered a lecture entitled Urban Conservation and Heritage Tourism in the Historic City Core of Salt: Local Actors, Patrons, International Donors, and the State at the Friends of Archeology in Amman.
Palestinian architect Naseer Arafat delivered a lecture in Amman entitled The Cultural Heritage of Nablus: Transformation, Aggression and Change. Arafat is involved in issues related to heritage conservation and sustainable development with a particular interest in urban conservation, and holds the position of president of the Commission for the Conservation of Old Nablus in Palestine. Turath (Heritage Conservation Management and Environmental Design Consultants) organized the lecture as part of its lecture series.
Seminars
The Italian Trade Commission and the Italian embassy in Amman held a one-day seminar and workshop entitled Stone and Marble. The workshop included the participation of Italian companies in the fields of machinery production for quarrying and stone working, production of tools for the marble and stone industry, extraction and trading, and the import and export of marble and stone. (Source: The Jordan Times, October 16, 2002)
Other News
The Municipality of Greater Amman prepared a draft budget for the fiscal year 2003. The budget is estimated at 89 million JD (125 million $US), with a 5 million JD (7 million $US) deficit. The draft budget is intended to cover a variety of projects planned for 2003, which include the Abdoun Valley Bridge project and the traffic intersections at the Fourth Circle, the Shmeisani Safeway, and the Tobacco Company in the Ras al-‘Ayn area. Other projects include the construction and rehabilitation of garbage dumps in Ghabawi and Ruseifa, the construction of a new slaughterhouse in Amman, a station for measuring air and noise pollution, and public transportation hubs, as well as the completion of al-Hussein National Park. (Source: al-Ra'i, October 5, 2002)
The Municipality of Greater Amman announced that it will start implementing a new amended law for building specifications developed by the Higher Council for Building at the start of 2003. The new law, which was approved by the Jordanian Cabinet, aims at relaxing restrictions on high-rise residential buildings and facilitating the construction of commercial buildings in Amman. The law addresses issues of increased floor-to-built area ratios, reduced setback restrictions, and the provision of landscaped areas and increased parking spaces. (Source: al-Ra'i, October 13, 2002)
The Municipality of Greater Amman has spent 57 million JD (80 million $US) for various urban development projects in east Amman since 1998. East Amman is considered the less privileged part of the capital. These development projects have ranged from a series of bridges, tunnels, and intersection construction projects to the mapping out of a new road network. Other initiatives include constructing the Ghabawi landfill, building information technology centers, carrying out public parks and landscaping projects, as well as implementing lighting and traffic improvements. Consequently, infrastructure projects underway or completed in east Amman exceed those in west Amman by about 30%. (Source: The Jordan Times, October 23, 2002)
The Salt Greater Municipality has requested the help of the European Union in financing a 382,000 JD (538,000 $US) project for the protection and conservation of the city’s cultural and architectural heritage. The municipality has been implementing projects that involve the conservation and rehabilitation of a number of heritage buildings in Salt, which was the largest urban settlement in the area of modern Jordan during the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. (Source: The Jordan Times, October 16, 2002)
The Salt Greater Municipality has announced plans for a Heritage Award for the year 2003 to be granted to the best conservation and restoration of a heritage building in Salt. The award aims at encouraging the rehabilitation and registration of heritage buildings in the city, in preparation for application to the World Heritage List. The municipality, in cooperation with the Royal Scientific Society, is preparing the application file to be presented to the World Heritage Committee. The municipality had established a heritage department in 1999 to oversee reconstruction efforts in the old city center, and to document its over 725 heritage buildings. (Source: al-Ra'i, October 1, 2002)
The state-run National Resources Investment and Development Corporation (NARIDEC) and the Riyadh-based construction company Saudi-Oger carried out three days of intensive talks and sessions on the development of the Abdali site under the Abdali Regeneration Project, and the establishment of an American University in Amman as part of the project. The sessions gathered businessmen and economists from the private and public sectors.
Among the project’s foremost plans is setting up a “smart” infrastructure of computer networks and speedy telecommunications that would secure the needs of modern businesses. The project also is intended to develop pedestrian streets, cultural facilities, specialized housing complexes, underground parking areas, and buildings of special architectural character.
The project primarily will include grounds for a university, offices buildings with high specifications, recreational facilities, a high quality housing complex with restaurants and commercial stores, as well as theaters, landscaped areas, and cultural centers.
The 1.2 billion JD (1.7 billion $US) project is being financed and executed by the state-run NARIDEC. The project is located on a 33.4-hectare state-owned land that contained the headquarters of the Jordanian Armed Forces and other security agencies. These are being relocated to other areas in order to transform the site into a multi-purpose business district. The project is planned to take six to nine years before completion, and is expected to attract considerable investment because of its strategic location between the downtown area and Shmeisani, the capital’s financial district. (Source: The Jordan Times, October 10, 2002)
November 2002
Table of Contents
Completed Projects
Construction work was completed on the Hajj Mohammad Sha’ban Mosque in the Dabuq area in Amman. The Environmental Design Group designed the 840 square-meter project for the Ministry of Islamic Awqaf, Affairs and Holy Places. The 250,000 JD (352,000 $US) project was funded by a donation from Hajj Mohammad Sha’ban.
Hajj Mohammad Sha’ban Mosque
Hajj Mohammad Sha’ban Mosque
Construction work was completed on the Bab al-Wad Gardens in al-Hashimi al-Shamali area in east Amman. The Municipality of Greater Amman designed the 1.2-hectare multi-purpose complex, which includes a library and IT center, as well as a park that features sports fields, children’s playgrounds, and pathways for people with special needs. The project, which cost 229,000 JD (323,000 $US), was inaugurated by the Municipality of Greater Amman as part of the Amman Arab Cultural Capital 2002 celebrations. (Source: The Jordan Times, November 12, 2002)
Construction work was completed on a center for Cerebral Palsy patients in Karak. The 1,100 square-meter project was funded by the Karak Development Corporation at a total cost of 200,000 JD (282,000 $US). The two-story building includes commercial shops on the ground floor to provide the center with revenues to support its activities. (Source: al-Ra'i, November 18, 2002)
Jordanian artist Ghassan Mafadhleh completed a large public mural entitled Orbits. The mural, which covers a wall area of 300 square meters, is located in Amman's Third Circle area, along one of the entrances to the Third Circle tunnel. The mural is part of the Municipality of Greater Amman's Arab Cultural Capital 2002 activities. (Source: The Jordan Times, November 24, 2002)
Initiation of Projects
Construction work began on a building for the Hamdi Mango Center for Scientific Research at the University of Jordan. Construction for the center, which was established in 1999, is being funded by a donation from the family of the late Hamdi Mango. The first phase of the project, which includes a basement and first floor, is expected to cost 700,000 JD (986,000 $US). (Source: al-Ra'i, November 7, 2002)
The Municipality of Greater Amman awarded a 1.13 million JD (1.6 million $US) contract for the construction of the intersection of Wasfi al-Tall and al-Sharif Nasser streets, and the nearby intersection of al-Sharif Nasser and Abdul Hameed Sharaf streets. The project aims at addressing problems of traffic congestion at the area known as the "Safeway junction" through restructuring the existing traffic-light intersections into non-intersecting overpasses and underpasses. This project is the latest of a series of such traffic intersection projects that have been carried out in Amman over the past two decades, and that aim at relieving traffic congestion in the city. The project is set for completion in May 2003. (Source: The Jordan Times, November 12, 2002)
Construction work began on the renovation of the Wasfi al-Tall residence at the outskirts of Amman. The Municipality of Greater Amman project aims at converting the residence into a museum commemorating al-Tall’s life. Al-Tall (d. 1971) served as Prime Minister on more than one occasion, and was one of the major figures of public life in Jordan. The house, which was constructed in three phases from 1950 – 1970, will function as a museum that will display items including his military accolades and personal effects. (Source: al-Ra'i, November 19, 2002)
Construction work began on City Mall opposite al-Hussein Medical City in Amman. The 115,000 square-meter project, which is designed by Ammar Nabulsi Architects and owned by al-Daoud Real Estate Investment Company, will include an 18,000 square-meter hypermarket, 8 cinema halls, retail spaces, and food courts. Completion of the project is scheduled in 2005. (Source: al-Ra'i, November 26, 2002)
Completed Designs
Bitar Consultants completed designs for the Marj Gas Station in Na’ur near Amman, for Mustafa Abu Zahra. The 2,500 square-meter project is expected to cost 350,000 JD (493,000 $US).
Marj Gas Station
Marj Gas Station
New Commissions
Ammar Khammash Architects were commissioned to design an Interpretation Center and Camping Facilities in the Mujib Reserve for the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN). The project will incorporate an example of straw bale architecture, and will develop climatically driven solutions for an up-market camping experience. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation will provide a 240,000 JD (338,000 $US) grant to RSCN for the construction of tourist facilities, the development of ecological tourism, and the support of ongoing handicraft projects in the reserve.
News from Academia
The University of Jordan participated in a conference entitled City and Nature that was held in Avellino, Italy. Ali Abu Ghanimeh, assistant professor at the university’s Department of Architecture, presented a paper on the evolution of stone use techniques in Jordanian architecture as part of the conference, and architects Ruba Haddad and Sireen Zureikat jointly presented a paper on the rehabilitation of an urban park. (Source: al-Ra'i, November 6, 2002)
Michael Davie of the University of Tours in France visited the Department of Architecture at the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) in Irbid, where he participated in various design studios, and also presented a lecture about the Planning of the Beirut City Center. Davie is affiliated with URBAMA, an institute at the University of Tours concerned with the study of the Arab city. His visit comes as part of an agreement between the Department of Architecture at JUST, URBAMA, and the Center for Studies and Research for the Contemporary Middle East (CERMOC).
Other News
The Architectural Section at the Jordan Engineers Association (JEA) organized a competition for the design of a poster and logo for the Third Jordanian Architectural Conference to be held in Amman in October 2003. (Source: al-Ra'i, November 27, 2002)
Completed Projects
Construction work was completed on the Aqaba Marine Park Multipurpose Hall along the South Coast of Aqaba for the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA). The Office of Modern Buildings designed the 200 square-meter project that will be used by the Environmental Department at ASEZA. The interior design concept emphasizes and promotes environmental awareness for users through its various spaces that will house conferences, lectures, and exhibitions. The International New Technical Establishment was the contractor for the 120,000 JD (296,000 $US) project.
The Aqaba Marine Park Multipurpose Hall
The Aqaba Marine Park Multipurpose Hall
Initiation of Projects
The first geometric wooden panel of the reconstruction of the twelfth-century Minbar of Saladin (Salah al-Din) in al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem was mounted. Craftsmen at the Institute of Islamic Arts at al-Balqa' Applied University are carrying out the reconstruction of the minbar, which will replace the one that had been destroyed by a fire at al-Aqsa Mosque in 1969. Completion of the 3 million JD (4.2 million $US) project is expected in two years. (Source: The Jordan Times, December 2, 2002)
Construction work began on the al-Hussein bin Talal Mosque at al-Hussein National Park in Amman. The mosque will have a capacity of 5,000 worshippers, and will include a second-floor women’s prayer hall with a capacity of 500 worshippers. The mosque is designed by the London-based Egyptian architect Khaled Azzam, who also is the director of the Visual Islamic and Traditional Arts (VITA) Department at the Prince of Wales’s Institute of Architecture in London. (Source: al-Ra'i, December 2, 2002)
Construction work was initiated on the cable-stayed bridge component of the Abdoun Valley Bridge Project. The project will connect the Fourth Circle from the north with the Abdoun Roundabout from the south, and also will function as a segment of an inner ring road planned for Amman. The project consists of two levels of underpasses that begin at the Fourth Circle, one of which will lead to the Abdoun Valley Bridge, and from there to a tunnel that leads to the Abdoun Roundabout. The bridge will be 425 meters long, and will rise 40 meters above the lowest point of the valley. The Municipality of Greater Amman project aims at alleviating congestion at the fourth circle area, and is expected to cost over 10 million JD (14 million $US). (Source: al-Ra'i, December 28, 2002)
Completed Designs
Tibah Consultants completed designs for al-Nasr Child and Family Center for the Jordan River Foundation in Jabal al-Nasr, Amman. The 1,500 square-meter project is part of the Child Safety Program conducted by the Jordan River Foundation. The program aims at raising awareness among mothers and families regarding abuse prevention. The project utilizes cost-efficient materials and details, and is expected to cost 300,000 JD (423,000 $US).
Faris and Faris Architects completed designs for the 2000 square-meter Wadi Rum Security Center for the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority in Wadi Rum, in the south of Jordan.
Dar al-Omran completed master planning and designs for al-Hudaidah University in al-Hudaidah, Yemen. The project includes designing the master plan of the university, and also providing architectural designs of the university’s headquarters buildings, a marine faculty, and a library. The project covers an area of over 70,000 square meters, and is expected to cost 21.3 million JD (30 million $US). Electromechanical services for the project were provided by the local Yemeni firm al-Muhandisin Limited Company.
New Commissions
Faris and Faris Architects were commissioned to design the 1,200 square-meter Cadillac and Hummer Showrooms along Mecca Street, Amman for the Jordan Company for Central Investing and Consulting.
Dar al-Omran was commissioned to design the 63,000 square-meter Abu Jameel Residential Housing complex in Beirut, Lebanon for SOLIDERE (the Lebanese Company for the Reconstruction of the Beirut Central District).
Competitions
Bitar Consultants participated in a competition for the design of the Trium Pharma Medical Center organized by the Trium Pharma Company in Amman. The 1,300 square-meter project is expected to cost 250,000 JD (352,000 $US).
Yasir Sakr, assistant professor at the Department of Architecture at the University of Jordan, acting as special consultant to the Saudi firm Delta Consulting Engineers, in a joint venture with architect Yousef al-Hroub, the Jordanian firm al-Bashir International Engineering Company, the German firm BW + P Abroad, and the British firm Buro Happold Consulting, shared the top award with another entry for the International Competition for Planning and Design of King Khalid University Campus in Abha, Saudi Arabia.
Lectures
Rami Daher, assistant professor at the Department of Architecture at the Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, presented a paper entitled Heritage in Between: the Discourses of ‘Region’ and ‘Nation’ in Bilad al-Sham, as part of the Eighth Conference of the International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments (IASTE), held in Hong Kong.
Mohammad al-Asad, director of the Center for the Study of the Built Environment, and Rasem Badran, principal of Dar al-Omran, each presented a paper at Cityscape 2002: The 4th International Property Investment and Management Conference (IPIC) held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates. Al-Asad’s paper was entitled Choices for Tomorrow: Our Built Environment at a Crossroads, and Badran’s paper was entitled Reflections on the Narrative of Place.
Ayman Zuaiter, principal of Tibah Consultants, presented a lecture entitled The Essence in Architecture at the Applied Science University in Amman.
Exhibitions
An exhibition of the works of the architect Sharif Fawwaz Al Muhanna (1906 – 1967) was held at the Amman City Hall in the Ras al-‘Ayn area. Sharif Al Muhanna joined the Municipality of Amman in 1933 to become its first architect, and went on to establish Amman’s first architectural office in 1937. The exhibition includes a number of buildings he designed from the thirties untill the early fifties. The exhibition also will be displayed at the architectural departments of the University of Jordan and the Jordan University of Science and Technology. (Source: al-Ra'i, December 25, 2002)
Other News
Architect Khaled Nahhas, principal of Symbiosis Designs, received the inaugural Cityscape Young Architect Award. The Award honors property designers who have made a positive contribution to the lives of people in Islamic communities. Nahhas won the award for his Blue Fig Café project in the Abdoun area of Amman. The award will be presented annually during Cityscape, an international commercial architecture, property design, and development sectors exhibition held in Dubai in association with the International Property Investment and Management Conference (IPIC).
Khaled Nahhas holds a Bachelor’s degree in Urban and Economic Planning from the University of Victoria, and completed his architectural education at the University of British Columbia. He worked with Spaceworks Architects in Vancouver before moving to Jordan in 1998 and establishing his own practice, Symbiosis Designs. (Source: The Gulf News, December 18, 2002; also see, “Khalid S. Nahhas: A Timeless Architect,” an article published on the babelmed.net web site.)
Khaled Nahhas
Blue Fig Cafe
Blue Fig Cafe
The Architectural Record magazine featured in its December issue works by award winning architect Sahel al-Hiyari as part of a series of articles on ten young emerging architects from around the world entitled “Design Vanguard 2002.” Works by al-Hiyari’s presented in the article include the Tsi Spa (unbuilt) and a work and consultation space for a psychologist in Amman, the Bilbesi House in the Jordan Valley, and the Coral Beach Hotel in Aqaba (competition). Al-Hiyari was honored last year as a recipient of the first biennial cycle of the Rolex Mentor and Protege Arts Initiative.
Construction is nearing completion for the Cultural Village at al-Hussein National Park in Amman. The Municipality of Greater Amman project occupies an area of 3,000 square meters and incorporates studios for Arabic calligraphy, stone carving, natural paints, hand-blown glass and clay crafts, as well as exhibition halls. The 2.9 million JD (4.1 million $US) project also includes the Jordanian Pavilion of the Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany. (Source: al-Ra'i, December 25, 2002)
The Ministry of Public Works and Housing is implementing development projects in the Aqaba Governorate that include buildings and infrastructure works, at a total cost of 70 million JD (99 million $US). The projects include a building for the Educational Directorate, an Olympic Swimming Pool Complex, in addition to building extensions and warehouses for the Aqaba Regional Airport. (Source: al-Ra'i, December 16, 2002)
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