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Completed Projects
The Royal Commission for the Reconstruction of Shrines completed phase II of the reconstruction of the tombs of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad in Southern Mazar. The project, which cost 12 million JD (17 million $US), includes multipurpose halls, public squares, and gardens located at the tombs of Ja'far bin abi Talib and Zayd bin Harithah. (Source: The Jordan Times, October 6, 2005)
Works on the rehabilitation of the 'Afrah and al-Barbitah Hot Springs project in Tafila in southern Jordan were completed for a cost of 750,000 JD (1,050,000 $US) for 'Afra, and 200,000 JD (280,000 $US) for al-Barbitah. The project included reconstructing five pools and eight chalets in 'Afrah, and two pools in al-Barbitah. (Source: al-Ghad, October 8, 2005)
Initiation of Projects
The Housing and Urban Development Corporation started work on phases III and IV of the Salim / Sahab Village housing project. Phase III includes 202 housing units and 11 commercial units for a cost of 419,000 JD (590,000 $US), and phase IV includes 208 housing and commercial units for a cost of 395,000 JD (around 556,000 $US). Phases I and II, which occupy a 45-hectare plot, were completed in 2002 for a total cost of 5.53 million JD (7.79 million $US). (Source: al-Ghad, October 2, 2005)
Construction work on the 700-million JD (1-billion $US) 'Abdali project will begin in 2006. 23 investors are expected to start work on the construction of almost 500,000 square meters allocated to them. Infrastructure work on the site is expected to be completed in March 2006 by the 'Abdali Investment and Development Company, a joint venture between the National Resources Investment and Development Corporation (MAWARED) and Oger Jordan. Also, land purchase deals have been concluded with investors for most of the 480,000 square meters of office space available in the project, with bids coming from a mix of investors from Jordan and the Gulf region. The 35-hectare 'Abdali site, for which the master plan has been developed by the Beirut-based LACECO Architects and Engineers, includes eight high-rise towers and a large pedestrian spine, along with the campus of the American University in Amman and a convention center. (Source: The Jordan Times, October 5, 2005)
The Social Development Department in the Mafraq Governorate started construction on low-income housing units in the Northeastern Badiya. Sixteen new houses are to be constructed at Ruwayshid, Dufyanah, Salihiyyah, Umm al-Jimal, and Dayr al-Kahf. (Source: The Jordan Times, October 6, 2005)
The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities initiated a study that aims at transforming the historic dwellings of al-Sila village into a tourist attraction. Last year, the ministry purchased the traditional mud and brick houses of the village, which is located on a mountainous terrain in the Tafila area in southern Jordan. The project, which is estimated to cost 155,000 JD (218,000 $US), includes developing the necessary tourism infrastructure and services in and around the village. Ministry surveyors already have completed a topographical survey of the area to identify its development needs. (Source: The Jordan Times, October 10, 2005)
Construction work started on phase I of the Ayla Lagoon project in Aqaba. The cost of this phase, which is scheduled for completion in four years, is estimated at 70 million JD (100 million $US). The project includes creating a 750 square-meter lagoon that will add 17 kilometers to the length of the Aqaba shore. The total cost of the Ayla Lagoon project is expected to reach 700 million JD (1 billion $US), and the project is expected to be completed in 12 years. The project will include five hotels, 3,000 residential units, commercial centers, and a golf course. (Source: al-Ra'i, October 13, 2005).
Completed Designs
The Consolidated Consultants – Jafar Tukan Architect completed the design of al-Ghad TV station in Amman for the Jordan United TV Station Company. The 10-million JD (14-million $US), 12,000 square-meter project will include TV production studios, production control rooms, offices, as well as supporting facilities.
Al-Ghad TV Station
The Consolidated Consultants – Jafar Tukan Architect completed the design of the E-Mall in the Shmeisani district in Amman for the Technology Mall Investment Company. The 8-million JD (11-million $US), 17,550 square-meter project will include offices and a high-tech mall selling electronics.
The E-Mall
Omrania-Jordan completed designs for the Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions and Benefits Fund (ADRBF) Headquarters in the United Arab Emirates. The 14,700 square-meter building comprises four floors of offices organized around an atrium that serves as a central public hall. The building’s facilities include a large multipurpose hall, a cafeteria, and an underground parking. It is designed in a manner that allows it to expand vertically and horizontally up to three times its original area. Omrania had won a limited international competition for the design of the project.
The Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions and Benefits Fund Headquarters
The Abu Dhabi Retirement Pensions and Benefits Fund Headquarters
Turath (Heritage Conservation Management and Environmental Design Consultants) completed designs for the rehabilitation of Rainbow Street (Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Street) in Jabal Amman. The project, which is estimated to cost 5 million JD (7 million $US), is being funded by the Greater Amman Municipality. Its design concentrates on a series of focal points located along the 900-meter-long street. The first focal point will be the First Circle as an entrance gate for the project. Other focal points include the Rainbow Cinema, a kiosk next to the Arwa bint al-Harith School that will sell school supplies, and the King Talal House. A cultural focal point will concentrate on the Royal Film Commission and the Center for the Study of the Built Environment (CSBE). The last focal point will be at the T-intersection of Rainbow Street with Khirfan Street. (Source: al-Ghad, October 22, 2005)
The Rehabilitation of Rainbow Street Project
The Rehabilitation of Rainbow Street Project
The Rehabilitation of Rainbow Street Project
Ammar Khammash Architects completed designs for al-'Ulya Village in Wadi Bani Kharus in Oman as part of the Oman Villages Project for the Oman Ministry of Tourism. The 1,100 square-meter project will include a hotel, restaurants, terraces, and a majlis.
New Commissions
The Consolidated Consultants – Jafar Tukan Architect, in a joint venture with Machado and Silvetti Associates, were commissioned to design Block 20 of the Solidere area in Beirut for the Dubai-based Damac Properties. The 31,500 square-meter project will include a 25-storey residential tower, retail shops and commercial facilities, and a health club.
The Greater Amman Municipality commissioned the construction of the Fourth Circle Intersection for a cost of 6.18 million JD (8.7 million $US). Work on the project is expected to begin in November and to be completed within 160 days. (Source: al-Ghad, October 9, 2005)
The Ministry of Social Development invited tenders for the construction of phase III of a low-income housing project that will include 250 housing units in various parts of the Kingdom. Phase I of the project consisted of 80 housing units for a cost of 270,000 JD (380,000 $US), and phase II consisted of 450 housing units for a cost of 3.1 million JD (4.37 million $US). Phase III is expected to be completed during the last quarter of 2006. (Source: al-Ghad, October 12, 2005)
The Kuwait-based Grand Real Estate Company will construct two projects, one in Amman and the other at the Dead Sea shore. A joint company will be established to start constructing two towers in Amman at a cost of 177.5 - 213 million JD (250 - 300 million $US), to be completed over a three-year period. The first tower will be designated for offices and commercial purposes, while the second will include a hotel and residential units. The Dead Sea project will be an integrated tourism compound to be built over a period of two years along a 12-kilometer coastal stretch, and will include 600 chalets. (Source: The Jordan Times, October 18, 2005)
Grand Real Estate Company Amman Tower
Competitions
The Greater Irbid Municipality launched a competition for the design of the King Abdallah II Park in Irbid in northern Jordan. The competition for the 24-hectare park is open to consulting and engineering offices and landscape architects. (Source: al-Ghad, October 11, 2005)
The Young Arab Theatre Fund launched a competition entitled Virtual City. The idea of the competition is to present one of seven cities: Amman, Cairo, Alexandria, Minya, Damascus, Tunis, and Beirut through an art work. The work may be a photograph, theater script, piece of literature or poetry, a painting, or an architectural project. (Source: al-Ra'i, October 13, 2005).
Exhibitions
The French Embassy in Amman, in collaboration with the Municipality of Karak, held a photography exhibition at the Karak Fortress Square-Heritage Hall entitled Karak at the Dawn of the 20th Century. The exhibition features photographs of Karak from the collection of the French Biblical Institute in Jerusalem dating to 1905-1928. (Source: The Jordan Times, October 1, 2005).
Other News
The Karak Municipality is setting up an Urban Observatory for the city. The observatory will carry out data collection, analysis, comparison and compilation, and publication of results through periodicals and the Internet. It also will address several fields including health, the environment, demography, economics, construction activities, archaeology, climate, and agriculture. (Source: al-Ghad, October 1, 2005)
The Greater Amman Municipality prepared a 143-million JD (201-million $US) budget for 2006 with an estimated deficit of 20 million JD (28 million $US). The deficit is expected to be offset by the surplus achieved in past years' budgets, and by an ongoing plan to activate and optimize collection mechanisms for fees and other dues. (Source: The Jordan Times, October 6, 2005
The Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) is studying a project to relocate the Aqaba Port to the South Shore, and to develop the existing port into a multi-use area. Such a relocation project would extend over a period of about 10 years. (Source: al-Ra'i, October 18, 2005)
The number of public-sector construction projects that have taken place or are being considered in the Amman Governorate during 2005 are 344 projects, with an estimated budget of 165 million JD (232.4 million $US). 40 of these projects are for the Greater Amman Municipality. Up to September, 83 projects have been completed, 189 are under construction, 55 recently have been commissioned, and 17 are under study. (Source: al-Ghad, October 19, 2005)
An archaeological team from Yarmouk University unearthed 18 new historical sites west of Irbid. The work was carried out in cooperation with French archaeological experts and the Department of Antiquities. (Source: The Jordan Times, October 20, 2005)
An archaeological team from Yarmouk University and the University of Arkansas, in collaboration with the Department of Antiquities, discovered the remains of a Byzantine basilica south of Irbid. The basilica includes mosaics featuring representations of animals and geometric patterns in addition to Greek inscriptions. (Source: al-Ghad, October 25, 2005)
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