COMMON GROUND - LANDSCAPE AND URBAN DESIGN TO FORGE SOCIAL COHESION IN AL-AZRAQ

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COMMON GROUND LANDSCAPE AND URBAN DESIGN TO FORGE SOCIAL COHESION AL AZRAQ - JORDAN


MASTER’S THESIS IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE Author: Date: Institution: Supervisor: Credits:

Diego Chanove, drs720 March 2018 University of Copenhagen Li Liu 30 ETCS


COMMON GROUND

Landcape and urban design to forge social cohesion in Al-Azraq, Jordan

All graphic materials are unless staten made by the author.

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ABSTRACT

The purpose of this thesis is to develop a landscape and urban design proposal which forges social cohesion in Al-Azraq, Jordan. The project is based on an analysis of the local cultures, the natural conditions, and the socio-economic factors of the region. The proposal presents a site specific design by using few local, financial, and material resources. Thus, it is born with an unique spirit and proposes spatial elements where host and refugee communities can interact equally in a familiar environment. Within this Common Ground refugee and host communities can develop bonds of trust and respect. Finally, the Common Ground proposes a solution that can be replicable in other areas of Al-Azraq, and just as acupuncture, relief these areas from stress. The proposal shows a design that can inspire landscape architects to think big and broad, and then turn the vision and social ambition into a design that is of its time and of its place.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The final outcome of this assignment required guidance and support from many people and I am fortunate to have got this all along the completion of this work. I would like to thanks Li Liu for all support and guidance which made me complete this assignment on time, I am grateful to her dedicated supervision during this process. I would also like to thanks Peter Lundsgaard for listening carefully and contribute with great thoughts and ideas during the midterm seminar. I am very grateful for the many people who supported, specially Jorge, Michele and Andrea from EAHR for letting me be part of the 100 Classroom project. It was a great experience and the milestone for this thesis. I also want to thanks the different volunteers and locals I meet during my journey in Jordan, you have inspired me a lot during this process. At some point it was difficult to gain access to all the necessary information but with support from Haneen Abu-mahfouz, Mohamad Abu Quty and Hazem Al-Hresh I managed to complete the project. Last but not least, I would like to express my gratitude to all people I had the opportunity to work with during my Master’s program. It has a great learning process and I wish you the best in your future endeavours. Best Regards, Diego Chanove

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRO Background and motivation

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Problem

13

Vision

13

Methods

14-15

Theoretical approach The islamic city

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“The place is because”

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CONTEXT Middle East & Jordan

20-21

Azraq

22-23

Host communities

24-25

Intro to the Campus B Project

26-27

URBAN ANALYSIS Natural conditions Geology

30

Climate

30

Water

31

Water resilience - Zaatari case

31

Al-Azraq through time

32-33

Urban development

36-41

Area of interest Context Map

42

The Campus B Project

43

Project Area Influential natural factors Summary of urban analysis

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48-49 50


THE COMMON GROUND Concept

55

Strategies

56-57

Atmospheres

56-61

Species

62

Materials and techniques

63

Master plan

66-67

Sub areas Shajiras

68-69

Intimate patio

70-71

Playground

72-73

The vaulted pavillions

74-75

Path system

76-77

Drip irrigation system

78-79

OUTRO Conclusion & Reflection

82-83

Bibliography

84-85

Appendix

88-91

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INTRODUCTION Introduction to the theoretical approach and the methods applied in the thesis.

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BACKGROUND AND MOTIVATION

I am a volunteer in a project called 100 classrooms lead by Emergency Architecture and Human Rights, an international NGO based in Copenhagen. As part of the volunteering work, I took part in the construction of a school in AlAzraq - Jordan summer 2018. The school now host Syrian refugees and Jordanian children. Working as a volunteer for one month I was able to gain insight knowledge and access to the site, as well as learning about the challenges and potentials that host and refugee communities are facing in Al-Azraq. This experiences motivated me on how to use Landscape and Urban design in order to contribute with ideas for social interaction between different communities, in this particular case, host and refugees communities.

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JORDAN

JORDAN IN THE WORLD GLOBE (ILLUS. 01)


PROBLEM AND VISION

For various reasons the town of Al-Azraq has not been able to cope with basic infrastructure to host Syrian refugees. Apart from this, there are no public spaces like squares, parks, libraries, and community centers in the village. Therefore streets have taken the role for gathering all public activities and with the new influx of people to the village, there is a need for more and better public areas for gathering the local and refugee communities. For the reasons mentioned above is that the vision of this work is to propose a common place for the host and refugee communities inspired and shaped by the the cultures, the natural conditions, and the socio-economic factors of the village.

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METHODS

To develop the design proposal I have used different methods. Among others I have collected empirical data during a field trip in Jordan to set the frame for the analysis. Furthermore I took part in a workshop in Valencia on sustainable building techniques.

is a workshop I was part of in Valencia, where I learned how to make models with plaster and fabric. This technique helped me to express an idea that was difficult to elaborate through sketching and 3d modelling (see page 58).

In addition, different materials have contributed to my understanding of the context, site and urban development. Readings about Islamic cities, urban resilience, and ecological methods for landscape architecture helped me to reflect on and have a better critical look at the experiences I had during the field trip. Literature about host communities and social cohesion has also helped me to understand the scope and limits of projects where refugee communities are involved.

These approaches, experiences and techniques are presented in the following pages, and are at the end of this booklet introduced through plans, sections and visualizations.

During the entire process, I have integrated analog, digital sketching and modelling in order to communicate the concept and ideas. One example

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FIELD TRIP WORKSHOP

MODELLING READINGS

SKETCHING

DIGITAL WORK

DESIGN CONVERSATIONS MID TERM SUPERVISION

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THEORETICAL FOUNDATION THE ISLAMIC CITY Jordan is an Islamic state where religion plays a fundamental role in the functionality of the urban area. For this thesis, being a design project based in Al-Azraq - Jordan. In order to find inspiration and make the design process more dynamic, I therefore started to look at the different aspects that contributes the function of the Islamic cities. William Marçais cited in his article from ‘L’Islamisme et la vie Urbaine’: “The mosque, like the synagogue and the church is essentially urban.” (1982). He later corroborates this affirmation, when he wrote about cities like Fez or Marrakech, where the Great Mosques were and still are the center of the cities, and the prayer day (Friday) is the day where theres is a high degree of social interaction. Janet AbuLughod elaborate Marçais perspective by adding that Muslim cities are different in North of Africa, south of Sahara and in Asia (Indonesia and China). According to her, Islamic cities have been shaped by socio cultural processes, where religion and human culture have had a strong impact on shaping and differentiating urban forms: “A modest list of forces that creates a traditional Islamic city would include: A terrain/climate; distribution, and transportation; and a legal political system.”(Abu-Lughod, 1987). The Middle Eastern - North African cities reflect a social order based upon the family writ (tribalism, clans, and ethnicity). As explained in the urban analysis chapter, two different clans shaped two villages which had two different atmospheres until the Bedouin community was invited to settle there. Since then, Al-Azraq had developed a new atmosphere or the so called Genius Locci. To achieve integration in this project proposal, it is important to learn how to navigate within different cultural norms to avoid imposing a design or a social strategy that will fail. Therefore, it is important to understand gender segregation. In the Islamic cities it has been attributed to the need to separate private (female) from public (male) space. “Thus, Islamic laws regulated the placement of windows, to guard

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visual privacy. Architecture assisted this process and devices of mashribiyya (latticewood) screening created the strangely asymmetrical reality that women could see man but men could not see women.” (Abu-Lughod, 1987). The last aspect that caught my attention to be aware of in the design phase, is the neighborhood’s many functions especially when it comes to protection. Abu Lughod explains that in the Islamic cities the neighborhoods have been through a dialectical process with the external society and that cities have maximized the term that Oscar Newman describes as defensible space (Abu-Lughod, 1987). It means that there is a strong sense of protecting the neighborhood, and the common areas because consequently it is a way to protect oneself.

500 YEARS OLD MASHRIBIYYA (SCREEN) AT THE CITADEL MUSEUM IN AMMAN (ILLUS 02)


“THE PLACE IS BECAUSE” In the early 1960’s Ian Mcharg introduces the “ecological method” in his book: Design with Nature . He was encouraged by the ills, including air and water pollution, pesticides poisoning, and the decrease of energy sources. In the book he refers to landscape architects as being the bridge between natural science and the planning and design profession. Therefore he calls for landscape architects to act within the design processes as interpreters of the land by engaging in comprehensive analysis of the studied area’s geology. Studies have been made in Al.Azraq after the ecological collapse of the Wetland. Geology studies showed that there is still underground deposits, and water is still extracted from those reservoirs. But these studies also showed that the quantity and

quality of groundwater have been deteriorating due the over pumping and return flow of agricultural water. (see chapter) “The place is because and it is in the process of becoming.”(Mcharg, 2012). Mcharg explains that by practicing landscape architecture taking into consideration the natural conditions and pattern of soil, it is possible to understand the abundance or scarcity of plants and wild animals (Mcharg, 2012). In the case of Al-Azraq there is a degradation of the natural environment, however geological studies proved that there still are many resources, but because of the geographical emplacement (in the middle of a desert) the resources are delicate. Therefore the project design must act accordingly to these principles.

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CONTEXT Background information of the region and country.

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MIDDLE EAST

JORDAN

Since ancient times the Middle East region has been an important area due to the geographical location. For millennia the region has been the trading route for Asia, Africa, and Europe. Great empires have their origin in the fertile crescent; the Nile Delta, the Tigris, and Euphrates watershed. Egyptians, Babylonians, and Persians are among the civilizations that have raised in this region.

Jordan is located in the core of the Middle East region called Levant. Surrounded by Palestine, Israel, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. In the southwestern part of the country it has a short stretch of coastline, and along the western border runs the Jordan River making the eastern bank truly important, especially because the vast land area of the country is desert.

The geopolitical importance of the region has also led to conflicts. During the imperial times British and French armies have fought to control the area and the trading routes and artificial borders have been drawn to enhance territorial control. The consequences of having these external actors and interests were a growing instability in the region. Nowadays, the Middle East is experiencing an extraordinary level of violence and turmoil. In Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Libya, and Egypt state orders are put into question, extremist ideologies are on the rise and regional powers are engaged in intense proxy warfare. Countries like Jordan and Lebanon remain stable but due to the prone instability in the area political and economical stress is growing (Hawthorne, “Geopolitics of Jordan” 2018).

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After Jordan became an independent kingdom in 1946, it has been shaped by several waves of refugees and migrants whom during the past decades have settled in the country. They now form half of the country’s five millions inhabitants (Hawthorne, “Geopolitics of Jordan” 2018). These migration and refugee influx started in 1948 when Israel claimed a lot of Palestinian territory, prompting thousands of Palestinians to move across the Jordan River. In 2003, Jordan received waves of refugees from Iraq due to the U.S occupation and after the war broke out in Syria more than 670.000 Syrians have fled to Jordan (“Forced Displacement in 2017” 2018). The influx has been so high that only 21.5% of the registered Syrian refugees are living in refugee camps, and 78.5% are living in urban areas. “These local, regional, and national governmental, social and economic structures within which refugees live, are entitled as host communities” (Syria Regional Refugee Response, 2018).


EUROPE

ASIA TURKEY MEDITERRANEAN SEA CYPRUS LB

SYRIA IRAQ

IRAN

PS ISRAEL

JORDAN KW

EGYPT SAUDI ARABIA UAE

AFRICA

RED SEA

OMAN

YEMEN ARABIAN SEA

JORDAN AND THE MIDDLE EAST REGION (ILLUS. 04)

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40 KM TO AL-AZRAQ

AZRAQ REFUGEE CAMP

SYRIAN DESERT

AL-AZRAQ

AMMAN

AL-AZRAQ

Al-Azraq is located in the Zarqa Municipality, 70km from Amman. Al-Azraq has long been an important settlement in a remote and now arid desert area of Jordan. It was once part of a sea, then naked expanse of silt and stones, then a great lake and later still fertile, a rolling steppe alive with animals. The strategic value of the village is that it lies in the middle of the Azraq Wetland, the only permanent source of water in approximately 12.000 square kilometers of desert. Al-Azraq is located on a major desert route that facilitate trade within the region. Two highways divide the town in three sections. These routes connect Azraq to the border of Saudi Arabia 90 km South, Iraq 250 km Northeast, and Syria 110 km North. Being in the crux of these highways, Al-Azraq is a resting point for truck drivers and travellers and has restaurants with traditional regional and fast food, groceries, and money currency exchange shops.

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SYRIAN DESERT

SYRIA 110KM

NORTH AL-AZRAQ

ROUTE 35M

40 KM TO THE AZRAQ REFUGEE CAMP

AL-AZRAQ

MUWAFFAQ SALTI AIR BASE

FARMING AREA

SOUTH AL-AZRAQ THE AZRAQ WETLAND

DAMASCUS HIGHWAY

SAUDI ARABIA 90KM

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AL-AZRAQ AS HOST COMMUNITY As of the latest census (2015), Al-Azraq estimated population was 9021 inhabitants. However, accordingly to the local civil organization Nashimayat Al-Badiya, 7000 Syrians refugees have settled in this village since 2015. This high immigration has brought a new influx of inhabitants in a town that during the last decades has decreased demographically due to the degradation of the natural habitat (see site analysis, page). However, since 2015, after the opening of the Azraq refugee camp 26 kilometers away from the village, it has received thousands of Syrians. The proximity to the Syrian border, the proximity to the Azraq refugee camp, and the low housing prices comparing with more urbanized areas, are some of the reasons. Syrian refugee families living in host communities in Jordan are struggling to meet their basic needs, including educating and protecting their children. According to UNICEF 85 % of the registered Syrian refugee children are living below the poverty line. In addition, 94 % of Syrian children under five years, living in the host communities, are “multidimensionally poor”, meaning that they are deprived of a minimum of two out of the following five basic needs: education, health, water and sanitation, child protection and child safety (“Situation Analysis of Children in Jordan” Sept. 2017).

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The reality of Syrian children living in Al-Azraq is not far different from how the UNICEF assessment report describes the conditions. According to the organization Nashimat Al-Badiya, it is estimated that three out of five children are out of school due to the lack of capacity in the existing four schools in town. Certification and documentation requirements create additional barriers, some schools ask official Syrian school certificates to enroll the child in the school, making it impossible to prove for families that fled Syria without originals documents.


SYRIAN AND JORDANIAN WORKERS IN AL-AZRAQ (ILLUS. 05)

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THE CAMPUS B PROJECT With donor support Jordan has open 102 more schools on double shifts to accommodate 50.000 Syrian students. In the case of Al-Azraq, one school was built by the government in 2016, but it could not accommodate all the new students. Therefore, Helping Refugees Jordan and the Syrian Fund have started their first formal education center (The Azraq School) in 2016, and offers education to 110 students. After the positive impact of the Azraq School, the Syrian Fund, a local organization called Nashimayat Al-Badiya, and together with the international NGO Emergency Architecture and Human (EAHR) they started to plan a new project called Campus B Project. During the summer of 2018, the first part of the project was built; a school with eight classrooms and since February 2019 has been a learning place for 200 children.

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SYRIAN AND JORDANIAN CHILDREN PLAYING AT THE CAMPUS B (ILLUS. 06 WEB)

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URBAN ANALYSIS Analysis of the natural, historical, and present situation of Al-Azraq. Besides marking off the project area, its conditions, and the project’s vision.

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NATURAL CONDITIONS GEOLOGY The geology of Al -Azraq is an extension of the North Arabian Volcanic Province, which covers the area of Syria to Saudi Arabia. The Azraq Basin is part of this region, and has it´s center in the Azraq region. The Azraq basin consists of three major groups: the upper, middle, and the deep group. These groups have minerals and underground water deposits, making the basin truly important for Jordan’s economy. The most valuable minerals that can be found in the basin are: Salt (high saline water is concentrated in the aquifers), gypsum, basalt, limestone, volcanic scoria, and bentonite. The underground deposits occupies an area of approximately of 1270 km2. Azraq Depression, the lowest pan of this deposits, is at 500 m below surface.

AZRAQ BASIN

THE AZRAQ BASIN REGION (ILLUS. 07)

CLIMATE Al-Azraq located in an arid desert region is prone to extreme weather conditions. From April to October the temperature average is above 32°C, August being the warmest month with an average of 36°C, whereas the in rest of the months the average temperature is 18°C. From May until September the average wind speeds are more than 16 km per hour, July being the windiest month with speeds superior of 20 km per hour. The rainfall in AlAzraq has an average of 50 mm a year accumulated around January. The region is dry and has 0 % to 40 % humidity level during the year.

AL-AZRAQ

18°/45° 15°/ 30° 10°/ 28° 5°/25°

MAP BASED ON THE KEPPLE TEMPERATURE CHART (ILLUS. 08)

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WATER Because the precipitation in Al-Azraq is under 50mm a year, and there is no rivers in an area of 120 km. Al-Azraq base its water catchment from the Al- Azraq Basin. The basin has three groups: the upper, middle, and deep aquifers systems. The upper aquifer has declined several meters and ceased completely in 1992 (see next page) , but the middle and deep systems are still providing. Though, quantity and quality of groundwater has been deteriorating due the over pumping and return flow of agricultural water.

COUPLE FILLING WATER CONTAINERS NEAR AZRAQ (ILLUS. 09)

WATER RESILIENCE - ZAATARI CASE A pilot project is driven by Oxfam in Zaatari Refugee Camp, 70 km north of Al-Azraq. This project is directly related to the concept of reusing water from the Refugee Camp schools, and in this particular case, greywater (the sources for greywater use includes showers, baths, washing, and dishwasher machines). The school’s total number of students and employees in Zaatari Refugee Camp is around 3800, and it is estimated that the water consumption is around 20 m3 per day.

This project has shown great value due to its simplicity and low price. Though a yearly maintenance is required. Nevertheless, it is an asset due to its social value as well as resilient significance. Because parts of the system are visible and children can learn from the principle of the system and see on the orchard or what is possible to do with it.

The water, after undergoing a simple filtration treatment in a constructed wetland, is send through a drip irrigation to the school’s orchard (see appendix).

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AL-AZRAQ THROUGH TIME

The history of Al-Azraq is quite new. Before 1960, the village was divided in two independent villages separated by three kilometers of wetland and arid landscape. According to Ryan Nelson who wrote Azraq Desert Oasis, the two Azraq villages were poles apart. The Azraq Druze community came during the first World War and have managed to maintain social practises and their religion - and they have a strong cohesion. The Shishan village is known to be quite different from the Druze community. They are less, they are also muslims and the village has many typical arab features . (Nelson 1973). The two villages had also a strong connection with the Bedouins, a nomadic group who used the Azraq Oasis for grazing and rest during their travels, and this usually involved trading food or goods with them. But things started to change when the Bedouin´s way of living was gradually affected: “Things are changing rapidly. The Jordanian Government wants to settle the Bedouin, at least partly. The linchpin of their society has been removed when the tribe is no longer paramount, own a house and some personal land and belongings, this become the case” (Nelson 1973). Nowadays, the Bedouins have settled down and adapted their trading culture, they sell goods in stores and restaurants

CAMELS DRINKING WATER AT SHISHAN VILLAGE, 1970. (ILLUS. 10)

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that are located along the highways. The change of their way of living and traditions has also affected the village. Before it was polarized and divided by Druz and Chechen Arabic, but in the 1980’s the Bedouins settle down, after being granted with land and houses by the Jordanian King. These two villages had to adapt to newcomers with slight and sometimes very different culture and traditions. Another historical event that have shaped Al-Azraq is the decision of pumping water from the spring of the wetland. During 1960 until 1978 when the Azraq Wetlands was established, 1200 cubic meters per hour where pumped out of the marsh to be used in other areas of the country and for extensive agriculture by irrigation. Bryan Nelson, wrote about the ecological threats of this endeavour: “The wetlands could disappear if too much water is withdrawn, it would be aesthetically ruined if too many people were settled nearby, and it could become dangerously polluted. At the best it would become a patch of irrigated land, crowded with people. At worst, its agricultural usefulness could decline with the years, perhaps as water became scarcer or salt accumulated, until it could no longer support the new population” (1973).


In 1973 Bryan Nelson wrote an ecological prediction of the consequences of pumping water out of the wetlands that have their source in aquifers below ground. In 1992 the springs in Azraq Wetlands dried up and lost 90 % of its original size. The aquifers that had once gushed ceased to provide water. All the water buffalos died and and the numbers of migrant birds have reduced from 347,000 in 1967 to 1200 in 2000 (Azraq Wetland Reserve, 2005). During the period of extensive agriculture, the old separate villages densified and grown so much that were almost connected. The gap that once separated the villages was full of agricultural lands and farms.

However since the ecological collapsed in 1992 the lands were left and the villages shrunken, but since the Syrian War started, these lands are filling up with new settlements and inhabitants. (see page 44) Another element that is key in the actual urban typology of Al-Azraq, is the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base. It was established in 1981, the air base occupies an area of 2000 heavily militarized hectares in the south western part of the village. This air base is used by the United States Armed Forces, the Royal Jordanian Army, and its allies.

AERIAL VIEW OF EL-AZRAQ BEFORE PUMPING WATER OUT OF THE WETLAND, 1969 (ILLUS. 11)

SATELLITE VIEW OF EL-AZRAQ AFTER PUMPING WATER OUT OF THE WETLAND, 1969 (ILLUS. 12)

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URBAN DEVELOPMENT

Azraq has developed around the wetland and alongside the route 35m Highway. The buildings along the highway are two and three storage buildings and have mixed uses. In most cases the first floor is reserved as commercial areas and the upper floors are for living. Because of the density in the Northern part of the town (old Druze village), and due to physical limits in the Southern and Eastern part because of the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, and the Azraq Wetland, the city tends to expand towards the North West.

THIS COLLAGE SHOWS THE DIFFERENT ELEMENTS THAT ARE PART OF THE URBAN COMPOSITION OF AL-AZRAQ. THESE ARE EXPLAINED IN THE FOLLOWING PAGES. (ILLUS 15)

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ARCHITECTURE The neighborhoods in Al-Azraq are quiet and pleasant. The houses in the village varies from one up to three floors and a few buildings are taller than five floors. The facades of the different buildings are plastered and painted with a light yellowish color. All of the buildings have perimetric walls, this could be due security reasons or an element for sight distance. Here intimacy is really important and people are cautious upon this. (See earlier text in page 16) (ILLUS. 16)

MIX USES Al-Azraq is located in the middle of a desert with a big highway crossing the city. The buildings located alongside this route have mixed uses, the ground level is reserve for business and the areas that surround the highway 35 are full of shops and restaurants. Due to its location the highway stretch has become a rest place for travelers going to for example Saudi Arabia or Iraq.

(ILLUS. 17)

FARMS

The farms in Al-Azraq are still an important part of the urban composition. Despite the fact that farming have decreased the recent years, farming is still an important aspect of Al-Azraq economy. Dates, olives and pistache are common in the farms as well as green houses with diverse vegetables. New farming techniques like aquaponic farming is increasingly applied.

(ILLUS. 18)

THE AZRAQ WETLANDS

The Azraq Wetland, also called Azraq Oasis have changed so much during the last decades, that youngsters do not feel the same attachment to the place as the older people. Now the Azraq Wetland is a protected and fenced area, that receive a couple of hundred tourists weekly. As a protected area, grazing, fishing, and swimming is no longer accepted, thus the local community do not have the same interaction with the place as before. 36

(ILLUS. 19)


ARCHITECTURE MIX USE FARMS THE AZRAQ WETLANDS MILITARY DAMASCUS HIGHWAY

FARMING AREA

35 HIGHWAY

THE AZRAQ WETLANDS

MUWAFFAQ SALTI AIR BASE

FARMING AREA

DAMASCUS HIGHWAY

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DEVELOPING AREA

After making an analysis of aerial pictures, it becomes clear that the city is developing towards the West. In the western part of the town, roads, drainage, and power lines indicate that the area is urbanized. Some houses are rising and among them, in open plots, some informal settlements are also being built. It is easy to distinguish between formal and informal settlements due to the precarity of the constructions. (ILLUS. 20)

AREA OF INTEREST In the southern part of this new area the development gets more dense. A mix between formal and informal settlements shows what in the future could be a new neighbourhood. According to the locals, Syrians and Jordanian Bedouin families already live in these settlements. Therefore, there already exist an interaction in the site among the two groups that share the same language and religion but have different cultures and traditions. (ILLUS. 21)

(ILLUS. 22)

THE CAMPUS B SCHOOL The Campus B school is located in the middle of the area of interest. Built in 2018 the project accommodates 200 school children. The construction of the school is a great value for the village because of the high immigration to AlAzraq. The local schools work at their maximum capacity and they no longer receive more students (see chapter p. ).

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(ILLUS. 23)


DEVELOPING AREA AREA OF INTEREST INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS THE CAMPUS B

DAMASCUS HIGHWAY

DEVELOPING AREA

35 HIGHWAY

DAMASCUS HIGHWAY

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SCHOOL HOSPITAL POLICE STATION RELIGIOUS HIGHWAY ROAD DIRT ROAD AREA OF INTEREST

35 HIGHWAY

DAMASCUS HIGHWAY

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DAMASCUS HIGHWAY


AREA OF INTEREST

In this part of the analysis the North Western part of the city is observed more closely. The aim is to understand the different typologies, as well as the existing roads, walking paths and the access to the project area. Once this analysis is done, the Campus B is presented through the material that I received from EAHR as well as from my experience as a volunteer. This allows me to explain the program of the project, and why it has a strong social benefit for the local and refugee communities. AREA OF INTEREST (ILLUS. 26)

TYPOLOGIES AND MATERIALS The houses have diverse typologies, some have two upto three floors. There are also very simple houses made of concrete bricks and the walls are not plastered. A number of bedouin tents are spread around the area, because bedouins are no longer nomads in Jordan I suppose that families live there permanently.

(ILLUS. 29)

(ILLUS. 28)

(ILLUS. 31)

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THE CAMPUS B PROJECT The first stage of the Campus B project has already been implemented and since february 2019, the school has been a learning place for 200 children. In the future the project will expand and will target two new groups; women and youth. These groups will through different activities, such as sewing workshops, a cooking lessons , and hotel administration, improve their skills to make them more resilient for the job market. The different activities and workshops are also considered to make the project economically sustainable. The project has 3 main objectives:

SECTION OF THE SCHOOL CLASSROOMS. (ILLUS. 32)

1. Significant increase in enrolment and attendance rate of Syrian refugees and economically unprivileged Jordanians children in Al-Azraq. 2. Improvements of curricular education activities and out-of-school vocational trainings. 3. Strengthened community cohesion and self-resilience; to the benefit of the crisis - affected community in Al-Azraq (Conversation with Lexi Shereshewsky: Executive Director of The Syria Fund) The Campus B Project has a holistic approach to vernacular architecture, site specific building techniques and materials (see proposal chapter). During a small talk with Nofa and Jour (members of the local organization) they shared with me their ideas for the Campus B Project. They told me that they wanted to have a fountain near the workshop area (see plan in anex), and pointed out several benefits using volcanic scoria (red lava stone) to create paths and small roads; it is light, affordable and it has a reddish beautiful color.

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THE CONSTRUCTION OF ONE OF THE CLASSROOMS (ILLUS. 33)


PROJECT AREA The project area includes the Campus B and the plot close to it. The entire area has an extension of 16000 m2 and it is surrounded by small houses from syrian and jordanian families. Something that is very characteristic for this area is the big eucalyptus raw that is in one of the sides of the project area. It is part of a farming plot that is still being used. (ILLUS. 34)

(ILLUS. 35)

(ILLUS. 36)

(ILLUS. 37)

(ILLUS. 38)

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N.N

N.N

N.N

ACC E S S

F RO M 3 5 H IG H W A

Y

LEGEND EXISTING BUILDINGS INFORMAL SETLEMENTS TREES ROADS DIRT ROADS WALKING PATHS CAMPUS B SCHOOL PROJECT AREA N.N

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ROAD WITHOUT NAME

N.N

ACCESS FROM 35 HIGHWAY


N.N

N.N

CAMPUS B PROJECT

CONTEXT PLAN

SCALE 1:5000 45


PROJECT AREA SCALE 1:2500

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INFLUENTIAL NATURAL FACTORS Wind In the project area depending on the time of day there can be a gentle breeze or strong winds with speeds over 20 km per hour (see page 30). During the site visit in the month of July, some winds were really strong making difficult to be outside due to the sand that was dragged by the winds.

(ILLUS. 39)

Sun The sun conditions in the project area with an average temperatures above 36°C can be intense (see page 30). The area has few trees, thus there is not much place for shadow.

(ILLUS. 40)

LOCALS USE THE KEFFIYEH (A LONG SCARF) TO COVER THEIR FACES AND EYES WHEN WIND AND SUNLIGHT ARE TO STRONG.

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Vegetation There is a scarce vegetation in the project area. In the left side of the site there is a farm that has a perimetric row of tall eucalyptus trees which is visible from long distance. In the opposite site in Campus B there is a plot with a small private garden with young edible trees that breaks the arid image of the place. The rest of the area is almost empty from vegetation, though there are small groups of endemic shrubs growing scattered in the area.

(ILLUS. 41)

Achillea fragrantissima

Anabasis setifera

Retama raetam

Tamarix paserinoides

DESERT SHRUBS (ILLUS. 42)

ORNAMENTAL AND EDIBLE GARDEN (ILLUS. 43)

Phoenix dactylifera ILLUSTRATIONS (BLUNT,1993)

48

Oleaceae


CONCLUSION OF URBAN ANALYSIS

The site analysis demonstrates that the place is under development because there is an urban grid moving towards the site area. The dirt roads are for example now connected to the grid and they are progressively being asphalted (see plan at page 44). Walking around the area and by analysing maps and aerial pictures it becomes clear that the same problem as the rest of the village is being implemented, meaning that there is no public spaces programmed, and that roads and houses will be the main image of the area. The Campus B Project is the first project of this kind in the area, and by having an school and community center it will play a strong social impact due to the different functions of the project, therefore it should be considered a key model for future decisions. Another aspect that should be part of any project proposal is the approach to the natural factors (see page 30) and how to design upon this conditions. For example water management, the water quantity and quality has been deteriorating in Al-Azraq (see page), thus there is a need of managing water in a sustainable way. To sum up, there are three important factors to consider for the the proposal. 1) Lack of public spaces 2) Influence of the Campus B in the area 3) Natural factors such as wind, sun and water.

49


50


DESIGN PROPOSAL This chapter elaborates the strategies for the design proposal, and then explains the proposal through plans, sections and visualizations.

51


52


CONCEPT

The concept propose a public space that will serve to expand the qualities of the Campus B and make them public to all. Inspired and shaped by the cultures, the natural conditions, and the socioeconomic factors of the village this public space will be a Common Ground for the different cultures that coincide in Al-Azraq.

COMMON GROUND

After expanding the Campus B qualities and create a Common Ground, the solution can be replicable to other areas and just as the dotted line, it can connect the Northern and the Southern part of the village through this new development area.

SOUTHERN PART

NORTHERN PART

53


THE STRATEGY

The strategy proposes a sustainable interaction with the hard natural conditions of the project area, such as strong winds, heavy sunlight, and water deterioration.

CANOPIES The canopies elements are trees and build structures. The concept of these elements is to create as mush shadow as possible by combining different tree compositions and build structures. The build elements are inspired by the arabic vernacular architecture, therefore they are similar to domes. NATURAL CANOPIES (ILLUS. 45)

BUILD CANOPIES (ILLUS. 46)

54


WIND-FILTERS One of the weather conditions which is important for the design proposal is the wind. Because of its cooling factor, in a place like Al-Azraq it can be beneficial. However, because Al-Azraq is located in an arid region, the winds can become dust storms. Therefore, one of the strategies is to use vegetation to filter the wind from sand, and if possible, cool it down. The “shajira�, nomads use this word to describe the xerophytic vegetation that grows in the desert regions. These species are thick, low, resistant to strong winds, highs temperature, and drought.

DIAGRAM SHOWING THE PRINCIPLE OF THE WIND-FILTERS

DESERT SHRUBS NEAR AL-AZRAQ (ILLUS. 47)

55


ATMOSPHERES

Once setting the frame for the vegetation and the build elements for shadowing, and windbreakers. The approach is to use the landscape as “settings” or “scenarios”. These scenarios are given to the visitor in a way that they can interact and play with them.

Vaulted brick pavillions: After learning the potentials of this sustainable technique (see page 14). These pavillions became key elements to use them as canopies to create shadow, as well as urban areas to host diverse uses.

VAULTED BRICK PAVILLION (ILLUS. 48 WEB)

56

STUDY MODEL


The Wind Filters: These are the main landscape elements on the areas that are outside of the Campus B. The idea behind the “shajiras� is to create small gardens with the native plants and shrubs that grow naturally on the region.

URBAN GARDEN IN AN ARID REGION (ILLUS. 49 WEB)

The Intimate Patio: This area is a central element at the Women Association area, inside the Campus B. A fountain is surrounded by ornamental fruit trees in a geometric grid, contributng to the idea of symmetry, public/private, and visual distance, which are inherent in the Arab Islamic region. (p.13

GEOMETRICAL GARDEN WITH A FOUNTAIN (ILLUS. 50 WEB)

57


The playground: This area wants to expands children imagination, so it does not limitate the playground into a specific program. It keeps elements open and create an interaction with the trees, which are not only simple ornaments, they also become the playground.

PLAYGROUND SURROUNDED BY TREES (ILLUS. 51 WEB)

The farm and orchard: Al-Azraq is a farming village, therefore the proposal for the Youth Center area is to create a greenhouse that minimizes the amount of water consumption and search for alternatives to adrees farming in a sustainable way.

HIDROPONIC COMMUNITY GARDEN (ILLUS. 52 WEB)

58


Learning under the tress: For this area the intention is to add trees to the existing circular bench area. The area then could be use as outdoor classroom or a meeting place to enjoy the breeze under the trees.

URBAN GARDEN IN AN ARID REGION (ILLUS. 53 WEB)

The sportsfield benches: The proposal for this area is to add benches and incorporate trees around the sportsfield. The tree’s canopies create a pleasent shadow for the people that is cheering on the benches.

GEOMETRICAL GARDEN WITH A FOUNTAIN (ILLUS. 54 WEB)

59


SPECIES The species are endemic and common in the region. In the project plants and trees that locals use for ornamental purposes, have the same importance as the endemic self seeding that is adapted to live with little liquid water (xerophitic vegetation). Depending of the area within the project these are combined or used separately with the same hierarchy and importance. COMMON AND ORNAMENTAL VEGETATION

Phoenix dactylifera

Oleaceae

Pistacia vera

Figus carica

Sonchus oleraceus

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ENDEMIC XEROPHITIC VEGETATION

Achillea fragrantissima

Anabasis setifera

Retama raetam

Tamarix paserinoides

Nitraria retusa

Sueda fruticosa


MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES Building materials have an impact on the environment in all its phases: extraction, transport, processing, deployment, operation, and disposal. With the aim of reducing the environmental impact of the project, the common ground is built from materials that are located in the project area and surroundings. Soil is the main material for the project, and two building techniques with it are used in the proposal. The Compressed Earth Block technique to make bricks and tiles for the vaulted pavillions. The second is the Superadobe technique for the shajira walls, and benches. Among different materials that can be found in the Azraq Basin, basalt and volcanic scoria are popular in Jordan for construction nd ornamental pusposes.

BASALT (ILLUS. 55)

SOIL (ILLUS 54)

VOLCANIC SCORIA (ILLUS.56)

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MATERIALS AND TECHNIQUES

FABRICATION PROCESS OF COMPRESSED EARTH BLOCKS

SOIL, AGGREGATES, AND WATER MIX THE COMPONENTS

COMPRESS THEM LET THEM DRY

CEB WALL (ILLUS. 56)

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FABRICATION PROCESS OF SUPERADOBE

SOIL, AGGREGATES, AND WATER

MIX THE COMPONENTS FILL THE MIX IN SAND BAGS AND PRESS THEM

PLASTER IF WANTED

SUPERADOBE WALL TURNING INTO A DOME (ILLUS. 57)

63


“ WI

OPEN SHAJIRA

THE PLAZA

THE MOSQUE

THE MARKE

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“SHAJIRAS” IND FILTERS

INFILTRATION SYSTEM

HOTEL 1 WOMEN ASSOCIATION

THE INTIMATE PATIO WOMEN SEWING WORKSHOP

1 THE SCHOOL

PLAYGROUND

ORCHARD

LEARNING UNDER THE TREES

SPORTS FIELD

HYDROPONIC FARM

ET

YOUTH CENTER

MASTER PLAN - THE COMMON GROUND 65 ESC 1:750


THE VAULTED PAVILLIONS The pavilions are imagined as places for interaction and communal activities. They can become markets, plazas, open mosques, street food areas, community meeting spots, as well as a place for contemplation and reflection.

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67


SUB AREAS OF THE COMMON GROUND SHAJIRAS The wind-filters are man made “shajira� desert bushes. Nomads use this word to describe the xerophytic vegetation that grows in the desert regions. These species are thick, low, resistant to strong winds, high temperatures, and drought. The shajiras have an external layer of superadobe wall, these elements group them into round shapes and also give an extra retention for winds and sand.

One of this elements is bigger and a path goes through it, the intention is to make the interaction even more visible so people can be inside a shajira and learn about the endemic xerophytic vegetation, and if is the right time of the year , they can pick the red fruits of the salt tree (Nitraria retusa).

SCALE 1:250

LIST OF SPECIES

Achillea fragrantissima

68

Anabasis setifera

Retama raetam

Tamarix paserinoides

Nitraria retusa


GRAVEL OF VOLCANIC SCORIA

SHAJIRAS

THE COMMON GROUND - THE WIND FILTER (SHAJIRAS) AREA ESC 1:250

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SUB AREAS OF THE COMMON GROUND INTIMATE PATIO This area of the Campus B is a central element in the women association area. The area is symmetrical and aims to create a semi private space. The design takes it departure in the cultural norms that the different cultures in Al-Azraq have regarding gender segregation (see page), thus it creates an environment that is intimate and have a visual privacy, but at the same time is open and easy to access.

CEB screening wall close to the women sewing workshop

SCREENING WALL

SCALE 1:250

LIST OF SPECIES

Pistacia vera

70

Figus carica

Oleaceae

Retama raetam

Tamarix paserinoides


HOTEL

WOMEN SEWING WORKSHOP

INTIMATE PATIO

BASALT STONE

THE COMMON GROUND - THE INTIMATE PATIO AREA ESC 1:250

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THE INTIMATE PATIO

The patio provides an intimate and contemplatory environment for the users of the women association center and the sewing workshop. The area constributes to the idea of symmetri, public/private, and visual distance wich is inherent in the Arab Islamic region.

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73


SUB AREAS OF THE COMMON GROUND LEARNING UNDER THE TREES This area incorporates different elements such as a playground, a circular bench, and a sports field. Trees here are the main elements of the area because they will be used to create shadow, and at the same time to make children interact with them. The intention is to create different environments that can stimulate children’s imagination and active behavior.

SCALE 1:250

LIST OF SPECIES

Sonchus oleraceus

74

Figus carica

Retama raetam

Oleaceae


GRAVEL OF VOLCANIC SCORIA

LEARNING UNDER THE TREES

SPORTSFIELD

PLAYGROUND

THE COMMON GROUND - LEARNING UNDER THE TREES AREA ESC 1:250

75


SUB AREAS OF THE COMMON GROUND THE VAULTED PAVILLIONS The vaulted brick is a result of learning from the potentials of sustainable construction techniques. This elements do not need concrete, they can be made with Compressed earth blocks, thus the environmental impact of its construction is low. These elements do not have a specific program, although in the Masterplan some names and

functions are given. However the function will change and develop when people use the Common Ground. The pavilions are imagined as places for interaction and communal activities. They can become markets, plazas, open mosques, street food areas, community meeting spots, as well as a place for contemplation and reflection.

SCALE 1:250

LIST OF SPECIES

Achillea fragrantissima

76

Anabasis setifera

Tamarix paserinoides

Nitraria retusa


GRAVEL OF VOLCANIC SCORIA

THE VAULTED PAVILLION

THE COMMON GROUND - THE VAULTED BRICKS AREA ESC 1:250

77


THE COMMON GROUND 1:500 MODEL

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79


THE COMMON GROUND DRIP IRRIGATION SYSTEM After water from showers, washing, and dishwasher machines undergoes a simple filtration treatment in a constructed wetland, it is send through a drip irrigation system to the vegetation areas of the Campus B and The Common Ground. The system is divided in two canals because the vegetation for the shajiras does not require the same amount of water as the common or the ornamental trees. Drip irrigation is a type of micro-irrigation system that has the potential to save water and nutrients by allowing water to drip slowly to the roots of plants. The goal is to place water directly into the root zone and minimize evaporation.

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OUTRO The last part of the thesis is where there is a critical look upon the valoration, findings and solutions proposed in this work.

85


CONCLUSION The overall aim of the project has been to provide a landscape architecture and urban design proposal that is shaped by the cultures, the natural conditions, and the socio-economic factors of AlAzraq. The project uses few elements and advocates to sustainability as its main principle and methods of bioconstruction and water management therefore became key factors in the project. The landscape has been the material that inspired and taught me how to inhabit the space. The area offers an opportunity to pause and relax in a quiet place. When the wind blows and forms shapes of sand you can find shelter. When the sun is burning there is shadow and comfort. In the thesis I have focused on the interaction between host and refugee communities as well as elements that can improve quality of life in an area where the citizens generally lack access to “green� and and social areas. The design proposal therefore presents how new areas for interaction can forge cohesion. Local and international organisations have started to develop schools and other programs in the area, however my proposal offers an open and social space, that can accommodates a variety of uses. The Common Ground is the reflection of an aim to promote spaces that people will value and share with newcomers. It is not only intended for recreation but also for contemplation and to nourish a positive identity of Al-Azraq being a hostcommunity. The proposal thus reinforces the start of a collective imagination where people create a new history on a Common Ground.

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REFLECTION The aim of my Master’s thesis is to provide a landscape architecture and urban design proposal that is inspired and shaped by the the cultures, the natural conditions, and the socio-economic factors of Al- Azraq. As showed throughout the thesis the field trip was a unique change to gather data. However something that could also have benefited the project was to work from a collaborative design method. When talking with the locals it would have been interesting to hear their expectations for a social space - an area where they can interact and relax. However the NGO who led the project recommended me not do it in order to avoid presumptions. The refugee community is very sensitive because of what they have experienced, and my questions could create false expectations. Thus I could not start a dialogue and hear their opinion and ideas for the future extension of the project. Even though I think a collaborative design method could have strong potentials in the design practice. However the communication with the locals and working in the field provided certain information that would have been hard to get from examining articles and literature, as it is taken from direct experience.

the aquifers. A similar episode as the ecological collapse of the Azraq Wetland may occur in the future, and can lead to make the place inhabitable. Resilience is therefore a key element in places like Al-Azraq, and by using building techniques and water management methods I can contribute to make the place more resilient. But how resilient can you be when you live in the middle of the desert almost without water and have to survive? That is an open question that only time can answer. This thesis is the conclusion of a process with many lessons learned, and it has given me more desire and energy to practice landscape architecture and urban design which is adjustable to time and place.

Al-Azraq is harsh, culturally and environmentally. Even though people speak the same languages, their cultures are different and there are many layers and codes that in one month was quite difficult to grasp. One of the cultural norms that I integrated in the proposal is the gender segregation which in general shape the public spaces. It was at the beginning challenging for me to integrate do to the my oint of view about this matter , but after studying it in practise I could create a proposal which enhanced the social norm in a way that did not limitate the women. Because of the water conditions in Al-Azraq, hydrological studies have shown that there is a degradation on the water quantity and quality of

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Books Abu-Lughod, Janet, 2012, The Islamic City: Historic Myths, Islamic Essence, and Contemporary Relevance, in Larice, Michael; Macdonald, Elizabeth eds., The Urban Design Reader, Routledge urban Reader Series, London and New York Beatley, Timothy and Boyer, Heather, 2012, Urban Resilience: Cities of Hope and Fear, in Larice, Michael; Macdonald, Elizabeth eds., The Urban Design Reader, Routledge urban Reader Series, London and New York Gastaldi, Ariel, 2015, Grandes Imperios del Medio Oriente: Ciudades - Estado de la antigßedad, Spanish Edition, Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, United States McHarg, Ian, 2012, Introduction: An Ecological Method for Landscape Architecture, in Larice, Michael; Macdonald, Elizabeth eds., The Urban Design Reader, Routledge urban Reader Series, London and New York Nelson, Bryan, 1972, Azraq: Desert Oasis, Ohio University Press, University of Michigan Websites (all homepages last accessed 27.02.2019) Global Issues, 2006, The Middle East conflict—a brief background, http://www.globalissues.org/article/119/ the-middle-east-conflict-a-brief-background Human Rights Watch, 2016, We are Afraid for Their Future, https://www.hrw.org/report/2016/08/16/wereafraid-their-future/barriers-education-syrian-refugee-children-jordan Sterns, Olivia, 2010, Muslim inventions that shaped the modern world, CNN, http://edition.cnn.com/2010/ WORLD/meast/01/29/muslim.inventions/index.html Hawthorne, Emily, 2019, Geopolitics of Jordan, Stratfor Worldview, https://worldview.stratfor.com/article/geopolitics-jordan-history-geography Stratford, undated, Overview, https://worldview.stratfor.com/region/middle-east-and-north-africa/jordan The Royal Society for the Conversation of Nature, undated, Azraq Wtland Reserve, http://www.rscn.org.jo/ content/azraq-wetland-reserve-0 The Syria Fund, undated, The Azraq School, http://thesyriafund.org/azraqschool/

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UNCEF, 2018, UNICEF assessment shows 85 percent of Syrian refugee children in host communities live in poverty, https://reliefweb.int/report/jordan/unicef-assessment-shows-85-cent-syrian-refugee-children-hostcommunities-live-poverty UNICEF, 2017, Situation Analysis of Children in Jordan 2017, https://www.unicef.org/jordan/Jordan_ summary_sitan_2018_EN.PDF UNHCR, 2011, UNHCR-NGO Toolkit for Practical Cooperation on Resettlement. Community Outreach - Outreach to Host Communities: Definitions and FAQs, https://www.unhcr.org/protection/ resettlement/4cd7d1509/unhcr-ngo-toolkit-practical-cooperation-reset%20tlement-community-outreach. html UNHCR, 2018, UNHCR Jordan Factsheet: Azraq Refugee Camp (January 2018), https://reliefweb.int/ report/jordan/unhcr-jordan-factsheet-azraq-refugee-camp-january-2018 UNHCR – Operational Portal Refugee Situations, 2019, Syria Regional Refugee Response, https://data2. unhcr.org/en/situations/syria/location/39 Wikipedia, 2018, Azraq, Jordan, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azraq,_Jordan#cite_note-1 Wikipedia, 2019, Fertile Cresent, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fertile_Crescent Photos (all homepages last accessed 25.02.2019) Illustration 6,Emergency Architecture and Human Rights, http://ea-hr.org/ Illustration 12 ,Old Book Illustrations, www.oldbookillustrations.com Illustration 19 , Mossouri Botanical Garden, http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/ Illustration 24, A Negev Desert Botanical Garden, http://negevdesertbotanicalgarden.org.uk/ Illustration 51, Landezine, http://www.landezine.com/park-garden-and-green-roof-of-caja-badajoz-bycristina-jorge-cjcpaisaje/ Illustration 52, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seville_Cathedral Illustration 53, Landezine, http://www.landezine.com/park-garden-and-green-roof-of-caja-badajoz-bycristina-jorge-cjcpaisaje/ Illustration 54, Landezine, http://www.landezine.com/index.php/2017/10/jardin-dufaux-by-mavolandschaften/ Illustration 55, Landezine, http://www.landezine.com/index.php/2016/05/play-garland-oosterpark-bycarve/ 89


APPENDIX - THE CAMPUS B SCHOOL PROJECT DESCRIPTION Below, the description of the project and different materials that I received from EAHR. Why? How? Since 2011, the population of Azraq town has exploded from 12,000 to over 20,000 with the arrival of the Syrian refugees. Among these 8,000+ refugees, about 50% are children between the ages of 0-17 years. It is estimated that 3 out of 5 are outof-school due to lack of capacity in the preexisting schools in town. Almost three years ago, Helping Refugees Jordan - HRJ, started their first non-formal education centre in Azraq. Their daily running have been stabilized and buildup through the guardianship of The Syria Fund TSF and the local civil society organization, Nashmiyat Al-Badiya. Together they are now ready to take the next step, with the support of EAHR, to construct and open up a Campus B that will serve the need of more than 200 out-of-school Syrian refugee children. What? The New School Campus in the Village of Azraq, Jordan as the Second Project of the ‘100 Classrooms for Refugee Children in the Middle East’ Program By means of sustainable, low-cost building techniques and participatory approaches we will construct: 4 classrooms, 2 toilet blocks and sport facilities. Furthermore, we will capacity build 25 community members in sustainable building methods and construction leadership, who will be given job opportunities in the construction process.

ELEVATION VIEW OF THE CLASSROOMS AREA

90

COURTESY EAHR


THE CAMPUS B PLAN

NOT BUILDT YET

91


APPENDIX - WATER MANAGEMENT PROJECT IN ZAATARI REFUGE CAMP PROJECT DESCRIPTION Below, the description of the project and different materials that I received from Mohamad Abu Quty. Public Health Engineer OXFAM. This project is directly focusing on the four schools at districts 6,7 and 8 with a total number of 3808 students attending two shifts for both boys and girls. The schools are estimated of consuming approximately 11 m3 of water/day from the bathroom’s hand wash basins. The effluent water from these basins (known as grey water) can be reused after undergoing simple treatment in a constructed wetland, for non-potable uses such as agriculture. For the purposes of this project, the treated water will be discharged through a drip irrigation piping system or open channel ( Due to not using pump to covey water ) that will water the school’s orchard.

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The construction of a grey water system will also have positive implications on the surrounding environment. Currently, the school uses dislodging trucks to dispose of its wastewater or using the under construction waste water system water , project will raise the awareness among the students on the importance of water conservation and water reuse and protecting the environment.


THE BUILDING PROCESS OF THE GREY WATER RE USE SYSTEM

COURTESY OXFAM

COURTESY OXFAM

COURTESY OXFAM

COURTESY OXFAM

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APPENDIX - AZRAQ VEGETATION FLORA CHECKLIST Vegetation list of The Azraq wetlands and surroundings. Courtesy from Hazem Al-Hresh, Azraq Wetland Reserve Manager.

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