“ A city is not an accident but the result of coherent visions and aims. ” - Leon Krier, The Architecture of Community
AMMAN GATE
SWEILEH URBAN PARK DR. NABEEL ABU-DEYYEH
SAMIH MATANI - KHALIFA AL-RUBAIE
INTRODUCTION ACTION AREA SCHEMATIC DESIGN MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT THE PROJECT
6
34 40 46 54
SWEILEH INTRODUCTION
Introduction History Weather Conditions Statistics Problems Problem Classification Vision Model
6
Introduction
7
Amman’s Gateway and one of it’s oldest districts. Sweileh is one of the most significant historical areas in Jordan. It’s what most Jordanians first see of Jordan’s capital Amman and where their first impressions of Amman are made.
However now when you visit Sweileh, you don’t really see this rich history or mix of culture. Most of what you see is deteriorated houses and streets and little organization. This doesn’t reflect the importance of Sweileh in Amman’s history.
Over the years, Sweileh has attracted people from all over Jordan, even immigrants. The historical reason for this attraction like in all places over the world was the existence of water in the form of a water spring (Nabah). Chechnyans, Sharkas and Arabs all lived side by side in Sweileh’s streets.
We will first analyze Sweileh, especially Princess Raya bint Al Hussein Street and then add our proposed solutions to the area to bring back the rightful status of Sweileh.
8
History
9
Sweileh is one of the first Urban areas in Amman. People chose to live in the area because of the water spring. The water spring didn’t just attract the local Arabs but also immigrants like the Chechnyans and Circassians. Chechnyans are originally from Russia, they left their homeland after accepting Islam and first arrived in Turkey. They then left Turkey in pursuit of Palestine, and ended up in Sweileh. They chose Sweileh because it’s topography was similar to the one of their homeland and because it’s weather was identical. The Arabs in the area were very welcoming and allowed the visitors to build their houses around the Nabah. The Circassians and Chechnyans both came from Urban areas and brought their new mentality with them. This is why Sweileh was unique in comparison to the rest of Amman’s districts. Their was a
sense of organization that was unprecedented in Amman at that time. The new visitors were taught by locals to build with stone. Most of the buildings were one storey high and had different decorations. There was a lot of cooperation between them in the building process. Everyone pitched in and helped when one of them needed it. The first building however, as in every place the Chechnyan’s populated was the Mosque. Now known as ‘The Old Chechnyan Mosque’. It was the centerpiece of the city and held the greatest importance. They started building the Mosque in 1901 and finished in 1902, but with no Minaret. Over the years it was built up in the way we see today. Having all these people live in Sweileh gave it a distinct cultural trait that visible to this day.
10
Weather Conditions
11
12
Statistics
13
14
Problems Sidewalks
Traffic
The obvious main problem through out Raya Bint Al Hussein Street The traffic jams peak in the weekdays 3-6 p.m. Reasons:
High density of cars People crossing the road between cars Double parking People that are parking stop traffic Bad traffic management
0m
30m
120m
15
Sidewalks
Sidewalks
Sidewalks in the area are not really pedestrian friendly. They are not well built and a lot of them detoriated. Reasons:
Detoriated and old Not well defined. Not unified. Isn’t completely flat.
0m 26m
130m
16
Meat Shops
Meat Shops
Located accross the street from the Mosque, these shops are full of all kinds of violations. Violations:
Slaughtering inside the shops Strong odor Throwing bones inside the drainage system which clog it Bad general view from street side. 0m
26m
104m
17
Hygiene Problems Meat Shops violate health regulations. They slaughter in the shops instead of butcher shop. They throw the waste in the sewer systems. This creates a bad odor.
Hygiene
The streets and buildings are not very clean.
Rented parking area, lots of trash is thrown here. This gives a bad look to the area.
0m
Bus coaster parking. They clean the buses and throw all the garbages inside them to the side of the road
60m
180m
Reasons Meat Shops violations Lack of street garbages Cultural problem and dependency on cleaning employees
18
Bus Coaster unofficial pickup area
Bus Coasters
Located mostly near the Sweileh Round about, these buses double park and add to the existing traffic problem. Reasons:
Lack of compliance with traffic regulations Unpredictability when driving No defined area for them to park Double and sometimes triple parking Uncivilised scenery 0m
30m
120m
19
Double Sided Parking Zone
Two-Sided Parking
Raya Bint Al Hussein Street can take about four cars at one time in it’s entirety. However cars park on the side of the road which takes up two lanes and makes the traffic problem greater.
0m
26m
130m
20
Street Stairs
Street Stairs
There are plenty of Street stairs in between building which connect the high ground with the low ground. Problems:
Not used. Not well built Don’t look good Some contain 40+ stairs 0m
40m
145m
21
Bastat
Bastat
This is Amman’s problem and Sweileh is no exception. You see them everywhere but they become a major problem after Friday prayers. Problems: No organization whatsoever They violate the street Annoying Uncivilised scene 0m
30m
90m
22
Security lacking areas
Security
Especially at night, you don’t feel safe. You don’t see many females in the street like you do in the rest of Amman’s areas.
0m
52m
105m
23
Violations
Violations
People don’t comply with the rules. It being traffic rules or building codes. You see violations in all forms.
0m
34m
100m
24
Architectural Problems
Problem Classification
25
Enviromental Problems
26
Traffic Problems
27
Urban Problems
28
Vision The aim is to help Sweileh move into the right direction that it is obviously capable of. The most dominant problem is
traffic maintenance. Some roads need rejuvenation and the traffic problem in the area. We need effective
other roads need considerations like direction changes. We will also look into the possibility of creating roads that don’t exist to further help the cars get to their destination as fast as possible.
pedestrian-friendly
We want a Sweileh where you can walk with ease and not have to look at your every step because you’re afraid to fall over. Our design must provide a missing sense of security to the every day users. This area is rich historically, we must take advantage of that and try to show it in our designs. We want the user to know he is in an area with a great culture. Not just an Arab also a Chechnyan and Circassian one.
culture but
29
30
Model
31
ACTION AREA
Glimpse of the project Thinking process
34
Glimpse of the project
35
ACTION AREA
0m 14m
70m
280m
After finishing the analysis process (GROUP WORK) three action areas were divided between the 6 group members to work on. The cause of dividing the work is to show what kind of projects Sweileh need up close to overcome its challenges and improve the citizens life quality.
THE PROJECT Our project in this action area was set to be defined by dealing with multi layers and different scales of work to show not only the whole area but also the detailed work that have been set there. This project is an URBAN PARK which contains multi projects that were implemented in the park which solved traffic , social , environmental and recreational problems. The projects : 1- Traffic manegment 2- Designing The Park 3- Municipilaty vision 4- Pedestrian bridge 5- Traffic bridge
36
Thinking process
37
Existing Vacant
Buildings
Scale 1:4000
Park Greenery
C
Building Yards
C B A
C
Analysis Scale 1:4000 A Traffic Problems:
1. No Parking 2. Conflict at the U-Turn 3. No pedestrian line in the main road 4. Sidewalk issues 5. Double parking issues 6. Loss of function of the sidewalk
C Social Problems:
1. Not enough Social Nodes 2. Violations 3. No integration between the Urban fabric and components of the city 4. Bastat issues 5. Hygeine 6. Security
B Recreational Problems:
1. No shading 2. No sitting areas 3. No pedestrian crossing to the park 4. Small service radius for the park 5. Not enough functions 6. Not family friendly 7. Bad Landscaping
SCHEMATIC DESIGN
Design concept Sketches
40
Design concept
41
CREATING ENTITY THROUGH GREENERY The idea was to bring the empty land with the existing park and merge them together to create a one entity that benefits the area not only as an open space but has its own social and commercial reflects on the area and makes a great gate for the capital Amman. The urban park idea is to make the visitors and who are driving feel that they are moving through this park and have a choice to park their cars and have a walk or a picnic in the park.
42
Sketches
43
Parking
Municipality
Restaurants
Open Spaces & Greenery
Municipilaty
Water Feature
Parking
Infant Area
Restaurants
Play grounds
Picnic Area
Visitor Center
Children Activities
Bridge
We started with a grid in the site and the road axis and the site outline helped in configuring the zones and the functions of the project.
Sketches
Scale 1:4000
MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT
Proposed master plan 1 Proposed master plan 2 Proposed master plan 3
46
Proposed Master plan 1
47
THE IDEA (SWEILEH SOUK) A strategic project that can help the area to improve its commercial, social and cultural aspects for the people of Sweileh.
SOUK SWEILEH
BUS STOPS TRAFFIC BRIDGE
CARS PARKING
NEGATIVES 1- Unrealistic Project 2- It will increase the traffic in the area 3- Jordan doesn’t need more cultural centers 4- Not much infant and children spaces
48
Proposed Master plan 2
49
URBAN TRANSFORMATION Public buildings (municipality) were put in the project with more children spaces and family friendly areas for the spaces.
BUS STOPS TRAFFIC BRIDGE
CARS PARKING
NEGATIVES 1- Traffic problems 2- Bad car parking 3- The existing park isn’t integrated 4- Bad circulation
Built - Proposed
Built - Existing
Background Yard - Existing
Vacant - Existing
Seating Area
Outdoor Gallery
Activity Area
50
Proposed Master plan 3
51
URBAN PARK THe idea was to bring the two parks (proposed and existing) with traffic and landscape modifications for the project.
NEGATIVES 1- There is no circulation loop 2- Bad car parking 3- Lack of functions 4- Hard scape to soft scape ratio
Municipality
Car Parking
Pedestrian Bridge
Car Parking
Traffic Bridge
THE PROJECT
Final master plan Zoom ins Sections 3D shots
54
Final Master plan
57
SWEILEH MUNICIPALITY The municipality is the first thing that catches the visitors eyes. Its a building which is integrated into the urban park.
58
PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
The pedestrian bridge is the integrated element that connects the two parks (existing and the proposal).
59
PLAZA
The plaza is spreaded inside the urban park to bring the people to meet and set in the plaza.
BOYSCOUT
The boyscout is a means to consume the children’s time in beneficial activities and their activities help in taking care for the park.
60
Sections
63
64