6 CONCEPT

6.1 Concept introduction

6.1.1 Concept statement

Create a unique cultural experience through an interactive craft making experience for both locals and tourists.

6.1.2 Concept inspiration

The concept is inspired from the announcement of Irbid city as the Capital of Arabic Culture for the year of 2022. Since the city has more than 400 towns well known for crafts as part of the culture; the main function is crafts workshop.

6.2 Main components of the project

The project has some key components that serve a wide variety of users.

6.2.1 Interactive crafts workshop

The crafts activities in the project were carefully selected based on specific criteria to be safe for unprofessional users, easily learnt, and the final product could be kept as a souvenir.

These crafts include sand bottles, calligraphy, jewelry making, soap making, weaving, embroidery, and straw crafts. Another main experience is a cultural kitchen where users can participate in food making experience for traditional Jordanian dishes. Some of the crafts can take place outdoor such as pottery making.

6.2.2 The Bazaar

The bazaar is the main commercial function in the project, it provides financial returns for the project itself (running cost), as well as financial for local business owners who sell local products.

The bazaar is sheltered using tree structure made of recycled wood, which gives a great dynamic shading experience, due the change of sunlight direction and color through the day and the year.

6.2.3 The amphitheater

The amphitheater serves a multi-purpose outdoor function, used for seasonal festivals and celebrations. It could be used for folklore and school shows. These multiple scenarios and flexible function help serve more users all the time.

6.3 Form development

The project layout is inspired by the circulation experience in ancient Jordanian villages, this experience was reflected on the circulation experience in the Arabella Crafts Village. The village shown in the sketch is (Samad) village in Irbid, this town was selected because its an organic developed village, which is the traditional urban expansion in Jordan. Other towns in Irbid follows the roman urban planning (grid city); due to their role during the roman empire, that is why there were not selected as a beginning of the inspiration.

The main masses’ enclosure creates a series of semi-courts (series of open spaces), where each of them has different purpose. Modern designed wind catchers were used to create natural ventilation throughout the entire project (indoor-outdoor ventilation).

The user can walk through the whole project through two main paths; and interior path between masses (black line), or an outdoor circulation through open spaces (green line).

6.4 Initial master plan

The initial masterplan shows both indoor and outdoor circulation, which was mentioned before. The design followed the natural topography of the site, as shown in the map, site levels differs between spaces.

6.5 Zoning

6.6 Initial floor plan

The initial floor plan shows detailed zoning and relationship between functions, and different types of exhibitions and shows area.

6.7 Initial section

The section below shows the sequence of public spaces (semi-courts) in the project and stepping in the site due to the natural slope in the land.

6.8 Details

Further details in the project will be discussed.

6.8.1 Design layout

The design layout is oriented to face the prevailing wind (wind catchers), to ensure natural ventilation. The solid massed faces the sun, so it will shade the open spaces of the project.

6.8.2 Elevations

The elevation’s material will be a combination of traditional local material (stone) and modern material (glass), with arch-shaped openings that reflects the traditional spirit.

6.8.3 Wind catchers

Used modern-designed wind catchers, that serves as stairs too, enhance natural ventilation inside the building through a connecting it a distribution system in the false ceiling to ventilate indoor spaces.

Wind catchers also used to cool down temperature in outdoor spaces by creating openings at the bottom, which creates a natural ventilation outdoors as the wind tower in Masdar City.

6.8.4 Tree structure

At every intersection between massed, wooden tree structure was used as a shading element for the open spaces. The tree structure is made of reused wooden structure, which creates a dynamic shading experience for the users, due to the constant change in direction and color of sunlight throughout the day, or among the four seasons.

6.8.5 Plant selection in the project

Used plants with specific characteristics in some places as wind/sun barrier for exposed outdoor community garden (facing both sun and wind), those plants are carefully selected to be local plants with minimum maintenance and easy care.

6.8.5.1 Olive tree

Crop tree, valued for its edible fruit and oil. Max height 14m and Spread 10m.

Rounded shape, not recommended to be planted around buildings, it ruins the infrastructure around. Not appropriate choice for shading due to its height.

6.8.5.2 Italian cypress

Evergreen tree with distinctive form. Spider mites are a serious pest problem, used as wind breaker or edging tree. Planted in tight places. Max height 15m and Spread 4m.

6.8.5.3 Monterey Cypress

Evergreen tree. Max height 15-25m and spread 6m.

Easy to work with hand and machine tools, though areas around knots can be problematic. Utility lumber, fence posts, musical instruments (flamenco guitars), furniture, boatbuilding, and turned objects.

6.8.5.4 Chinaberry Tree

Max height 6-35m and spread 8m.

Valuable shade tree in its endemic regions due to its large, spreading canopy. Shallow root systems tend to clog drains and damage septic systems. Growing chinaberry trees have weak limbs too, which break easily during severe weather.

6.8.5.5 Washingtonian Palm

Crop tree, valued for its edible fruit and oil. Max height 15m and spread 6m.

Old leaves must be removed periodically.

6.8.5.6 Goldcrest Tree

Evergreen tree. Max height 10m and spread 4m.

One of the best coniferous shrubs to be planted near door fronts and could act as a beautiful hedge. Almost disease free and could be pruned to any desired shape.

7 References

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