Activating Blue Green Networks for Urban Runoff by Rayan Alfadel

Activating blue-green networks for urban runoff ARC541-Urban design report Professor: Dr. Leen Fakhoury Students: Rayan Alfadel ,Aseel Okosh, Marah Khaznakatbi, Noor Moulki Winter semester 2020-2021

Table of contents 0. Preface and acknowledgements

1.3 Mobility

1. Phase 1 – Site Analysis 1.1 Macro site 1.1.1 Brief history of the site 1.1.2 Existing national infrastructure 1.1.3 Urban morphology + water levels 1.1.4 Contours, valley, terrain analysis 1.1.5 Critical flooding zones and landmarks 1.1.6 Water infrastructure and region density 1.1.7 Media depictions 1.1.8 Analysis of the shortlist areas 1.1.9 Rapid assessments 1.1.10 Development of land use around the seil 1.1.11 Land use 1.1.12 Socio economic demographics 1.1.13 Mobility and traffic density 1.1.14 Mobility and vibrancy 1.1.15 Open spaces and dense spaces 1.1.16 Rainfall intensity and soil analysis 1.1.17 Cross evaluation of shortlisted sites

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 16 17 20 21 22 24 25 26 27 29

1.4 Water behavior in relation to the environment 1.4.1 Hydrological infrastructure and culverts 1.4.2 Solid and void, topography and site 1.4.3 Urban runoff, drainage, critical zones 1.4.4 Runoff statistics and general impervious zones

39 40 41 42 43

1.5 Social landscape 1.5.1 Socio-economic demographics 1.5.2 Pedestrian and tourist circulation 1.5.3 Heterotopias 1.5.4 Network of pedestrian circulation 1.5.5 Vibrancy

44 45 48 49 50 51

1.6 Sections

1.2 Micro site 1.2.1 Location 1.2.2 Views 1.2.3 First impressions 1.2.4 Landuse 1.2.5 Archaeological sites and attractions

31 32 33 34 35 36

Table of contents 2. Phase 2 – Tailored analysis + preliminary vision 2.1 Identification of open public space networks

57 58

2.2 Stairs as a spatial structure

2.3 Building conditions 2.3.1 Building heights 2.3.2 Building occupations 2.3.3 Occupied vs unoccupied buildings 2.3.4 Accessibility to roofs 2.3.5 Conditions of roofs

65 66 67 68 69 70

2.4 Rainwater analysis 2.4.1 Current water situation 2.4.2 Rainfall volume and runoff + open spaces 2.4.3 Roof harvesting capacities

73 74 75 76

2.5 Vegetation

2.6 Constructing a network and preliminary vision 2.6.1 Developing a network 2.6.2 Preliminary vision and objectives 2.6.3 Updated vision 2.6.4 Preliminary and preceptual masterplan 2.6.5 Preliminary ideations

81 82 85 86 87 88

2.7 Case studies

3. Phase 3 – Vision, masterplan and detailed design 3.1 Direction 3.1.1 Vision 3.1.2 Goals and objectives 3.1.3 Frameworks 3.1.4 Masterplan overview of urban strip

97 98 99 100 101 106

3.2 Action area 1 3.2.1 Micro analysis 3.2.2 Masterplan 3.2.2.1 Precept masterplan 3.2.2.2 Policy and regulation 3.2.2.3 Program 3.2.2.4 Masterplan 3.2.2.5 Plant program and typology 3.2.2.6 Financing and operational model 3.2.2.7 Sections 3.2.2.8 Renders

107 108 112 113 114 115 116 118 120 121 127

3.3 Action area 2 3.3.1 Micro analysis 3.3.2 Masterplan 3.3.2.1 Precept masterplan 3.3.2.2 Policy and regulation 3.3.2.3 Program 3.3.2.4 Masterplan 3.3.2.5 Interpretation 3.3.2.6 Sections 3.3.2.7 Renders

129 130 134 135 136 137 138 140 141 146

Table of contents 3.4 Action area 3 3.4.1 Micro analysis 3.4.2 Masterplan 3.3.2.1 Precept masterplan 3.3.2.2 Policy and regulation 3.3.2.3 Program 3.3.2.4 Masterplan 3.3.2.5 Interpretation 3.3.2.6 Sections 3.3.2.7 Renders

149 150 152 153 154 155 156 158 159 163

3.5 Detailed design 3.5.1 Materials 3.5.1.1 Material identification 3.5.1.2 Mesh platform assembly 3.5.2 Water capacities 3.5.2.1 Volumetric capacities 3.5.2.2 Infrastructural network 3.5.2.3 Section details 3.5.3 Roofscape catalogue 3.5.6 Implementation 3.5.6.1 Stakeholders 3.5.6.2 Long term areas of intervention 3.5.6.3 GANTT charts

165 166 167 170 171 172 176 177 178 183 184 186 187

3.6 Closing remarks

190

4. References

191

Preface and acknowledgements First and foremost, we would like to express gratitude to our professor Dr. Leen Fakhoury for all the efforts and difficulties that were overcome successfully as a result of an online semester during the Coronavirus pandemic. We would also like to thank teaching assistant Arch. Shereen Ghishan and all constructive feedback from hydrologists, urban planners, architects, engineers and other professionals who took the time to attend this course’s juries and enrichen this project. The nature of this project revolves around tackling and addressing the existing urban (environmental, social, economic, etc) problems that are present as it pertains to the Seil of Amman strip that runs from Ras Al Ain to Al Mashatel, and ending in Zarqa. The Seil played a dominant role in defining current existing urban developments, and this project aims to ultimately tackle existing urban problems with a sensitivity and awareness to the larger implications of a Seil that once existed. After a thorough analysis on both micro and macro levels of the Amman Seil, several sites were shortlisted for potential action areas, cross evaluated, and one action area was selected for further developments of a master plan. The urban strip consists of 3 action areas that all are located on Al-Hashemi street across from the Roman Theatre in Downtown Amman. The project vision is a network of productive, diverse, sustainable and green communal spaces that embrace urban runoff, and provide new layers of economic and recreational regeneration for the area, of which goals and objectives are outlined as a correspondence to interventions of physical, policy, and managerial nature.

Phase I – Site analysis Research &analysis :Methodologies of mapping Rapid Assessments & analysis for urban environment and space at the macro and micro levels.

1. Macro site

Brief history of Amman Seil

Existing national water infrastructure problems (natural and built networks in Jordan) It was essential that the existing national water infrastructural problems and scenarios were mapped and labelled in order to understand the wider and macro scope of the hydrological natural and built network that surrounds the Amman Seil.

Urban morphology and water levels The burden that urban morphology and rapid urbanization had on the existing poor landscape and urban planning and high rainfall density caused an exponential rise in water levels along the Jordan valley, indicating a serious issue of flooding that occurs.

Contours, valley and terrain analysis The natural topography that surrounds the valley has been a big contributor to the natural water runoff. A lot of water that is gathered from further north of the seil is accumulated to the valley, which flood risks are high during the winter. Floods are a result of water sheds that occur all the way from areas like Swefieh, Tlaa Al Ali and even Sweileh. The lag time for water to reach the Jordan valley in 2020 was less than 7 minutes. The simulation carried out below indicates how a horizontal plane of water over Amman reveals the valley as a proponent with all its water sheds acting as a suction for the urban runoff. Assuming that rain intensity across all Amman is uniform, this simulation illustrates the topographical nature that causes runoff and floods to the Jordan Valley.

Critical flooding zones and landmarks Along with the water sheds and water accumulation within the valley is a strip consisting of many landmarks that overlap with critical flooding areas. Critical flooding areas leave landmarks such as the Roman Theatre, Al Hashemi and Shapsough street flooded during the critical winter rainfall.

Water infrastructure and the region’s occupancy density According to municipal research and documentation, residential densities per 1000msq illustrate highest occupancies along the seil strip from Ras Al Ain to Al Hijaz Mahata. A big role in the relationship between occupancy and water infrastructure is the dominant presence of the main street and Valley culvert, which is a centralized infrastructural drainage system that carries all water form secondary culverts that climb the surrounding mountains. This indicates a large dependence on the culvert to manage floods in critical flooding areas. It is why as of 2020 there are culvert expansion projects across the Roman Theatre to retail more water during floods, which is a short term solution to a long term problem.

Media depictions of the Seil

The depiction of the seil through the eyes of the media embodies the reactionary response that the social fabric has towards many different areas of political urban planning, the romantic and historical remembrance/ nostalgia, as well as the harmful negative effects that the current existing situation exudes.

Analysis of the shortlist of areas Narrowing the strip down to five action sites – Ras Al Ain, Quraysh + Al Hashemi street (Roman Theatre area), Raghadan palace, Al Hijaz bus sation and Al Mashatel called the need for rapid assessments of the socio economic, environmental and infrastructural issues that are present. With the sites, a comparative analysis between these sites, as well as an integrated diagnostics approach, would allow a holistic level of understanding amidst many layers to determine the best possible action area to conduct further micro analysis on.

Rapid assessment of the urban strip – Ras Al Ain (socio economic and infrastructural

Rapid assessment of the urban strip – Qaraysh and Al Hashemi Street (Socio economic and infrastructural)

Rapid assessment of the urban strip – Al Mashatel and Hijaz bus station (Socio economic and infrastructural)

Development of land use around the Seil – Ras Al Ain 1918 - 1992

Current general land use around the Seil The proportional increase of built up commercial area that surrounds the entire strip increased to this day, where now the current land use that surrounds the entire strip propels more urban settlement in low income zones, surrounded plentiful with commercial, political and public services such as mosques, hospitals, schools and many other typologies just to name a few.

Socio – economic demographics – Ras Al Ain

Please note, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, these baseline statistics were obtained from other student projects ranging from 2012 to 2017

Socio-economic demographics – Quraysh + Al Hashemi street

Please note, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, these baseline statistics were obtained from other student projects ranging from 2012 to 2017

Mobility and traffic density Taking the traffic densities along the strip indicates the vibrancy level of the area in terms of vehicular circulation against pedestrian circulation. This layer of analysis can be used for an integrated spatial diagnosis analysis when determining the overall vibrancy of the area against the infrastructural and environmental problems.

Mobility and vibrancy

Overlapping the layers of dense population occupancies, commercial strips, touristic attractions, agricultural areas, mobility and the main roads of circulation to the main strip can create nodes of socio-spatial vibrancy as well as mobility vibrancy. This indicates along the strip how these vibrancies overlap with the existing flooding areas, illustrating where the critical areas are.

4 areas show a wide range of vibrancies, 3 of which do not have agricultural areas that plays a role in this vibrancy. Socio political zones, archaeological and historical zones as well as commercial strips and refugee settlements are the main regional forces that impacted the social landscape across the strip.

Open spaces and dense spaces

Overlapping the layers of parks, greenery, courts, plazas, vacant lands and high residential density gives a clear image of the network of open spaces that exist along the entire strip. It is very clear that from this diagram, the network of parks are not frequent, as well as agricultural areas. Some plots are green areas such as the Raghadan palace, but that area remains private and not public, hence not an open space beneficiary to the public. This depicts the low and ever decreasing frequency of public spaces along the strip. Open spaces tend to be more towards the valley by the Roman Theatre, but a decay in these open spaces are rendered due to vulnerabilities. Open spaces have therefore become vulnerable along this strip.

Rainfall intensity and soil analysis

With different daily rainfall readings taken from February 28th and January 1st 2019, these rainfall readings across the 5 shortlisted areas can estimate the amount of rainfall being absorbed by these different urban strips. The relationship of understanding the correlation of the daily rainfall to the overall nature of the urban strip (commercial, archaeological, agricultural) can deduce the runoffs that will occur and rainwater capacities that directly come to contact with the urban strips. Through multiplying areas by rainfall readings, volumes of water can be deduced to determine percentages of runoff based on the prevailing surface permeability.

Rainfall intensity and soil analysis

Cross evaluation of the shortlisted sites

For objective evaluation of the sites for selection, each site was ranked out of 5 based on the fulfillment of the strength/ weakness criteria. Abstractly, it is clear that the strengths prevailed in Ras Al Ain first and the Hashemite square coming second, with Al Mashatel and Al Hijaz station coming last. As for weaknesses, the bus station showed most critical weakness due to urban settlements, with the Hashemite square coming last with Al Mashatel. This presented an interesting dichotomy to work with an area that has high vibrancies and strengths, yet very critical and vulnerable to floods and urban runoffs – which was the Hashemite square. Since the project looks at urban runoffs, it became clear that the sensitivity of the area to these forces meant potential to develop intricate networks that embrace urban runoffs on various scales.

2. Micro site

Identification of the micro site – Quraysh + Al Hashemi street Near the prominent area of the Roman theatre lies many vulnerabilities and layers of analysis that will be conducted, to emphasize and highlight the relationship of this strip to social, environmental, infrastructural and economic forces.

Views

First impressions There are some occupied and many unoccupied buildings. The usage of the roofs for both these buildings are scrap-like, causing a decay in roofs and poor sheltering from rainfall. The street across the Roman Theatre is narrow due to the presence of excavation works for the culvert expansion. This project created many confusing detours and a rise in traffic density. Hierarchies of buildings and typologies were defined, narrow sidewalks, poor infrastructural maintenance and decaying staircases grabbed the interest as interesting public spaces to work with. Narrow streets, private dwellings and accessible rooftops for many buildings presented an issue of privacy and circulation. Many businesses had shut down as a result of COVID or poor income sustainability.

Land use The land use that occupies this area is diverse, and it is reflected not only by the functions of the buildings but also pedestrian behaviors. Commercial strips and mixed use buildings surround the residentially occupied strips as the slopes get climbed. High commercial density goes westward to Al Quraysh street and Shapsough street. A major force of attraction Is the archaeological site, the Roman Theatre, which is immersed in a context of commercial vibrancy and residential poverty on the slopes. Many other archeological areas and attractions occupy this region.

Archaeological sites and main attractions

Mobility

Traffic density

Parking density

Street direction

Street hierarchy

Mobility analysis The layer of mobility maps out traffic density, parking density, street direction and street hierarchy. These diagrams illustrate the high degree of both stationary and moving vehicular density in the area. With the existing culvert expansion is the emergence of a detour that influences mobility for the time being. Many of the streets are in one direction, and these streets apply to streets of all hierarchies. The street hierarchy shows the relationship of the dense street to the streets right above the main street on the slopes, indicating a poor relationship in linking streets together around these slopes, which in turn leads to poor accessibilities.

2.2 Water behavior in relation to the environment

Hydrological infrastructure, culverts and water pump joints With the given culvert expansion lies a need to understand the existing culvert network. In place of the seil, a culvert was built to carry all the water, which over time lead to a waste water water and runoff carrier. The main culvert in blue and yellow carry a lot of the burden, with the red and cyan culverts being the temporary solution to the long term problem. The intersection of culverts creates a bottleneck and enhances sedimentation issues, making this a critical and vulnerable area right by the Roman Theatre.

Future culvert expansion projects consist of a new network of culvert linkages (orange and turquoise) that lessen the ultimate burden on the main culvert.

Solid and void, topography and site As formentioned, the main critical runoff stems from water sheds that are located back to farther and Norther areas in Amman such as Tlaa Al Ali and Swefieh. However, it is important to illustrate the relationship of the built environment directly to critical flooding areas as a means to further develop an abstract understanding of the urban built environment along the slopes, and how they contribute to the urban runoff.

Urban runoff, drainage, critical zones and areas of notice By overlapping highly dense areas and topographical runoff direction, linkages can be made to areas with direct runoff contribution, whether it is roof runoff, street runoff or even stair runoff. The relationship of this overlap with the existing culvert network and its vulnerable and critical areas show the spatial relationship of direct runoffs to vulnerable areas. Given that roof and stair runoffs directly direct the flow of runoffs to the main street, it was seen as a potential area to look more towards.

Runoff statistics and general impervious zones A study of overlaying prevailing surfaces and categorizing these surfaces into perviousness reveals that many surfaces are impervious due to the hardscapes, materials and urbanization. These impervious surfaces along the slopes further depict the severity of runoff that occurs from the slopes of built areas, as well as semi impervious areas such as the Roman Theatre lateral park. Natural ground cover is negligible despite the existence of many vacant lands, because contextually, it still is not the prevailing surface.

Social landscape

Socio-economic demographics – Residents

Please note, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, these baseline statistics were obtained from other student projects ranging from 2012 to 2017

Socio-economic demographics – Residents

Please note, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, these baseline statistics were obtained from other student projects ranging from 2012 to 2017

Socio-economic demographics – Workers, pass byers and tourists

Please note, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, these baseline statistics were obtained from other student projects ranging from 2012 to 2017

Pedestrian and tourist circulation Tourist trails exist from the Citadel to the Roman Theatre to the Markets on Quraysh street. These trails show the diversity and vibrancy of the area. Markets, specialty stores and hotels are a big contributor to the diverse (and messy) circulation patterns in the area.

The high circulation is not only an indicator of the vibrancy but also the need to return the strip to the needs of the people, and not the automobile. Of course, among the people that occupy these streets exists heterotopias.

Heterotopias Many sub communities within the street occupiers exist. This includes Asian Calling centers (foreign workers), beggars, and even prostitution hotspots along the main street, which illegal activity is further carried out in the frequency of the hotels that are present on the site.

The network of pedestrian circulation through the slopes

The density and frequency of circulation must be taken into account to understand the patterns of circulation, and not just identifying where the circulation is occurring. There are several nodes that connect the circulation along the slopes, of which are the archaeological sites, commercial areas, governmental places and even mosques. From overlapping the land use with the circulation, it becomes clear that some circulation is very low on the boundaries of mixed use and commercial strips, as opposed to concentrated commercial strips. 2/5 or 40% of direct stair circulation along the slope that connects the main street to the upper street are weak in circulation.

Vibrancy Overlapping of pedestrian circulation with zoning, traffic and noise levels gives an abstract understanding of the nature of the area and how it relates to the notion of the public space.

Sections

Sections A

An essential method of analysis is cutting the site through the slopes vertically to understand the spatial relationship amidst the slopes, and how the runoff occurs on the slopes as it pertains to permeability and how much % of runoff occurs versus the amount retained. From the sections, an illustration of runoff percentages are done to indicate on these three strategic section cuts, how runoff occurs going through different zones and prevailing surfaces.

Section A-A

Section B-B

Section C-C

Phase II – Tailored analysis + preliminary vision Research &analysis :Methodologies of mapping specific tailored assessments & analysis for at the micro level that relates to a preliminary vision/ direction for the project, supported by case studies.

Identification of open public space networks

Identifying the open and public spatial network Open public spaces come in various typologies, and relate to mobility, recreational, recreational, historical, social and religious aspects. Open spaces in the domain of mobility include streets and sidewalks, street mediums, bridges and plazas.

Open spaces in the domain of recreation include recreational parks near the Roman Theatre and GAM Library, which are both considered historical domains of open spaces as well of course. Socially, there are many informal gathering spaces and vacant areas near political gathering areas and areas relating to religious activities.

Identifying the open and public spatial network To develop a deeper understanding of the public space, networks were mapped by overlapping the public space typology with pedestrian circulation, views and even the time it takes to move from public space to public space. Results illustrated a clear and direct visual continuity to public spaces in some areas. However, circulation between these networks required a dependence on existing public spaces in the domain of mobility such as staircases. This is due to the strong influence stairs have on any urban strip as a spatial structure.

Stairs as a spatial structure

Stairs as a spatial structure Stairs play an integral part in downtown Amman in providing circulation for the users. Not only do stairs play an essential role in the function of mobility, but also in generating an atmosphere for communities and a feeling of intimacy that harmonizes with the dynamism. It is for this reason why stairs infiltrate the mind of users as a means of circulation. This is evident through mental maps, emphasizing the role of the staircase typology on the subconscious of the pedestrian.

Staircase types and accessibility Only a few staircases are accessible to pedestrians and thus have potential for an intervention of a larger domain of public space. Patterns noticed are that the residential staircases are the narrowest (1 meter), while only 1 staircase is considered wide (3 to 4 meters). All staircases are accessible, however the blue zones indicate public accessibility, which illustrates that not that many are.

Staircase conditions

Building conditions

Building heights Understanding building conditions is essential as buildings are a large contributor to the direct local runoff with the street, similarly to the staircase. Building heights are important to indicate the relationship of the roof to the ground, which would affect the accessibility to roofs and therefore strategies for water harvesting.

Building occupations Many buildings are of mixed use typologies, store fronts on the main ground level and residentially occupied on above levels. Many businesses have been shut down as a result of the pandemic or income instability. However, along the urban strip of mixed use buildings in Princess Salma street, there is very little vibrancy and no social activity. The closed storefronts amplify the dead image of the strip. However it is important to map out the building occupancy to categorize buildings that can be of use for transformation and regeneration.

Occupied vs unoccupied buildings

Overlapping zones with building occupancy indicates the nature of the vacancy, whether residential or commercial abandonment. However in mixed use building cases, it had to be mapped separately. As seen, many buildings are unoccupied, while many buildings are half occupied as well, with fewer occupied buildings. Not only does this tell us the nature of unoccupied residential buildings, but also outlines the potential each building has for intervention and what strategies would need to be taken into place.

Accessibility to roofs As mentioned, roof accessibility plays a role in thinking of which buildings can be directly intervened on, whether unoccupied or otherwise, and how much of the roof runoff is shared or accessible to areas of circulation. As seen, many roofs are accessible on the strip, however labelled inaccessible due to the inability to reach smaller structures on the slope, despite their corresponding building height.

Conditions of roofs 3 levels of roof conditions were determined based on the decay of the roof through its materials, sheltering abilities, and the effect on runoff quality. Roof qualities influence the runoff quality, and since no roofs have green roofs, and instead, host scrap, sheets and decaying plaster with no parapets, runoff quality is influenced negatively, and inhabitants are not sheltered from the environment properly.

Terrible roof condition

Plastic and corrugated sheets. Lots of scrap and clutter worsen the runoff quality of water. Terrible roof maintenance also means poor protection from weather.

Poor roof condition

Poor roof conditions are mainly of cement plastered, but can contain corrugated sheets. Poor parapets and dirty surfaces as well as accessibility make these roofs vulnerable.

Rainwater analysis

The current water situation – water usage and rainwater

Rainwater volume and runoff against open and public spaces By multiplying rainfall density by area, you can get an understanding of rainfall volumetrics. With the volumes and quantities of rainfall, once multiplied by the percentage of which runoff occurs per permeable surfaces, an estimation of runoff quantities in these public spaces are calculated, outlining the severity of urban runoff in this critical and vulnerable urban strip.

Roof harvesting capacities, evidence based research A thorough analysis on all masses of this urban strip was conducted to estimate the benefits of water harvesting on (optimistically and potentially) all these roofs in the urban strip. This was done by multiplying the daily rainfall reading of 55mm against roof area. The results of potential rain harvesting and quantities of direct roof runoff are evidential that roof harvesting would go a long way in mitigation. Total volumes of water in areas 1, 2 and 3 of the strip are 5438.6msc, 6784.2msc and 4070.2msc respectively. This amounts to 16,293 meters cubed of water harvested, only in one day. For this water to be utilized and not wasted in very promising.

Roof harvesting capacities - 1

Roof harvesting capacities - 2

Roof harvesting capacities - 3

Vegetation mapping

Very little greenery exists in this strip, indicating the lack of water absorption and natural retention. However, mapping out frequent vegetation typology indicated a how the current existing vegetation layers absorb and respond to urban runoff along the slopes.

Constructing a network and a preliminary vision

Developing a network By overlapping the culvert with land use, circulation and occupancy, there is a collective and holistic awareness of the main infrastructural, spatial, behavioral and architectural forces at play, to develop a network that embraces runoff along the entirety of the urban strip.

Developing a network A network that consists of two vacant spaces and one main street along a sensitive and vulnerable urban strip can reactivate and regenerate areas productively. By capping the network with cohesive systems (both productive and educational) and systems that embrace urban runoff, linking this along with the main street to act as an organism that also embraces runoff, has the potential to create a blueprint that deals with vacant spaces productively in many domains.

Developing a network

Due to excess vacant land, more environmentally passive approaches for managing runoff independently will be implemented while integrated with decentralized and collective rainwater harvesting networks of roofs. This will activate the already dead and existing public space.

Innovative solutions for urban runoff of stairs and turning vacant lands into productive communal spaces with water channeling activates another area that tackles socio-spatial and environmental problems. Due to land use regulations and staircase separations, more environmentally passive approaches for managing runoff independently will be implemented.

Preliminary vision and objectives

Updated vision

A network of productive, diverse, sustainable and green communal spaces that embrace urban runoff, and provide new layers of economic and recreational regeneration for the area.

Persistence Adaptation Transformation

With a vision that directs focus towards communal spaces that primarily embrace runoff and activate areas productively, there needs to be a philosophical understanding of the importance of intervening at different magnitudes. Persistence, adaptation and transformation are the 3 general approaches of a flooding paradigm. While persistence is what the government is currently working on with the culvert expansion, and transformation would simply put not be feasible, the approach of adaptation welcomes and embraces runoffs and presents feasible solutions to the current crisis and situation of Jordan. With Jordan’s 2050 climate action plan, there lacks depth in the understanding the gaps of possibilities in the flooding and runoff crisis, as well as evidence based research and comprehensive strategies in full effect for this. It is why a feasible and realistic approach can best create a blueprint for the future.

However, with the approach of adaptation arises a few questions that must be addressed. -

How can urban runoff be embraced through networks of micro solutions to mitigate critical flooding areas?

To what extent can micro interventions contribute to the large scale problem of heavy urban runoff in dense places?

How can strategic layers and objectives be integrated to optimize effectivity of mitigating urban runoff?

How can the results of the interventions be tested to promote scalability?

Preliminary preceptual master plan overview

Preliminary ideations – left action area

Passive rainfall fabric and surface control intervention for rainwater harvesting. The temporary structures can cover the decaying roofs that will be rehabilitated, and direct runoff to for storage and to retention basins. The structure will also cover the redesigned staircase to direct runoff before reaching stairs to buffer zones and agricultural areas. Redesigned staircase will allow for more socio-spatial interaction and opportunities in an existing area that solely relies on the panoramic viewing terrace. To transform this area to a productive communal space, urban gardening would be an excellent option to transform land vacancy into a productive space that benefits the community on an urban level. This would call for managerial and policy strategies that can enable the success of this idea, as it is not common in Amman.

Preliminary ideations – left action area

Preliminary ideations – right action area Creating a cohesive system on the right action area would be an integration of public space regeneration to reactivate communal vibrancy, and educational opportunity by providing passive environmental strategies that embrace runoff, through water channeling. The concept of water channeling is not common and not present at all in Jordan at a public level for urban runoff. If this can be turned into an educational experience for the pass byer and/ or the local community. Educational interpretation can be provided by expanding the existing public space to the already vacant land, and use existing buildings for pop up exhibitions that are rented to generate productivity, and in turn, vibrancy that embraces urban runoff.

Preliminary ideations – Creating a blueprint The approach for feasibility and realism is rooted in an awareness of the bigger picture. If a feasible network can be created with a series of micro interventions at an architectural and urban scale, a blueprint can be generated and duplicated in other similar vacant areas and urban strips, that not only contribute to urban runoff from the valley, but also contributes to enhancing and regenerating existing open spaces productively. In turn, this step by step process can duplicate and create an even larger blue-green network that embraces urban runoff and assists the local communities.

It is imperative to understand that the archaeological significance of the Roman Theatre plays a big philosophical mediator in keeping interventions humble feasible, not to develop any major transformational disruptance. Instead, innovation on a local level can be duplicated and capture the curiosity of pedestrians as well. This curious attraction to the project harmonizes with the touristic attraction and curiosity that surrounds the Roman Theatre among pedestrians and tourists. As a result of this, the theme of character and identity in the local area of downtown remains not only intact, but also strengthened as a result of these interventions.

Case studies

The right to water – What if the urban fabric of refugee camps collected water? – Jordan This case study is a student thesis that explores the passive and feasible means of architecturally retaining water in vulnerable urban fabrics, which in this case, a refugee camp. With the problem of water scarcity and decaying infrastructure, placing temporary structures on roofs of clutters of masses enables a decentralized storing system. The structure comes in various formations that enables rainfall to be stored in parapets, planters and wells, with infrastructural intricacies that are present only in the form of pipes and minimal intervention.

This presents an inspiring opportunity to use a similar system on the decaying roofs of the urban strip, through which rainfall is collected as opposed to wasted for runoff, especially given the poor water management in the area.

The Zikra Intiative - Jordan This initiative operates in Karak, Outskirts of the Dead Sea and other distant farming lands in Jordan. The initiative presents an interesting approach to enhancing communal productivity through gardening, craftsmaking and other local activities that generate income. It brings the tourism to a grass roots level of vernacular communal behavior, through which revenues and profits are returned to the community for the productive labor. This approach is a feasible approach and brings an opportunity for urban gardening in downtown Amman, which is a strange concept to grasp in downtown, but very doable if done and managed correctly. This in turn can create productive communities in the area and become self sustaining.

Al Thaqafa street - Jordan This street in Amman was transformed into a recessed public space that accommodates activities and cultural events that brings the community together. This recession in some areas in the heart of downtown would be a very practical solution to water retention of urban runoffs which can mitigate flooding. However, given that the culvert is right beneath street level across the Roman Theatre, implementing vertical features would be difficult. The relationship of the street to the curb in this street is open, creating physical accessibility to all areas of the sidewalk, which can create unwanted pedestrian circulation in the Roman Theatre strip, especially given the narrow main street.

The Cambachi staircase - Brazil The cambachi staircase in Brazil is an example of stair (or public space) regeneration for a local community in Rio De Janeiro. The design and intervention illustrates creative interventions of co design that enhances vibrancy and in turn safety in the area. The staircase welcomes landscape features and gaming features that promotes recreational transformation, through elements such as wall art and mechanical anchored bored games to walls. Co-design was used in the design process to maximize self sufficiency and ensure that the needs of the local community are met.

Phase III – Vision, masterplan and detailed design Strategic design and implementation : Developing a detailed masterplan of interventions of all natures, with a rigorous assessment of implementation and detailed design outcomes.

Phase III structure and direction This phase will finalize the vision, goals and objectives and strategic frameworks that are relevant in implementing the interventions that serve the vision. Interventions of design and policy will be outlines through the master plan and a detailed illustration of design interventions for all three action areas of the master plan. Before looking into design, an in depth analysis of each action area will be conducted (such as internal and external forces of socio-economics, pedestrian behavior and urban runoff). This will enrichen the design feasibility and sensitivity.

Vision A network of productive, diverse, sustainable and green communal spaces that embrace urban runoff, and provide new layers of economic and recreational regeneration for the area.

100

Goals and objectives

Private domain Public domain

As a means to achieve this vision, goals and objectives are outlined and distributed across 3 domains of private or public spaces, or both. This awareness of private vs public is essential in implementing the correct strategies for the different action areas.

Water resourcefulness -

Lessening urban runoffs to the critical zones of Hashemite square. Decentralizing grey water systems.

Green pocket -

Provide proper green spaces.

Planting more trees for mini forests.

Passive environmental and landscape design solutions for water channeling/ trenching

Providing collective rainwater harvesting networks for unoccupied buildings. Implementing design solutions to retain water.

Implementing strategies of water channeling

Implementation of policies and incentives.

Provision of recreational spaces.

Socially alive -

Recreational spaces bringing people together.

Local innovative design implementations that can capture curiosity

Increasing vibrancy of the areas and potentially the residential strip.

Returning public street to the people.

Both domains

Awareness

Self sustaining

Activating these areas and hosting potential public activities

Activating the areas to accommodate kiosks and occasional economic activity.

Innovative activities and interpretation that bring awareness to public regarding water and urbanism.

Policy making and engaging the local communities in participatory design

Directing circulation towards existing local businesses and cafes.

Involved maintenance through stakeholders along the main street landscape.

Self sustaining green pockets through irrigation.

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Frameworks and analysis summary -

What are the relevant frameworks needed to reach this vision?

What are these existing situations discovered through our analysis?

A framework is a particular set of rules and belief in which are employed in order to deal with problems and decide what are the correct strategic approaches in reaching the vision, and solving the problems at hand. Frameworks essential to developing the sustainable network that embraces runoffs include the provision of open spaces and green networks, correct legislative implementation, roofscape analysis and financing.

Open spaces, green networks

Incentives

Sustainable network

Roofs

Financing

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Frameworks and strategic approaches Open spaces, green networks

Understanding parcellations and determining the exact areas needed for the creation of a green area.

Using passive environmental techniques to self sustain the green spaces, through water channeling and harvesting.

Strategy

Existing scenario Open spaces in diverse typologies, related to mobility (streets, stairways, sidewalks, transportation terminals, plazas). There are open spaces heavily rooted in social aspects, such as social gathering spaces, archaeology, mosque courts, political gathering spaces, and so on.

Through parcellations, a hybrid identification of land to be expropriated for public use, and land for private commissioning

Participatory approaches in communal gardening for long term sustainability in the creation of a green area or public space.

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Frameworks and strategic approaches Roof areas, conditions and accessibility Existing scenario 30% of roofs are accessible in the urban strip are accessible, 68% of roofs are in terrible condition, and 32% are in poor condition, with less than 1% (or two buildings only) that have decent roof maintenance. Collective roof areas has a potential of 870 meters cubed of harvested water for one day.

Providing collective rainwater harvesting networks for unoccupied buildings.

Decentralizing grey water systems for occupied buildings

Strategy

Policy implementation for various typologies of buildings and their adjacent surroundings

Roof maintenance and rehabilitation for both visual and runoff quality benefits

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Frameworks and strategic approaches Incentives and policies

Implementation of policies and regulations for rainwater roof harvesting and necessary requirements on residential units.

Financial incentives for businesses and their water practices. Potentially even incentivizing

Strategy

Existing scenario As of December 2020, no policies or incentives are provided to residential and commercial buildings in the domain of water harvesting. It can be a splitting discussion among governmental officials and advisors. Government aids in water bills by covering 70 to 75% of all bills, of which 40% of the bill is used grey water.

Incentives through subsidizing of green roof planting for residential families.

Land use incentives and policies for self regulating and self maintaining environmental and public practices.

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Frameworks and strategic approaches Financing and the critical runoff situation

Financing for regeneration of public spaces along the main street and private vacant action areas.

Provision of necessary tools for incentives (such as planters and vegetation)

Strategy Existing scenario GIZ, GAM as well as other organizations in the private and governmental sector are the current main forces behind urban project developments. With low pervious surfaces and sidewalks making up 19% of public spaces, and impervious surfaces, and impervious surfaces making up 70% of public spaces, financing is deemed essential from both sectors.

Financing for implementation, consultancy, and managerial maintenance that occurs in privately commissioned sites.

Financing as a means of incentives and subsidies for businesses in maintenance

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Masterplan overview of the entire urban strip, and its consistency with the vision 3 action areas define the master plan. Action area 1 will be transformed into a private urban gardening that can generate a productive green communal space for the area, bring in diversity along the tourist trail and of course retain and embrace runoff from surrounding roofscapes and terracing of the slopes. Action area 2 and its existing public space will be regenerated for recreational regeneration. This will be done through offering public educational interpretation on an expanded design of the public space that will welcome curiosity of education towards urban runoff, the situation in Jordan, and design strategies. Water channeling in the topography will also be employed and an interactive interpretation of this will be employed. Action area 3 will transform the main street into a mechanism of a water sensitive urban runoff area. This will be done through expanding the island to accommodate pedestrian circulation, and offer legislative interventions on buildings that embrace urban runoff, and self sustain the urban strip.

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Action area 1 Private urban gardening for economic regeneration of the strip. Farwah Al- Judhami, Salamah Ibn Al – Akwa, Hashemi streets

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Micro analysis

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Micro analysis

Area and dimensions

Parcellation and land plots

Pedestrian circulation

Accessibilities and entrances

Drainage and runoff

This vacant area consists of 3 privately owned plots of land, of which will blend into residential or commercial building typologies that surround it. Understanding parcellations is essential to map the boundaries of land that will be regenerated. Surrounding runoffs are clear through the clusters of masses and staircase open space, leading to lots of runoff in the area.

Pedestrians utilize this as a panoramic viewing platform for the Roman Theatre, however there is very little occupancy and little circulation on the west staircase as opposed to the narrow decaying right staircase. Mapping out entrances and accessibilities are important to potentially map out entrances to the urban garden, as well as the existing trees so that very little interference with the natural topography is conducted.

Existing vegetation

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Micro analysis Prevailing materials

Prevailing materials + runoff

With this vacant area, it was important to map out surrounding materials due on the site. Existing materials both of ground and roof cover (or general surfaces) were identified to understand the quality of runoff that is occurring, as runoff quality is heavily affected by the surface materials. Many scrap is present on the site and on the roofs of the area. Understanding the nearby ground surfaces such as soil and tiling is important in understanding the nearest permeable surface for each building in the case of directing urban runoff to the nearest permeable surface. Runoff quantities were calculated to indicate percentages and volumes of runoff in accordance with occupied areas (stairs and soils).

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Selected parcellation With the 4 plots of vacant land in the area that are all privately owned, expropriating the plots of land would go against the notion of feasibility and productive economic spaces. It is for this reason that a 151.6msq plot of land would be expropriated for public use along with the staircase, so that public space plays a larger role in integration with the private lands for urban gardening. The plots of private land near the staircases are to be remained privately owned, however with special buffer zone regulation that would welcome water runoff and retentions from shading structures above the staircases. The buffer zone and setback requirements are also imposed so that if owners of the plots of land were to build, they respect a buffer zone requirement so that the site would continue to embrace runoff.

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Action Area 1 Masterplan

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Action area 1 precept and conceptual master plan Following the analysis is a conceptual/ precept masterplan that indicates entrances, estimated areas and interventions of different natures. More entrances will be introduced to the west staircases, 3 of the 4 land plots will be used for urban gardening. Slope will be treated for grading and terracing, isolated between buffer retention vegetation. Security kiosks will be present by the entrances for maintenance of the site and ensuring no external forces vandalize the sensitive agricultural. Surrounding roofscapes will be treated in accordance to their occupation and direct water runoff through roof pinch shading structures, that will be further elaborated on later during this report. By utilizing the existing public space (staircase and expropriated land) the public space is regenerated not only by productive activity, but also a new creation of sociospatial intimate spaces along a newly designed staircase. Retiling of porous materials will furthermore embrace urban runoffs.

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Action area 1 policy, regulation, maintenance and implementation Type of intervention

Activating Blue Green Networks for Urban Runoff

Articles inside

3.5.2.2 Infrastructural network

3.6 Closing remarks

3.2.1 Micro analysis

3. Phase 3 Vision, masterplan and detailed design

1.2.3 First impressions

2.5 Vegetation

2.3.3 Occupied vs unoccupied buildings

1.4.2 Solid and void, topography and site

1.4.3 Urban runoff, drainage, critical zones

2. Phase 2 Tailored analysis + preliminary vision

1.5.5 Vibrancy

1.1.14 Mobility and vibrancy

0. Preface and acknowledgements