5. Preface
Growing up in a boxed-in environment in the once suburban-now urban
Rakan Ayyoub
areas of Amman, I have over the years developed an affirmed
consciousness vis-à-vis the issues of human habitats, the influence of
certain environments on their behaviors, cultural aspects, and economic
growth.
As I traveled from one location to another, crossing many countries, I
became fanatical about drawing at a very young age, and gained an
ability to express my ideas and visual understanding of the material
oriented world with a pen. I henceforth was constantly searching for
solutions to enhance the human living conditions – generally speaking
about early childhood experimentation with engineering – and merely
talking about my teenage curiosity in general design, I became
increasingly interested in the search of life improving philosophies.
A scarcity driven economy, and an education in some of the best schools
in Jordan influenced a scientific-earthly, yet an economical approach to
my design process, which during college years, thrived to combine my
obsessive perfectionism in functionality with secular aestheticism.
7. Table Of Contents
Project Abstract
7
A Children’s play area was designed using a conceptual
PearlPlayArea approach derived from a natural phenomena,
A C o n c e p t u a l A p p r a o c h
9 Project Abstract
As a library is the civic heart of a city we can create an analogy
Public Library based on a human’s heart anatomy, the human heart is a very
complicated and a beautiful machine it is a perfectly
A s t h e c i v i c h e a r t o f a c i t y
assembled genius of function.
13 Project Abstract
The project lies amidst the heart of the school of architecture
in the university of Jordan, the central courtyard brings in
Courtyard Renovation light, and enables natural ventilation to the surrounding
A s c h o o l r e n o v a t i o n p r o j e c t corridors, a major renovation was made.
19 Project Abstract
A Hotel designed to fit in a very distinct area in the Jordanian
capital Amman, a suburban district known as Dabouq.
Dabouq Luxury Hotel Dabouq is an area which is inhibited with upper class citizens
A t h i r d y e a r p r o j e c t
and their luxurious mansions.
Project Abstract
29 The Coffee place was chosen to have a very
deconstructionist and provocative look in order to make it
Thei rBookplacec Cafe
A t h d y e a r p r o j e t
stand out from the crowed of traditional Jordanian
architecture present in “Mount Waibdeh”
Rakan Ayyoub
An Undergraduate Student Portfolio
8. Project Abstract
37
Located in one of Jordans most visited areas, Jabal Amman “Mount Amman”
the area is a very rich cultural and urban space. Computerr History rMuseum
A t h i d y e a r p o j e c t
The Computer History Museum was established as a non-profit organization
in 1999 in the united states.
Project Abstract 47
A bank project was intended to teach students the ways in which mid-rise
buildings are built and designed, the project is located in an area stacked with Nationalu Commerciale Bank
A f o r t h y e a r p r o j c t
mid-rise buildings, and is a very vital commercial and business district in the
Jordanian Capital.
Project Abstract 57
Madaba as a growing city required the building of a city arena for its youth. The
arena was built in order for the city to enjoy further physical development of its Madaba t City aArena c t
a f o u r h y e r p r o j e
youth, an was designed as a place to be used in musical concerts regarding the
important annual Jordan Festival,
Project Abstract 67
Chosen in the city of zarka, the functional requirements of the program were
quite brutal and a lot of the concentration was on functional and structural Cataract uSurgeryr Center
a f o r t h y e a p r o j e c t
accuracy and on healthcare conceptual design for eye centers in general.
Project Abstract 83
Chosen to be erected in the northen parts of Jordan, the village of Shatana
stands on its own right as a Jordanian Cultural , Religious, and Traditional
Heritage. Chosen from a very few remaining all Christian villages in the
Sha ana
v i s i o n a r y I N T E R V E N T I O N
country, a visionary architectural and a minor urban development project
was implemented in order to capture and boldly expose the Genius Loci of
the place.
Rakan Ayyoub
An Undergraduate Student Portfolio
9. PearlcPlayAreap r a o c h
An oyster is an animal, a mollusc. the scientific classification of the most The self concept of a child is a mental image that each child renders
famous pearl producing oysters is Pinctada imbricata, it is made of 2 about him self.
valves.
A C o n e p t u a l A p
thorn like obstacles
wave motion
mother of pearl.
shell
specific shape
regularly shaped
Pinctada imbricata
horny layer
adaptation
irregular
Intruder
Mantle cavity
mantle.
prismatic layer
The valves of an oyster are composed of 3 layers. The horny layer,
made of protein chonchiolin, protects against acids, the second is
composed of calcium carbonate (agronite) and know as the prismatic
layer it brings the oyster its strength, the third is the mother of pearl.
The wave motion of the sea or lake water waves has a special effect on
the adaptation of an oyster, each oyster shell has a specific shape to
cope with the waves of a specific area in the ocean.
Pearls are not necessarily regularly shaped as a sphere, some pearls
are totally irregular, this relies on the shape of a parasite.
An Intruder such as a fish may irritate the oyster, the formation of a pearl Project Objectives: by going through the pearl - oyster
biggins as the intruder is trapped between the shell and the mantle.
like surfaces of our play area, feeling and sensing
The Mantle cavity is the part of the oyster that is between the two valves. those surfaces, the child can form a better mental image
Intruders pass through the mantle cavity
about him/herself, plus gaining a mysterious self revealing
after moving through thorn like obstacles.
subconscious learning experience.
The Mantle is the top layer of the oyster. It contains the cells producing
the mother of pearl. It is so flesh like and mucus
surrounded.
Dr. Omar Amireh
Dr. Firas Sharaf
Instructors:
7
10. PearlcPlayAreap r a o c h
The Water Bed
By moving on the water bed the child
A C o n e p t u a l A p
can sense the reality of being on a
mantle, from the water bed he can
access the different floors of the game.
Bivalve Stairs
The Three levels of the game are
connected using a funky stair like
structure. the point of connection
gives the game a bivalve similar The Tunnel
appearance in an abstract way. The narrow tunnel, created
When a child moves through the in the game resembles many
stairs he can feel the bivalve closure features, the bars inside resemble
and hence feel the transition in the thorn like structures in the mantle
the 3 shell levels and layers. cavity. and as the tunnel is waved
each level contains different the chilled by turning his body will
activities for the child resembling resemble a wave motion. The tunnel
the levels in a normal shell. in its essence resembles the mantle
cavity, the intruder (the child in the
game) moves from one end to the
The Ball Pool other. The tunnel is padded and has
The ball resembles the pearl formation mirrors on the inner surface, these may
process in an oyster help him to create a better self image
in an abstract way. The kids fall in the about him self.
ball pool resembling The Balancing
the irritant intruders. The balls See Saws
resembling the mother of pearl The Trampoline and
particles of agronite, surround the kids These seesaws resemble the the Rope Bridge
in the baroque pearl properties of the prismatic layer
like container. The kids can reach the of the shell, as the prismatic layer has a
ball pool from the slide balanced composition
on the third floor. of agronite and protein, the child
walking on these seesaws
and trying to balance himself makes
him/her more self conscious
and increases his attention span.
Dr. Omar Amireh
Dr. Firas Sharaf
Instructors:
Section Elevation 8
11. Publici vLibrary o f a c i t y
A library is a place for getting unrestricted information in all media formats,
The Conceptual Approach
and to provide the means for finding the required information.
It is the interaction between the staff, the library system and the users them
self. By a deep understanding of the various aspects of a library’s spacial
program and the functional relationships between spaces and circulation
i c h e a r t
patterns of users, staff, books and periodicals a metaphoric concept can
thus be developed.
As a library is the civic heart of a city we can create an analogy based on a
human’s heart anatomy, the human heart is a very complicated and a
beautiful machine it is a perfectly assembled genius of function.
A s t h e c
blood users
systematic circulation of
circulation knowledge in
the country
pulmonary circulation of
circulation knowledge in
the library
Lungs and air The world of
knowledge
Internal Circulation Circulation of
books in the
D r . A l i A b u G hD n..eN laiebhi b A lG huar n e m e h
library
ar m l K di
Instructors:
I n s t r u c t o r sD r A A u
Dr. Nabil Al Kurdi
:
Public Library
As the civic heart of a city
9
2
12. Publici vLibrary o f a c i t y
To Body The drawing clearly shows the
Perspective Drawings
Left Atrium
building’s entrances
and exits towards their
To Pulmonary
Circulation
corresponding lobbies,
two billboard areas were left empty
i c h e a r t
a t t h e f r o n t
From Lugs
so that any desired graphic or
announcement can
be installed. The heart’s
Left Atrium
Right Atrium transparency is clearly noticeable
with the shiny metal trims.
A s t h e c
Here the rear end of the library can
Right Ventricle
Left Ventricle be seen, this area is basically an
integrated area for the technical
services division. A service door with
a loading dock door is visible, and the
large scale of the library can be seen
according to the man at the bottom.
The transparent glass facades and
partially opaque shields
supply the basic needs of natural
lightning within the library.
Dr. Ali Abu Ghanemeh
Dr. Nabil Al Kurdi
Instructors:
10
3
13. Publici vLibrary o f a c i t y
Administrative Entrance
Exit
9
10
11 9
8 8
i c h e a r t
Development 7 4
Entrance
10 Reading Area
13 3
6
14 7 2 Café
1
Lobby
3
2
A s t h e c
3 4
1
4 6
2 1
5
5
Entrance
Ground Floor
The exit and entrance lobbies 1 Loading and Storage Escalators represent the 1 Indexing The café was given a modern look with 1 Indexing
Second Floor
First Floor
represent the pathways of 2 Classification heart’s cardiac circulation, the 2 Check In fancy seating and a relieving, revealing 2 Periodicals
oxygenated blood to the heart and 3 Jacketing circulation deck as the heart’s 3 Circulation view to the open atrium bellow, this 3 Reading Area
exit from the heart through the 4 Computers valves. 4 Main Book Stacks creates a state of mental interaction 4 References
pulmonary vein Administrative 5 Lecture Hall
Reviewing areas provide quick 5 Indexes between people in the café and the
services and technical services are 6 Lobby
reviewing for on shelf material, 6 Reviewing
visitors.
7 Rare Books
separated by a common meeting 7 Gallery
indexes were spread around the Periodicals were placed near the café
8 Exit Lobby 8 Librarian
room. 9 Depute
books for a quick access to 9 Special Collections
to create a visual interaction between
10 Secretary and Chief
desired material. 10 Check Out
magazines and café users.
Administration Has its solitary 11 General Office
Rare books were isolated in a
entrance, and a wide entrance was 13 Archives room with its special reading The reading areas were isolated
Dr. Ali Abu Ghanemeh
created for storage, the lecture halls 14 Meetings area. towards the northen end near the glass
are separated near the common The librarian’s office was put facade, this brings in natural daylight for
Dr. Nabil Al Kurdi
entrance lobby. near the books for quick help reading.
Instructors:
inquiries.
The reading area reveals the book
stacks on the first floor creating visual
continuity between the readers and the
book stacks.
11
14. Left Blank by intention
Instructors:
Dr. Ali Abu Ghanemeh
5
12
Dr. Nabil Al Kurdi
Publici vLibrary o f a c i t y
A s t h e c i c h e a r t
15. Courtyard nRenovationc t
A s c h o o l r e o v a t i o n p r o j e
The project lies amidst the heart of the school of architecture in the
Project Abstract
university of Jordan, the central courtyard brings in light, and enables natural
ventilation to the surrounding corridors, trees are present as means of
shading and evaporative cooling by transpiration during hot summer days,
making it a very beautiful and an attractive focal point in the school.
Due to the economic situations in the country the courtyard hasn’t received
much attention since the early 80s, only some building workshop projects
are found in it, and due to prevailing arid weather conditions they are almost
unfunctional.
Courtyard Renovation
A s c h o o l r e n o v a t i o n p r o j e c t
We Can’t Neglect the direct relationship between nature and architecture
Conceptualization
and how the direct relation lies somewhat hidden in the natural unobservable
phenomena of the earth.
Dr. Ali Abu Ghanemeh
One phenomenon is earth’s magnificent magnetic field, the filed lines in the
Dr. Nabil Al Kurdi
project are directly used as a grid system to produce the architecture and the
Instructors:
landscaping forms.
13
16. Courtyard nRenovationc t
A s c h o o l r e o v a t i o n p r o j e
Preliminary Sketches
The courtyard can be separated into 4 main zones right and left, and the 2
zones in the center. Through the yard passes 2 circulation bridges for the
upper zones of the school. As a basic step towards a useful way to use
the courtyard is the satisfaction of lost vital functions in the school, such
as a bookshop with printing and plotting services and a coffee shop, to
serve sleep deprived architecture students! .
To start with placing a certain grid one of the trees was chosen to be the
point on which the grid passes through, a central artistic structure was
Dr. Ali Abu Ghanemeh
designed in order to be focal point, to elicit undesired circulation
Dr. Nabil Al Kurdi
patterns, and reduce any student traffic congestion especially when
Instructors:
moving project models from a studio to the other.
Grid lines where desired to be the earth main magnetic fields, and are
determined by using a simple compass, the lines mainly pass through the
tree towards the north, south magnetic, and geographic grids
correspondingly.
14
17. Courtyard nRenovationc t
A s c h o o l r e o v a t i o n p r o j e
It was really easy to figure out new wall and ground treatments, and to
Preliminary Sketches
use some order in a courtyard lacking noticeable architectural order.
First it was necessary to permit light to pass through in order to reveal
more color when dealing with new wall decorative paintings, by reducing
the size of the trees.
Dr. Ali Abu Ghanemeh
Dr. Nabil Al Kurdi
Instructors:
15
18. Courtyard nRenovationc t
A s c h o o l r e o v a t i o n p r o j e
Steel Panels
Symbolizes the use of steel in buildings
Water
The Basic need for all life forms
Vegetation
No Building is complete without nature
Glass Brick
One of the best inventions of all time
Magnetic Fields
A direct relation with architecture
The perspective below shows the gallery area and how it is positioned
Stone Pebbles near the stepped seating area. The walls act as exhibitions to exhibit any
A Basic building material
outstanding students work.
The central structure in the project is composed mainly of two
overlapping semi-ellipses. The ellipses symbolize the direction of the
earth’s magnetic geographic and North/South and Magnetic North/South.
The angle between both ellipses or arrows as I prefer to call them I about
20 degrees, which is the range of the ever-changing earth’s magnetic
Dr. Ali Abu Ghanemeh
field.
The structure takes the shapes of a high-rise building symbolizing the
Dr. Nabil Al Kurdi
combination of the six elements in the structure overtime to develop the
Instructors:
science and art of architecture.
Top East
West
16
19. Instructors:
Dr. Ali Abu Ghanemeh
17
Courtyard nRenovationc t
A s c h o o l r e o v a t i o n p r o j e
Dr. Nabil Al Kurdi
interior Section Floor Plan Interior Section
the water stream.
the magnetic field grid distribution is evident in the
plan view, landscaping, the central structure and the
20. Courtyard nRenovationc t
A s c h o o l r e o v a t i o n p r o j e
The Archicafe is a quick snack cafeteria that offers quick access to light
The Archicafe
snacks.
The café offers cold drinks, various types of coffee, and pastry for
architectural students and staff.
The area in front of the café maybe used for studying or dinning.
The Archibooks Shop
Dr. Ali Abu Ghanemeh
The Archibook division is a bookshop for generaly needed architectural
books that cannot be found easily, university press releases and various
Dr. Nabil Al Kurdi
architectural periodicals.
Instructors:
The bookshop may also offer architectural supplies and printing services
such as plotting and scanning, laser cutting and other CNC related model
making services.
18
21. Daboque Luxury Hotel
Dabouq LuxuryHotel A t h i r d y e a r p r o j e c t
Dabouq Luxury Hotel
A t h i r d y e a r p r o j e c t
The project is located in a very distinct area in the Jordanian capital Amman,
Project Abstract
a suburban district known as Dabouq. Dabouq is an area which is inhibited
A r c h i t e c t Jaffar Tukan i t e c t Jaffar Tukan
with upper class citizens and their luxurious mansions.
bring more urban appreciation
In order to
Instructors:
to the area, the hotel was chosen to be placed in this site. the site
is known for its mediterranean climate and plant cover. the site contour is
very steep.
Arch
n
Instructors:
19
22. Concept Formation
Dabough as lightly occupied area with a low population density Getting frustrated from that situation and trying to find a
Dabouq yLuxuryoHotel
Site Situation
seems to become more occupied over the years with solution we tried to search back into the pre-architectural boom
e a r p r j e c t
lavishly extravagant villas having no in the Jordanian land.
architectural roots in the original Jordanian heritage and
traditions, most villas in that area seem to be a mix of a modern Pre the early 1920s most of the Jordanian area was
, post modern, Islamicist, classicist architectural styles forming occupied by either agricultural peasants living in Jordanian
and eclectic or indefinable style, witch can be called an villages such as Hmud, Samad, Tibneh and many others or by
Bedouins occupying most of the desert land area.
architectural acrobaticism or a kitch. In a survey the
A t h i r d
observations that were suggested and stated that:
Villages show an architectural trend similar in composition
to houses belonging to the old Middle Eastern area especially
1. All the styles mentioned above indicate a high
in the western areas towards the Mediterranean and the
degree of insensitivity and eccentricity among higher-
income groups. housing is usually made of stone and wood and having ancient
constructional methods such as ribbed vaults and beams.
2. The styles mentioned above are usually encouraged Bedouins, on the other hand, showed some undemanding
by the architects themselves.
and easy to fit building methods such as tents.
3. The lack of a predominant style in this area reflects a For me it was the tent that made it into my mind after having to
A r c h i t e c t Jaffar Tukan
state of Stylistic Flux or an on-going evolutionary process. think for a while.
Instructors:
Bayt char or 'house of hair' - the black Bedouin
4. In all styles there is some degree of eclecticism or tents are traditionally woven from goats' hair. Nowadays the
Kitch or the tend to mimic a western culture.
woven strips can be bought, but many women still weave their
own. When it rains the weave contracts and doesn't let the
5. Municipal by-Laws and building regulations in the water in. In the heat of the summer the outside of the tent feels
Amman area regarding the compulsory stone facing
have failed to create any type of urban homogeneity
very hot to the touch while the inside remains blissfully cool. In
the winter when it is cold outside with a small fire inside the
reverse is true, and the tent stays warm and cozy.
In Bedouin traditions the unexpected visitor will be invited into
the men's section, although subject to close scrutiny through
any holes in the curtain dividing it from the women's section.
20
23. Daboque Luxury Hotel
Dabouq LuxuryHotel
Although the later part wont be able to provide a good hospitality The concept is to mainly produce a building shape functionally
Concept Formation
Conceptualisation
concept option for both genders, though the former could. Tents of the correct as a hotel with a typical functional diagram however to
A t h i r d y e a r p r o j e c t
ancient were the basis of larger tensile membrane structure invention. emerge with a mixture between
Tensile fabric structures are a dramatic and exciting method of modern and old in order to
construction, benefits of these structures lay in:
define the time frame in which
we are in, and develop the latest building technology in a
1. allowing curvature
way that serves our traditions and needs and produces a modern
Jordanian style obtained mostly by looking at the roots of our
2. Translucency and the ability to spectacularly light both
culture rather than trying to mimic what already exists, thus
internal and external spaces.
creating a true landmark in the area, hence a tourist attraction
towards a dead area.
3. enabling us to consider different methods of creating A centralized plan was chosen for this project, locating the back
Project Geometry
environments - rather than boxing space in of the house and other services within a central core, thus
allowing for optimal service speed to the front of the house
4. fabric buildings can last generations, and conform to the regions.
same structural codes as permanent buildings
A combination of axial and central plan distribution was
chosen in order to allow different regions to benefit from sun,
5. architectural fabrics are capable of exceptional spans wind and the best use of views.
6.
A r c h i t e c t Jaffar Tukan i t e c t Jaffar Tukan
And extraordinary illuminated effects. Lighting a structure
can conjure a glowing effect which brings a landmark quality
to any building.
Instructors:
7. Metal fabric panels that can be woven in sizes up to 20'
wide by 200' long
8.
Arch
Flat panels that are mounted vertically to a building
façade require structural support at the top and the bottom of
each panel only. Intermediate locations require minimal
support and are designed to maintain consistent distance
Instructors:
between the metal fabric panels and the face of the building
9. Tension panels can be designed as fall protection systems,
Located on a hill, the project required a very stable structure,
in order to comply with the chosen tensile structure curvilinear
to provide hurricane window protection and to provide bomb
geometry was used, this allows for easy way finding and a better use
blast protection for buildings designed with blast mitigation this meant that a symmetrical form is to be chosen.
of the available views.
10. Tension screens can be provided with more than 50%
open area, and are ideal for open structures like parking
garage façades.
21
24. Dabouq yLuxuryoHotel
This plan of the First level mainly shows the relation between the restaurants
Project Geometry
e a r p r j e c t
and lounges and the route of access through the lobby, guests will have to
either take the panoramic elevators or the stairs up to the level. It also shows
the upper administrative areas and the hotels clinic.
stepping slabs that comply with the natural slope of the site and supporting
A t h i r d
columns that curve gently with the tensile structure that sits above, were to be
used in such a case.
9
Plan Level 1
8 10
11
1
5 14 12
6 13
15
2
7
4 3
16
A r c h i t e c t Jaffar Tukan
The elevation shows the main entry of the service and employees cars
East Elevation
17
entrance towards the truck deck and the lower car park. the guest rooms at
this side enjoy a pleasant view towards the east side, viewing the city’s
Instructors:
18 19 skyline and bringing early morning sunshine, these rooms maybe be used for
business purposes. notice the overlapping lobby area of the terraces and the
room facades and how the membrane structure demonstrates a tent like
structure over the upper restaurants. Notice also the decorative steel work
and how it holds the building. You can also see the columns through the
membrane structure covering the lobby.
1. Meeting Rooms, 2,3,4 Clinic and Services, 5,6 Meeting Room and Foyer, 7 lobby open space, 8
General Manager, 9 secretary, 10 assistant manager, 11 staff manager, 12 director of accounts, 13
Banqueting Manager , 14 Front Office, 15 Files and Archives, 16 Meeting Room, 17 Foyer, 18,19
Restaurants
22
25. Daboque Luxury Hotel
Plan B-1
This plan of the basement’s first level mainly shows the relations between the truck
Back Elevation
Dabouq LuxuryHotel
deck, the car park inclination, the loading areas, and the corresponding stores, it mainly
A t h i r d y e a r p r o j e c t
represents the housekeeping department along with all its branches, notice the
functional relationships between the spaces, and how they relate to guest and other
areas.
1 2 3
The elevation shows the indoor swimming pools, the panoramic elevators and the
Incline 6 %
7
6
4 5
first floor leisure areas, notice how each elevator foyer has a view down on the
0.00
8 21
swimming pools and other services, the large class facade frames the view on
1.2
10 11 12 13 14 9 20
15 18 19 various levels towards the swimming pool areas to create a pleasant feeling of
22 security and well being in the hotel, the view towards that facade also shows the
16 17
stunning nature of the area through the foyer.
23
Section B-B
25
A r c h i t e c t Jaffar Tukan i t e c t Jaffar Tukan
Service Lobby Admin Service
24 Stairs Stairs
Service Meeting Admin Service
Stairs
Room Reception
Stairs
Service Service
Stairs Electrical Room Mechanical Room Stairs
Housekeeping Linen
Service Corridor Wall Wall
Instructors:
Service Service
Stairs Stairs
Dishrack area Dish Washing Hot Food Truck Ice and Water
Area
Service Service
Stairs Stairs
Ball Room
W.C W.C
Service Service
Stairs Stairs
Arch
This section of the hotel clearly shows the relation between the lobby and the tent
membrane structure, the columns can also be seen spanning the entire lobby from
Instructors:
bottom to top. Notice the slab in the lobby holding the administrative areas and
1. Laundry, 2. General Store ,3. Truck Deck ,4. Function Room Store, 5. Workshop ,6. Workshop Store, 7.
allowing pathways for guests hitting the upper restaurants. The section shows the
Receiving Area , 8. Garbage Store, 9. Garbage Refrigerator , 10. Dining Hall, 11. Uniform Gain, 12.
Upholstery, 13. Paint, 14. Carpentry, 15. Telephone Equipment, 16. Electrical Room, 17. Mechanical
service stairs and how they allow services to reach each subsequent hotel floor.
Room, 18. Generator,19. Beverage Store 20. Empty Bottles, 21. Steward, 22. Changing Rooms, 23.
Foyer, 24, 25. Guest Rooms
You can also notice the relation between service areas such as the kitchens and the
housekeeping department and how they relate to other areas, including the high
ceiling ballroom in the lower level.
23
