Amman City Hall

Client: The Municipality of Amman

Location: Amman, Jordan

Services Provided: Design & Supervision

Total Built-Up Area: 8,650 m²

Construction Cost: US $7,000,000

Starting Date: 1994 (Design) - 1995 (Supervision)

Completion Date: 1995 (Design) - 1996 (Supervision)

J.V: Jafar Tukan and Partners

Approach

The design of the Amman City Hall focused on creating a modern civic center that still honors the cultural heritage of Jordan. The building's layout was conceived with a square form, incorporating a circular court with a sundial at the center, symbolizing the connection between the past and the modern era. The approach to the architectural design was deeply rooted in tradition while also incorporating contemporary forms and functionality.

Traditional Materiality: The use of local stone and thick stone walls gave the building a sense of permanence and connection to Amman's historical architecture.

Public Engagement: The building’s design prioritized creating spaces that are both functional and accessible to the public, ensuring that the City Hall serves as both a government facility and a community hub.

Challenge

The primary challenge of this project was to design a government building that would be both a symbol of civic pride and a functional administrative center. This involved:

Balancing Tradition and Modernity: The challenge was to create a design that reflected the historical and cultural identity of Amman while incorporating modern architectural elements to serve the evolving needs of the municipality.

Multi-Functional Design: Ensuring that the building could accommodate various activities, such as Mayor's offices, municipal council chambers, public spaces, and reception areas, all while maintaining a cohesive and accessible design.

Public Access and Engagement: The building needed to be both a governmental center and a public space, requiring a design that invited interaction and allowed for transparency in municipal activities.

Impact

The Amman City Hall project has made a significant impact both architecturally and socially:

Architectural Significance: The design successfully combines traditional Jordanian architecture with modern elements, creating a civic building that is both timeless and functional. The sundial at the center of the court serves as a symbolic representation of the link between the ancient and modern worlds.

Urban Contribution: The building has become a symbol of civic pride for the people of Amman, representing the government’s role in fostering growth and development in the city.

Public Interaction: With its blend of administrative spaces and public areas, the City Hall serves as a place for both government work and community interaction, promoting a connection between citizens and their local government.

The successful fusion of heritage and modernity, combined with a functional design for civic engagement, has made Amman City Hall an iconic structure in the city.

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