JERASH CULTURAL CENTER
Jerash Archeological site is suffering now from what so called Jerash Syndrome which means the Isolation of the archeological site from the city itself. This is affecting the city negatively by creating a gap between the visitors and the local community while creating local economic stagnation.
Therefore the main idea about the design was to fragment it in a way to increase the interaction between visitors and lerash community to the maximum. This required choosing two fragments carefully in order to implement the objectives of the design.
Area A
Choosing this area was because of its location facing the Main gate to the archeological site “Hadrian Arch". It's currently holding a public park for the community to integrate the visit the community from the first beginning. Respecting the park means respecting the community. Therefore the design took into consideration the public park and enforces it by adding the Souq in it to connect people from all social stratums.
Respecting the topography of the site, the design was embedded underground creating public plaza on the top and forming public Souq inside and directing visitors to the archeological site by opening on the roof in front of the Hadrian arch framing the first of the visitor’s journey to the past.
Area A was designed to be the gate Hub which welcomes the visitors and at the same time keeping the current function as a public park for local community. Providing the visitors with the essential information about lerash the community through interaction with them by holding the souvenirs kiosks inside, which was designed based on the concept of the Roman columns. And jerash the archeologlcail site by experiencing the time machine through the design. the visitor will be able to start his journey to the past by the only exit toward the archeological site through the opening right in front of the "Hadrian Arch". The opening frame and emphasize the importance of the Hadrian Arch as the main gate of Jerash.
Area B
Choosing this Area was because of its Location to be the closest area to the vital Souq of Jerash and AI-Wadi area which has a very great potential as a cultural space since the Ancient history by holding the East Baths ruins, and in the present next to Jerash Mosque to be the main cultural hub in Jerash, not to forget the Natural Wadi itself with the "Seel" to be a great eye-catching Nature. By attracting the visitors at the end of the journey to this area and attracting the com- munity to this hub by providing a public space with needed functions. Then we will solve Jerash Syndrome and encourage visitors at the end of the journey to go deeper in the vital Souq of Jerash which would vitalize the local economy.
In this area a dialogue between many forces was created to form the building from the Roman grid which was deviated by extension of the new axial of Jerash Mosque while the natural force formed a cavity through the design. In order to revive the neglected ruins in this area the main entrance to the building was deviated based on the golden ratio to face the East Baths and the cavity framed it. That's required the design to abide to the width and height of the existing mosque which was the main challenge.
based on the golden ratio the building was divided into 2 main parts connected by a terrace and a bridge. a library and class rooms were placed adjacent to the mosque, while a restaurant, Museum, workshops and exhibition were placed in the other part of the building creating a consequence that respect the mosque and the Jerash community.
