Yasir Sakr - This essay narrates the ‘cultural amalgamation’ of the Greater City of Amman, the capital of Jordan, undertaken by its municipality during the last two decades of the twentieth century. The study delineates the various dynamics, actors, agendas and tools that defined the amalgamation process as a ‘discourse’. Deconstructing this discourse, this study highlights the critical role of ‘monuments’ and architects in shaping the municipal endeavour in order to consolidate a civic identity and culture for the sprawling city of Amman. Particular emphasis is given to the peculiar interaction between the symbolic and the utilitarian tools of the amalgamation process, represented by the ‘City Hall’, ‘Villa’ and ‘Tunnel/Bridge intersection’, which lead to the problematic outcome investigated here.<div><br></div><div>Keywords: City Hall; Culture and Utility Services; Greater Amman Municipality (GAM); Ras al-Ain; Tunnel Bridge Intersection; Villa; civic identity; cultural amalgamation</div>
Analyzing City Hall, Villa and Tunnel in Amman: The Failures of Cultural Amalgamation at the Turn of the Twentieth Century
Type
journal article
Year
2013
This essay narrates the ‘cultural amalgamation’ of the Greater City of Amman, the capital of Jordan, undertaken by its municipality during the last two decades of the twentieth century. The study delineates the various dynamics, actors, agendas and tools that defined the amalgamation process as a ‘discourse’. Deconstructing this discourse, this study highlights the critical role of ‘monuments’ and architects in shaping the municipal endeavour in order to consolidate a civic identity and culture for the sprawling city of Amman. Particular emphasis is given to the peculiar interaction between the symbolic and the utilitarian tools of the amalgamation process, represented by the ‘City Hall’, ‘Villa’ and ‘Tunnel/Bridge intersection’, which lead to the problematic outcome investigated here.

Keywords: City Hall; Culture and Utility Services; Greater Amman Municipality (GAM); Ras al-Ain; Tunnel Bridge Intersection; Villa; civic identity; cultural amalgamation
Citation
Sakr, Yasir. "Analyzing City Hall, Villa and Tunnel in Amman: The Failures of Cultural Amalgamation at the Turn of the Twentieth Century." In International Journal of Islamic Architecture, Volume 2, Number 2 (pp. 325-348), edited by Mohammad Gharipour, Bristol: Intellect, 2013.
Authorities
Collections
Copyright
Intellect
Country
Jordan
Language
English
Keywords