Dana

Dana Ibrahim

University of Jordan

Adaptive Socio-cultural EpiCentre

Adaptive Socio-cultural EpiCentre

The project is a new representation of libraries in the MENA region, offered to all people without the need of using transportation. The project was inspired by a personal experience, as it was noticed that people in the MENA region can hardly go to libraries by walking, as it is far from their homes. In other words, libraries are not accessible to different categories of people such as children, elderlies, and people with disabilities. The project is divided into two main functions; the library and the cultural research centre that studies the cultural aspect of the site and supports the library. The solution started from the site selection that was based mainly on the distance which the average person can walk without taking a rest and it was 1.6 km (between 15-20 minutes walking) to reach the site. The project started from Jawa,Amman, people in Jawa expressed the necessity of providing socio-cultural activities. In Amman, in general, there were many problems that people mentioned regarding the library and how it is not safely reachable by all people. The project meant to be adaptive which means led to create a solution that can be replicated in each site that has the same problem in MENA region. The project is based on its sustainable core – which is part of the library - that represents a flexible and enjoyable journey that the client will have to make the project active 24 hours. Moreover, it is the link between other functions of the design. When moving up, the noise become less increasingly. Mainly the project is designed in concrete and steel. Using different materials than those commonly used in Jawa to propose a new image and to bring attention and curiosity about the project. Towards justice of sustainability. Besides trying to solve the far distance between libraries and neighborhoods in the MENA region, and trying to achieve architectural justice by making the project replicable in all sites that have the same issue in MENA, the project tries to be a nature-friendly, green, and sustainable project. There are many techniques and methods that were implemented in the project to help achieve that. It focuses on five main points: 1- Water Efficiency Creating two devices to collect rain throughout the year that are suitable for the project’s design and the amount of water that needs to be collected. 2- Greenery A plants’ map was created related to the site to study the nature around it and to try planting plants that grow in Amman’s Climate besides creating hydroponic walls that help achieve good air quality and gives some aesthetics to the project. 3- Light and Ventilation Two light devices were invented in this project to catch the natural light and not rely on artificial light only. In order to reduce glare, slats of fabric were used inside these devices. 4- Indoor Environmental Quality Thermal comfort quality was achieved by choosing the right type of glass and the number of its layers and by choosing a radiant floor heating system. The climate-protected loggia with single and double glazing also helps a lot to create a high level of air quality inside the project. 5- Thermal and Electrical Power Solar tiles and solar collectors were used in the project. "Equity is a solution for addressing imbalanced social systems. Justice can take equity one step further by fixing the systems in a way that leads to long-term, sustainable, equitable access for generations to come."