High rise buildings in amman research

University Of Jordan
Faculty Of Engineering/Department Of Architecture
Building Legislation (0902453)/ Arch. Dania Abdel-Aziz
High-Rise Buildings In Amman
(Jordan Gate Towers –Case Study)
Marah Al-Najjar1
1. 0142851 , mrhaym26@yahoo.com
Abstract
The study is to show how high-rise buildings can affect on the
residents mainly , the other contextual and structural featu
-res from the side of the building’s selected zone. To call
attention to what might be overlooked as significant form
-s of designing a tower in addition to the selected area im
-pact. The aspects explored are the relationship between
the project and the selected area, designing techniques ,
articulations of the envelop & its materials , area infrast
-ructures, fracture in the skyline.
Key words : Towers In Amman, Jordan Gate Towers, Amman’s
skyline.
Research importance
Showing the importance of selecting the zone for a such
towers projects regarded to the context and style life.
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High-rise Buildings In
Amman_Marah Al-Najjar
1

1.1 What Is a ‘High –Rise Building’ ?
High rise building is known within the public as a multi-stories
structure that could be up to 100 meter. However, this term can
be evident In many meanings according to the scientific
references:
● “ Any structure where the height can have a serious impact on
evacuation ” ( The International Conference on Fire Safety in
High-Rise Buildings ) .1
● “ For most purposes, the cut-off point for high-rise buildings is
around seven stories. Sometimes, seven stories or higher define
a high-rise, and sometimes the definition is more than seven
stories. Sometimes, the definition is stated in terms of linear
height (feet or meters) rather than stories. ” 2
● “ Generally, a high-rise structure is considered to be one that
extends higher than the maximum reach of available fire-fighting
equipment. In absolute numbers, this has been set variously
between 75 feet (23 meters) and 100 feet (30 meters), ” 3 or
about seven to ten stories (depending on the slab-to-slab
distance between floors).
●“High buildings are defined as any building with a height of 30
meters or eight floors and therefore buildings with a slightly
cross-sectional area,
With a vertical height. As a result, they are densely populated
with a small area and these buildings are also called high-
density buildings
usage (towers).”4
1 Challinger D. From the Ground Up: Security for Tall Buildings CRISP Report .
Alexandria, VA: ASIS Foundation Research Council; 2008:4.
2As stated in Wikipedia Encyclopedia, High-rise. January 5, 2009.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-rise_ building ; January 16, 2009.
3 Hall Jr JR. High-Rise Building Fires . Quincy, MA: National Fire Protection Association;
August 2005:2.
4 Municipality Greater Amman. " ‫العالية‬ ‫األبنية‬(‫األبراج‬)‫المرور‬ ‫على‬ ‫تأثيرها‬ ‫و‬". N.p., n.d.
Web. 28 June 2017.
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1.Intoduction

1.2 Problem Statement
This research is discussing the impact of issuing illegal licens
-es that allow the towers to be built in a such high density reside
-ntial regions. In short, developers were putting buildings “ any -
where and anyplace” . (e.g. Jordan Gate towers will be mention
-ed as case study).
1.3 Research Objectives
-Studying the 1st phase of Amman Strategic Planning about high
rise buildings (towers) , & the effectiveness of the resolution.
-To show the harmful impact of rashness to make a decision of
investing by towers in Amman (in which they are not compatible
within the surrounded context).
1.4 Differences Between ‘Tower’ And ‘Skyscraper’
According to the technical definition, towers are structures
that are usually taller than there are wide. Towers are usually
distinguished from masts by their lack of guy-wires and are
commonly built to take advantage of their height. Skyscraper
is a term that is used to describe a really tall building that is
made up of many stories. These are commonly designed for
residential or commercial usage. There is no set definition of
how long a tower must be to fall under a skyscraper.
Skyscraper:
-It is a term was used during the 1880s that described a very t
_all and multistoried buildings.
-By the late 20th century the term was used to describe a high
_rise buildings of unusual height, grater than 40-50 stories.
-It is a form of commercial architecture, once the density of ur
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_ban areas has been increased.
-Skyscrapers are influencing factor with their design and
construction that could be used in order generating energy in
the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
-Since 1960s, tubular design was created by Eng. Fazulur
Khan which make them more efficient and much stronger by
reducing the usage of material while allowing them go even
higher.
Towers:
They’re less higher than skyscrapers. They can stand
alone on the ground or such apart of huge structure or device
e.g.: fortified buildings or an integral part of bridge. They’ve
been existed since the beginning of time serving as structure
The oldest towers were ziggurats which existed in
Sumerians architecture since the 4th millennium BC.
-They are limited in their heights; which can be made with
supporting structure with parallel side up to certain height ,
once the load of constructed materials exceeded and the
tower failed.
-Towers are not limited with architectural and structural field,
they have been expanded to involve harnessing electricity or
store potential energy.
1.5 Construction And Formal Language
1.5.1 Evolution Of Designing The Envelope
Towers and skyscrapers have been evolved over the
centuries. Once the hard skeleton of a tower has been
designed, the sculptural form & other features can be borro
-wed from all different types of historical styles.
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Phase,1, Louis Sullivan, had styled his towers to accentuate
vertically. With delineated columns rising from bas
-e to cornice.
Phase,2, As well as the regression to earlier styles, as apart
of neoclassical revival towers were styled , such
those by the firm of Mckim, Meal, and White were
formulated after classical Greek columns. Woolw
-orth building (1913) by Cass Gilbert is a prime ex
-ample of neo-gothic decoration.
Phase,3, Even art deco carvings on such towers as chrys
-ter building (1930).
Phase,4, Modern formulation were appeared late. As the ne
-w technology (the RCA 1931-New York).
Phase,5, International style is totally simple, seemed ideally
suited to skyscraper design,&, during the last dec
-ades. It was the foal in the field. (notable early bui
-ldings e.g. Seagram building 1958 NYC). The sta
-rk vertically & the glass curtain walls of this style
became a markable features of ultra modern
urban life in many countries.
Phase,6, During these contemporary decades , Zoning ordin
-ances encouraged the incorporation of plazas &
parks into around the lower structure (base) of even
the tallest towers e.g. sears tower 1973 new called
Willis tower in Chicago.
1.5.2 Raw Materials
-Reinforce concrete one important component consist of a con
_crete mixture which poured around a grid work of steel rods
(raber) that will strengthen the dried conc. against bending motio
_n caused by wind. Concrete has a great compressive strength.
However the enormous weight of the PETRONAS towers led the
designers to create a new type by adding very fine particles ,
which the increased surface of the tiny particles produced a
strong bond.
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-Steel beams are specified and sized then shaped regarded to the
spaces available for construction. Before they are delivered
they’re coated with a mixture of plaster & vermiculite to avoid
corrosions and heat.
-Cladding ; verity of materials are used to cover the exterior frame
,they are included in sheet that cover the outer skeleton that may
consist of glass, metals, such as aluminum or stainless steel or
masonry materials such as granite , marble, or limestone.
1.5.3 Design Procedure
1-Designing the law rise base, includes creating a structure that
will support its own weight (dead load) and live load.
2-Each tower has its own construction, major structural elements
that may be used include: steel skeleton (structural frame)
hidden behind non load bearing curtain walls.
3-Reinforced concrete in-filled with cladding panels in order to for
-mulate the exterior walls.
4-A central void column which is constructed as a structural core
For shaft, elevators, ventilation & another mechanical
components.
Fig.1:An example of a skyscraper ground floor design and building frame
Models of the proposed design are tested by computerized
methods, in result to show the impact of the wind on the tunnels.
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1.6 Amman’s Towers
1.6.1 Amman 2025 From Master Plan to Strategic
Initiative | Amman Institute
Amman 2025 became more than simply a master plan; it
became a wide-ranging initiative to anchor a planning
mentality in the minds of residents and corporate citizens
and establish planning as a In May of 2006, the Greater
Amman Municipality (GAM) set guiding force in local
government. Out to replace its out-moded and largely
ignored 1987 Greater Amman The purpose of this report is
to document the process that Comprehensive Development
Plan. In doing so, the municipality aimed produced Amman
2025 and the innovations that it spawned. The intent to
develop a vision for and create the policy tools to control the
city’s is two-fold. The first objective is to add to the
institutional memory long-term growth. This initial goal,
however, was quickly reformulated. within GAM. Such
memory serves as an important touchstone for In the face of
numerous, large-scale development projects that crafting
future government policy. The second objective is to offer
these threatened to change radically and irrevocably the
built form and image innovations as best practices that can
be emulated by other planning of Amman, then-Mayor Omar
Maani directed his planners to shift their organizations
around the world. In this way, the report can serve as a
focus from a twenty-year master plan to a strategic growth
initiative. resource for planners from other cities faced with
rapid growth.1Mayor Maani wanted GAM to have the
capability and flexibility to respond immediately to
unavoidable development pressures. His decision led the
planning team to diverge from the traditional approach to
comprehensive planning and to embrace significant
innovations in the way that plans are usually done in Jordan
and elsewhere
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. Amman 2025 is distinguished more in process than
substance from how most cities approach master plans.
Instead of separating the planning phase from
implementation, for example -- with a long period of
research, analysis and plan-writing preceding the adoption
and effectuation of the plan -- the two phases were
conflated. Analysis and legislative interventions were
brought closer together in time and practice. And, unlike
previous planning efforts in Amman, engagement with the
professional community and with municipal staff was
central to the process.
1.6.2 Towers Within The New Strategic Plan
In February of 2007, the Greater Amman Municipality
(GAM) population without incurring the infrastructural costs
attendant to released the first phase of its Interim Growth
Strategy (IGS). The sprawl. To do this, the Plan emphasizes
intensification (also known primary purpose of this first stage
was to regulate the development of as in-fill), densification of
existing areas, and the limiting of perimeter high-rise
buildings in the city. Before the calendar year had ended,
and expansion to a few designated areas. Density targets
are set for different in rapid succession, the next three
phases of the IGS were announced zones arrayed from the
highest in the core to the lowest in the periphery and
approved by the city council: the Corridor Intensification
Strategy, with the range of densities varying between 10 and
15 persons per the Industrial Lands Policy, and the
combined Interim Rural Residential durum.
The planning process was divided into eight phases with
each phase representing a functional issue and its
corresponding planning document. The phases are: I.
Amman Plan for Tall Buildings II. Corridor Intensification
Strategy III. Industrial Lands Policy IVA
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. Outlying Settlements Policy IVB. Airport Corridor Plan V.
Metropolitan Growth Plan VI. Area Plans VII. Community
Plans VIII. Planning Initiatives The first phase was the
Amman Plan for Tall Buildings meant to address the most
pressing issue facing the city; that is, the undesirable
impact of large-scale, HDMU developments on the city’s
traditional landscape.
1.6.3 Conclusion Diagram
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Amman Urban Skyline
Since this new vision-which had allowed constructing high-
rise buildings and towers, Amman’s skyline started to change .
Once the horizontal scene –skyline- is featured by towers the
development in such socio-economic field can be indicated from.
However, planners were worried about the impact of large and
mixed-use development projects on the image and form of the
city , there were particularly concerned within the towers, &
Jordan Gate towers is a prime example of how high density,
mixed-use could change the city and tarnish Amman’s image.
Also, the king Abdullah II expressed his concern that the skyline
of Amman had been destroyed.(Fig. 2)
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Fig.2 : Amman New Skyline
2. Literature Review
“ Symbolism Of Tall buildings ; There are different
perspectives from which people experience tall buildings types.
Tall buildings represent many things to many people, at the
notion level , the tallest , newest buildings symbolize economic
status , technological progress, modernity & growth. At the
individual level , for those who own , live or work in tall building,
, these edifices symbolize private wealth , social status &
business prestige . As developer Donald Trump admitted .
Psychological Aspect :
Oopeodi"gupon their background, psychological disposition,
exposure, and a myriad of factors, some individuals are
predisposed positively or negatively toward all buildings . While
most individuals adjust readily toward tall buildings, some
people do not. Persons with certain kinds of phobias, especially
agoraphobia. acrophobia' WD, and bat phobia, are often
troubled by high rises. Agoraphobia is an extremely complex
Type of fear, which can range from fear of open spaces to fear r
of going out one's front door. Persons suffering from
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agoraphobia • sometimes affected by visual features of the
physical environment. "Usually the wider and higher the
space walked in, the greater the fear" (Marks, 1969).
Acrophobia. fear of high places, is classified as a simple
phobia, meaning that its I)'IIlptoms are not usually associated
with other psychiatric disorders. What specifically liggers
acrophobia is exposure to heights. Other than that, (here
individuals are just like everyone else. Symptoms of
acrophobia include high levels of fear and discomfort. In
IOIDC cases, symptoms resemble those of a panic attack and
include palpitations, sweating, dizziness, and difficulty
breathing. Sometimes just the thought of being in an un·
comfortable salutation can even bring on these symptoms.
Fear of heights is sometimes related to fear of airplanes and
flying. It can also be re lasted to other activities, such as
bicycles, skiing, amusement rides, bridges, and freeways
(Doctor and Kahn, 1989). Obviously, tall buildings can be
among the worst enemies of acrophobic. Fear of heights is
also known as alto phobia, hypsophobia, and hypsiphobia.
Expends find that this Type of phobia is common, especially
in mild forms (Doctor and KaIllI, 1989). Patients with
acrophobia emphasize that their visual space is especially
important (Doctor and Kahn, 1989) .” 5
5 Paul J. Armstrong, . "Architecture Of Tall Buildings." N.p., 1995. Web. 8
July 2017. *Architectural Book
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3.Research Methodology
The research depends on analytical and didactic method
through a case study about Jordan Gate towers.(Fig.3)
Fig.3 : Jordan Gate Towers.
Overview
The original plans for the
Jordan Gate project
envisioned the construction
of two towers housing
offices, shops, and a five-
star hotel. They would be
built on a 28,500 square-
meter plot of land provided
by GAM.
The final height of the Jordan Gate towers has yet to be set. The
northern tower, which will be used for offices, currently rises to 44
floors. Its southern neighbor, meanwhile, has 37 floors and will
eventually become a Hilton hotel with some 500 rooms.
Project Facts
-Function: Mixed-Use.
-Cost: 400 million $.
-Working on the building started in 2005 & ground to a halt in 2009
as well as the global enormous crisis swept into Jordan.
-Project’s Owner: Kuwait A-Bayan Holding Co.
-Contractor: Al-Hamad Contracting.
-Land Area: 28,500 m2 .(given from GAM)
-Project Size: 200,000 m2.
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3.1 Study Area
The project is located nearly to 6th circle in Amman(Fig. 4), in
which connect the seven Ammanian hills called “the Jabals”.
However, the official name of the circle “Rashid Bin Al-Hassan”
square. That links together umm uthainah & sweifiyah district.
Mainly, those towers are built in umm uthainah residential area.
Fig.4 : JGT near to 6th circle
The area is known with its distinctive urban character, as well as
classified as a old-modern city. In addition to that , it represents
the political-economical-cultural zone in Amman. The population
in the area reach 160,000 people. GAM had placed in green
zones which raised up 89 zone. In fact, the land that contain the
towers was a green public zone called “Amra “(Fig.5) previously.
The only trouble which this area suffers from is the traffic jam
due to the increase in the number of visitors with aim of hiking &
enjoying there.
Fig.5 : Amra public gardens.
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3.1 Study Area Criteria
Regarded to the research purposes, umm uthainah is a high
density residential area, and JGT project that have built there
will have bad impacts on the residents . Also the traffic jam
Will expand more .
3.4 Data collection
A questionnaire have been produced to the public to ask them
Generally about their beliefs and their point of view within the
confirmed development and the towers which built in Amman:
People who respond
Some people views of confirmed areas for the towers (Abdali,
Northern Jordan gate, southern Jordan gate)
-”I think that Jordan Street and Airport Road are capable of carrying
such projects especially that the area identified is Jubaiha is
uninhabited. This means the ease of planning the infrastructure. The
Abdali area is very overcrowded and can not bear more towers.”
-”Better if it was far from the trafic jam”
-” I agree with, but without affecting on the urban pattern”
Do you agree with commercial use of towers & being Amman as
commercial & investment center?
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Yes
No
I need to study the option
Better if it resident and commercial
Do high-rise buildings cause harms to nearby residents?
Yes
they may affect psychologically
Affect on privacy
I’ve no idea
Aesthetically, yes. Regarded to
difference between heights
No
other
Do you agree with glass facades for the tall buildings?
Yes
No
With architectural solutions
Yes, if it’s unreflect
Yes, within probable proportion
Yes, once they had been studied
accurately
Do you think that Abdali’s towers and Jordan Gate towers have
affected in a bad manner on cultural & heritage zones there ?
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Yes
No
May towers cause traffic jams?
Yes
No
Some people views of could JGT cause a traffic jam
-”I think that they attract people to come there”
-”The area is already has enormous population & ineligible
infrastructure”
-”Bad traffic control and lack of parking spaces”
Could towers cause visual distortion ?
Yes
No
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“Towers as a landmark” what do you think?
Yes
No
They may affect on
Amman identity
3.5 Critics
- The two towers that soar high into the sky near Amman’s Sixth
Circle embody the spirit of an ambitious young city striving to
project a dynamic and virile image to the world.
- They’re a sad reminder of Jordan’s bygone boom days, when a
mania for grandiose mega projects trumped calls for sober-
headed urban planning.
- An architect and the founding director of the Center for the
Study of the Built Environment in Amman. “This project
should not have been built in the first place,” he said.
- Al-Asad said one of the city’s all-too-rare public parks was
removed to make for the project. “Amman is a city with a
shortage of green public spaces, and what exists should be
protected.”
-Designer of the JGT attempted to cram too big project into
too small space.
-As well as JGT will increase the city density, this will do
offer advantages to city residents, such as keeping urban
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18

sprawl in check and helping to attract a critical mass of
residents that in turn attract shops, offices, schools and
clinics that can be reached on foot rather than car.
-This project will generate an enormous amount of solid
waste and sewage, and will require massive amounts of
water.
-It will be a destination that will attract thousands of people
every day, most of whom will be coming by private cars. Also,
the amount of deliveries that will be made to the facilities that
the project will house will be substantial. “Anyone who has
driven through the nearby Sixth Circle knows that the area
already cannot handle the massive amount of vehicular traffic
that exists there,”
-The area will turn to be a buy center & this will lead to
enormous traffic jam, and investment growth.
-Al-Asad remains skeptical that the existing infrastructure
system in the area will be able to accommodate the large
density and uses that the project will bring about once it’s
completed.
-The challenges that the project will create will be an
incredibly difficult and expensive task. An extensive overhaul
of the city’s public transportation system will be one first step
for doing so,
-The main challenge of the project is its scale, especially
relative to the neighborhood as well as the network of roads
in the area.
- parking shouldn’t be a problem, given there’s ample supply
within the project itself.
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-The towers, they’re … just completely smacked by the sun
all day long, heating them up and requiring an insane amount
of energy to be spent on its cooling and ventilation.
3.6 Aesthetics
Skyline: which constitutes one of the basic and important
elements of a street landscape, refers to separation limit of
physical wall of the street from the sky. This physical element
includes total volume existing in combined roofs of buildings
and or is visible in combination in street body and presents
order or diversity in street landscape.
Fig.6: Zahran’s Wall .
Fig.7: Zahran’s Wall nearby the 6th circle.
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As shown by the images provided, most of the buildings
have 3 to 4 stories, and the existence of the JGT there
causes fractures in skyline of the walls. It’s also seen that the
existence of JGT already constructed or being constructed
beside low rise buildings has caused skyline with many
fractures.
4. Results
-Most of the public agree with the existence of the towers in
Amman..
-GAM realized the trouble within the confirmed zones of the
tall building previously. So that, the municipality suggested
new regions for them far from high density areas.
-Towers require a high capable within the infrastructure , the may
cause or increase crisis in traffic regarded to the enormous
numbers of visitors. Unfortunately, Ammanian streets can’t afford
that.
5.Recommendations
High rise buildings are a evidence for the development and
investment growth in the city. However, there must been studies
for their impacts on the surrounded context, the following
recommendations preferable to take within during designing a
tower:
1-The successes of a high-rise building depends on the area in
which existing in. context, heritage, infrastructure, culture and
skyline must be confirmed in addition to the regulations.
2-Such these development projects shouldn’t place in residential
area (center of Amman).
3-Sustainablity is preferable in designing a tower , architect
Hanna Salameh produced some applicable solutions
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That can help providing such previous troubles within HGT,
such as :
1-Replacing the building’s façade with solar panels, once the
towers are smacked by the sun all day long then they’ll gain
huge energy.(Fig.7)
2-Converting lift shafts into wind power generators. (Fig.8)
3-Converting some of the floors into open air farms(urban
farming). (Fig.9)
Fig.7: solar panels are fixed on the southern facade. Fig.8: urban farming .
Fig.9: wind powers generators lift in a 180m shat .
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References
1.S. (n.d.). NYC Skyline and Architecture. Retrieved July 6,
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macaulay.cuny.edu/eportfolios/skyscrapers2014/nyc-skyline-
and-architecture/
2. ‫الشمولي‬ ‫عمان‬ ‫مخطط‬ ‫يعتبر‬ ‫تقرير‬*‫االراضي‬ ‫اسعار‬ ‫ارتفاع‬ ‫من‬ ‫للحد‬ ‫خطوة‬.
(2007, February 26). Retrieved July 6, 2017, from
http://addustour.com/articles/311303
3. High-Rise Building Definition, Development, and Use .
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apter_1.pdf
4. Amman 2025 From Master Plan to Strategic Initiative |
Amman Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved from
www.slideshare.net/AmmanInstitute/amman-2025
5. (2017, February 6). Skyscraper BUILDING. Retrieved July
9, 2017, from www.britannica.com/technology/skyscraper
6. Resurrecting Jordan Gate. (2016, August 11). Retrieved July 7,
2017, from http://www.venturemagazine.me
7. Difference between Tower and Skyscraper. (n.d.). Retrieved
from http://www.differencebetween.info
8. ‫منطقة‬‫زهران‬...‫العريقــة‬ ‫عمـــان‬ ‫مدينـــة‬ ‫روح‬( . n.d.). Retrieved July 8,
2017, from http://www.al-nashama.com
9. H. S. (2016, April 19). ‫األردن‬ ‫بوابة‬ ‫لمشروع‬ ‫جذري‬ ‫حل‬(‫السادس‬ ‫ابراج‬.)
Retrieved July 1, 2017, from www.youtube.com
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