Located in zahran district

1. Embassies case studies
Zubaida Al-Walie
Ahmad Tobasi
Ali Obedi

2. The modern emergence of embassies is the ad-hoc result of early
European empires attempting to keep open communications and
alliances with one another.
That system didn’t work well back in 1455, when Milan sent the first
such permanent representative to France.
(But didn’t let the French send their own diplomat because they were
suspicious of their motives.)
In 1815, the first set of modern diplomatic ranks were established, and
then Europeans fought over what those meant until they were formalized
by The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations in 1961.
So diplomats predate embassies – with diplomatic relations traditionally
being opened by the visits of foreign envoys – usually at the end of a
war to surrender or declare peace.
Envoys were given protection from being shot and stabbed (so they
would actually deliver their messages) and thus diplomatic immunity
continues on today.
The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations extended immunity to
diplomats’ families and forbids a host country from entering another
country’s embassy unless invited in by the head of the building

3. Abstract
• Embassies don’t simply exist for functional purposes but also speak large volumes to
the relationship between two nations.
• Embassies also tend to show off a country’s heritage, prestige, and culture for visitors
of all sorts, including travelers obtaining visas and foreign dignitaries attending formal
events.
• Represented by : politics, government a group of people
who represent their country in a foreign country, or the building where they work:
Embassies, those within city centers, tend to
be located in prime real estate and
subsequently more expensive than less
visible locations.
Cost and availability are primary concerns
when it comes to a country deciding where to
place its embassy.
The countries that have money
America, England, Russia, France, Germany,
China, Netherlands
tend to show it, with large complex-style
buildings

4. Goals to Be taken in
consideration• Capital Security Construction : due to the consultation with other agencies globally we need to
complete the construction on-time and within budget provided
• Physical Security : Providing hard physical security protecting employees ,the ambassador and other
security threats as well as for soft targets such as schools, recreational facilities, and residences.
• Compound security : achieved by
o 100-foot setback of embassy from the street or uncontrolled areas.
o being surrounded by Sites of 15 acres or more.
o the Locations is far from downtown (often required to find sites
of 15 acres).
o Reduced use of glass, defined as a maximum window-to-wall
ratio of 15 percent.
o High-perimeter walls and fences that are difficult to climb,
protecting the compound by deterring attackers on foot.
o Anti-ram barriers to prevent vehicles from breaching the facility
perimeter, getting close to the building, and detonating a
bomb.
o Blast-resistant construction techniques and materials, such as
reinforced concrete and steel construction and blast-resistant
windows.
o Controlled access of pedestrians and vehicles at the perimeter
of a compound.

6. Reflect your country
• Make High Quality and Functional Spaces:
1- Provide public spaces that are safely shared by pedestrians and
vehicles.
2- Incorporate local materials and culturally appropriate design
themes into the spaces.
• Reflect the Character of the Host Country.
1- Include planting, lighting, signage and other site design
elements to reinforce the sense of welcome and to incorporate
familiar and contextual elements.
• Encourage Positive Cultural Exchange and Expand
Representational Opportunities.
1- On a site-specific basis, include sculptural or artistic elements
that emphasize positive aspects of the local culture as well as the
culture of the country chosen

7. heavily fortified embassies
present a different face ( aggressive ) just like
that of America to the local citizenry, sending
a message, whether intentional or not, about
how the embassy views the host country.
While building a highly transparent building ,
near the street and in suburban area will be
effected by inconvenience residents, creates
traffic congestion and visual eyesores, and
represent prime terrorist targets and protests
in busy metropolitan areas to it
Creating a
balance

8. Buildings laws in the
Netherlands
o Building without this integrated environmental
permit is a criminal offence and can imply that any
already constructed building has to be torn down.
o no waste materials
o Stick to materials and legalizations of the country
you’re building in.
o New building projects must fill the site entirely by
extending to each of its four corners
o In the Environmental List 2015 there are a
number of investments relating to buildings which
must have The following selection:
• the replacement of roofs, gutters or façades
containing asbestos;
• green roofs;
• a façade vegetation system;
• a greywater recycling installation;
• infiltration system;
• exterior lighting which reduces light pollution.

9. Design standards

10. Site analysis
Project overview : the contextual analysis will serve as input for the design and construction of a
new Dutch Embassy in Amman , Jordan the new building will contain approximately 2600 meters of space
Site overview
The project site is in North Abdoun Area of Zahran District , within an established neighborhood . The
property is a part of square block of residential homes , a hotel and Belgium embassy
All lots fronts our land are residential accept for one which is commercial ( Centro restaurant) , its bound
on 3 sides by existing and projected buildings which are mainly residential
Project property
West south direction of the land is bounded by a secondary street which is of a moderate traffic , south
east is bounded by a hotel and residential buildings , north east is bounded by plantations while north
west has the Belgium embassy as well as residential buildings
Climate overview
Amman is located at Latitude : 32.018047N and Longitude : 35.874503E , which makes the climate
moderate
Temperatures in summer ranges from 29 c to 36 c , in winter it ranges from 14 c to 20 c

11. Energy Performance Standards:
for new buildings and non-residential buildings came into effect on 15 December 1995, as part of
the Housing Act supported by a programme implemented by NOVEM. The measures are intended
to achieve savings of between 15% and 20% in energy consumption. At present, the requirements
of the Energy Performance Standard (EPN) for new residential properties is 1.2 which means that
buildings must be designed in such a way that no more than 1 200 m3 of natural gas will be
required each year for heating, hot water and cooking in a standard-size dwelling. The EPN
requirement was tightened to 1.0 as of 1 January 2000.
Regulatory Instruments: Codes and standards
Renewable Energy Description:
All new buildings are required in the building code to reach a performance standard. Renewables
in buildings like solar thermal, PV, passive solar and heat pumps, contribute to reach a low energy
coefficient. For housing, the acceptable level of the coefficient was reduced from 1.0 in 2000 to 0.8
in 2006. The acceptable level of the coefficient is reduced from 0,8 to 0,6 in 2011. This policy fits
into the European Performance of Buildings Directive that requires all EU countries to set limits to
the energy use for new buildings.
Climate Change Description:
A new Energy Performance Standard (EPN) is outlined in the Building Act of 1999. The
requirements for residential properties have been set so that 1,200 m3 of natural gas will be the
maximum allowed each year for heating, hot water, and cooking. The EPN requirement will be
strengthened from 1 January 2000. This New Energy Performance Standards for new buildings
and non-residential buildings follows the EPN which came into effect on 15 December 1995.

12. Requirements
Entrance
hall
Recepti
on
facilitie
s
Kitchen
and
support
services
Ambassa
dors
private
residence
Servants
apartmen
ts
Transport
section
Informati
on center
Exhibition
hall
Administrati
ve office
gallery Kitchen Living
room
Living
room
parking Reading
area
Lecture
hall
Cloak rooms Recepti
on hall
pantry bedrooms kitchen Dispatche
rs office
Circulatio
n desk
Projection
booth
Toilets Dining
room
Cold
storage
Butlers
pantry
Bedroom Chauffer's
day room
Personnel
offices
Exhibition
storage
Staff lounge Study
room
Storage
(dry)
kitchen bathroom Bicycle
storage
duplicatin
g
hall Music
room
Service
entry
bathroom dining
room
Film and
stationery
store
Guard room Offices
and
dining for
personnel

13. Host Area (Category A) :
Plots designed as Category A have an
area of at least 900 sq metres and the
distance between the house and the
boundary of the property must be at
least 5m at the front, 7m at the back
and 5 m from either side. The built-up
area should be no more than 39 per
cent of the plot, leaving space for
‘green’ areas
North Abdoun
Conclusion
The most suitable category due to
the laws and legalization of
buildings in the Netherlands

14. Area : 2,600 m²
Perimeter : 199 m
LandType : Residential
Details
Suggested Land:

15. Name : Zahran
District : Qasabah
Neighborhood : north
Abdoun
Area : 13.8 km2
Density : 7,774/km²
Location:

16. Hotel
company
Restaurant and cafe
embassy
Suggested land
Secondary street
Main street
Residential area
6 minutes walk ( 500 meters ) from the 4th circle
Neighborhood context:

17. Surroundings:

18. Landmarks:

19. 2
1
6
4
5
3
• Land to Centro restaurant (1) :
28 meters l 30 seconds
• Land to Amman west hotel (2) :
115 meters l 1.15 minutes
• Land to old palace hotel (3) :
217 meters l 2.70 minutes
• Land to Brick lane restaurant and pub (4):
274 meters l 2.74 minutes
• Land to company (5):
319 meters l 3.19 minutes
• Land to embassy of Belgium (6):
66 meters l 60 seconds
Distance and travel time between site and related locations
:

20. ‫ئ‬
Existing zoning:
residential
Commercial
Business

21. Primary street
Secondary street
Tertiary street
Land
Journey by the car
Journey of pedestrians
Vehicular and pedestrians :
• The main street connects the secondary
street to the 4th circle
( usually of a high traffic jam )
• The secondary street connects ( main
and tertiary ) to the land chosen
• ( usually quite due to the hierarchy of
the streets )
• Tertiary street connects the land to a
residential area
• Secondary and tertiary streets witnesses
few activities in the morning and at night

23. Solid to void

24. Wint
erSumm
er
ShadingPatterns

25. Temperature

26. Rainfall and precipitation
Country : Jordan
Location : Amman
Latitude : 32.018047N
Longitude :
35.874503E
Geographic
Cilmate

27. Humidity and wind speed

28. Solar Geometry

29. Weather History 2006-2018

30. Architectural Pattern
• The architectural pattern around the site is following the traditional architecture , having up
to 4 story buildings with repeated floors
• Most of the designs are clean edge with no curves or deconstruction forms
• The architecture is not aesthetically influenced
Stone is widely used
such as:
• Msamsam
• Mfajjar
• Toubzeh
• Stone rubble
As for the glazing :
• Coloured glazing
• Shaded glazing
• Transparent glazing
• Alucobond

31. Panoramas
2
3
1

32. 12
3
2
4
Views inside out

33. Best view

34. 2
Views outside in
1
3 4

35. Buxus Hedge
Sandy soil
Straw
Emerald
cedars
Cypress
XanthocyparisVegetation

36. Site area

37. Setbacks and building area

38. Contour
- +
Elevation gain/lose
= 7m

39. Elevation
Contour and section elevation

40. Drainage Pattern

41. SOWTAnalysis

42. • The site is well secured because its near the prime ministry and
Belgium embassy
• The site location is easly approached because its near the 4th
circle
• The site is in a great position since its not so crowded
• The site is surrounded by evergreen trees from the east and so
acts as good shading devices , wind blocks and noise blocks
(buffer zones)
• The site is near Amman west hotel which can give a place for
guests to stay in
• The street is wide and quite and so no traffic jam in this area
• Parking are available nearby
trength

43. • The site is has some evergreens which needs to be taken off to
obey the building laws
• A lot of cost should be made in removing trees
• The embassy is surrounded by 4 streets
• Near a 6 stories building which can effect the privecy
• The hot summer and cold winter will need mechanical cooling /
Heating devices that will raise the costs.
• The big variation between summer and winter climates will
increase the difficulty of controlling the thermal comfort in the
interior spaces.
eakness

44. • Isolating the inner spaces of the project from the outdoor
noises and pollution from the surrounding streets.
• Thinking green and exploit the evergreen trees into our
project.
• Using passive solar heating/ passive cooling strategies to
reduce the need of mechanical equipment.
• Open up the site to the surrounded green areas.
• Providing architectural example to Jordan
• Open up an inner street into the project for private staff
pportunities

45. • The old trees could be a threat in some critical weather
conditions.
• The site is neighbouring houses and buildings where they
might get annoyed by the security
hreats

46. Additional street for
private entrance
Atrium
lobby
book
store
Visitors center
entrance
Public
area
offices
meeting offices
offices
Employees
security
guests
services
Intersection of two secondary streets
which eases the access of visitors
that’s why the visitors center and
chancery are orientated on this side
Trees act as
buffer zone
Slope can show the gradation
on which the building goes
from public to private
Vegetation act as
Buffer zone against
winter wind
Bubble diagram and conclusion

47. • Using light colours for exterior walls to reflect high percentage of the sun
radiation.
• Because of hot summer, we would rather use mechanical cooling equipment or
replacing it with passive cooling strategies.
• Making easy access for disabled people.
• Taking consideration of the surrounding architectural patterns, and the used
materials.
Solutions
• Noise: - Vegetation can reduce noise and clean the air of dust and certain
other pollutants.
• Double-skin facades, which are also known as smart facades control the
spread of noise.
• Ventilation : Use comfort ventilation, natural ventilation that cools people by
passing air over their skin.
• Views: Opening the site to the green areas (good views), making connection
between the interior and the exterior.
• Walls and windows: -using thermal insulation in the winter and thermal
mass walls for the summer.
• using shaded windows and louvers to let the light in and preventing the heat
to enter.