SOS CHILDREN’S VILLAGE

AQABA, JORDAN
GROUP MEMBERS

MUHAMMAD ABBAS 23
SALEHA AAMER 09
SADIA SAMI 73
SAKINA 21
AMNA 59
LOCATION
This SOS complex for orphaned children
is located in the residential outskirts of
the city of Aqaba, on the Red Sea. This
was the second such village to be
constructed in Jordan; the first was in
the capital, Amman, and a third, in
Irbid, was completed in 2000.
All three were designed by Jafar Tukan
& Partners.
INTRODUCTION
The complex comprises eight family
houses, a staff house, an administration
building, a guest house and the village
director’s residence; all are planned
around a village square and connected
via pedestrian paths, gardens and
alleyways. Vaulted archways lead to
shaded courts, while gardens surround
the buildings both within and on the edge
of the village. On the southern border of
the site, close to the main road, are
located facilities that are shared with the
local community, namely a kindergarten,
a supermarket, a pharmacy and a sports
hall.
FUNCTIONAL
REQUIREMENT
The requirement was to provide a home
for about one hundred children, housed
nine to a dwelling, who would be cared
for by a dedicated mother in an urban
environment as close as possible to that
of a natural family. The concept is
essentially simple but intensely human.
The flat, 20,000 square metre site was
planned to contain eight house units in
four clusters of two houses.
SITE PLAN
TYPICAL FAMILY
HOUSES
STAFF ROOM

ADMIN

KINDERGARTEN

SERVICE
BUILDING

SPORTS HALL

GATE HOUSE
FAMILY HOUSE
Eight units of family houses each with
three bedrooms, three children in each;
mother’s bedroom; two bathrooms;
living and dining room; kitchen with
store, and guest toilet.

BEDROOM

LIVING ROOM

KITCHEN

STORE
FAMILY HOUSE
Eight units of family houses each with BEDROOM

three bedrooms, three children in each; LIVING ROOM

KITCHEN
mother’s bedroom; two bathrooms;
STORE
living and dining room; kitchen with
store, and guest toilet.

HOUSE DOOR

INTERIOR VIEWS
KINDERGARTEN
Kindergarten with four classrooms, every
two sharing a toilet and toy store; the
Principal’s office; two stores; staff room;
toilets (male and female) and a small
outdoor play space / theatre.

MULTIPURPOSE
HALL
CLASSROOM

PRINCIPAL

STORE

STAFF
KINDERGARTEN

COURTYARD

MULTIPURPOSE
HALL
CLASSROOM

PRINCIPAL

STORE

STAFF

CLASSROOM INTERIOR
SERVICE CENTER
Service facilities comprising a gatehouse,
an electrical room, toilet facilities,
several shops for rent, and two
maintenance workshops.

WORKSHOP

ELECTRICAL
ROOM
GATE HOUSE

SHOP
SERVICE CENTER
Service facilities comprising a gatehouse,
an electrical room, toilet facilities,
several shops for rent, and two
maintenance workshops.

WORKSHOP GATE SHOPPING ARCADE

WORKSHOP

ELECTRICAL
ROOM
GATE HOUSE

SHOP
 OUTDOOR
AREA
Outdoor playgrounds, water storage,
adequate parking, landscaped areas, and
room for possible future expansion with
more family houses

ADMIN
Administration building,
containing reception and
waiting area, two offices,
meeting room, toilet,
kitchenette, clinic and a
store.
PRIVATE AREAS
Director’s house with three
bedrooms, two bathrooms,
living–dining room, kitchen
with store, and guest toilet.
Two staff houses, each containing
three bedrooms, two bathrooms,
living–dining room, and kitchen
with store.
Guesthouse quarters, with two
bedrooms, one bathroom, living–
dining room and kitchenette.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION
An essential component of the design was the traditional-
style stone facing known as midmak. A study was
implemented to look at the best way of building with the
natural stone found in the mountains around Aqaba.

QUALITY OF
` MIDMAK
•Hardness
•Toughness
•Porosity and
Absorption
•Seasoning
•Weathering
•Workability
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION
Pre-cast concrete was used for lintels and sills for windows and
doors, and for copings. Pre-cast, locally manufactured terrazzo
tiles are used for all floors apart from in the baths and toilets,
where glazed tiles were used. Pre-cast concrete tiles were
used externally.

Window frames and

mashrabiyyas are of solid
wood, as are the main
doors; internally, flush
wooden doors are used.
Steel is employed for
security grilles and service
area doors.
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION
Ceilings are finished in 2-centimetre-
thick cement plaster and emulsion
paint. Roofing features thermal
insulation,sand-cement screed sloped
towards rainwater drains, and
waterproofing sheets on reinforced
concrete slabs.

RAIN WATER SPOUTS

DETAIL
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
Aqaba, Jordan’s outlet to the Red
Sea, is an arid winter resort with a
favourable climate from
November through April, when
the temperatures average
between 16 and 22°C. A
continuation of the Rift Valley,
which creates a ‘tunnel effect’, it
enjoys a cool north wind even in
summer evenings. Between May
and September it is very hot and
the temperature may rise to 47°C.
Although the temperature in
winter does drop to 8 or 9°C,
heating facilities are not required
in the houses. Rain is very rare.
LIGHTING
Natural lighting is well provided for, but is
somewhat jeopardized by the degree of shading
required inside the houses for climatic comfort.
Sun control and shading is extremely
successful, and has been well worked out in the
design and planning stages. The provision for
artificial lighting on the interior of the houses
is weak, and the fittings have proved costly.
Each lamp to be replaced requires two bulbs,
costing JOD 5. In order to enable the children
to study it was necessary to add fluorescent
strip lighting inside the houses. The lighting
problem is exacerbated by the fact that in
summer, in order to keep the interiors shaded
and cool, the children cannot open the window
shades.
VENTILATION

Otherwise the ventilation was assessed

as very good, and there are sufficient
light wells. The wind-catchers
designed by the architect have
proved to be a problem when there is
dust from desert winds. As a result, the
vents are kept shut at floor level most
of the time.

Despite the lack of air-conditioning

the temperature inside the houses of
the village was assessed as ‘much
better than other houses’. The
dwellings enjoy good thermal
insulation.
It created a very warm and
sympathetic environment for the
children.
It revived a typically regional style of
architecture environmentally sensitive
in response to climate conditions
Limited budget MERITS
Use of local materials and building
technology, ventilation.
Material and color are in full harmony
with hilly background of Aqaba.
The wind-catchers designed by the
architect have proved to be a
problem when there is dust from desert
winds

DEMERITS
The architecture is attractive. Well
designed and sincere and represents a
modern interpretation of the local
vernacular stone building.

CONCLUSION
THANK
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