The existing villa and gardens that house the institute date from the British Mandate and were built in a once-common style that is now increasingly rare. The institute is surrounded by some of the city’s oldest buildings and the area, the cultural quarter, is a key chapter in the story of the 20th Century development of Amman.

As the imagined layers of archaeology on the site are exposed, they reveal a history beyond the existing house, and programs of smaller scale and private usage come to life as if always present: the past becomes a tangible foundation for the future.

With sustainable and forward-looking growth comes a preservation practice, creating a harmonious blend between old and new, outdoors and indoors, public and private spaces.

The scheme honours the inherent legacy of Sijal, while adapting the site to suit the needs of a contemporary program that welcomes students from around the world.

Externally, a new extension directly references the materiality of the immediate context, using artisanal concrete made using local sand, and gravel from nearby quarries. Internally, new systems improve internal circulation, while a lime floor finish accompanies lime plaster walls, within the decomposed massing that aggregates and cascades upwards.