Management of Heritage Places

Gestion des Sites Patrimoniaux

Atelier Thématique / Thematic Workshop Petra, Jordan-ie 17-19 Mai 2010

Petra Gateway … to the Ancient Nabataean Capital

Owner: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities

Co-Financed by: Government of Jordan & World Bank

Consultants: Edward Cullinan Architects Ltd. Bitar Consultants – Architects Engineers & Project Managers Land Design Studio – Interpretation Consultants

Why Petra Flourished: • Trade routes, • The importance of Frankincense & Myrrh, • Expertise in collecting & controlling water in the desert

Petra Archaeological Park: • The key monuments, • The journey through the Siq – anticipation and suspense, • The Treasury revealed

Inspiration: • Geological landscape, • Siqs: the effect of water, • The architecture carved in the rocks, • The astonishment of discovery and visual surprise, The visitor’s experience with the site and people.

The Petra Gateway; Location and program:

The Gateway Building in detail: • The stone bowl – an event space • The descending route through the building, past an interpretative landscape • Fast Track exhibition • The return route – model room, cafe • The slow track exhibition: 5 themed galleries

(Ground Floor Plan (Approach & Amphitheatre Area)

The Gateway Building – materials, systems and inspiration: • The working of stone – cues from Petra and Jordanian craftsmanship • The play of light across materials - shadow and contrast

Walls constructed using ‘Gabion Cages’ filled with excavated stone from the site

Sustainability Systems

Cooling System Strategy: • Creating a low energy sustainable scheme, which reduces the amount of air-conditioning space in the building and is in line with UNESCO objectives. • More economic, particularly on running costs. • Prevents visitors suffering ‘thermal shock’. • Petra is a fresh air experience and visitors are expecting to spend many hours outside - so a naturally cooled environment is in sympathy with this.

Water Conservation: A number of sustainable strategies will be used in the water management through out the project: 1. The use of water-conserving fixtures and appliances. 2. Use of grey-water: 3. Rain-water collection: Rainwater will be collected from the amphitheatre space and the roof of the main building feeding a holding tank for irrigation. 4. Water-heating and Energy Conservation: Glazed flat-plate collectors shall be used to provide heated water for different uses. They will be integrated within the design of the building, in order not to adversely affect the external appearance of the project.

Building Fabric Strategy: The following techniques shall be adopted: 1. Air-conditioned areas of the building shall be totally heat insulated (Walls + Roof). 2. Roofs shall be water-proofed. 3. The exterior of the buildings and landscape structures shall be constructed using local stone. We intend to use stone quarried from the neighborhood of the site to keep the external appearance in harmony with the surroundings. 4. Internal finishes will be selected on sustainable criteria - in terms of low pollution in their production, delivery, use and disposal. They will be long lasting, low maintenance and suitable for salvage or re-cycling. Criteria for internal material selection are: acoustic performances, texture, color, durability and suitability to the function of the space.