In the once ancient Decapolis City of Philadelphia - now the modern City of Amman Jordan - the landscape provides the building material for houses – not in the form of trees for lumber – but in the form of stone.
It is an industry supported by the immigration of Palestinian stonecutters from Hebron and Nablus, and now by their children, who continue a craft that is now a major industry employed by all who build a house in this country. A typical house in Amman is a solid bastion of steel, concrete and stone, fit into a strong foundation that has been cut into the side of one of the rocky hills.
It is probably an architects dream to design and build here. One can employ ancient themes such as Byzantine arches . . .
Or new designs incorporating glass and steel.
Without having to worry too much about energy efficiency or vapour-proof walls.
Pine, cedar, palm trees and rose bushes all grow well in the Jordan climate – and make for low-maintenance attractive designs for yards and entrance ways.
It’s not just for the rich – these are middle class homes and apartments.in the poor developing world - which is still plagued by a reliance on skill craftsmen and yet to discover the economic efficiency of particle board and vinyl siding.
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