Jordan is a country particularly rich in wild plants. Despite its small size, it is the home of diverse geographic areas with over 2,000 different species of plants, many of them unique to Jordan. However this rich heritage of biodiversity is, in most cases, endangered by urbanization, poor land use and population expansion. Only limited scientific research has been done on this flora, and there are undoubtedly plants in the country still unknown to science.

A new Visitor Attraction

The Botanic Garden will also be an attractive park where visitors can learn about Jordan's heritage in a beautiful setting, as well as a place where these plants will be preserved and displayed to the public. It will be a regional as well as a national public attraction, in a country where there are currently few such amenities. The Botanic Garden will also have a positive impact on a beautiful area of Jordan that is suitable for tourism development.

Preface

The typology of this project was based on its functional importance which revolves around the herbarium and the biological laboratories which need an efficient and safe space , the main massing of the project was the result of the natural topography and its soft landscaping . The whole building is generated by the herbarium as the main mass while the administration and teaching quarters generate the back facade, the biological laboratories are hidden in the back underground that is to provide them with safe and efficient environment, these laboratories will have a special hi-tech DNA storage facilities that will work as a DNA bank for the botanical heritage of the region.

Green Shift. Shift is defined as a change in position that effects different aspects of the project , not only effecting the architectural composition but also triggering the sociological image of the project  like perception,  it must transform the traditional perception into a new refined image , for example in Jordan  the sociological perception  towards the indigenous  mega flora  is either aesthetic or horticultural, the shift in that perception will increase the awareness towards the Jordanian indigenous mega flora. In other aspects like architectural form the shift could be directed by certain powers like the natural composition of the site, the function and the ideology. This kind of systematic growth through different aspects of the project will reflect itself either theoretically or composition wise from planning to the details.

The Royal Botanic Garden is envisaged as one main site, and in the future will include a number of satellite gardens in different parts of the country. The main site will be set in a country park at Tel el Ruman, an attractive half hour's drive north of Amman. The area is one of outstanding natural beauty, already rich in wild flowers, and overlooks the King Talal Dam. Plans are also underway for a smaller garden of about two hectares in Aqaba, which will specialise in tropical plants.

The Royal Botanic Garden will feature, showcase and conserve some of the habitats and indigenous plants typical of the different bio-geographical regions of Jordan. Eventually the Garden will also include collections of foreign plants from related areas such as the Mediterranean region and the tropical zones, as well as themed collections, for example a display of medicinal herbs and orchids.

Project was awarded a green design awared in 2010 Seoul Korea
Team: Mohammad Musleh, Shamel Daghestani, Suleiman Alhadidi
Year:2007
Stage: Concept design, unrealized