The new King Abdullah II House of Culture & Art designed by Zaha Hadid Architects is an expression of temporality and the forces of nature. The major volume of the Centre appears as a large block of hewn stone. If one were to imagine scaling that block down to the size of a human and then exposing it to running water for perhaps a millennium, the incursions into the facade would be the result.
Zaha Hadid Architects state that the major form giving influence behind this building was the ancient city of Petra- featuring phenomenal examples of rock-hewn architecture (meaning architecture which is carved from rock faces, not compiled of cut rock!) and the action of weather erosion upon this ancient site.
courtesy of © Zaha Hadid Architects
They describe the architecture as being guided by erosion, with the volumes left behind housing the program- which includes a 1600-seat concert theatre, 400-seat theatre, educational center, rehearsal rooms, and galleries. The interior exists as a continuous, multi-level space which cut through the building, as water would flow- slowly shaping the spaces.
courtesy of © Zaha Hadid Architects
Project Info:
Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects
Location: Amman, Jordan
Project Year: 2008
Area: 26.8 m2
All Images Courtesy Of Zaha Hadid Architects
