SOS Children’s Village Aqaba (Jordan) —
Architectural Case Study Analysis
1. Case Study Snapshot (Facts + Intent)
Item Details
SOS Children’s Village Aqaba – second of three SOS villages in Jordan designed
Project
by Jafar Tukan & Partners.
Location Residential outskirts of Aqaba on the Red Sea, Jordan.
Not explicitly stated in the provided files – likely mid‑1990s; marked as not
Year
specified.
Site area ~20 000 m² flat plot planned for eight house units in four clusters.
Eight family houses (each housing nine children and their “SOS mother”); staff
house; administration building; guest house; director’s residence;
Programme
kindergarten; small supermarket/pharmacy/sports hall at the public edge;
service centre (shops + workshops).
Capacity About 100 children cared for by eight mothers.
Create an urban environment that simulates a natural family setting with a
Architectural village scale. Houses are arranged around a village square connected by
intent pedestrian paths and gardens, while shared facilities at the southern edge
integrate the local community.
Traditional midmak stone facing (local, cheap, easy to handle); pre‑cast
Materials concrete lintels/sills and terrazzo tiles; wooden doors and mashrabiyyas with
steel security grilles; plastered and insulated roofs with waterproofing.
Arid winter resort: pleasant from November–April (16–22 °C) but extremely hot
Climate May–September with temperatures up to 47 °C; rare rain and mild winters
mean no heating is required.
Deep shading and sun control allow houses to remain cool though they limit
Environmental daylight, necessitating artificial lighting; cross‑ventilation aided by wind
strategies catchers, but vents remain closed during dusty winds; good thermal insulation
keeps indoor temperatures comfortable without air‑conditioning.
2. Context + Site Strategy
The Aqaba SOS village sits on a flat plot in a suburban location away from the bustling city. The design
mirrors vernacular settlement patterns: a cluster of houses around a central square with shaded courts
and gardens. Public‑facing facilities (kindergarten, supermarket/pharmacy/sports hall) line the southern
edge near the main road, acting as an interface between the village and neighbouring community. The
heart of the village is reserved for domestic life – eight family houses in four two‑house clusters
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grouped around a central square. Gardens, alleyways and vaulted archways lead to shaded courtyards,
creating microclimates and spaces for play.
Site Zoning + Community Interface (Diagram)
flowchart LR
subgraph Public_Edge["Public edge (southern border)"]
K(Kindergarten)
S(Supermarket/Pharmacy)
H(Sports hall)
G(Gatehouse & shops)
end
subgraph Village_Core["Internal village core"]
SQ[Village square]
C1[Cluster 1]
C2[Cluster 2]
C3[Cluster 3]
C4[Cluster 4]
end
Public_Edge -->|entrance paths| Village_Core
K --- SQ
S --- SQ
H --- SQ
G --- SQ
C1 --> SQ
C2 --> SQ
C3 --> SQ
C4 --> SQ
note over Public_Edge: Shared facilities anchor the site to the
community.
note over Village_Core: Four clusters of two houses each, around a common
square.
The diagram abstracts the site into two zones. The Public edge houses the kindergarten and
community facilities, while the Village core contains four clusters and a central square connected by
pedestrian paths. Gardens and alleyways act as buffers, mediating between public and private realms.
3. Program and Spatial Organization
Programme Components and Adjacencies
Main program
Description (from provided slides) Adjacent to
element
Three bedrooms for children (three children per
Family houses room), mother’s bedroom, two bathrooms, living/ Village square; gardens;
(×8) dining, kitchen with store, guest toilet. Each adjacent cluster.
cluster groups two houses.
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Main program
Description (from provided slides) Adjacent to
element
Village square; outdoor
Administration Reception & waiting area, two offices, meeting
playgrounds and
building room, toilet, kitchenette, clinic and store.
parking.
Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, living/dining, Private area near staff
Director’s house
kitchen with store, guest toilet. houses.
Private area with
Each contains three bedrooms, two bathrooms,
Staff houses (×2) director’s and guest
living/dining and kitchen.
houses.
Two bedrooms, one bathroom, living/dining and Close to staff houses
Guesthouse
kitchenette. and director’s house.
Four classrooms (pair sharing a toilet/toy store),
Public edge near sports
Kindergarten principal’s office, two stores, staff room, male/
hall and supermarket.
female toilets, small outdoor play/theatre space.
Near gate; acts as
Gatehouse, electrical room, toilet facilities, several
Service centre transition between
shops for rent, two maintenance workshops.
community and village.
Mentioned as part of community facilities. No
Sports hall detailed plan; presumably adjacent to Public edge.
kindergarten.
Program Adjacency Web (Mermaid)
graph TD
SQ[Village Square]
F1[Family houses]
ADM[Administration]
DIR[Director’s house]
STF[Staff houses]
GST[Guesthouse]
KND[Kindergarten]
SRC[Service Centre]
GATE[Gate House]
SPH[Sports hall]
SQ --> F1
SQ --> ADM
SQ --> DIR
SQ --> STF
SQ --> GST
GATE --> SRC
GATE --> KND
GATE --> SPH
SRC --> SQ
3
note left of F1: Eight houses grouped in four clusters
note right of KND: Shared with local community
This adjacency graph shows the village square as the primary hub linking the residential buildings and
administration. The gatehouse leads to service, kindergarten and sports facilities, underscoring the
edge condition as the community interface.
4. Circulation, Thresholds + Spatial Sequencing
The village is organised along a gradient of privacy. Starting at the public edge (gatehouse, shops,
kindergarten and sports hall), visitors move through a gate into pedestrian paths leading to the village
square. Vaulted archways mark entrances to clusters and courts. Each cluster comprises two houses
sharing a small courtyard; the houses open to semi‑private gardens and then to the square. Narrow
alleys encourage exploration and provide alternative routes, while gardens buffer between buildings.
Privacy + Domestic Scale Gradient (Diagram)
stateDiagram-v2
[*] --> PublicEdge: Gate/shops/kindergarten
PublicEdge --> SemiPublic: Village square & administration
SemiPublic --> SemiPrivate: Clusters & shared courtyards
SemiPrivate --> Private: Family house interiors
note right of PublicEdge
Public zone
(community interface)
note right of SemiPublic
Gathering & play
note right of SemiPrivate
Domestic cluster courts
note right of Private
Bedrooms
The linear diagram highlights transitions from public to private. Each threshold – gate, square, cluster
courtyard, house – reduces scale and activity, offering children layered protection and opportunities to
retreat.
5. Materiality + Climate Response
The architecture employs midmak stone cladding, celebrating local craft and harmonising with Aqaba’s
rocky backdrop. Pre‑cast concrete components and terrazzo tiles reduce cost and simplify construction.
Timber mashrabiyyas and solid doors offer security while allowing filtered light and ventilation. Roofs
are insulated and waterproofed.
Climate Response Diagram
graph LR
Sun((Hot sun (>47 °C in summer))) -->|Deep shading & roof overhangs|
Cooling[Shaded interiors]
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Cooling -->|Reduced daylight| NeedLighting[Artificial lighting]
Breeze((Sea breeze & desert winds)) -->|Wind catchers & light wells|
Ventilation
Ventilation -->|Dust storms cause vents to be closed| DustIssue[Reduced
natural airflow]
Insulation[Good thermal insulation] --> Comfort[Interior temperatures
remain better than other houses]
note right of Cooling: Courtyards & archways create microclimates.
note right of DustIssue: Children rely on fans when vents are shut.
This diagram summarises how climate strategies work. Deep shading and insulated roofs keep interiors
cool but limit daylight, requiring artificial lighting. Wind catchers provide ventilation but are shut during
dusty winds, reducing airflow. Overall, thermal insulation and microclimatic courtyards improve
comfort.
6. Architectural Experience (What it feels like to inhabit)
Children arrive through a gate into a human‑scaled village. Narrow alleys flanked by stone walls lead to
a sunny square, shaded by pergolas and trees. Vaulted archways frame views of courtyards, inviting
exploration and play. Houses are small and domestic rather than institutional – each cluster functions
like an extended family compound. Interiors are modest but warm: thick stone walls keep rooms cool;
mashrabiyyas cast patterned light; furniture and finishes are simple. Gardens and courtyards provide
outdoor play spaces sheltered from harsh sun. At the edge, the kindergarten and shops connect
children with local neighbours and reinforce the sense of belonging.
7. Impact on Children’s Well‑being (Assessment + Trade‑offs)
Well‑being Impact Matrix
Design feature Mechanism Positive effects on children Negative/trade‑offs
Fosters a sense of family and
Two houses share a Closeness may
community; children can play
Clustered courtyard; houses reduce privacy for
safely under supervision;
family houses grouped around older children
domestic scale avoids
village square seeking autonomy
institutional feel
May be crowded/
Central square Encourages outdoor play,
Car‑free core; shaded noisy at peak times;
& pedestrian social interaction and
walkways limited quiet retreat
paths physical activity
spaces outdoors
Provide sensory relief, Maintenance
Gardens & Soft landscape and contact with nature and required; gardens
courtyards shaded courts microclimates; children can may not be large
regulate engagement enough for sports
Thick walls, roof Limits daylight,
Deep shading Keeps interiors cool in
overhangs, small leading to reliance on
& sun control extreme heat; reduces glare
openings artificial lighting
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Design feature Mechanism Positive effects on children Negative/trade‑offs
Passive ventilation via Dust intrusion forces
Wind catchers Good air movement and
wind towers and light vents to be closed,
& ventilation thermal comfort
wells reducing airflow
Local Stone construction
Use of stone, Creates cultural familiarity
materials & may feel heavy;
mashrabiyyas, and sense of place; builds
vernacular limited flexibility for
courtyard typologies identity; easy maintenance
aesthetics adaptation
Cause → Effect Diagram
graph TD
ClusteredHomes[Clustered houses & courtyards] --> Belonging[S sense of
family & shared play]
ShadedCourts[Shading & thick walls] --> ThermalComfort[Cool interiors]
ThermalComfort --> ReducedStress[Lower heat stress & fatigue]
Shading & Thick walls --> LowDaylight[Limited daylight]
LowDaylight --> ArtificialLight[Use of artificial lighting]
WindCatchers --> GoodVentilation[Comfortable indoor air]
WindCatchers --> DustIssues[Closed vents during dust storms]
DustIssues --> PoorVentilation[Reduced airflow when closed]
Gardens --> SensoryRelief[Contact with nature & calm]
This diagram visualises how design choices affect children’s well‑being. Comfort and belonging arise
from clustering and shaded spaces, but trade‑offs include reduced daylight and occasional poor
ventilation when wind catchers are closed.
8. Relevance to My Graduation Project (Direct Translation)
Your graduation project aims to create an Inclusive Neurodivergent Adult Empowerment Centre in
Amman. The SOS village offers transferable strategies:
SOS village Translation to neurodivergent
Application guidance
principle adult centre
Organise programme into small clusters (e.g.
Small households grouped
co‑living units, workshops) around
Cluster as around shared courtyards
sensory‑buffered courtyards. Ensure each
“home” foster community while
cluster has clear boundaries and shared
maintaining domestic scale.
facilities.
Use a central piazza as orientation anchor.
Central square Car‑free core encourages
Provide clear, legible paths with sensory cues
& pedestrian social interaction and safe
(textures, colour coding) for wayfinding, as
network movement.
recommended in your literature review.
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SOS village Translation to neurodivergent
Application guidance
principle adult centre
Place public programmes (café, exhibition,
Public edge Kindergarten, shops and
advocacy hub) along the street edge to invite
with sports hall integrate the
the community; buffer them from quieter
community village with the
therapeutic zones through transitional
facilities neighbourhood.
spaces.
Implement a sensory gradient (high‑stimulus
Thresholds and Sequence from gate to square public zone → low‑stimulus regulation/quiet
privacy to cluster to house offers zones) as described in your Chapter 4
gradient layered privacy. programme. Use vestibules, courtyards and
alcoves as transitional buffers.
Incorporate courtyards and rooftop gardens
Courtyards and Provide shaded outdoor play for sensory regulation and movement loops.
gardens and microclimates. Use greenery to reduce anxiety and support
focus.
Local materials Select materials and patterns familiar to the
Stone cladding and arches
and vernacular region to create belonging; use textures that
resonate with context.
forms are tactile but not overstimulating.
Deep shading, thermal mass Employ passive cooling: courtyards, wind
Passive climate and ventilation reduce towers or wind catchers, and insulation. Avoid
strategies reliance on mechanical strategies that trap dust; consider dust
systems. filtration for air intakes.
Sensory‑Zoning Diagram (Aligned with Chapter 4)
flowchart LR
subgraph HighStim["High stimulus (public)"]
Cafe(Café & exhibition)
Market(Community market)
end
subgraph MediumStim["Medium stimulus"]
Arrival(Arrival & orientation)
Workshop(Workshops & learning)
end
subgraph LowStim["Low stimulus"]
Therapy(Therapy rooms)
Regulation(Regulation & sensory room)
end
subgraph VeryLowStim["Very low stimulus"]
Quiet(Quiet autonomy pods)
end
HighStim --> Arrival --> Workshop --> Therapy --> Regulation --> Quiet
note right of HighStim
Public edge invites community
note right of MediumStim
Balance interaction & focus
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note right of LowStim
Controlled lighting & acoustics
note right of VeryLowStim
Refuge for hypersensitive users
This diagram translates the SOS privacy gradient into a sensory gradient for neurodivergent adults:
from stimulating public zones to calm therapeutic spaces and quiet retreats. Transitional spaces
between zones allow gradual adjustment.
9. Personal Positioning and Design Takeaways
I selected the SOS Children’s Village Aqaba because it demonstrates how architecture can foster
community and well‑being in a vulnerable population. The project’s strength lies in its domestic scale:
clusters of houses around a central square create a sense of belonging. The integration of community
facilities at the site edge anchors the village within its neighbourhood, avoiding isolation. Material
choices – local stone, mashrabiyyas and shaded courts – connect the architecture to place and climate,
offering lessons for context‑sensitive design.
However, there are aspects I would adapt. While the wind catchers provide ventilation, their
performance suffers during dust storms. For a neurodivergent adult centre, improved filtration or
alternative passive cooling strategies would be necessary. The deep shading successfully reduces heat
but compromises natural light; I would incorporate light wells or translucent shading devices to balance
daylight and thermal comfort. Finally, although the village provides communal spaces, there is limited
provision for individual retreat outdoors. For neurodivergent users who may need to withdraw, more
dispersed quiet gardens or alcoves would be beneficial.
10. Results Synthesis: Key Lessons to Learn
1. Domestic clustering enhances belonging. Small-scale clusters around courtyards create
family-like communities rather than institutional dormitories.
2. Layered thresholds provide spatial comfort. Sequencing spaces from public to private helps
users regulate exposure and social interaction.
3. Community integration enriches life. Placing shared facilities at the site edge encourages
engagement with neighbours and reduces stigma.
4. Passive climate strategies are essential in hot arid climates. Deep shading, thermal mass,
courtyards and ventilation reduce energy use while maintaining comfort.
5. Local materials strengthen identity. Using regional stone and crafts fosters cultural
connection and pride.
6. Gardens and courtyards are not luxuries. They serve as sensory regulators, play areas and
microclimate modifiers.
7. Balance daylight and shade. Designing shading devices that allow diffused light can minimise
reliance on artificial lighting.
8. Design for adaptability. Clusters should be flexible to accommodate changing family structures
or, in the adult centre, different therapy and work spaces.
11. Potential Pitfalls to Avoid (and how to avoid them)
1. Over‑shading leading to dark interiors – incorporate light wells or translucent screens to
admit daylight while controlling heat.
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2. Dust intrusion through ventilation – use filtered air intakes or adjustable vents with protective
screens.
3. Lack of individual retreat spaces – provide small nooks or gardens separate from communal
courtyards for those needing solitude.
4. Rigid cluster configurations – design clusters that can be reconfigured as user needs evolve
(e.g. converting a bedroom to a therapy room).
5. Insufficient accessibility – ensure all paths and entrances are wheelchair‑accessible and clearly
marked; use tactile and visual cues for wayfinding (drawing on your literature review).
6. Isolation from wider community – avoid gating the entire site; instead, curate the public edge
to welcome neighbours and maintain surveillance.
7. Underestimating maintenance – landscape and shading devices require upkeep; plan for
long‑term maintenance to sustain comfort.
8. Monoculture of spaces – variety is vital: mix indoor and outdoor spaces, quiet and active zones,
to support diverse sensory needs.
12. Mini Design Checklist for Next Steps
• Define clusters and courtyards for the adult centre; ensure each cluster has private, semi‑private
and public zones.
• Map the sensory gradient for your programme (high → very low stimulus) and align functions
accordingly.
• Design public‑edge facilities to invite community engagement while buffering sensitive zones.
• Employ passive climate strategies: shading, courtyards, insulation and filtered ventilation.
• Use local materials and colours to anchor the design in Amman’s context.
• Integrate gardens and movement loops for sensory regulation and physical activity.
• Provide multiple retreat spaces (indoors and outdoors) for hypersensitive or overwhelmed users.
• Plan for flexibility: allow spaces to adapt as the centre’s programmes evolve.
Existing References (from provided files only; no new sources)
The analysis above is based entirely on information extracted from the user‑supplied slides on SOS
Children’s Village Aqaba, the literature/context document and programme summary files. The citations
included refer solely to the provided materials.