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HM Queen Noor's interview with Lamasat 1. We know Your Majesty's interests encompass all social, cultural and artistic aspects, but we would like Your Majesty to tell us in particular about your interest in architecture and interior design, historic and contemporary, and your views on the role of architecture and interior design in the progress of Jordanian society? I graduated from Princeton University with a B.A. in Architecture and Urban Planning in 1974 and participated in several international urban planning and design projects in Australia, Iran, the United States and Jordan before my marriage. I have been involved in developing and promoting culturally and environmentally sensitive architectural and urban design and conservation in Jordan. One of my earliest projects was to persuade the Minister of Public Works and Housing to develop Jordan's first professional building code. In 1980, we formed a National Committee for Public Buildings and Architectural Heritage to research, record, preserve and rehabilitate historic buildings, to raise the standard of modern architecture, to promote the study of Arab Islamic and ancient architecture and of regional influences on Jordanian architecture. My work has focused on integrating architectural conservation with sustainable tourism and development at Jordan's archaeological sites as well as revitalizing the country's historic villages and towns. For example, at Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Aqaba, Jordan's only port and the site of the seventh century Islamic city of Ayla I established an architectural "watchdog" committee for key areas of the country endangered by unsustainable touristic development plans, which monitors the plans and construction of new buildings and has developed a set of architectural guidelines and recommendations for public buildings to safeguard the cultural and environmental integrity of the sites. My involvement in Jordan's architectural and cultural heritage is not limited to restoration and protection, but also includes supporting the development of Jordan's "living heritage", particularly by the private sector. One notable example is Abdul Hamid Shoman Foundation's Darat al Funun (Small House of the Arts), which overlooks the heart of Amman and encompasses three renovated turn of the century houses located alongside the remains of a Byzantine Church, built over a Roman temple dedicated to Hercules. Not only has it revitalized Amman's oldest residential district, but it has also brought art to a more populated, lower income area of the city thus making it available to a broad cross-section of society. Another example is the village of Dana, located within an ecologically rich nature reserve in the south of Jordan, where the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature and the private sector renovated the village' traditional stone houses thereby enabling the villagers to return to their ancestral dwellings and benefit from tourism. I have also supported the renovation of old Jordanian villages near archaeological sites such as Taybet Zaman, which is only ten minutes away from Petra, in order to preserve the traditional Jordanian villages and help relieve touristic pressure on vulnerable archaeological sites. At the 2nd century BC palace at Iraq Al-Amir, the Noor Al-Hussein Foundation (NHF) has renovated an entire nearby historic village, which will be transformed into an income-generating handicrafts village for the local villagers. This will not only preserve the region's cultural heritage, but also through its proximity to the Hellenistic palace, would enhance the villagers' benefits from tourism. 2. What is Your Majesty's opinion about combining traditional and modern architecture in this field? I prefer to combine the best elements from both worlds – ancient and modern. Perhaps the best example of that is the architecture of the SOS Village in Aqaba, which received a Citation for Outstanding Achievement at the 1994 World Habitat Awards for its especially innovative design to encourage energy and water conservation. The Aqaba Village, constructed of local natural untrimmed stone and in a traditional Middle Eastern village architecture style, is built to the highest standards of design and quality. It uses solar-powered heating during the cold winters and traditional cross-ventilation systems rather than expensive air-conditioning in the summers. Its roofs, walls and floors are completely insulated using age-old proven techniques resulting in significant energy conservation. The Village is also equipped with a drip-irrigation system that considerably diminishes the amount of water used in irrigation. The SOS Village's cozy architectural style enhances the warm family atmosphere, enabling the orphaned children to live in a secure and loving haven. 3. Your Majesty has established and supervised numerous organizations related to the revival of traditional handicrafts, what are the programs to integrate traditional crafts with modern day life and how appropriate are these crafts vis a vis the new interior decoration trends? One of the major programs of the Noor Al Hussein Foundation (NHF), which has been cited by United Nations' and international organizations as a model for the Middle East and the developing world is the National Handicrafts Development Project. The Handicrafts Project was established ten years ago to revive traditional crafts and to preserve a unique aspect of Jordan's cultural heritage. It trains craftswomen and men to produce innovative, high quality handicrafts for domestic and international markets and has provided outreach training and project development for other Arab countries such as Bahrain and Oman. Its Jordan Design and Trade Center (JDTC), which has become a national design and trade institution, works closely with public and private handicrafts centers located throughout the Kingdom, in technical and management training, product development and local and international marketing; it is also involved in developing trademark, design and copyright laws for the protection of the country's handicrafts artisans. The JDTC, which is primarily a national design and trade center, not only promotes the Foundation's products, but also the works of the diverse handicrafts projects located throughout the country. Jordanian designs reflect the rich history of the area and are inspired by the many ancient and contemporary cultures which have passed through the country. For example, the Nabataeans were renowned for their fine ceramic ware that was exported throughout the ancient orient. We produce Nabataean style pottery at the NHF's Salt Handicrafts Center, whom the JDTC is helping with the packaging so that the pottery can be sold to tourists. The Bedouin style of weaving is unusual because it produces "warped face rugs" unlike the traditional "weft" rugs. People tend to like "warped face" rugs because they are very dense and the texture is different from other styles. Our designers have also introduced designs inspired from the country's rich Byzantine mosaics, which decorate our rugs and ceramic ware. We also have embroidery stitches that are uniquely Jordanian such as the Ma'ani stitch that was nearly extinct before the JDTC began incorporating it in their products. Another practice that had also died out was hand-woven wheat straw baskets, which were being reproduced as cheap plastic imitations. The JDTC established an income-generating basket weaving project in Mukheibeh, where trained women now weave baskets out of wheat straw as well as palm and banana leaves. The numerous handicrafts centers, which JDTC has helped to establish, are already self-sufficient and, through its international exhibitions and marketing, the JDTC has introduced Jordanian crafts to the world. 4. Would Your Majesty allow me to ask about your personal preferences in decor and its role in family life? When it comes to architecture and design, I prefer the integration of modern materials and technology with a deep understanding of the local culture, lifestyle and historic physical surroundings. I am particularly proud of the invaluable contribution of Jordanian architects to the modern architectural movement, whose attempts to define the role of architecture in Muslim societies and developing countries have earned them international recognition. Last year, Rassem Badran was selected out of 442 international nominations to become the first Jordanian architect to have been granted the 1995 Aga Khan Award for Architecture for his Great Mosque Project and the redevelopment of the old city center in Riyadh. When it comes to interior decoration, I rely on our national handicrafts such as our beautiful hand-woven rugs and wall hangings, embroidered cushions and spreads, ceramics and glass ware, which complement and enhance the architectural beauty of the house. 5. Which colors does Your Majesty like and why? What is important and symbolic about colors? I prefer the color blue / turquoise, which has a soothing effect perhaps because of its association with water. Water, a precious and scarce commodity in the Middle East, has always played an important role in Arab-Islamic architecture, whether through centrally placed and intricately designed fountains or through strategically located private and public bath houses. Studies have shown that colors affect the human psyche in different ways and therefore, should be used in harmony with the architecture, setting and function of the site. |
