Story of Pella (Live museum)

University of Petra

Project idea

Pella is rich in history, nature, drama and Hope. A place which has something for everyone’s interests. Visitors will start building a story through discovery and experience fascinating glimpses of many of Jordan's key historical periods. The main purpose of the project is to present development in the historical and natural identity of Tabaqet Fahil (Pella) and to identify the historical timeline of the place.
The project is related to an important aspect of what history of Pella is about, namely identifying, unveiling and transforming a site, to fit with what is already there. Revealing and celebration the history, stories, artifacts and its specificities. Therefore, visitors can walk through the path where they are visually stimulated and conceive the conditions for its experiencing.

Project description

Enhances the experience of Pella and Filling the gaps between the present and past by designing a new a live museum and a path that will actively guide the visitor to the site and using their imagination to re-built this city.
Each station has a story, starting from the visitor center then the museum (main building) where it tells the overall story of Pella and divides the site into three main locations, the main mound (Canaanites first settlement) then to Wadi Jirm (spring) finally to Al Husn mound the highest mound where the visitor will see all the archeological site and start building all the stories together.

Museum
The museum is on of the station of the path storyline, telling the story of Pella by showing each phase in layers and levels, accumulate and packed on top of each others, which reflect the history and the old architectural features of Pella, how they keep building their temples and houses above the demolished buildings which crashed by several earthquakes through the history.

The Holy pavilion (The Main mound)
Fastness and Firmness Pavilion, as it abstracts the temple of the Canaanites. The first walls were designed in the same direction as the archeology, then as the visitor enters the pavilion the visual direction changes so that they notice the impotent direction as well as the central light. The entrance has an orientation to the summer solstice sunrise (Sunrise on June 21) The sun enter the pavilion directly to the slab , a moment which in the Near Eastern cultures was linked to the festivity of dying deities associated with wheat harvesting in a general vision of the summer months as the time when there was a confluence of worlds both ‘Above’ and ‘Below’

Between the Mounds Pavilion (Wadi Jirm)
Pella was the first cities that harbored Christians in Jerusalem from the persecution of Jews and Romans, Pella's mountains and valleys were a refuge to hide (in caves) and became a major center for them.
Consequently, this fading and hiding pavilion reflects all the natural
surroundings (mounds, ruins and trees) and the archeological site.


Fort pavilion (Al Husn mound)
Fort pavilion abstracts the idea of the old Caravan (travelers) and enemy Monitor.Thus visitors experience this through the two stone walls facing the view .

Technical information

The magnificent 10 hectare site located in the Jordan valley.

Materials
The materials chosen are light structure, since the site is sensitive.

Purposes
- This project will have several advantages for touristic, economic and agriculture sectors in the village; this will provide income to the families who live there especially the women who can’t find a job there.
- Opportunity to develop a critical place rich in historical archaeology.
- Attracting tourists and visitors beside encouraging tourism in Pella historic site.
- Highlighting distinctive identity of Pella as a tourist destination and a major destination.