The Crafts District
Woven throughout the events of Amman Design Week is a carefully curated cultural program and culinary experience. The MADAFA pavilions, developed by Arini, provide a gathering space for an immersive experience in urban cuisine, hospitality, and culture.
Arini is a non-profit private study and research institution that curates and promotes workshops and studies in the fields of design, architecture and urbanism. It was founded in 2012 by Mohammad Aljabi, Heba Najada, and Liyan Jabi.
MADAFA stems from the belief that design should be experienced through all five senses. Set in what is sometimes referred to as Amman’s ‘cultural corridor’, MADAFA is a pavilion designed by Basel-based architect Rasem Kamal and Amman-based architect Saja Nashashibi. The pavilion is a modern reinterpretation of the Madafa, a traditional space for the reception of visitors. MADAFA relates deeply to the socio-cultural environment of the region.
To this aim, the design is developed from the most basic elements of architecture: the grid. The simple manipulation of the archetypal system of grid and module creates a presence in the pathway that changes as you move. Encompassed within this are shipping containers to house the ‘event’.
The welcoming space allows visitors to indulge in exclusively designed food, specialty dishes and organic snacks developed with food professionals and served in distinctive tray prototypes.
Visitors will transit to a space away from the noise of the city to a relaxed atmosphere where they can enjoy selected events, interactive projections, and live music “unplugged”.