The project deals with a 1950s addition to a preexisting structure dating back to the 1920s. The 1950s addition is one of a number of extensions that have been tacked on to the structure since it was first built. This phenomenon of accretion also is true of the First Circle area in which the structure is located. The area is one of the earliest to have been built in modern Amman. A number of its structures date back to the 1920s, but the area also has been the scene of a series of diverse interventions, ranging from renovation works to additions to new construction. 

This project is primarily an interior one. Exterior interventions therefore are relatively limited. Still, the changes that Hiyari carries out for the street façade of the building give a glimpse of what is to be expected inside. Hiyari re-plasters the exterior façades with a roughly textured layer of concrete that is mixed with steel powder. The powder is intended to rust, and the resulting rough texture of the concrete articulated by the brownish speckles of rusted steel provide for a calculated harshness that well tolerates the process of weathering.  (Figure 2) 

A standard feature of many houses in Amman consists of protective iron grills that cover the windows of the lower floors of buildings. These have come to serve both utilitarian and aesthetic purposes. They provide security against theft, but they also serve as decorative elements that incorporate various patterns, ranging from simple vertical or horizontal strips to ornate curving designs. This project has one ground-floor window facing the street, and Hiyari provides it with a protective iron grill. Hiyari has approached this commonplace element in a most uncommon manner. The grill, which is arranged as brise-soleil (sun breaking) panels, was left to rust before a protective sealant was applied to it. In other words, rather than attempting to resist the oxidization process, which in many cases is an inevitable result of weathering, poor craftsmanship, or poor maintenance, Hiyari accepts it and even develops an aesthetic statement out of it. The end result consists of interesting textures and colors that incorporate various shades of brown.  (Figure 3)

Although protective window grills are about permanence and stability, Hiyari incorporates sliding window grills. The grill can be fixed in position in front of the window with a padlock. However, one also can slide it along rails away from the window. The idea behind this approach is that although window grills provide protection and security, they also create a feeling of confinement for those inside. Moreover, they most often are not needed when someone is inside the space they are intended to protect. Consequently, Hiyari provides the user with the option of locking the grill in front of the window or sliding it away from the window, and both options can be achieved with considerable ease. As we shall see, such sliding planes provide a theme that reoccurs regularly throughout this project. 

A window (with a sliding protective grill) and a main entry door are all that articulate the street façade of the project. The door leads to a small (20 square-meter) open forecourt that is bordered by high walls from three sides and the structure itself from the fourth. The treatment of the exterior elevation described above is continued in the forecourt. Its walls are covered with rough concrete plastering mixed with steel powder. The openings of the structure facing the forecourt are articulated with sliding grills consisting of brise-soleil panels. In addition, Hiyari introduces deep brown wooden frames for the windows. The floor of the courtyard is paved with closely spaced pebbles, giving the floor an undulating smooth texture that contrasts with the rough texture of the walls. Two preexisting lemon trees are incorporated within the design of the forecourt. These provide a link with the structure's past, and also introduce elements from nature into the otherwise manmade space of the forecourt.  (Figure 4)