Repurpose – Temporary Third Places for Amman

REPURPOSE – Temporary Third Places for Amman is a pilot cultural infrastructure project led by Goethe-Institut Jordan and funded by the EUNIC Cluster Fund, in partnership with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Jordan, the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Amman, and the Austrian Embassy in Amman.
The project explores how abandoned and underused buildings in Amman can be temporarily reactivated as cultural platforms that support artistic practice, community engagement, and cultural production, while generating practical knowledge around adaptive reuse within the local context.
Amman is home to a significant number of vacant buildings, particularly in historic neighbourhoods. While these spaces hold social and cultural potential, their reuse is often constrained by legal, technical, and administrative realities. REPURPOSE was conceived as a pilot to test whether temporary cultural use can offer a realistic and responsible entry point into reuse, balancing ambition with feasibility.

The concept of “third places” informs the project’s approach, framing culture as a shared and accessible platform embedded within the urban fabric. Through time-bound activation, REPURPOSE supports local cultural ecosystems while building experience that can inform future initiatives.  

The selected property is a historic villa in Jabal Amman, over one hundred years old and constructed in multiple architectural phases. The building had been vacant for several decades prior to the project.
Its reuse is guided by a commitment to preserving architectural character and respecting its context. No changes were made to the exterior, and the internal layout wasmaintained. The space is dedicated exclusively to cultural and community use.
Renovation works focus on safety, functionality, and compliance, following professional assessments and coordination with relevant authorities. The renovation process itself forms a central part of the project, offering concrete insight into the practical realities of reactivating historic buildings for temporary cultural use in Amman.
The reuse of the building was carried out in coordination with relevant authorities, including the Greater Amman Municipality.

The building accommodates two independent cultural initiatives, each operating through a separate entrance and set of amenities. This allows parallel use of the space while maintaining autonomy in programming and operations. The space is intended to operate as a cultural platform for a period of two years, hosting artistic practice, public activities, and community-oriented programmes.
The cultural initiatives activating the space were selected through an open call, ensuring transparency and accessibility in the selection process.

Saadeh (Iskan Alif -إسكان أ) is a multidisciplinary cultural initiative focused on collective artistic practice, experimentation, and community engagement. Its work includes open studios, workshops, exhibitions, and collaborative activities.

Underground Amman –Dammeh Art Centre (ضمّة) is a grassroots initiative rooted in hip hop and street culture, working across breakdance, rap, beatbox, and graffiti, with a strong focus on youth capacity building, inclusion, and long-term skill development.
 

REPURPOSE integrates an exchange and learning component developed in collaboration with European partners experienced in adaptive reuse and community-led cultural infrastructure, including Loom – practice for cultural transformation from The Netherlands and PLATZprojekt from Germany.

An exchange programme was completed across Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Hannover, and Berlin, focusing on governance models, sustainability, and the long-term management of cultural spaces. This is followed by a mentorship framework designed to accompany the local initiatives during the activation phase of the space.

Renovation works are currently underway. The space is expected to be activated and open to the public by the end of April.
 

As a pilot project, REPURPOSE aims to go beyond the activation of a single building. Its long-term value lies in the knowledge generated around processes, partnerships, and challenges related to temporary cultural reuse.
Through documentation and reflection, the project contributes to broader conversations on how cultural institutions, initiatives, and cities can work together to responsibly activate underused spaces and strengthen cultural ecosystems in Amman.

Are you interested in joining the project, contributing to its further development, or learning more about our work?

Feel free to reach out to us at: Repurpose-Amman@goethe.de.