While looking at Amman Citadel, visitor’s eyes might be struck by the blue dome covering the ruins of the Audience Room of the Umayyad complex. This structure was the result of conscientious, yet controversed, choices of restoration.
Located in the northern part of the hill, this building served as a vestibule for a huge palace with throne room, governor’s residence, courtyard and cistern, erected in 720 AD. Replacing an earlier Byzantine church, the room was built following the same Latin cross plan. The delicacy of its stucco colonnettes and geometric patterns, that remains Persian architecture, can still be appreciated today. It is the most preserved building of the Umeyyad Palace, unless the new stucco used for the renovation was not really adapted to the original work.
The central space of the building became a controversial subject between archaeologists : while some considered it as an open courtyard (see the following sketch by Alastair Northedge), others were convinced it was covered by a dome. A stratigraphic analysis found traces of a channel connected to a drainpipe, and of window sills on the top of the building, and seem to proove the existence of a dome.
Despite what some considered as insufficient material evidences, a dome was built in 1998 to cover the central space. However, a clever choice was made not to intend a replica of the former dome. The materials and building techniques were carefully choosen to create a contrast with the original construction, so that the dome can be clearly recognizable as a recent addition that evokes the shape of the former dome. Then, this wooden prefabricated structure was set up to be reversible, if necessary, for a potential re-assessment.
While these decisions guarantee a sustainable preservation of the buildings, they also facilitate its maintenance : the dome protects carved decorations from humidity and allows the reuse of the building for cultural events and activities related to its history.
Sand to stones 