Abstract

Stone is a hallmark of architecture in Jordan. It is a local material, and its use has taken different roles in architectural design. It is used as mere sheathing and serves no major structural function, but it usually forms part of load-bearing walls. As such, the architect is at great liberty in its use in buildings. Yet, its use has had implications for the designer and the design approach. In numerous cases, it has been used as ornament with a rhetorical function; while, at other times, it has acted as a form-giver, delimiting and circumscribing the designer’s choice of forms. In more contemporary usage, it has been contrasted with steel and glass to produce a contrast of old and new. This study traces these uses in Jordan since the 1950s and contributes to the long-standing debate about the nature and use of materials in architecture and their influence on architectural design.