Khaberni - Amman is expanding rapidly in terms of urban development, altering its features day by day, and its buildings rise in both old and new neighborhoods, as though they are witnesses to an era of modernity and rapid urbanization. However, behind this progress, unseen shadows of disconnection and psychological distress emerge, as these buildings have created a form of dwelling that has become like a "decorated cage," imposing long hours of confined living on people, away from nature and the breath of freedom.
In these stacked towers, families from various cultural and social backgrounds live side by side, forming small communities that are only connected by a shared wall, a narrow corridor, and a weary elevator. The absence of formal organization and clear guidelines for managing these communities further complicates daily issues; Who pays for the guard? Who takes care of maintenance? Who bears the expenses of cleanliness and lighting? All these are questions suspended in the space of mute buildings, devoid of the true spirit of citizenship.
As for the quality of construction, it is regrettable; many apartments witness cheating in materials, poor finishes, tight spaces, and lack of thermal and acoustic insulation. It seems that the main goal of their construction is quick profit, not human comfort or dignity, as homes are treated as commodities to be bought and sold, far removed from the human dimension essential for a dignified life.
Many of the buildings in various Amman neighborhoods have turned into suffocating concrete blocks, without trees, without courtyards, without safe passages for children or the elderly. No clean air, no warm sun, as if the resident lives in a decorative but coldly impersonal prison, surrounded by walls from all sides.
Building the city does not start with cement and steel, but with people, with a real citizenship culture that elevates the status of neighborhoods and ensures people have rights to a healthy and safe living environment, capable of meeting their psychological and social needs. Urban planning is only complete when people are the focus of the city, not when they are trapped inside a narrow box called an apartment.
Perhaps the time has come to reconsider the philosophy of housing in Amman, moving from the "cage culture" to the "humane dwelling culture," which provides people the opportunity to live with dignity and freedom, not just to exist within rigid walls.
