Transformations in the built form as a reflection of social change. The case of apartment buildings in Amman. l

Over its relatively short modern history, Amman has gone through a massive and multifaceted growth. Evident changes have taken place in the community both on lifestyle and housing attributes, part of which entailed the shift towards apartments` living. The study aims at tracing the transformation in the form of apartment building, and the connotations it has in understanding the changes that occurred in the Jordanian society's lifestyle over the last five decades. A comparative case study analysis has been conducted among 170 apartments, covering seventy design attributes related to aspects of appearance, spatial organisation, parking and access to building, outdoor space and finishing. Results reveal changes in design attributes indicating particular alterations in people's lifestyle. New interests act in formulating recent housing design attributes. People seem to turn into a more open social life within public community but more privatised living among family members. People are becoming more attached to indoor modernised lifestyle, in homes and public areas where activities take place.