About the Project

The Latin Church in Al Houson, Jordan, under the patronage of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem, aims to rehabilitate the Old House, the original site of the Latin School that dates from the early 20th Century, into a community and arts center. The rehabilitation project is in cooperation with TURATH Heritage Conservation, Management, and Environmental Design Consultants in Amman, Jordan.

The proposed center is called Al Deir, “the Convent,” in recognition of the building’s original use. Al Deir will provide a library and additional gathering space intended to serve Latin School students and other local families and individuals from Al Houson and the surrounding areas. Al Deir will also preserve and propagate traditional Jordanian arts and crafts with classes such as painting, dance, and textiles, and will include gallery areas to display the products of these classes. The gallery space will also hold a permanent display of Dutch artist Piet Gerrits’ work during his stay in Al Houson in the early 20th century.

In addition to its function as a community center, the project will increase awareness about the significance of the cultural heritage of the 19th and early 20th centuries in Jordan and Al Houson. This project is a demonstration for other towns in the northern region to follow. Al Deir sends a signal that even the most dilapidated historic buildings in the North could be, with proper design, adapted to provide much needed local and regional functions.

This project takes upon its responsibilities the important task of narrating the local history of Al Houson. The project will grant voice to local realities and the social and urban history of the town through carefully designed exhibition spaces. Local histories are often unrepresented in Jordan’s governmental and national museums. Therefore, this small, yet significant attempt is crucial for the region and for the people of Al Houson as it serves as a reservoir of memory for the town’s social life in the recent, yet undocumented, past.

The Latin School is an ideal organization to sponsor Al Deir and promote Al Houson’s cultural heritage. Founded in 1902, the Latin School is already recognized as one of the most well regarded primary and secondary schools in the area. The Latin Church contains frescoes painted by Dutch artist Piet Gerrits during his stay in Al Houson from 1903 to 1909. These frescoes are significant for their culturally sensitive portrayal of ordinary life, which is depicted alongside biblical themes. Parish priest Father Imad Twal and the Netherlands Embassy are collaborating to celebrate Al Houson’s unique Jordanian-Dutch connection. The Netherlands Embassy has committed to assist with the restoration of these frescoes, many of which were painted over in 1982.

Al Houson has retained its distinctive character as a small town of mixed-faith in a primarily rural setting, despite its location within the rapidly expanding Greater Municipality of Irbid. An estimated 20,000 people live in Al Houson, of whom about one-third are Christian. The agricultural way of life as exemplified in Al Houson is rapidly disappearing as many residents now commute to nearby Irbid – 7 km to the north – or Amman. However, the town has an active community spirit. Under the direction of Father Imad Twal, the Latin School sponsors a Scouting program, a coed group of 180 children representing both Christian and Muslim faiths that meets for after-school, weekend, and summer activities.

The following new community spaces are proposed for Al Deir:

• Gallery and exhibit space
• Interpretive exhibit on the role of Dutch artist Piet Gerrits in documenting Al Houson’s rural life in the early 20th century
• Library
• Madafa
• Activity rooms to provide classroom and meeting space for children and adults
• Courtyard to be used as a small café and seating area