Rooftop Pool & Oriental Lounge in Dabouq

A 350 sqm Rooftop in Dabouq, Amman – Jordan One rooftop for three brothers, their families, and a shared dream. We built a space for togetherness – day and night. Let me tell you about the A.G. brothers. They live in the same family building in Dabouq, Amman. Each brother has his own flat, but they share the rooftop – 350 square meters of unused concrete. They dreamed of a space where their families could come together. A place for the kids to play, the adults to grill, and everyone to cool off in a pool. They wanted it to feel oriental and Arabic – like a modern take on a traditional Jordanian courtyard, using local materials and craftsmanship. And they wanted to use it mostly at night, when the city lights twinkle and the air cools down. But they had real fears: • Can you even put a pool on a roof? Won't it collapse? • What about waterproofing? I've heard horror stories of leaks destroying ceilings. • We have three families – we need spaces for privacy and for gathering. • We want an olive tree in the middle. Is that possible? They also worried about cost, timeline, and whether the space would feel cramped for three families. We listened. Then we engineered a solution. — WHAT WE DID — Structural Engineering: We brought in a structural engineer. The roof needed reinforcement to hold a pool, a real olive tree (with soil), and all the furniture. We designed a lightweight steel frame to distribute the weight evenly. Waterproofing & Drainage: We applied a commercial-grade liquid membrane, then flood-tested it for 72 hours. We added redundant drainage channels. No leaks. Ever. The Pool: A 7×4 meter rectangular pool, 1.0 meter deep. Perfect for cooling off, safe for kids and adults alike. We used non-slip porcelain tiles that look like natural stone – cool underfoot, durable. The Olive Tree: A real, mature olive tree in a custom-engineered lightweight planter at the center of the rooftop, symbolizing heritage, shade, and Jordanian identity. We installed a drip irrigation system so it thrives with minimal care. The Oriental Feel: We used customized local manufactured colored tiles in geometric patterns – handmade, vibrant, and rooted in Jordanian craft. Where structural tiles weren't needed, we incorporated natural limestone, quarried locally, for walls and accents. The combination gives the space an authentic, earthy, yet contemporary Arabic character. The BBQ & Service Counter: A built-in stone grill with a counter for food prep, a sink, and a small fridge. Everything is weather-sealed and easy to clean. The LED Screen: A large outdoor movie screen mounted on one wall, connected to a sound system. Perfect for family movie nights, big matches, or just ambient visuals. The Seating Areas: Two zones – a sunken lounge for the adults (with soft cushions and low tables) and a raised deck for the kids (with beanbags and shade). Everyone has their spot, but the space still feels connected. Night Magic: We installed warm LED strip lights under the pool edge, up-lighting on the olive tree, and string lights across the entire rooftop. At night, the space glows like a dream – the colored tiles reflect softly, the limestone walls catch the shadows, and the olive tree stands proud. — THE RESULT — The rooftop was completed in 12 weeks. On budget. No leaks. No cracks. The brothers now use it every weekend and often on weeknights. The kids swim. The adults grill. The olive tree provides shade and a sense of home. The colored tiles and limestone make every visitor say, "This feels like Jordan – but better." And the LED screen has become the centerpiece for family gatherings.

Structural reinforcement for pool and mature olive tree load, commercial-grade waterproofing with 72-hour flood test, designing for three families with both shared and private zones, integrating a live mature olive tree in a custom lightweight planter

Lightweight steel frame for weight distribution, redundant drainage channels with commercial liquid membrane, two distinct seating zones (sunken adult lounge and raised kids deck), custom-engineered olive tree planter with drip irrigation, night lighting system including LED pool edge lighting and string lights

Natural limestone (locally quarried), custom handmade colored geometric tiles, non-slip porcelain tiles, commercial-grade liquid waterproof membrane, lightweight steel structural frame, built-in stone BBQ counter, warm LED strip lighting, drip irrigation system