Simply Abu Dhabi XXVIII

Amman’s layered history is reflected in its diverse people and its varied architecture. Home to numerous churches and mosques, the capital city of Jordan is home to a multi- denominational and multicultural population – and now, set amongst the colourful ancient souks, Roman ruins, cultural museums and monuments sits a new state-of- the-art mixed-use development: Campbell Gray Living. by Julia Zaltzman F or a city smack in the middle of an ancient region, Amman can be charmingly modern. Its rolling hills and tolerant attitude have long been a refuge for displaced Palestinian, Iraqi and Syrian neighbours, and a base for non- governmental organisations. It is also home to a worldly creative class, increasingly inserting Western trends, such as a Manhattan-style speakeasy, into the fold. Known as Philadelphia in Hellenistic times and reduced to a forgotten village until it became Jordan’s capital in 1921, Amman has expanded from its original seven hills to around 20, steadily progressing westwards since the 1950s. In the west, stately villas, malls and glass-and-steel towers predominate, while in the east, a gritty, more traditional old city is centred downtown, where the hillsides are blanketed with white, boxy architecture. It is also home to the elegant new Campbell Gray Living development, which launched in May 2017. Located in downtown Abdali, Campbell Gray Living – a development by Al Seraje Real Estate, a subsidiary of the Audeh Group – includes residences, offices, boutiques and a five-star hotel, Campbell Gray, Amman (launching 2019). Campbell Gray Living will cater to the local and international elite in a thriving city that serves as a major hub in the region creating a luxury urban retreat.