The construction of the new Casa-Port railway station is part of an overall urban remodelling plan for a district located on the edge of the port of Casablanca, linking the old city to the north of the urban area. The project is also designed to keep pace with the growth in rail traffic anticipated by Moroccan Railways (ONCF).
To join the urban landscape of Casablanca, dumdum design draws for the restaurant Sforza Visconti, a villa with a 30’s character. Wide rounded overhang roof decorated with sculptured patterns, underline the white art deco facades. A large mosaic in the colors of the restaurant welcomes you on a green and intimist terrace.
The preschool of Aknaibich is only 1 classroom, nevertheless a holistic architectural design, incorporating community dynamics, bioclimatics and a new vernacular style.
Aknaibich is a town in transition: the eastern old town is made of earthen constructions, sinusoid roads and narrow alleys, while the western part exists of modern, plot-based concrete houses built by rural-urban emigrants. In need of educational infrastructure, Good planet foundation presided by French photographer Yann-Arthus Bertrand aims to install a preschool with bioclimatic functioning, as an extension to the existing concrete school building in the modern part of town.
THE INITIAL IDEA is based on 4 basic elements in the Moroccan landscape and typical of Moroccan culture.
Moucharabie= Hotel
The first tower, the hotel, takes as a reference point something unique in the Arabic world, the moucharabie. This device, which allows one to observe without being seen, is generally made from small pieces of turned wood assembled according to an often-complex geometrical plan, forming a closely woven grille. The Moucharabies of the Nasrides palaces are covered with decorations and stained glass, which lets soft light filter through, giving only minimal lighting to the rooms and protection from the sun. This system is completely replicated; the building rises in height through an entirely perforated concrete structure.
Program: Hotel (4+ stars), 300 Rooms, Convention center, Spa, Swimming Pools, Bars, Restaurants, Club, Casino, Parking, General Services, 200 Luxury Apartments from 2 to 5 bedrooms, Offices, Green Roofs, Commercial Center, Restaurants, Retails shop, Green areas
The design by Joan Alomar (Estudio Lunar) presents a building that completes the urban block and blends in to the neighborhood. In classical Roman tradition a genius loci was the protective spirit of a place. This concept leads the architecture that mimics the events at it’s surroundings, the nature, vernacular architecture, etc.
This residential complex is defined by a continuous volume snaking around two semipublic courtyards. Its height adapts to the different conditions of the plot to combine a domestic and urban appearance.
The project is located on the east side of Anfa district, a downtown historic area in the vicinity of an old airport to be demolished. The plot is situated between the Gran Theatre boulevard and a residential area composed of low buildings and an urban park.
The first regional headquarters branches for Moroccan bank, BMCE (Banque Marocaine du Commerce Exterieur) have opened in Rabat and Casablanca, with a further branch in Fez due to complete shortly – they are the first buildings by Foster + Partners to be completed in Africa. The banks’ contemporary interior is wrapped by a traditional, energy efficient envelope and their design is based on a modular system, which utilises local materials and craftsmanship to create a striking new emblem for BMCE.
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