Learning from Casablanca Exposition
Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
An exhibition taking place in The Sacré Coeur cathedral of Casablanca from November 4 – November 26, Learning from Casablanca is a representation of the result of an architectural comparative research in the field of housing and urbanism. In the context of the 5th African Perspective Conference, AAMatters in collaboration with Casamemoire has initiated this exposition with hopes that looking again at Casablanca might open new perspectives to the complex problems of modernist neighborhoods being demolished to make way for new development projects. More information on the event after the break.
Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
Casablanca served as modernist laboratory for European architects to experiment with new concepts for dwelling environments. In the Netherlands, however, the building according to modernist principles has resulted in the creation of problematic areas, with high migration and criminality rates. The original plan of the neighbourhoods was to create dwellings on a grid of 8 times 8 meter. During the past fifty years inhabitants took over the role of architects and built themselves extensions to the original plan within this grid. The local saying ‘Every Moroccan is an architect’ is practiced here to the fullest.
Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
These processes of appropriation and user initiated dwelling transformation have inspired the design of the exposition aiming to recreate a suggestive landscape installation. Through the use of recycled pallets, the structure is based on a modular grid that recalls the grid that Ecochard, the architect of the neighborhood, had built for his project. This pallet system led to the possibility of producing different heights and paths, in a way that mirrors the different evolution stages of the original plan.
Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
The roughness of the pallets, a universal symbol of construction, has been made milder with a careful placement of lights and pathways. Cushions, seats and teapots help to transform the pallet structure into a comfortable living room setting that reproduces the atmosphere of a typical Moroccan living room. Just like the pallet structure of this exhibition, neighborhoods in Casablanca have allowed further modification and changes demonstrating to be more flexible than European suburbs where the rigid system is now generating several problems in terms of architectural renewal and social integration. The lesson learned from Casablanca is that the built environment does not have to be a static entity, as is common practice in Europe and that this constant transformation can help develop a successful neighborhood were the inhabitants have a strong sense of place.
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
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- Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift
3:49 PM Nov 27th
Learning from #Casablanca Exposition: Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift An exhibition… http://t.co/TAWnnv7q
3:49 PM Nov 27th
Learning from #Casablanca Exposition: Courtesy of Cattani, Thung, Van der Drift An exhibition… http://t.co/TAWnnv7q
4:29 PM Nov 27th
Learning from Casablanca Exposition http://t.co/qIIQU6DZ #architecture
4:51 PM Nov 27th
Architecture Learning from Casablanca Exposition: [ November 4, 2011 0:00 to November 26, 2011 0:0… http://t.co/LEMAVjVZ #architecture
5:16 PM Nov 27th
Learning from Casablanca Exposition http://t.co/xDJDooYz #architecture
9:32 PM Nov 27th
Great article: Learning from Casablanca Exposition | ArchDaily http://t.co/EUnKveT1 via @archdaily collab @casamemoire and #aamatters.nl
9:56 PM Nov 27th
RT @Berend4AA Great article: Learning from Casablanca Exposition http://t.co/NzzmWlJH @archdaily collab @casamemoire and #aamatters.nl
9:59 PM Nov 27th
Learning from Casablanca Exposition http://t.co/645dTtqz @archdaily Travaux d'étudiants des écoles d'architecture de Casablanca et de Delft
10:23 PM Nov 27th
Research we did in Casablanca is currently exhibited in Casablanca #learningfromcasablanca #tudelft. http://t.co/AZRe5Vu7
11:29 PM Nov 27th
Miren @kikilas @utitanka @guero_mt http://t.co/qFI5tRcG
10:35 AM Nov 28th
RT @ArchDaily: Learning from Casablanca Exposition http://t.co/TMROYQgV #architecture
1:33 PM Nov 28th
@sammescobar @Tonnacarrera Learning from Casablanca Exposition | ArchDaily http://t.co/07MHfrve via @archdaily
9:16 AM Nov 29th
Learning from Casablanca Exposition http://t.co/7Wrojibx
4:43 PM Nov 29th
Learning from Casablanca Exposition | ArchDaily http://t.co/ehLf9kXO via @archdaily
12:39 PM Dec 13th
Learning from Casablanca Exposition | ArchDaily http://t.co/51exBhlQ via @archdaily
11:32 AM Jan 2nd
@latutti @manskepoelmann @judithploegman Omgaan met functionalisme. Kijk naar de plaatjes onderaan op http://t.co/pyEb6g4h