The urban patio
Context :
This project was triggered by a critique of cultural buildings in Casablanca, this city where we no longer feel the presence of these cultural functions, which are very poorly attended and perceived by citizens.
Instead of analyzing the site, I focused on the analysis of existing cultural projects in the city, and I realized precisely that the existing typo-morphologies of these functions are part of the problem addressed, some are enclosed and do not have the character of a cultural building, with a monotonous architectural appearance, without forgetting the problem of scale posed by some others such as the great theater of Casablanca (CasArts).
Project :
To this end, my vision focused on the idea of rethinking the typology of these functions. How to create a cultural center that is open and accessible to Casablanca citizens? and who can change their views about the city's cultural projects?
Starting from the typology of the patio, as a meeting place in the traditional Arab house, I proposed to sculpt my program around a large-scale patio which will be open for everyone, in order to accommodate numerous activities in the open air, in a sort of free and open space which can function as a public square outside the center's program.
The ambition of the project is to make the cultural center a real place of activity and meeting, a place designed not only for the daily users of the building, but for all the city's strollers!
With the vision of taking the idea of the patio to the end, the project opens towards the interior, with a translucent concrete facade that faces the exterior, and with which we can perceive during the night the reflection and movements of the cultural activities hosted by the center. The project aims to be immediately recognizable thanks to a strong image, which breaks with the monotonous and closed typologies of the city's cultural centers.
