Amènagement Urbain de la Ville de CasablancaCasablanca, Morocco
In 1946, Michel Écochard was
appointed Director of the Service de l’Urbanisme et de l’Architecture for Morocco
with wider-ranging powers. For Casablanca he devised a linear extension plan
along the coast that would connect the two poles, the port of Casablanca and Mohammedia, bordered by
the creation of the Casablanca-Rabat highway. His plan emphasised the facilitation of modern
industrial efficiency, the rationalization of vehicular circulation, zoning to
isolate industrial and commercial districts from residential zones, and the
provision of mass-produced worker housing.
Through his theory of “habitat for the
greatest number”, formulated in 1950, Écochard
denounced speculation and its effects (dispersion of habitat, excessive roads, a
lack of open spaces, green areas and parking). He led a multidisciplinary study
with sociologists (Pierre Mas, André Adam) on the lifestyle of the populations,
particularly those in bidonvilles, analysing
the needs of families, the social
structure and the current built environment. This analysis led to the
establishment of housing for the local population that featured a specially
designed grid (“la trame Écochard”)
of 8m x 8m with a south or east orientation composed of two rooms opening onto a
patio, a toilet and a kitchen, that would house 350 people per hectare. The Carrières
Centrales district was the first experiment in the application of the 8m x 8m “trame”
both horizontally and vertically. The design of the site was entrusted to
architect George Candilis, amongst others. In addition to housing, Écochard planned
for "neighborhood units" with a school, pedestrian routes, commercial,
religious and administrative facilities.
Throughout his tenure from 1946 to
1952, he would be vocal in his opposition to speculators and, while his zoning
plans were approved in 1952, he resigned from office that year. Nevertheless
his work continued to exert influence on a new generation of post-colonial architects.
Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Bibliography:
Avermaete, Tom & Casciato, Maristella. Casablanca Chandigarh: a report on modernization. Zürich: Park Books, 2014
Location
Documents
Associated Names
Associated Collections
Events
Variant Names
Site Types
Keywords
Amènagement Urbain de la Ville de CasablancaCasablanca, Morocco
In 1946, Michel Écochard was
appointed Director of the Service de l’Urbanisme et de l’Architecture for Morocco
with wider-ranging powers. For Casablanca he devised a linear extension plan
along the coast that would connect the two poles, the port of Casablanca and Mohammedia, bordered by
the creation of the Casablanca-Rabat highway. His plan emphasised the facilitation of modern
industrial efficiency, the rationalization of vehicular circulation, zoning to
isolate industrial and commercial districts from residential zones, and the
provision of mass-produced worker housing.
Through his theory of “habitat for the
greatest number”, formulated in 1950, Écochard
denounced speculation and its effects (dispersion of habitat, excessive roads, a
lack of open spaces, green areas and parking). He led a multidisciplinary study
with sociologists (Pierre Mas, André Adam) on the lifestyle of the populations,
particularly those in bidonvilles, analysing
the needs of families, the social
structure and the current built environment. This analysis led to the
establishment of housing for the local population that featured a specially
designed grid (“la trame Écochard”)
of 8m x 8m with a south or east orientation composed of two rooms opening onto a
patio, a toilet and a kitchen, that would house 350 people per hectare. The Carrières
Centrales district was the first experiment in the application of the 8m x 8m “trame”
both horizontally and vertically. The design of the site was entrusted to
architect George Candilis, amongst others. In addition to housing, Écochard planned
for "neighborhood units" with a school, pedestrian routes, commercial,
religious and administrative facilities.
Throughout his tenure from 1946 to
1952, he would be vocal in his opposition to speculators and, while his zoning
plans were approved in 1952, he resigned from office that year. Nevertheless
his work continued to exert influence on a new generation of post-colonial architects.
Source: Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Bibliography:
Avermaete, Tom & Casciato, Maristella. Casablanca Chandigarh: a report on modernization. Zürich: Park Books, 2014
Location
Images & Videos