christian de portzamparc plans casarts theater in casablanca

christian de portzamparc plans casarts theater in casablanca
all images © christian de portzamparc (ACDP)

christian de portzamparc has revealed plans for ‘casarts’ in casablanca, morocco, a project which will become the largest theater in africa. situated on place mohammed V, a popular urban plaza, the design is the winning entry of an international competition that took place in 2009. the brief called for a scheme which reinvigorated and breathed new life into the vast square, a bold and dynamic proposal juxtaposing the plaza’s classical composition.

the theater will host musical concerts, plays and a range of performance based art

the centerpiece of the design is an 18,000 seat hall hosting musical concerts and theatrical plays. the expansive volume reinterprets the shape of an opera hall, allowing the public to congregate around the stage through a series of fan-shaped balconies. the building also houses a smaller 600 seat theater and public rehearsal rooms in addition to an art gallery, a host of retail and dining outlets and a library.

the bold and dynamic proposal juxtaposes the plaza’s classical composition

the façade’s external skin is a brilliant white, illuminating the square at all times of the day. envisioned as a series of detached units, the fluid structure presents inviting apertures offering visitors glimpses of internal volumes. internally, shaded passages are carved from the unit’s mass, connecting the complex, while elevated circulation routes traverse these voids providing views across the complex below. ‘casarts’ is scheduled to open its doors to the public in 2016.

the approach to the vast complex

the scheme viewed from place mohammed V

a host of retail and dining outlets activate the site at ground level

the project is intended to breathe new life into the region

shaded passages are carved from the unit’s mass, connecting the complex

elevated circulation routes traverse the voids providing views across the complex below

‘casarts’ is scheduled to open its doors to the public in 2016

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project info:

program: africa’s largest theatre new art: multi-purpose hall with 1,800 seats, flexible theater with 600 seats, public rehearsal rooms opened, special events rooms and ‘cultural intensity’ place, shops, restaurant, café, cyberspace, space for reading, library, showroom and art gallery.
architect partner in morocco: rachid andaloussi
client: casablanca city and the livings arts foundation
acoustics: xu acoustique (xu ya ying) / acoustique et architectures
scenography: theatre projects consultants, ltd. / gotlibovitch consultant
surface area: 24,700 sqm