Housing for the greatest number: Casablanca’s under-appreciated public housing developments

Abstract

ABSTRACT In the context of today’s increasing acceptance of Casablanca’s twentieth century architecture as ‘cultural heritage’, this paper assesses the value of the projects providing ‘housing for the masses’ which were put into effect by Michel Ecochard and his team at the beginning of the 1950s, especially at Carrières Centrales in Hay Mohammedi. Truly an icon of modern architecture, this under-recognised project – significantly transformed by its occupants – now paradoxically arouses the curiosity of a large number of student architects and other specialists. This essay is an attempt to reflect that interest by showing how this many-faceted project is worthy of being considered as ‘cultural heritage’. It deals first with the project’s founding principles and the debates within CIAM that it provoked. Then the paper looks at the transformation and adaptations made to the project by its inhabitants acting within their particular socio-political context. Finally, we show the influence of the Carrières Centrales project on later housing projects within Morocco as well as internationally, including the lessons it can bring to bear on more recent urban questions.