Casablanca, Dar -el- Beida

Other interesting structures in Casa

The Cathedral Notre Dames de Lourdes,

constructed in 1930, ceased to function as a church in 1956,

after the Moroccan Independence.

A wonderful example of the "artdeco"architecture

for which Casablanca has become reknown.

Another picture of the Cathedrale.

More buildings exhibiting the "artdeco" style.
Sorry I don't know the names of these buildings..the pictures were taken by a friend.

A wee bit of history concerning the achitecture"artdeco".

During the years known in French as les "années folles",

the roaring twenties in English,

in order to provide for the growing population in Casablanca,

the General Lyautey decided to construct a "new city."

the idea was to combine modern and traditionnal architecture.

From 1920-1935 under the vigilant eye of French urbanist, Henri Proust,

a multitude of new buildings and villas , a mixture of the styles "artdeco" and "neo mauresque", were born.

Today one can still admire the superbe facades, colonades, and balconies.

The next time I go to Casablanca, I want to get names and dates for the different

buildings...do a real reportage.