Lecture date: 1999-11-29
Celebrated in colonialist saga and songs, staged by Hollywood, and a pole of attraction for Europeans and Moroccans alike, Casablanca is above all an exceptional collection of urban spaces, houses and gardens. Between 1912 and 1956, under French rule, this quasi-forgotten port was transformed into a turbulent metropolis influenced by all Mediterranean cultures. Together, creative architects and ambitious clients shaped one of the overlooked scenes of modernity, addressing issues such as the interpretation of built tradition in new forms of housing, or the provision for a pragmatic yet controlled urban environment.
Jean-Louis Cohen is an architect and historian who specializes in European and American urbanism and architecture of the twentieth century. He is a professor at New York Universitys Institute of Fine Art and Director of the Institut Fran
source
