Defined by a continuous volume snaking around two semipublic courtyards, the Connecting Riads residential complex by AQSO Arquitectos adapts to the different conditions of the plot to combine a domestic and urban appearance. Its simple gesture is defined by the particular context of each side of the site in a way that the different heights of the elevations become a contemporary and expressive form to which the roof is formed by staircase shaped green terraces. More images and architects’ description after the break.
The project is located on the east side of Anfa district in Casablanca, a downtown historic area in the vicinity of an old airport to be demolished. The plot is situated between the Gran Theatre boulevard and a residential area composed of low buildings and an urban park. The scheme is solved conceptually as a continuous block aligned to the surrounding streets and wrapping around two big ‘riads’.
In this way the building grows to offer an urban character towards the boulevard and reduces its scale to the opposite side. The upward volume allows the apartments to enjoy the view of the park. The building façade turns into two different strategies: the exterior skin facing the most public context becomes an introverted and formal element while the interior one facing the private courtyards becomes extrovert and domestic.
The first one is made by long balconies enclosed by sliding latticework panels and the second one is just a white and plain surface only interrupted by long windows and big protruding balconies. This elements arranged in an irregular order are hanged on the wall like flowerpots in an Andalusian patio. The building block is also perforated through big openings working as green terraces and allowing good ventilation and views.
On the semipublic areas, the landscape is treated with an organic layout combining cobbled paving pathways, water features and native vegetation of trees and low-maintenance plants. The complex is composed of different residential typologies ranging from 70 to 160 sqm. The apartments follow a 6×3 meters module in which grid are arranged the different rooms. There are five unit types and different subtypes depending on the orientation and geometry.
Architects: AQSO Arquitectos Location: Casablanca, Morocco Client: Nokta Group Site Area: 9814 sqm Ground Floor Area: 49,154 sqm
