Between the 1920s and the 1950s, Casablanca grew within a few decades from a small port into a major city. French, European and Moroccan architects tried out the modern styles of the period there: Art Deco, neo-Moorish, then modernism and streamline.
The result is an extensive urban ensemble, often compared with Miami Beach or Napier, where geometric ornament meets Moroccan craftsmanship — zellige, carved plaster, wood and wrought iron.
Four decades that shaped the city
1914–1917
The Prost plan
The urban planner Henri Prost lays out the main avenues of the new town, its squares and its residential districts.
1918–1930
The new Habous medina
Albert Laprade, followed by Auguste Cadet and Edmond Brion, design a neo-Moorish district that reinterprets the medina.
1925–1940
Art Deco at its height
Boulevard Mohammed V (formerly Boulevard de la Gare) fills with buildings featuring arcades, bow windows and bas-reliefs.
1940–1955
Modernism & streamline
Rounded corners, continuous balconies and horizontal lines: the city carries Art Deco forward into the modern movement.
Recognising a Casablanca Art Deco property
Facades are white or cream, punctuated by bow windows and loggias; geometric decoration (chevrons, fans, sunburst motifs, relief friezes) meets Moroccan craftsmanship: zellige, carved plaster (gebs), painted wood and wrought iron. Entrance halls in terrazzo, marble or mosaic and ironwork on balconies and lift shafts complete the vocabulary.
- White or cream facades punctuated by bow windows and loggias
- Geometric decoration: chevrons, fans, sunburst motifs, relief friezes
- Worked ironwork on balconies, entrance doors and lift shafts
- Entrance halls in terrazzo, marble or mosaic, often preserved
- High ceilings, mouldings, parquet floors and cement tiles
- Moroccan influences: zellige, carved plaster (gebs), painted wood
Buying or renting: practical points
- Check the legal status (land title, co-ownership) and whether an active building manager (syndic) is in place
- Have the structure, utilities and facades assessed before any commitment
- Find out about any heritage protection that applies to the building
- Plan a renovation budget that respects the original features
- For Moroccans living abroad and foreign buyers: work with a notary
Preserving by living there
Buying or renting an Art Deco property also contributes to preserving a fragile heritage. Associations such as Casamémoire have worked since the 1990s to protect it and have it recognised. Boulevart Déco highlights the original features of each property to encourage sympathetic renovation.