Morocco Shop, Casablanca Mall, Moroccan Interior, Retail Design

Morocco Mall, Casablanca : Moroccan Retail

Morocco Retail Building by Design International architectural studio

20 Nov 2012

Morocco Mall, Casablanca

Design: Design International architectural studio / Yasser Kahlaoui

Creative solutions for a new African landmark – multiple applications in DuPont™ Corian® for the Morocco Mall, Casablanca

Casablanca, Morocco: the entrance and interiors of the Morocco Mall l shopping centre, enriched with features in DuPont™ Corian®. Pictured, the reception counter entirely made from Corian®, featuring engraved decoration

photo courtesy of Deborel Maroc, all rights reserved

November 2012 – With retail space totaling 70,000 square meters, the Morocco Mall is a significant new destination for entertainment and shopping. Located in Casablanca, this landmark development is now ranked among the top 5 malls in its class.

The ambitious joint project by Groupe AKSAL and Al Jedaie Group has become a monument of national pride for young Moroccan people who see it as a symbol of rebirth and innovation for the nation. Davide Padoa, CEO of Design International architectural studio, commissioned for the project, says it is “a symbol for their country’s ability to absorb global trends and developments without losing its identity.”

With over 350 retail units, an aquarium and a luxury brand section, the Mall brings together 600 brands and does so in such a way as to respect nature, the landscape and its elements. Among the many architectural aspects that distinguish the mall is the use of the infinity “8” symbol how the structure harmoniously compliments the Atlantic Ocean it faces.

“The site looked very expansive at first glance, so I imagined something where you could see the beginning but not the end. This gave me the idea to design a long curved facade, where the centre of that curve would be far out in the ocean, so when you walk along the building you can’t see where it ends,” explains Padoa.

The design creates a natural bridge between the building and the sea. It is a truly ground breaking design that sets new standards in shopping centre design and the first building in the world which encloses another building: within one side of this infinity loop, is the Galeries Lafayette store, one of the most famous French brand’s world-wide. On the other loop is the premiere brand area.

Interiors of the Morocco Mall in Casablanca, an elegant and luxurious shopping center, enriched with furnishings in DuPont™ Corian®. Pictured, bicoloured signage ‘totem’:

photo courtesy of Deborel Maroc, all rights reserved

Outside the Mall but accessible from the main entrance, there is another highly visible and innovative element: an enormous IMAX® cinema designed by architect Yasser Kahlaoui. The building closes the infinity symbol and acts as a natural connection between the mall and the exterior landscape. It has a capacity of 400 seats and offers the first digital projection in Africa.

Within the building, a 550 square metre red shell-like form weighing 20 tons architecturally reflects the ties to nature and is made entirely in DuPont™ Corian® which is also used for the bright red interior ceilings and some of the wall cladding.

The natural solidity and ability of DuPont™ Corian® to take on any form or shape allowed Yasser Kahlaoui to create the illusion of an entire 3D structure. Each of the DuPont™ Corian® red panels have different sizes and inclinations to create suggestive volumes.

As highlighted by Yasser Kahlaoui, this interior 3D red shell in DuPont™ Corian® is unique in the world. The choice of red reflects enthusiasm and a desire to dominate the scene, but at the same this color enhances human creativity and spreads energy: “The IMAX® interiors are a kind of tasty red fruit to bite, or an underwater coral, something very attractive that you can’t help touching, an object of desire.” DuPont™ Corian® has also been selected for sales counters.

In many ways, the new shopping centre could be considered the ‘ultimate guide’ for the use of DuPont™ Corian® and its limitless applications. The high-tech surface has been thermoformed, bonded, carved, molded and inlayed. It has been used to create monolithic and seamless furniture.

Multiple interior applications include: the white reception desk in the lobby, decorated with a five-pointed Moroccan star pattern; all the black and white signaling totems, the TV panels that provide tactile information; the advertising screens, the “static directory” board located at every floor and the bathroom design in the luxury brands area. Furthermore, countertops on the second floor restaurants are in DuPont™ Corian® chosen for its easy-to-clean hygienic properties and durability.

A selection of the newly refined DuPont™ Corian® colour palette is expertly used to maximize visual effects: red for the IMAX® ceiling, an unusual brown for the advertising screens, black and white for the totems. The potential for working with DuPont™ Corian® is immeasurable, allowing architects to give free reign to their creativity.

Inside the bathrooms located on the luxury floor, DuPont™ Corian® has been used to create beautiful ‘moucharabieh’ style space dividers, in a white version for the ladies cloakroom, and in a black version for the men’s, giving a modern look to an object traditionally made of wood.

All the furnishings made in DuPont™ Corian®, for both the mall interiors and the IMAX® cinema ceiling and walls, have been fabricated by Deborel Maroc.

About Design International: (www. designinternational.com) Design International is based around the principle that it is the only boutique-style retail design firm that operates on a truly global scale. The group is very much about retail added value and its success is based on the ability to make it work for the long-term. Design International (DI) is an Architectural Firm founded in 1972.

DI, with its main office in London and other offices in Milan, Toronto, Cairo, Jakarta and Mumbai, is internationally recognized for projects realized in more than 60 countries in five continents. Design International creates spaces and architectures for people who meet in an environment that inspires them to shop and amuse themselves. Davide Padoa is the Chief Executive Officer of the group, which counts a staff in excess of 200 among talented architects, leasing agents, lighting, landscape, product designers and graphic specialists.

Each project has a dedicated creative team, which includes a project leader under the direct supervision of a Design International Partner. The project site coordination of the Morocco’ Mall is led by Miguel Fernandes and Catia Zizzi, in close cooperation with a rich staff of professionals based in London: Kollin Akbar (architecture Mall), Kuncara Wicaksana and Luz Stella Pabon (architecture Galleries Lafayette), Louise Loo (interior), Neil Skinner (lighting), Antony Nelson (landscape) and, ultimately, Davide Padoa.

About DuPont™ Corian® (www.corian.com) – The continuous efforts, the investment and the creativity of DuPont in research and technology, product innovation, new applications development and marketing have made DuPont™ Corian® high-tech surface a design tool offering exceptional versatility and almost limitless possibilities. From kitchens to lamps, from bathrooms to the skin of buildings, from seating solutions to home automation systems, from radiators to touch control surfaces, from tables to furnishing and fashion accessories, to mention just a few, DuPont™ Corian® can be found in an extremely wide variety of products, systems and objects.

DuPont™ Corian® (the whole range or specific types) has received important independent certifications for its environmental performance (such as GreenGuard®, NAHB North American Builders Association, U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® Green Building Rating System, Scientific Certification Systems, Ecospecifier). Its hygienic performance has also been certified by prestigious independent institutions (for example, by NSF International, The Royal Institute of Public Health and LGA QualiTest).

The environmental management systems of all the plants of DuPont that produce DuPont™ Corian® have been certified according to ISO 14001. Moreover, as a result of a multi-year improvement program, all the plants of DuPont that manufacture DuPont™ Corian® have brought down to zero their impact on landfills by reducing, reusing and recycling manufacturing byproducts and waste.

DuPont – DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.

Morocco Mall Casablanca images / information received 201112

Location: Casablanca, Morocco, North Africa

Morocco Architecture Developments

Contemporary Morocco Buildings

Morocco Architecture Designs – chronological list

Morocco Architecture News

Morocco Architecture

African Architecture

African Buildings

Anfa Place, Casablanca, northern Morocco : mixed-use Moroccan development
Foster + Partners
Anfa Place

Florence place, north eastern Morocco
Mikou Design Studio
Florence place Fes

Rabat Grand Theatre, northern Morocco
Zaha Hadid Architects
Rabat Grand Theatre

BMCE Regional Headquarters Buildings, Rabat + Casablanca, northern Morocco
Design: Foster + Partners
Moroccan Bank Buildings

Casablanca Twin Center, northwestern Morocco
Architect : Ricardo Bofill – ‘Taller de Arquitectura
Casablanca Twin Center

Buildings / photos for the Morocco Mall Casablanca – Moroccan Retail Building page welcome

Website:- www.moroccomall.net