Project size: 5,000 square feet

Program: The architect designed and built a three-bedroom house for his young family.

Location: Casablanca, Morocco

Solution: The square-shaped plot gave rise to a monolothic box volume. Its concrete shell  isolates the interior from the disturbances of the busy street life outside.

Construction and materials: The structure is made from poured concrete pillars and beams with pre-cast concrete block walls. Below ground, peripheral walls are made from board formed concrete. The majority of interior and exterior walls are composed of a handmade aggregate mix, which has been left exposed. The texture of the stairwell’s black painted walls is magnified by natural light coming from a glass roof covering.

 

Additional Information

Gross square footage: 5,000 square feet

Total project cost: withheld

 

Credits

Architect:

LMNTS LAB
3 Rue du Rouget de Lisle
Casablanca 20070
Morocco
+212 522 266 023

 

Personnel in architect's firm who should receive special credit:

Mehdi Berrada, principal architect; M. Abdelmoughite Zerouali, as project manager.

 

Engineers:

Structural and civil engineer- Kamal Chaabi /Uteca


General contractor:

Entreprise Mohcine Sarl

 

Photographer:

Double Space Photography

 

  

Specifications

Structural System

Concrete frame and walls

Exterior Cladding

Masonry: Concrete blocs with waterproof concrete render

Metal/glass curtain wall: Windows and sliding doors provided by MOURINHO Portugal

Precast concrete: Board form in situ cast concrete walls

Wood: Charred spruce; Charred oak

Moisture barrier: Sikalite added to the render mix

Roofing

Built-up roofing: Concrete slab

Metal: Rusted steel (windows guards and gates)

Tile/shingles: Grey marble tiles by the swimming pool and hexagonal cement tiles in the basement

Glazing

Glass: Double stadip insulated glass (Saint-Gobain)

Skylights: Custom-made sliding steel framed glass panel over the stairwell

Doors

Wood doors: All the interior doors are full height (3m) painted black plywood

Sliding doors: Aluminum and double stadip glass (MOURINHO)

Hardware

Locksets: Bricard

Interior Finishes

Acoustical ceilings: All the walls, floors and ceilings are lined with Rockwool, and the ground floor wood ceiling has a sound deflecting pattern.

Furnishings

Office furniture: Custom-made

Reception furniture: Cassina Toot sofas, Poliform mad queen armchairs, Molteni TOULOUSE dining table and BoConcept dining chairs.

Lighting

Interior ambient lighting: Custom-made steel tubes with LED bulbs inside

Energy

Energy management or building automation system: Solar water heater, 100% LED lighting, electrical central heating system