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| United Nations Square | |
|---|---|
| Name | United Nations Square |
| Native name | Place des Nations Unies |
| Location | Casablanca, Morocco |
| Type | Public square |
| Created | 1910s–1920s |
| Designer | Henri Prost |
| Owner | City of Casablanca |
| Status | Active |
United Nations Square is a prominent public square in Casablanca, Morocco, serving as a focal point for urban life, commerce, and transit. Originally developed during the French Protectorate in Morocco and reshaped across the 20th century, the square sits at the confluence of historic medina arteries and colonial boulevards. It connects heritage sites such as the Casablanca Cathedral and the Old Medina (Casablanca) with modern landmarks including the Hôtel Balima and the Mohammed V Square axis.
United Nations Square emerged amid early 20th-century urban projects led by planner Henri Prost during the French Protectorate in Morocco after the 1912 Treaty of Fez. The area evolved from the medieval Old Medina (Casablanca) fabric into an open plaza following demolitions and street alignments tied to the broader redesign of Casablanca influenced by Le Corbusier debates and contemporary colonial planning. In the 1930s the square became integrated into Casablanca’s commercial expansion alongside developments such as the Marché Central (Casablanca) and the Casa-Voyageurs railway station. Post-independence transformations after 1956 in Morocco introduced nationalist urban interventions and renaming practices parallel to other public spaces like Mohammed V Square and Place des Nations. Renovations in the late 20th and early 21st centuries reflected municipal initiatives associated with the Greater Casablanca Development Agency and heritage conservation linked to UNESCO discussions about Moroccan urban identity.
United Nations Square lies at the interface between the Old Medina (Casablanca) and the European ville nouvelle, bounded by major thoroughfares including Boulevard Mohamed V (Casablanca), Avenue des Forces Armées Royales, and streets that lead toward the Port of Casablanca and Habous Quarter. Its plan functions as a nexus connecting transport nodes such as Casa-Port railway station and tramway lines implemented by the Casablanca Tramway project conceived with input from international firms like Alstom and municipal partners. The square’s geometric layout aligns with radial streets that open onto marketplaces including the Marché Central (Casablanca) and retail corridors leading toward institutions like Bank Al-Maghrib headquarters and the Royal Palace of Casablanca environs. Urban morphology around the square exhibits a layering of medieval alleys, colonial boulevards, and postcolonial infill typologies mapped in municipal zoning overseen by the Prefecture of Casablanca.
Architectural elements around United Nations Square display a mix of Moorish Revival architecture, Art Deco, and modernist influences represented by structures such as the former Casablanca Cathedral, designed by architects who engaged with ecclesiastical commissions like Paul Tournon and contemporaries active across French Algeria and French Tunisia. Nearby façades demonstrate ornamental mashrabiya references and tilework comparable to examples in the Habous Quarter and projects by architects participating in the Société des Architectes Diplômés par le Gouvernement. Monuments and public art installations installed over successive administrations reflect commemorations tied to events like the Tangier International Zone negotiations and Moroccan independence celebrations similar to those at Mohammed V Square. Street furniture, fountains, and paving schemes around the plaza have been periodically replaced during campaigns involving preservation stakeholders such as the Ministry of Culture (Morocco) and heritage NGOs that monitor sites with affinities to UNESCO-listed medina conservation practices.
United Nations Square functions as a sociocultural crossroads where residents from neighborhoods like Derb Omar and visitors from the Casablanca Anfa Airport area intersect with vendors from the Habous Quarter and tourists arriving via the Casa-Port railway station. The square hosts everyday commerce reminiscent of North African souq traditions and serves as a backdrop for street photography campaigns referencing works about Casablanca (film) iconography and Mediterranean urban studies influenced by scholars studying Maghreb cities. Civic mobilizations, cultural gatherings, and informal performances echo practices observed in other Moroccan public spaces such as Jemaa el-Fnaa in Marrakesh and squares in Rabat where public life mediates between modern consumption patterns and heritage expression.
United Nations Square is a multimodal hub integrated into Casablanca’s transport network with pedestrian arteries connecting to the Casablanca Tramway lines, bus services operated by the Régie de transport de Casablanca, and rail links to Casa-Voyageurs railway station and Casa-Port railway station. Road access from highways such as the A3 (Morocco) and links toward the Port of Casablanca facilitate regional connectivity used by freight and passenger services, while urban mobility initiatives have introduced bicycle lanes and accessibility upgrades in line with policies advocated by UN-Habitat and metropolitan planning agencies. Wayfinding and station infrastructure have been modernized alongside national efforts tied to the Ministry of Equipment, Transport, Logistics and Water.
The square regularly features public ceremonies associated with national commemorations comparable to events held at Mohammed V Square and municipal festivals curated by the Casablanca City Council. It has hosted cultural programming aligned with festivals such as the Casablanca International Fair and temporary exhibitions that reference cinematic heritage like Casablanca (film), as well as civic demonstrations connected to electoral cycles involving the Party of Justice and Development (Morocco) and other political formations. Seasonal markets and religious holiday gatherings take place in adjacent streets, drawing merchants and visitors from regions including Rabat, Tangier, and Agadir and integrating the square into broader Moroccan civic rhythms.
Category:Casablanca Category:Public squares in Morocco