Flying Carpet | Salvatore Spataro & Giacomo Magi

The aim of the International competition was to design a new market square in Casablanca able to reflect contemporary design tendencies. A project of great aesthetic impact, able to enhance the district of Casablanca where it rises. The project site has a size of about 800 square meters in a strategic location of the city.

Honorable Mention |  RTFA 2014 Awards
Category: Landscape Concept

©Salvatore Spataro & Giacomo Magi

The project originates from the identification and interpretation of some typical elements of Moroccan culture: the Berber tent (usually made in wool and hair and very resistant to weathering), the carpet (fundamental and distinctive element of the local industry) and zellij (Moroccan-Berber architecture elements that have adapted perfectly to the style of contemporary decor preserving the craftsmens manufacturing)

The tent, the carpet and the zellij merge into a single element (a sort of “flying carpet”) that becomes the main element of the market and plays in the original way the Moroccan culture. The “Flying carpet” is both structure and coverage.

©Salvatore Spataro & Giacomo Magi

The materials used are concrete and steel. The internal structure of the carpet is made by means of metal profiles, then covered by concrete blocks perforated with geometric patterns zellij. The texture of the carpet creates surprising and fascinating play of light and shadow. The market square is transformed into a social space in which to live.

The market is distributed into 5 specific zones: Meat; Fish & Sea food; Fruit & Vegetable; Flowers and Spices. The block of services included an information area, a newspaper quosk, a refuse collection area, facilities and a cafè.