Morphosis wraps the Casablanca Finance City tower with a brise-soleil that protects the building against the harsh Moroccan sun while exploiting the external elements to regulate natural light, air and temperatures internally.
The complex façade draws inspiration from traditional geometric patterned mosaics and intricate wooden latticework screens characteristic of Moroccan architecture.
In collaboration with VS-A Façade Engineers, Morphosis developed a façade system of three layers. First the exterior brise-soleil, followed by Low-E insulating glazing and an interior canvas blind.
The engineers used bidirectional energetic data inside a 3D Rhino model to see the meteorological effects on the material. As a result the 21,000 square meters building meets LEED Gold requirements.
In a scheme reminiscent of Bernard Tschumi’s Manhattan Transcripts, Morphosis explains how a tower silhouette study lead to the complex crystal-like shape of the top and bottom. The tower tapers off both towards the top and mirrors this towards the bottom.
The 122 meter tower is a first step in the creation of a new business district in Casablanca. The Casablanca Finance City is located in the Anfa district, southwest of the historic city center, which was the former location of the Anfa Airport that closed in 2007.
