Historic Moroccan Landmarks Face Demolition, Sparking Preservation Outcry

These buildings are on the inventory list of the Urban Agency, for the development of the safeguard and enhancement plan of the architectural heritage of the greater Casablanca, recalled the association, stressing that they "had been the subject of recurrent alerts to the competent authorities to sensitize them to the major architectural interest that justified the filing of a request for registration on the list of national heritage with the Ministry of Culture in 2014".

"It is in a general indifference of all the actors and with a deep affliction of the members of Casamémoire and all those who fight for the preservation of the national heritage, that we learned of the demolition of the Miramar hotel and the Casino in Mohammedia," deplored the association, describing the two buildings as symbols of the seaside identity in the city, where they were built respectively in 1929 and 1933.

In addition to their unique architectural qualities as a legacy of Moroccan modernity, the Mohammedia casino and the Miramar hotel constitute an intangible heritage of the city. The two buildings were authentic jewels of national tourism, hosting many artistic events and seeing the performance of great national and international celebrities, according to the association.

Casamémoire wishes to draw the attention of the public opinion, civil society, and once again alerts the local authorities, elected officials, and those responsible for culture and urban planning on the irreparable damage suffered by the architectural heritage and the memory of the city of Mohammedia "following these demolitions in flagrant disregard of the efforts made to preserve the national heritage".