Hay Al Amal: New forms of living

ABOUT THE SITE
Hay Al Amal is a neighbourhood located at Sidi Bernoussi
in Casablanca. We focused on a compound
consisting of 7, 4-storey blocks with 64 flats in each
Field trip workshop 2016/2017
A Project by
Camille Trinidad
Yanjela Sherpa
Abdirisak Jama
Jessriel Austria
Chaimaa Zerkdi
Walid Nokta
Othmane jarbal
Abir Salhi
Hay Al Amal
New forms of living
School of Architecture and Landscape
Kingston University London
Ecole d’Architecture
Casablanca, Morocco

Brief
The workshop is a joint effort between
us and an architecture school in Morocco
where we studied and mapped different
settlements in Casablanca. The theme
was ‘New forms of living and urban morphology’.
The aim was to visit the site and
record its physical aspect, understand the
programme and analyse its morphology. At
the end of the week, we were to present our
findings and compare these types of settlements
to London.
The study was split into survey and interview.
Since we were in a foreign city, it was
polite to get to know some of the residents
first. This was also a way to collect data in
regards as to how much change was done to
the interiors and as well as how the residents
use the space.

ANALYSING CASABLANCA’S
HOUSING TYPOLOGY
WORKSHOP BRIEF
When we arrived in Casablanca, we stayed with our
hosts, which are also our groupmates for the five-day
project we need to finish and present by the end of the
week. We were given a reader that stood as a guide for
us as to how we were supposed to tackle this project.
There are five commune/areas, which are chosen, collaborated-ly
by our tutors.
in regards to some physical aspect of our area. We
were required to survey, interview, make drawings
and present it an A0.

HAY AL AMAL
Hay Al Amal is a neighbourhood located at
Sidi Bernoussi in Casablanca. We focused
on a compound consisting of 7, 4-storey
blocks with 64 flats in each (total of 448
units) with open parking spaces in between
blocks.
There are mixed-used buildings on its north
which included a street level café, car repair
shops, first storey dental clinic and residential
units on top of these commercial spaces.
The main modes of transport around the
area are public buses, taxis and private cars.
The blocks of flats are a government funded
project for working class families. They
own the units they live in, meaning they can
change the interior and exterior however
they want. The housing is given to them by
the government although technically, the
land is still owned by the government.
ABOUT THE SITE
Hay Al Amal is a neighbourhood located at Sidi Bernoussi
in Casablanca. We focused on a compound
consisting of 7, 4-storey blocks with 64 flats in each
(total of 448 units) with open parking spaces in between
blocks.
There are mixed-used buildings in north of the site
which included a street level café, car repair shops,
first storey dental clinic and residential units on top
of these commercial spaces. The main modes of transport
around the area are public buses, taxis and private
cars.
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The blocks of flats are a government funded project
for working class families but these families own the
units they live in, meaning they can change however
they want the units and is given to them by the government
although technically, the land is still owned
by the government.

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Site description
Location: Sidi Bernoussi
Typology: private housing and commercial
spaces
Date constructed: 1960-70
Developer: government
Standard of living: middle class
Access and transportation: bicycle, bus, taxis
and private cars
Names of the streets limiting the sites:
Abi Der Al Ghafari
Boulevard Ahmed Ben Bassou
Rue 1
Rue 2
Physical Aspect of the site
Total Area: 68000 sqm
Communal and green spaces: 4000 sqm
(5.8% from total area)
Number of buildings: 7
Dimensions of individual building
Height: 12 m
Width: 43 m
Depth: 7 m
Functions and Programs
Number of lodgements: 64 units per building
Number of storey on each building: 4 levels
Total surface area of each building: 1,204
sqm (301 sqm x 4 levels)
Future development: Tram way

Drawing Surveys
The surveying was done both through estimation
and recorded measurements. We
defined the space through the existing objects
we surveyed and categorised them into
three: dwelling, movable and permanent.
By creating three different drawings that illustrate
various elements of the site, we can
show how the inhabitants change their environment
according to their way of living.
Survey drawings
Site plan
Ground floor plan in context
North West street elevation
Cross Section
Front and Rear Elevation
East context street Elevation and Floor Plan
(Commercial buildings)
3D perspective
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From the interview, we knew that everything was repeated
in terms of design, layout, access and openings.
They focused on taking notes of the events happening
After surveying the site, we had a midweek tutorial for
the layout process of our final presentation. This led
us to use all of our hand drawings and sketches for our
WORKING PROCESS

We went to ask and take notes while the other
translates. We asked questions like how long
have they been living in the area, what is the
most important space in the community and
among other things that are in our reader guide.
We also asked if we can see the in- side of the
house and asked if the layout is the same with
everyone’s.
We spoke with people in various ages, from kids
to elderly and went around the adjacent part of
the site where the commercial street lies. We
went into a first floor dental clinic and asked
about the changes they have made with the interior,
as it was originally a res- idential flat.
Meanwhile, the others tried to gather in- formation
about the measurement of a single building.

Residential area
Age: 20-80
Number of family members: 3-4
Living there since: 2000/1956
House ownership/rental: Ownership
Use of public transport: walking, buses, cars
and taxis
Interviewee statements
- Average noise
- Events are held in the public space/shared
parking (e.g. weddings, funerals, ceremonies)
- People can use any laundry link made by
the homeowners
- Everybody is invited when there are events
- Neighbourhood is a whole community
and the people are getting along well
- Most have at least three generation of families
living in the building
Differences and changes in the site
- Relocation of the toilet and location of the
rooms in the apartment
- People added gates, shutters, laundry lines,
metal railings on the doors and windows
- Drainage system
- Painting of facade every year
Hopes for the family and the community
- They wanted to get out of poverty
- If they can turn back time, they would like
to live in the house opposite of the road
- If they have a choice, they would live in a
better area
Most important part of their house
- The private bedroom
- Shared public space

Commercial area
Age: 25-50
Number of family members: n/a
Living there since: 2006
House ownership/rental: Ownership
Use of public transport: walking, buses, cars
and taxis
Building habitation
Commercial: Cafe, dental clinic, physiotherapy
clinic, Moroccan herbs shop and
convenience stores
Private: 2 level flat and 1 extra rooftop
apartment
Living Condition
-Average noise
-The apartment has different entrance on
the other side of the road for end buildings
-The upper story commercial spaces have
their separate entrances facing the main
road in which the doorways lead to a staircase.
-Commercial units have larger doorway entry
and windows
-The building feels more private and has a
better living condition
Differences and changes
-Additional door openings for easy access
between the reception, office and the clinic
-Additional gate for the dentist’s entry
-Room extension on the rooftop

We made three different drawings that illustrate
various elements in the site to show how
the inhabitants change their environment according
to their way of living.
Dwelling plan
Permanent elements
Movable elements

The idea that stood out in regards to the project
was Hay Al Amal’s residents and their resilience.
When the government leaves no space
for agency (the resident’s ability to have a
choice), it results into people developing their
resourcefulness.
They started to use the parking lots as a make
shift neighbourhood exterior living room, celebrating
community events such as birthdays,
weddings and funerals. The gutters and stairs
were used as storages and seating areas where
the mothers and the elders sit, chat and work
together during laundry day. The windows
were used as a threshold space to attach clothing
lines in which the residents share. These
temporary elements created an identity and
acts as clues into the events happening behind
the exterior walls. All these changes they made
transformed the architecture of the place and
therefore shaped a particular part of the city’s
fabric.

The blocks of flats are a government funded project
for working class families but these families own the
units they live in, meaning they can change however