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The monumental Lincoln Hotel was once one of the most iconic buildings in Casablanca. Built in 1917 by the architect Hubert Bride, for many years the Beassonneau building stood out on Boulevard Mohammed V thanks to its size and rich neo-Moorish decor. An important remnant of the city’s colonial heritage and one of the first extramural buildings constructed in the city, the hotel’s structure has since suffered from many years of neglect. Today, the building is structurally unsound and, after the collapse of its right wing in 2009, largely dilapidated.
Oualalou + Choi’s renovation of the hotel is focused on re-imagining this historic buildings for a new era of Casablancan history, with a particular focus on respecting the building’s architectural and patrimonial character in the context of the city’s vanishing built heritage. Blending faithful restoration with contemporary innovations to the hotel’s internal organization, the project serves as a first prototype and reference for the renaissance of other heritage buildings in Casablanca.
With a surface area of 9,500 m², the renovated Hotel Lincoln will comprise 2,000 m² of shops and offices, 7,500 m² of a 4-star hotel, as well as a restaurant, a swimming pool and a rooftop deck.