It is rare for a historic Moroccan site to trigger a wide-ranging urban renewal, but when Casablanca- and Paris-based OUALALOU+CHOI architecture and urban design firm won the competition to redesign the 1923 train station in Casablanca, the project set in motion a comprehensive plan for a modern Casa Sud train station and a revitalized esplanade.
© Courtesy of Oualalouchoi
The Casa Sud project forms part of a larger national investment program to expand suburban rail capacity in Casablanca, an initiative launched by King Mohammed VI. The plan includes modernization of the existing Casa Sud site and construction of 161 miles of new track, five maintenance and stabling facilities, and expanded depots at Zenata and Nouaceur. The upgraded Casa Sud hub will enable better interchange between the Al Boraq high-speed service and regional and suburban lines, reinforcing Casablanca’s role as a transport nexus.
Designed for high throughput, the new station will handle up to 12 million passengers per year. The scheme provides six platforms serving 10 tracks, and includes parking for around 700 vehicles to accommodate commuters and visitors.
© Courtesy of Oualalouchoi
More than a transport facility, the new Casa Sud is conceived as an urban landmark and strategic center at the heart of Casablanca. As Morocco’s leading economic hub, Casablanca hosts many of the country’s largest firms and is undergoing rapid growth. The station is intended to communicate that ambition to residents and visitors while serving as a functional civic asset.
Situated at the convergence of major city streets, the station will reconnect the historic inner city with contemporary extensions. By spanning the existing rail corridors, the new Gare Casa Sud will bridge neighborhoods that have long been separated, restoring continuity to the urban fabric and acting as the focus for a broader mixed-use development that includes new residential and commercial zones.
Architecturally, the station will be defined by a monumental vaulted roof that unifies the station’s functions beneath a single sweeping canopy. This covered volume will protect platforms and public spaces while creating generous visual and physical connections to surrounding districts, opening the station to all sides of the city.
© Courtesy of Oualalouchoi
At street level, a substantial urban park will be established at the base of the station, introducing much-needed green space in a city with limited public gardens. The roof will also offer panoramic 360-degree views, turning the station into a destination that invites exploration beyond its transport role.
Gare Casa Sud aims to serve as more than a railway interchange: it will be a new civic monument and a unifying public realm, poised to become one of Casablanca’s most recognizable landmarks. Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2029, positioning the station to be in place ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup events that will include venues in Morocco.