Imagine stepping back into Casablanca’s elegant Anfa District in 1947. Here stands Villa Zevaco. This villa, originally named Villa Sami Suissa, soon became iconic. Its beauty, modernity, and originality captivated the city. Jean-Francois Zevaco designed it for Sami Suissa.
Today, Villa Zevaco still stands as a testament to timeless architecture. It is a sensitive container for the perfect dining experience. In 2013, Andy Martin Architecture AMA restored and converted this classic 50s villa. AMA respected the original design. They worked within the original framework. The architects created spaces paying homage to Zevaco. They enhanced the Moroccan building tradition with contemporary British design.
The biggest challenge was creating a complex that includes a restaurant, bar, boulangerie, tea-house, and library. This had to be done while retaining the original structure and domestic scale. Starting from a three-bedroom house, AMA created a tranquil haven. It is set away from the city’s bustle.
Villa Zevaco sits at the intersection of Boulevard d’Anfa and the promenade. This leads to the Casablancan seafront. A new grand rotunda entrance features a dramatic central skylight. It echoes Zevaco’s trademark use of the spiral. Elements of his interior styling have been enhanced. This adds a contemporary yet retro edge to the building.
AMA worked closely with landscape designers. They incorporated plant life and running water. These elements play an important part in the overall design, both inside and outside. AMA also designed furniture and fittings for the villa and gardens. They married classical British styling with traditional Moroccan materials and techniques.
Discreet use of screens and trellises create areas of natural shade and light. These change as the sun moves throughout the day. By night, seating areas in the gardens are lit with table lamps. Low-level lights guide visitors along garden paths. These paths link the rotunda with the restaurant.
Visitors can choose between several ambiences at Villa Zevaco. The elegance of the first-floor dining room is one option. The bar with its gardens, cushioned seating, and terraces is another. Or they can choose the quieter space of the library.
AMA was most concerned with finding the essence of the building’s architecture. They focused on how things feel, touch, and smell. They considered how one perceives material reality. The design strategy asserts the encounter between strong, plain textures and materials. It avoids giving prominence to stylistic forms. This works because the basic container is simple and strong in its own right.
Villa Zevaco is more than just a building. It is a timeless capsule. It encapsulates the spirit of Casablanca’s elegant past. It offers a perfect blend of history, design, and sensory experience. As you stand here, imagine the conversations, the flavors, and the artistry that fill this iconic space.