Defined by an iconic geodesic dome known as Kora Ardia (Globe), United Nations Square has become an essential means of identity for the city of Casablanca in Morocco. Providing audiences with a variety of ways to experience the space and connect with the history of the city, it highlights what it can mean to cultivate an identity that is connected to the past and present of an entire country.
Central in the History of Casablanca
Previously known as the Grand Souk (Souq Kbir), what had been the entrance to Casablanca’s historical district was redefined when Morocco was a French Protectorate in the early 1900s. As part of a dedicated effort to expand the city, the space became known as “Square of the Clock” thanks to the 1908 installation of a clock tower. Various buildings and other developments further redefined the space over the following decades, enabling a transformation that was driven by a European colonial style.
It was said that the past and present of Casablanca merged at the clock tower, which enabled the space to become a connection point between the European city and the historical district that defined the region for centuries. Also known as the “Square of France,” the entire space would eventually become known as United Nations Square after Morocco gained independence in 1956.
The most distinctive feature of the United Nations Square is the Kora Ardia, which can be translated as, “Globe.” Installed in 1975 and representing the world, the piece has become a means of identity for the entire city that can be experienced in various ways, including from the street, underneath and across the area.
Mentioned the point where the historic district ends and the twentieth-century enlargement of the city begins, United Nations Square has become a nexus between classic and modern, which Kora Ardia represents on multiple levels. Utilized in everything from city silhouettes to merchandise, Kora Ardia highlights what it can mean to enable connections that span multiple audiences and eras.
A Hub for Casablanca
Designated to be one of the city’s central points of connection, United Nations Square has become one of the most visited spots of Casablanca, which the iconic nature of Kora Ardia further enables. Cities of all types have streets that converge on a central location in a similar way, but the connections that have been cultivated at United Nations Square have allowed it to cultivate an identity that is as powerful as it is representative for the entire city and all of Morocco.
