Cannes, France
When it opened in 1953 as El Mansour “The Victorious” and with only nine floors, this hotel in downtown Casablanca, designed by architect Emile-Jean Duhon, was Morocco’s first five-star hotel and, at the time, the meeting place for celebrities visiting Morocco.
After a renovation lasting more than eight years, the hotel reopened in spring 2024, with 23 floors and 149 rooms, suites and private apartments.
The project was overseen by the prestigious Barcelona firm Patrick Genard & Asociados, which respected the Art Deco reminiscences of the first hotel building and the entire neighborhood, drawing inspiration from the decoration of the hotel’s various spaces, starting with the entrance itself, which features a depiction of a map of Casablanca seen from above. This work, designed by artist Charles Kalpakian, uses glass, mirror, brass and copper to create a mosaic reminiscent of the 1930s.
Astec participated in the rebirth of this iconic hotel, where Mohamed Ali and Charles Aznavour, among others, stayed, by producing numerous architectural bronze artifacts and specifically taking care of the supply of fixed bulletproof (BR5 class) and fireproof (EI60 and EI120 classes) doors and frames. The specific needs of the facility required the design and fabrication of new custom extruded profiles, designed specifically to meet the taste of the client and respond to technical requirements.
These products, chosen in Media burnishing, have been tested at accredited laboratories in Italy and France, and confirm Astec’s ability to interact with numerous international players involved.
