A Glance at the Architecture of Downtown Casablanca
DrFumblefinger explores the architecture in “Downtown Casablanca”. Most were constructed in the period between WWI and WWII, and show art deco and art nouveau features combined with Moroccan/Moorish features.
The Blue Hall has brick walls which are not plastered. The hall was originally supposed to have been plastered and painted blue, a colour scheme that would have resembled the water of the bay. But Östberg changed his mind during the construction of the hall after he saw the red brick.
Garry’s got it right. It was initially to be painted blue (like the Swedish flag), but the architect so loved the look of the space he left it as it was when made. Still, the name stuck. Sort of like Tunnel Mountain in Banff, which was to have a railway tunnel blasted through, although the rail was diverted and no tunnel ever made.
Why blue? It looks more Andalusian than Swedish to my eye.