[2] Azagury was also a controversial and outspoken Communist, and was active designing cités, or social housing projects made up of modular units, in places like Hay Hassani in Casablanca.

He worked as an apprentice at the Atelier of Hérault, Boutrin in Paris for two years while studying for the entrance exams of the Ecole des Beaux Arts, which he finally passed on his 4th attempt in 1939, placing 17th out of 1,000.

[8] The day after a neighbor exposed that he was Jewish, police officers came to him recommending that he skip town as they had received orders to arrest him.

[2] Azagury was influenced by the artists and creatives he met in Stockholm, including Ingmar Bergman and Vivianna Torun Bülow-Hübe.

[8] He then continued his journey south and met with Le Corbusier for a day in Marseille, where they toured the construction site of Maison du Fada  [fr] (Unité d'habitation).

[8] Azagury was inspired by Le Corbusier's thinking on "vertical living" and use of concrete, and since always employed the golden ratio in his architectural designs.

[14] Azagury described his relationship with Écochard as "tumultuous;" while he respected his intellect and work ethic, Ecochard was "clearly an active instrument of the French colonial power.

"[8] Ecochard was convinced that Moroccans could not live in high-rises, while Azagury considered verticalization "an economic and social necessity.

"[8] Azagury was disappointed that the project was led by Pierre Mas, who "was trained neither as an architect nor as a planner," and who severed the core of the city from the beach with a tourist district.