Project 2: Housing:Project 2: Housing:Montreal’s Habitat ‘67Montreal’s Habitat ‘67

Nancy M. FriedlanderNancy M. FriedlanderENVS 634ENVS 634February 3, 2004February 3, 2004Green Design and the CityGreen Design and the CityRichard Berman, PhDRichard Berman, PhD

"originality in itself cannot "originality in itself cannot be the criterion for be the criterion for

measuring excellence in measuring excellence in architecture."architecture."

----moshe safdiemoshe safdie

HistoryHistory

►► Canadian Government agreed to build his design Canadian Government agreed to build his design at the 1967 World’s Fair in Montrealat the 1967 World’s Fair in Montreal

►► Expo's Habitat '67 is among the strangest housing Expo's Habitat '67 is among the strangest housing developments Montreal has ever seen. Moshe developments Montreal has ever seen. Moshe Safdie's creation Safdie's creation -- a foura four--block long row of 158 block long row of 158 prefabricated rectangular houses stacked prefabricated rectangular houses stacked seemingly randomly in a pyramid seemingly randomly in a pyramid -- is both highly is both highly praised and harshly criticized by architects, praised and harshly criticized by architects, planners and politicians. planners and politicians.

ConstructionConstruction►► The Canadian cement industry The Canadian cement industry

suggested this innovative idea to the suggested this innovative idea to the organizers of Expo 67, who called on a organizers of Expo 67, who called on a young architect named Moshe Safdie, young architect named Moshe Safdie, trained at McGill University. He in turn trained at McGill University. He in turn worked with other Montreal architects worked with other Montreal architects and several engineering firms.and several engineering firms.

►► The building process began in 1965 and The building process began in 1965 and was completed in 1967. The final result was completed in 1967. The final result was an indisputable architectural and was an indisputable architectural and engineering tour de force, one that engineering tour de force, one that enjoys worldwide recognition. Habitat enjoys worldwide recognition. Habitat '67 consists of a complex assembly of '67 consists of a complex assembly of prefabricated concrete blocks, prefabricated concrete blocks, assembled on site. All in all, 354 boxes assembled on site. All in all, 354 boxes of different shapes make up 158 of different shapes make up 158 dwellings. Walkways on the 6th and dwellings. Walkways on the 6th and 10th floors, with visible elevators, also 10th floors, with visible elevators, also play a structural role.play a structural role.

►► The project was marked from the very beginning The project was marked from the very beginning by a strong desire to by a strong desire to innovateinnovate, in both the , in both the approach to construction and the approach to approach to construction and the approach to living. Habitat '67, to use Le Corbusier's living. Habitat '67, to use Le Corbusier's expression, is a unique "machine for living in." expression, is a unique "machine for living in." Indeed, the project very quickly became a Indeed, the project very quickly became a symbolsymbol of modern architecture. Its concrete of modern architecture. Its concrete boxes, resembling containers, and its location in boxes, resembling containers, and its location in the port across from the historic city centre and the port across from the historic city centre and the new downtown, show how a city that has the new downtown, show how a city that has always been so closely connected to its river has always been so closely connected to its river has contributed to modernism.contributed to modernism.

Expo ‘67Expo ‘67

►► Habitat's apartments were made from 354 boxes Habitat's apartments were made from 354 boxes or "modules". Apartments were built from or "modules". Apartments were built from between one and eight boxes, depending on the between one and eight boxes, depending on the size. The original plans called for 1,000 units. size. The original plans called for 1,000 units.

• Safdie was commissioned to design other • Safdie was commissioned to design other Habitats around the world: New York (1967), Habitats around the world: New York (1967), Puerto Rico (1968), Israel (1969), Rochester Puerto Rico (1968), Israel (1969), Rochester (1971) and Tehran (1976). None was ever (1971) and Tehran (1976). None was ever completed.completed.

►►Across from the old port, in the waters of Across from the old port, in the waters of the St.the St. Lawrence, on the Cité du Havre pier, Lawrence, on the Cité du Havre pier, stands an exceptional modern architectural stands an exceptional modern architectural complex.complex.

►►The Port of Saint LawrenceThe Port of Saint Lawrence

FactsFacts

►►Originally designed to be a city, not a Originally designed to be a city, not a complex.complex.

►►Experimental apartment complex.Experimental apartment complex.►►158 unit community comprises 354 158 unit community comprises 354

prefabricated concrete boxes stacked in a prefabricated concrete boxes stacked in a staggered pattern: a Modern version of an staggered pattern: a Modern version of an Italian Hill town.Italian Hill town.

►►Habitat is the only Expo 67 building still Habitat is the only Expo 67 building still being used for its original purpose.being used for its original purpose.

►►For each home, the design incorporates a For each home, the design incorporates a garden located atop the roof of the unit garden located atop the roof of the unit below.below.

►►Covered walkways weave throughout the Covered walkways weave throughout the project and contribute to the sense of project and contribute to the sense of community, which was one of Safdie's community, which was one of Safdie's primary goals. primary goals.

About the ArchitectAbout the Architect

►►Moshe Safdie.Moshe Safdie.►►Born in Haifa, Israel in 1938.Born in Haifa, Israel in 1938.►►Trained at McGill University in Montreal from Trained at McGill University in Montreal from

1955 until 1961.1955 until 1961.►►After working two years in the office of After working two years in the office of

Louis I. Kahn, he started his own practice in Louis I. Kahn, he started his own practice in Montreal. Montreal.

►►Designed Habitat at age 25 for his Graduate Designed Habitat at age 25 for his Graduate Thesis Project.Thesis Project.

About the Architect cont…About the Architect cont…

►► Later, he moved to the U.S. where he established an Later, he moved to the U.S. where he established an practice and taught at Harvard. practice and taught at Harvard.

►► Influenced by his graduate thesis, Safdie refined a series of Influenced by his graduate thesis, Safdie refined a series of "Habitat" designs which revolved around a cellular housing "Habitat" designs which revolved around a cellular housing scheme. scheme.

►► Initially his ideas proved expensive and difficult to Initially his ideas proved expensive and difficult to construct, but Safdie introduced the cellular scheme in construct, but Safdie introduced the cellular scheme in several areas including New York and Puerto Rico where several areas including New York and Puerto Rico where his ideas were successfully initiated. his ideas were successfully initiated.

►► His Israeli period also produced a number of impressive His Israeli period also produced a number of impressive urban insertion projects and various townurban insertion projects and various town--planning planning schemes. schemes.

Other HabitatsOther Habitats

►►NYCNYC►►Puerto RicoPuerto Rico

CommentaryCommentary►► "Safdie's dwelling complex "Safdie's dwelling complex

'Habitat' was designed to give 'Habitat' was designed to give 'privacy, fresh air, sunlight and 'privacy, fresh air, sunlight and suburban amenities in an urban suburban amenities in an urban location.' It was designed as a location.' It was designed as a permanent settlement and permanent settlement and consists of 158 dwellings, consists of 158 dwellings, although originally it was although originally it was intended to provide 1,000 units. intended to provide 1,000 units. The resulting ziggurat was made The resulting ziggurat was made up of independent prefabricated up of independent prefabricated boxes with fifteen different plan boxes with fifteen different plan types." types."

——Dennis Sharp. Twentieth Century Dennis Sharp. Twentieth Century Architecture: a Visual History. Architecture: a Visual History. p281.p281.

►► "Of the 900 apartments planned "Of the 900 apartments planned for this gigantic building block, for this gigantic building block, 158 were completed. 354 158 were completed. 354 prefabricated individual prefabricated individual containers are stacked in a containers are stacked in a confused order and connected confused order and connected by steel cables. Projections and by steel cables. Projections and recesses are organized in such a recesses are organized in such a way that each apartment has a way that each apartment has a balcony on the roof of the balcony on the roof of the apartment immediately below." apartment immediately below."

——Peter Gossel and Gabriele Peter Gossel and Gabriele Leuthauser. Architecture in the Leuthauser. Architecture in the Twentieth Century. p265.Twentieth Century. p265.

►► "This extraordinary housing "This extraordinary housing development comprising 158 units development comprising 158 units of from one to four bedrooms, with of from one to four bedrooms, with many small gardens and decks, was many small gardens and decks, was planned as a prototype for a system planned as a prototype for a system that would streamline the building that would streamline the building process and cut costs. It was process and cut costs. It was assembled from 354 reinforcedassembled from 354 reinforced--concrete building modules, concrete building modules, ingeniously stacked so as to give ingeniously stacked so as to give privacy and views to each unit. privacy and views to each unit. Unfortunately, construction costs Unfortunately, construction costs proved to be prohibitive." proved to be prohibitive."

——from Sylvia Hart Wright. Sourcebook from Sylvia Hart Wright. Sourcebook of Contemporary North American of Contemporary North American Architecture: From Postwar to Architecture: From Postwar to Postmodern. p118.Postmodern. p118.

►► "Habitat is a model community "Habitat is a model community constructed along the St. Lawrence constructed along the St. Lawrence River in Montreal, composed of 354 River in Montreal, composed of 354 prefabricated modules which combineto prefabricated modules which combineto form a threeform a three--dimensional space dimensional space structure. The modules, or 'boxes' as structure. The modules, or 'boxes' as they are known, are connected in they are known, are connected in varying combinations to create varying combinations to create 158residences ranging from 600 ft2 to 158residences ranging from 600 ft2 to 1,700 ft2. Pedestrian streets serve as 1,700 ft2. Pedestrian streets serve as horizontal circulation throughout the horizontal circulation throughout the entire complex. Habitat '67 wasthe entire complex. Habitat '67 wasthe realisation of Moshe Safdie's thesis titled realisation of Moshe Safdie's thesis titled "A Case for City Living, A Study of Three "A Case for City Living, A Study of Three Urban High Density Housing Systems for Urban High Density Housing Systems for CommunityDevelopment" and was also CommunityDevelopment" and was also the major theme exhibition of the 1967 the major theme exhibition of the 1967 Montreal World Exposition. " Montreal World Exposition. "

——from the Moshe Safdie Archives at McGill from the Moshe Safdie Archives at McGill University, Montreal.University, Montreal.

ReferencesReferences►► Residential Architect. Meghan Drueding. 2002 . “The box rebellResidential Architect. Meghan Drueding. 2002 . “The box rebellion: Habitat ion: Habitat

’67, Montreal.” The Gale Group, Inc.’67, Montreal.” The Gale Group, Inc.►► Moshe Safdie Peabody Essex AdditionMoshe Safdie Peabody Essex Addition", by Michael Crosbie, Architecture Week ", by Michael Crosbie, Architecture Week

No. 159, 2003.0820, pD1.1. No. 159, 2003.0820, pD1.1. ►► ""Moshe Safdie in IsraelMoshe Safdie in Israel", by Lili Eylon, Architecture Week No. 113, 2002.0904, ", by Lili Eylon, Architecture Week No. 113, 2002.0904,

pC1.1. pC1.1. ►► Moshe Safdie (Editor), Irena Zantovska Murray (Editor). Moshe SaMoshe Safdie (Editor), Irena Zantovska Murray (Editor). Moshe Safdie : fdie :

Buildings and Projects, 1967Buildings and Projects, 1967--1992. Montreal: McGill Queens University Press, 1992. Montreal: McGill Queens University Press, May 1996. Inventory (on CDMay 1996. Inventory (on CD--ROM) by Laura E. Dent and Percy Johnson. ISBN ROM) by Laura E. Dent and Percy Johnson. ISBN 00--77357735--15101510--0. 0. —— Book and CDBook and CD--ROM combo, produced by the Moshe Safdie ROM combo, produced by the Moshe Safdie archives.archives.

►► Moshe Safdie. Beyond Habitat. ASIN 0Moshe Safdie. Beyond Habitat. ASIN 0--00210021--15801580--8. 8. ►► Moshe Safdie. Form and Purpose. ASIN 0Moshe Safdie. Form and Purpose. ASIN 0--39533953--16631663--4. 4. ►► Dennis Sharp. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Architects and ArcDennis Sharp. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Architects and Architecture. New hitecture. New

York: Quatro Publishing, 1991. ISBN 0York: Quatro Publishing, 1991. ISBN 0--82308230--25392539--X. NA40.I45. p133. X. NA40.I45. p133.

References, ContinuedReferences, Continued►► Muriel Emanuel, ed. Contemporary Architects. New York: St. MartiMuriel Emanuel, ed. Contemporary Architects. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1980. ISBN 0n's Press, 1980. ISBN 0--312312--1663516635--

4. p701. 4. p701. ►► Kenneth Frampton and Futagawa Yukio. Modern Architecture in ColoKenneth Frampton and Futagawa Yukio. Modern Architecture in Color. New York: The Viking Press, r. New York: The Viking Press,

1971. color photo of exterior, p493, plate 107. 1971. color photo of exterior, p493, plate 107. ►► Photo courtesy of Graetz. PCD.2286.1012.0904.078. Photo courtesy of Graetz. PCD.2286.1012.0904.078. ►► Photo courtesy of Timothy Hursley. PCD.2286.1012.0904.090. Photo courtesy of Timothy Hursley. PCD.2286.1012.0904.090. ►► Johnson Architectural Images. Copyrighted slides in the Johnson Architectural Images. Copyrighted slides in the Artifice CollectionArtifice Collection. . ►► Udo Kultermann. Architecture in the 20th Century. New York: Van Udo Kultermann. Architecture in the 20th Century. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1993. ISBN 0Nostrand Reinhold, 1993. ISBN 0--

442442--0094200942--9. LC 929. LC 92--26734. NA680.K7913 1993. exterior aerial photo of rear of buildi26734. NA680.K7913 1993. exterior aerial photo of rear of building, f138, p129. ng, f138, p129. ►► Lawrence A. Martin, University of Oregon. Slide from photographeLawrence A. Martin, University of Oregon. Slide from photographer's collection, September 1993. r's collection, September 1993.

PCD.3235.1012.0545.008. PCD.3235.1012.0545.009. PCD.3235.1012.05PCD.3235.1012.0545.008. PCD.3235.1012.0545.009. PCD.3235.1012.0545.010. 45.010. PCD.3235.1012.0545.015. PCD.3235.1012.0545.015.

►► Photos courtesy of MSA. PCD.2286.1012.0904.082. PCD.2286.1012.09Photos courtesy of MSA. PCD.2286.1012.0904.082. PCD.2286.1012.0904.083. 04.083. PCD.2286.1012.0904.080. PCD.2286.1012.0904.080.

►► Leland M. Roth. A Concise History of American Architecture. New Leland M. Roth. A Concise History of American Architecture. New York: Harper and Row, Publishers, York: Harper and Row, Publishers, 1979. ISBN 01979. ISBN 0--0606--430086430086--2. NA705.R67 1979. discussion, p3272. NA705.R67 1979. discussion, p327--328, exterior photo from distance, 328, exterior photo from distance, f282, p327. f282, p327.

►► Moshe Safdie. For Everyone a Garden. Cambridge, MA: The MIT PresMoshe Safdie. For Everyone a Garden. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 1974. plaza level plan, p66. s, 1974. plaza level plan, p66. section, p68. plan of one bedroom unit with terrace, p74. plan osection, p68. plan of one bedroom unit with terrace, p74. plan of three or four bedroom unit, p75. f three or four bedroom unit, p75. exploded axonometric, p75. exploded axonometric, p75.

►► Kevin Matthews. Kevin Matthews. The Great Buildings CollectionThe Great Buildings Collection on CDon CD--ROM. Artifice, 2001. ISBN 0ROM. Artifice, 2001. ISBN 0--96670989667098--44--5.5.——►► http://archives.cbc.ca/IDCChttp://archives.cbc.ca/IDCC--11--6969--100100--543/life_society/expo_67/543/life_society/expo_67/

Habitat TodayHabitat Today

►► Some units have been Some units have been remodeled to combine remodeled to combine neighboring neighboring apartments; 150 apartments; 150 households now call households now call the complex home. the complex home.

►► 2002 marked the 35th 2002 marked the 35th anniversary of Safdie's anniversary of Safdie's achievement. achievement.