Habitat 67: An Architect’s Insight on the Ultimate Lego!

• WhatsApp
• LinkedIn
• Facebook
• Threads
• Pinterest

Privacy is a real problem in India. No, I am not joking. If you do live in a tight suburb like me, you’ll always have shared walls, confronting windows & common balconies. Trust me, it always feels like that grumpy neighborhood aunty is watching you, 24*7. So, when I had the chance to design a community living for my thesis, I did want something open, flexible & modular. And honestly, Moshe Safdie’s Habitat 67 was the perfect inspiration.

Now, Habitat 67 isn’t your typical apartment building! It’s a lego-like arrangement of 354 prefabricated concrete modules for high density housing. Yes, the Habitat has over 158 flats! But still, the best part is that each one has a private terrace, garden & yet a shared community space below. Now, what more do we even want? 
And if you are one such housing-oriented architect, then this Habitat 67 analysis will help you learn about the plans, sections, and concepts of this architectural masterpiece right away!

Banner Image Credits: By Sylvain Pastor – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21419038 , No changes made, except for the size.

We’ve sprinkled affiliate links to products we genuinely love & endorse from the US Market✅ in this article! Shop like you usually do🛒, only this time you’re also supporting architectural writers📝.

Top Insights

• Habitat 67 is one of the award-winning, mass-housing projects designed by Ar. Moshe Safdie in Montreal, Canada.
• Each of Habitat 67’s building modules was prefabricated with post-tensioned wires, cables, bolts, sealants and anchors.
• The building uses a mix of reinforced concrete, plexiglass, seasoned wood, mild-steel and gel-coated fiberglass for its plans and sections. Find out the details below!

Habitat 67 Case Study & Fact File:

So, basically, the Habitat started off as Moshe Safdie’s thesis, called “A Case for Life in the City.” He wanted to create a new, interactive living that would bring back that tight-knit village vibe. So, he came up with repetitive concrete units that could be interlocked and stacked up high. They could fit on any piece of land, no matter how weird it was!

This iconic design won him a gold medal and eventually became famous as the Habitat 67 complex at the 1967 World Exposition in Montreal. In fact, that year, the overall theme for the Expo was “Man and His World,” as inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, a French writer, poet & journalist.

And since, housing was the main focus, some of the expo-goers even toured Habitat’s spaces on a micro level to understand the terraces, blocks and neighborhood. And apart from this exposure, Safdie got the following awards too:

• In 2009, the Quebec Minister of Culture honored it with the National Heritage Building Designation for its rich culture & historical significance.
• The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada celebrated its innovative design by awarding it the Prix du XXe Siècle for the Best Building of the 20th Century in 2007.
• Earlier, in 1968, the same institute recognized its architectural excellence with the Massey Medal.

“Personally, I think that living in Habitat 67 is like being part of a close-knit community. The way Safdie planned it with different levels makes sure that everyone has windows and vents, so there’s no feeling of being trapped. Of course, being so close to your neighbors can be annoying for introverts, but being connected to nature helps them stay grounded and happy.”

– Ar. Ruchika Deshpande, Founder, Archwhispers.com

Habitat 67 Site Plan & Mapping

Habitat 67 was constructed on the old Montreal port, which is a man-made peninsula along the Saint Lawrence River. So, the site receives a mix of the chilly westerlies from the Canadian Rockies along with some neutral eastern river breezes. 

That’s why the Habitat 67 construction follows a staggered z-shape. Like basically, it allows the air to flow freely between the different sections, without any fancy dehumidifiers. 

Plus, I think the upper blocks also create a sort of windshield for the lower plazas against the strong river currents that sneak through the riverbank vegetation. However, chances are that these might cause heavy wind turbulence and stormy gusts along the corners.

Other than that, the site is pretty much accessible by both local buses & shuttles, especially with Route 777. And if you’re more of a cyclist, you can take a scenic ride along the waterfront from the old port.

Habitat 67 Plans, Drawings, Form & Massing

Basically, Safdie developed Habitat’s massing with Lego. Like, he would stack them, swap them, rearrange them, just like jenga. And eventually, it helped Safdie create a stable, sustainable mass. This mass, comprises three types of units – the single unit, the double unit and the stacked unit. Each of these units cater to a fixed area program- family room, sleeping room, recreational area, utilities, outdoor space and daylight access. 

Now, as the building keeps going up to its original 12-storey shape, it starts stacking two L-sections on top of each other. So, each section measures over 600 to 1800 square feet. Plus, there’s a 225 – 1,000 square feet rooftop garden or a sweet private terrace for all!

So basically, the building has over 158 unique homes with 365 construction modules in 15 different styles. These homes range in size from 600-square-foot one-bedroom dwellings to 1,800-square-foot four-bedroom dwellings, as per the user needs & preferences. 

Module Details:

Each module is about 12m x 5.3m x 3m in size, or around 56 square meters. And, they’re connected by 1-8 concrete walls. In all, there are fifteen different housing types.

Like, about 6% of the houses in Habitat 67 Montreal use just one module, while 60% use two modules, 29% use three, 4% use four, and 1% use five modules. There’s also one special unit that uses a whopping 8 modules; it’s a custom-made home with extra bedrooms and guest rooms.

Site Distribution of the Complex:

Besides the modules we discussed above, Habitat 67 has the following site features:

• A 3-m high street system along the service and parking areas
• A plastic shingle-covered pedestrian plaza between the bridges and walkways
• Streets, side walks, terraces, tennis courts and children playgrounds on the ground level
• 5100 sq.m of covered parking for 200 local and 76 guest vehicles
• Three separate elevator cores that transition to pedestrian walkways at every fourth floor.

However, it’s important to note that this staggered Habitat 67 site plan has posed challenges for its fire escape route.

Unfortunately, there is not a designated fire-escape route or refuge area for all! While there are terraces on every other level, these may not be suitable for individuals with special needs. Also, it’s difficult for firefighters to access certain areas with just one fire ladder.

Nevertheless, the building does have multiple exit points, internal stairs, and light wells as emergency exits. Furthermore, the complex is equipped with a smoke control system that prevents the spread of smoke and fire to other areas.

Habitat 67 Site Plan

As we saw, the Habitat 67 site plan is centered around fixed, zigzag modules that are connected by a network of pedestrian streets and plazas. Yes, some of these modules do have a proper and well-defined funnel-shaped entry. But others may appear cramped with a lot of negative space and corners. 

Let’s take a closer look at the deets below:

Fun Fact: Did you know that Safdie didn’t execute the Habitat 67’s design alone? Well, August Komendant, an Estonian and American structural engineer & a pioneer of pre-stressed concrete, helped design the prefabricated containers & assembly on site. 

Habitat 67 Floor Plans

Then, at the unit plan level, this fancy geometry becomes a basic rectangular layout with windows blocked off on the lower levels near where the plazas and streets. Also, most of the buffer areas, utilities or service spaces are flanked on one side of the wall, to maximize the free space for the living area.

Here are a few more details: 

Note that none of the toilet blocks have an external vent. This is to prevent any foul smell or methane leakage in the neighbour’s roof garden. Instead, all these utility services open up into a duct, which has proper vent stack connections and exhausts.

Fun Fact: The windows in Habitat 67’s living rooms don’t open. This choice was made to retain heat by reducing cross ventilation and for the lack of interesting views outside the windows.

What’s So Special About Habitat 67’s Section? 

I feel that the Habitat 67 section is seriously smart when it comes to the weather. They’ve strategically placed the blocks so that the sun warms up the public plaza in the morning, giving everyone a cozy start to their day after their workout, breakfast, and morning routine. 

And in the evening, when people come back home, the sun hits all the balconies and terraces, making them the perfect spot to relax. Plus, the staggered residential units act as a shield for the plaza, protecting people from freezing winds, dew, or even hail. 

It’s like having your own little weather sanctuary! Let’s check some Habitat 67 drawings to learn the same:

Quick Fact: Habitat 67’s section boasts of a suspension system joined by post-tensioned cords, high tension rods, cables and welding.

Material Board & Selection

Habitat 67, just like other brutalist architecture examples, is a cool mix of pre-cast, reinforced concrete modules, painted in a kinda grayish-beige color They used concrete as the main material to keep the energy and heat in, thanks to its thermal mass.

Besides concrete, you can also observe the following secondary materials: 

• Primary material: Precast, modular and reinforced concrete with a raw, textured finish
• Plexiglass (acrylic glass) for the windows and railings
• Gel-coated fibreglass for the single-unit bath and partitions
• Mild steel for railings, door frames and decorative accents
• Rubber or asphalt for waterproofing roofs, terraces and courtyards
• Seasoned wood for the cabinetry and interior finishes in balconies and common areas
• GFRC (Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete) for prefabricated components and bathroom pods
• Wood-like laminate for living and bedroom panels in some modules
• Ceramic or porcelain dado tiles in kitchens and bathrooms

Fun Fact: Do you know that Habitat 67 had mixed reviews at first. Like, some loved it’s visionary, stacked approach, while others complained about the compact, vertical rooms. Even its rentals were high, roughly $330 to $750 a month. Hence, many people couldn’t afford it.

How Was the Habitat 67 Assembled on Site? 

You might be surprised to learn that all the 90-ton modules used to build the Habitat 67 complex were actually made on site! I know, it sounds unbelievable, but it’s true! Let me give you a rundown of the on-site process:

After completing this task, the workers got down to the finishing process. They pinned the external insulation, cladding, windows, doors, railings, and other fixtures. However, due to a decrease in the number of built residences from over 1000 to 158, the cost of on-site fabrication ended up being higher than expected.

What Can Budding Architects Learn From the Habitat 67 Case Study? 

Habitat 67 is a prime example of brutalist architecture that really brings people together. It’s all about that sense of community, that close-knit vibe, and being in touch with nature. You know, Habitat 67 is not just some ordinary landmark. It’s got this whole historical and cultural significance with personalized and climate-responsive home design solutions!

In addition to that, here are some additional analysis points that every architect should consider:

I feel concrete as a primary material just feels too bulky.  It kind of ruins that free-flowing community vibe the architect had in mind. Thankfully, these days, we’ve got plenty of lighter options to choose from. Think fiber boards, wood or wood cladding, containers, bamboo, ferrocrete or ferro cement and more.

Habitat 67 could only reach 12 storeys because its structure partially supported the weight. The framing weight was carried by the inner walls, stairwells, and courtyards. However, I believe we can now explore the possibility of using stronger materials like polymer, carbon fiber, and metal frames to double the height.

As for India, I think we can explore new ways to stack such modular dwellings and maximize cross ventilation. Also, I feel the roofs could be slightly tilted to allow rainwater harvesting and solar panel installation for a  ‘net-zero’ building.

– The Archwhispers Editorial Team

The Restoration Phase

The brutalist Habitat 67 housing complex celebrated its 50th birthday in November 2018. Well, guess what? That makes the structure 56 years old today! So, the Safdie architects decided to do some repair and retrofitting work to make the structure as good as new! 

First, they fixed the water leakage issues by updating the waterproofing and repairing cracked or lifted grout lines. They also replaced the old timber parquet floors to make them easier to walk on without any creaking noises! 

Another goal was to improve the building’s energy efficiency, but it wasn’t easy due to the uneven wall surfaces and flexible building assembly. 

So, the architects came up with a solution: Stone wool! They stripped back the existing concrete walls and applied a smart vapor barrier to prevent moisture and cold air. Finally, all the surfaces were sandwiched between a wood or plasterboard panel of choice.

Moreover, even most residents have restored & personalized their homes over the last 50 years. Like, most of them have modified the wall finishes, flooring or openings, while respecting the site’s importance as a National Heritage Building in Canada. So yes, the overall Habitat 67 community has quite an iconic & meaningful setting.

Fun Fact: So, in 2017, the Canada Post released an awesome commemorative stamp featuring Habitat 67 for Expo 67’s 50th birthday bash! How cool is that?

FAQs

Conclusion

Habitat 67 is a perfect example of how architecture goes beyond just bricks and mortar. It’s a place where dreams come to life and communities thrive. 

All it takes is a little flexibility to arrange the blocks and a good understanding of the climate to position the buildings just right, like Safdie did! You can even save on costs by using a similar on-site prefabrication technique, like, seriously, anything is possible! 

And, if you want to hear straight from the master himself, do watch in his interviews with Charlie Rose. One chat aired on June 27, 1997, and another on August 22, 2011. And for more details, even Eleanor Wachtel’s interview in Queen’s Quarterly (from 2008, it’s in Volume 115, Issue 2) is a great choice. Both talk about his inspiration, creative process & ideation in detail.

Some other interesting reads include: 

• Reflections on nostalgia and misconceptions in modern design (published in Habitat, 1961).
• “A Case for City Living”, where Safdie first presented his vision for a multi-dimensional modular building system—yes, this was literally his thesis!
• Insights into growth and adaptability with “The Master Plan: Growth, Change, and Repetition.”
• An in-depth look at Habitat 67, featured in the journal Habitat (1965).
• A technical breakdown titled “Towards the Development of a Building System” in the PCI Journal (1967)—perfect for anyone wanting the nuts and bolts.
• A candid post-occupancy review, “Habitat: A Post-mortem,” published in the RIBA Journal.

Want to learn similar facts about more such fascinating structures – the Aqua Tower, the Bharat Bhawan Bhopal or even the Jahaz Mahal? If yes, then hit that ‘SUBSCRIBE’ button now! 

External Resources:

• Banner Image Credits: By Sylvain Pastor – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21419038 , No changes made, except for the size.
• The (Human) Habitat: Humanism, Architecture, and Habitat 67/04 by Cynthia Hammond
• The Original Habitat 67 Project Fact file by Safdie Architects
• Habitat 67 Photos Collection by MIT Libraries.
• ‘Humanising Megascale’: Habitat 67 by Nkemjika C. A. Morah