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

Imagine a city in which your flat is a jigsaw puzzle but with a hidden garden next to it. Is it a Utopian dream or a bold architectural experiment?

Welcome to Moshe Safdie’s Habitat 67, Montreal’s iconic landmark where life unfolds in a vertical village!

But, much like the pyramids of Egypt, the building’s design and construction remains a mystery, for architecture students. Are you one of them? If so, then this case study will help you learn about the plans and concepts of Montreal’s National Heritage building, Habitat 67.

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Habitat 67 Case Study & Fact File:

Original Image Gallery: https://www.safdiearchitects.com/practice/creating-communities

Habitat 67 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.

“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 neighbours can be annoying for introverts, but being connected to nature helps them stay grounded and happy.”

– ArchWhispers team

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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 and eastern river breezes. 

That’s why the design of Habitat 67 is so interesting – it’s built in a staggered z-shape, which allows the air to flow freely without any fancy dehumidifiers. 

Plus, I think the upper blocks also create a sort of wind shield for the lower plazas, protecting them from any 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.

Habitat 67 Diagrams – Form & Massing

In simple terms, Habitat 67 is a play of three types of units – the single unit, double unit and the stacked unit. Each of these units cater to a fixed area program comprising the family room, sleeping room, recreational area, utilities, outdoor space and daylight access. 

Original Image Gallery: https://www.safdiearchitects.com/projects/habitat-67

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, over 600 to 1800 square feet, has its very own rooftop garden or a sweet private terrace that measures between 225 and 1,000 square feet.

So basically, Habitat 67 is made up of 158 unique homes that were built using 365 construction modules in 15 different styles. 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. 

Site Distribution:

About 6% of the houses in Habitat 67 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.

Besides these modules, 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 the staggered planning of Habitat 67 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, Habitat 67 does have multiple exit points, internal stairs, and light wells that can serve as means of escape for some floor levels during emergencies. Furthermore, the complex is equipped with a smoke control system that prevents the spread of smoke and fire to other areas.

Habitat 67 Floor Plans

As we saw, Habitat 67’s site plan is centred around fixed, zigzag modules that are connected by a network of pedestrian streets and plazas. Some of these modules have a proper and well-defined funnel-shaped entry, while others may appear cramped with a lot of negative space and corners. 

Let’s have a closer look at the deets below.

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 bedrooms 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 Habitat 67’s sectional design 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, protecting people from freezing winds, dew, or even hail. 

It’s like having your own little weather sanctuary! Let’s check some Habitat 67 diagrams 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 greyish-beige colour. 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 within Habitat 67’s structure: 

• 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

But if you are up for some more funky material variations for your project, hop into my detailed blog on ‘Best Balcony Floor Tiles Ideas’ for inspiration! 

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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 fibre 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 fibre, 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.

– Archwhispers 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 vapour barrier to prevent moisture and cold air. Finally, all the surfaces were sandwiched between a wood or plasterboard panel of choice.

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 and a good understanding of the climate to position the buildings like Safdie! You can even save on costs by using a similar on-site prefabrication technique, like, seriously, anything is possible! 

But hey, what’s the point of having a nice, cosy balcony if you don’t know how to decorate it? Well, no worries! We’ve got all sorts of balcony designs and garden ideas for you to try out yourself!

External Resources:

• 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