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Imagine living in a home that's a playful jigsaw puzzle—perched high above the city chaos, overlooking lush hidden gardens and tranquil river views. Sounds like a utopian fantasy, right? Or maybe it’s a daring architectural marvel like Habitat 67. Well, welcome to Moshe Safdie’s Habitat 67, Montreal's iconic landmark where life unfolds in a vertical village! But, much like the Egyptian pyramids, its design and construction still baffle architecture students worldwide. Are you one of them? If so, then this Habitat 67 analysis will help you learn about the plans, sections, and concepts right away! Banner Image Credits: By Sylvain Pastor - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid21419038 , 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📝. Win-win! 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 on site and assembled with post-tensioned wires, cables, bolts, sealants and anchors later. The building uses a mix of various building materials like 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: Original Image Gallery: https://www.safdiearchitects.com/practice/creating-communities 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. Plus, Safdie’s groundbreaking architecture got various awards like: 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. Photo by Danielle-Claude Bélanger on Unsplash “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 ©Archwhispers.com 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 & neutral eastern river breezes. That's why the Habitat 67 construction is so interesting. Basically, it's built in a staggered z-shape for 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, 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 Plans, Drawings, Form & Massing In simple terms, Habitat 67 is a play of three types of units - the single unit, the 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. ©Archwhispers.com Now, as the building goes up, 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. ©Archwhispers.com 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. 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. And, in all, there are fifteen different housing types, creatively designed to blend privacy with community living in an urban setting. 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: 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. Photo by Green Prophet on Unsplash 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 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 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. 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 take a closer look at the deets below: Habitat 67 Sketch - Site Plan (Conceptual Drawing) - ©Archwhispers.com 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: Habitat 67 Floor Plans - 2-Bedroom Plan (Conceptual Drawing) - ©Archwhispers.com 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: Habitat 67 Section (Conceptual Drawing) - ©Archwhispers.com 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 Photo by David White on Unsplash 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 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! 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: Step 1: The technicians cured some top-notch 5000psi concrete in a super strong steel mold that was like 38 by 17 feet. This way, the architect could keep an eye on the quality, curing, and alignment; Plus it saved a ton of money on travel and construction. Step 2: These cured modules were then moved to the assembly line where the structural and electrical consultants added the mechanical systems, electricity and HVAC lines. Step 3: Safdie made sure to include various interior components like fiberglass bathrooms, cabinet lines, wood, and door frames in the modules to minimize the assembly process. Step 4: The team used a huge crane to lift all these pre-made modules and plop them down in a pyramid shape on the site. After placing them, they assembled the entire structure using a bunch of post-tensioned cables and bolts. Step 5: During this step, laborers sealed the remaining modular gaps using high-strength grout, sealants, and metal anchors. This prevented any weather or moisture from getting in, as well as cold wind and southern glare. 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? Photo by Green Prophet on Unsplash 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. 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! But hey, what's the point of having a nice, cozy balcony if you don't know how to make it look amazing? Well, no worries! We've got all sorts of regular balcony tiles ideas, modern balcony tiles ideas, balcony garden ideas & balcony tiles alternatives for you to try out yourself! External Resources: Banner Image Credits: By Sylvain Pastor - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid21419038 , 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

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