“He come visit me in my new apartment. It’s on the three and a halfth floor of my building. You can’t miss it it is the one that looks like a Borg cube after a wild party.”
Apartments were built in Montreal for housing teams for the 1976 Olympic Games.
Think about: Mid 1970′s style and a boat load of money to build something fast and very different.
This is what you get.
These apartments were built to provide affordable housing to the low-income families of Montreal, Canada. Moshe Safdie, who designed this complex, was not on any drugs, these apartments were developed around his master’s thesis. The abstract, unorganized look of the interlocking concrete cubes is used to emulate nature and provide a more natural and refreshing look opposed to the paradigm of buildings throughout the world. And no, this has nothing to do with Escher.
This is Moshie Safdie’s landmark Le Habitat apartment building, built for the ’62 World Expo in Montreal. A lot of modernist concrete buildings haven’t held up all that well over time aesthetically, but Safdie was rather innovative in using prefabricated boxes to fit together to give every resident a roof garden, view, and privacy.
As a montrealer, I should warn that these condos are super expensive, especially for their size. Moreover, as most of their walls are exposed, they are freaking cold in winter… how cold? Canada cold.
Nice and confusing… but I think I wouldn’t find my own appartment, if I had to live there. Wonder, how the rooms look like inside? Must be interesting to climb around there
Each appartment is identical and is made from pre fabricated parts. The result is low cost housing that can be assembled to make an interesting looking building. Sure beats the usual block of flats.
It’s so easy to look back a few years and make fun of stuff that was new back then…I’m sure we’ll be snickering over our own stupid ideas based on a mere cursory view, wont we? It’s the hallmark of all great minds that really arent all that great…too many notes, and uh…more cow bell…and really really easy.
Moshe Safdie is an architect who has created many phenomenal blunders. In an aside, note how many errors are in the posts above — Habitat 67 was built for the 1967 World’s Fair, as you can plainly see from the sign in one of the pictures (plus, I was there as a seventh-grader with my parents … thought Habitat was cool at the time, but my tastes have changed and I’m biased as an adult by anything Safdie does now).
Great pictures! I have been a resident of this building for a while. It is now forty years old and still an eye catcher for any visitor to Montreal. A correction to a previous post. The building was not built for athletes but as a new concept of urban living in the heart of the city.
Moshe Safdie the architect was quite young at the time. He managed to get his project approved in time for the 1967 Expo. He is still involved in the preservation of the building. After Expo 67 the canadian government ran the building as a rental property.
It was privatized in 1986. Appartments are available in the resale market. Cost per square foot is equivalent to any other building in downtown Montreal. Come and drive by next time you visit Montreal.
It looks as though most of this complex is one “long, dark alley”. In other words, I hope they have plenty of blue light emergency phones in place, for safety’s sake.
Additionally, they need to implement a very good wayfinding system. How in the world would you ever give directions to one’s place? Go three and a half floors up? To the one that’s a bit more diagonal than the rest? And you thought it was hard to remember where you parked…
I see someone else already chimed in on why the building looks the way it does, regarding views.
Other trivia, the structure is so unique it inspired a copycat building as a location in Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.
The architect did a great job – I don’t think everyone wants to live in a row-house or a block of flats. At least each element has it’s own views and each elevation offers a different perspective. Organic and cubic (makes it easier to place a couch…) – really cool.
You may not like the look, but the best thing about this building to me is that each unit has maximum flow of natural light, as opposed to most apartment buildings where there is only light coming in on one wall unless you are in a corner unit.
I am pretty sure this is in Montreal, Canada. I saw it in person and was totally perplexed, my 2nd question after what was that guy smoking was who the hell would live there.
have a look at the latest issue of Dwell magazine. there is a great article by Safdie’s son talking about growing up in the building. i believe his mom still lives there.
IMHO the building could use some color. The concept itself is interesting but from a distance it looks dull and somewhat resembles a bomb shelled building
Perhaps a huge geodesic dome over the whole complex would solve the heating issues. the maintenance for the (plexi?)glass awnings is probably daunting.
This was built for the 1967 World Fair (Expo 67) And so, it was designed to show off design. It was a show off piece. (Who wants to fly to Montreal for a world fair and see average buildings?) Also built for Expo 67 was a geodesic dome (more like a sphere) It was perhaps the first large scale example of a geodesic dome. Only trouble was that the materials were not fire retardent, many years later the dome caught fire and burned..oh well.
It is quite amazing how “natural” the building actually looks once you’ve found out it was intentionally built that way by Moshe Safdie. (thanks poster #6)
I have a story to relate.
About 2 weeks ago I stumbled onto this website. I made a person promise to myself to visit this place before I died. I overlooked the part of the page which mentioned where in the world it was. To me, it could have been absolutely anywhere on the globe.
Then, a few days ago some friends of mine and I (all of us just having turned 18) decided to go to Montreal so that we could say we left the country before we split up to go to college. I saw the building while I was there – it was just so striking that I should have realized my promise while putting forth absolutely no effort.
it’s cool!
Whatever he smoked I’d like some, that building is awesome.
I think this guy admired Escher a little bit too much.
“He come visit me in my new apartment. It’s on the three and a halfth floor of my building. You can’t miss it it is the one that looks like a Borg cube after a wild party.”
Apartments were built in Montreal for housing teams for the 1976 Olympic Games.
Think about: Mid 1970′s style and a boat load of money to build something fast and very different.
This is what you get.
These apartments were built to provide affordable housing to the low-income families of Montreal, Canada. Moshe Safdie, who designed this complex, was not on any drugs, these apartments were developed around his master’s thesis. The abstract, unorganized look of the interlocking concrete cubes is used to emulate nature and provide a more natural and refreshing look opposed to the paradigm of buildings throughout the world. And no, this has nothing to do with Escher.
looks like parkour heaven
Lo definiria como un GRAN TROKEL… xD
muy bueno y.. como te debes perder ahi adentro
IT IS GOOD TO SEE SOMEONE USE THEIR IMAGINATION, BUT THE PRICE TO BUILD MUST OF BEEN ALOT. THE BUILDING IS WONERFUL!!!!!!!!
Certo che piacerebbe anche a me fumare quella roba!! qualunque essa sia
…un giorno la fumeó.
… o mi fumeranno!
This is Moshie Safdie’s landmark Le Habitat apartment building, built for the ’62 World Expo in Montreal. A lot of modernist concrete buildings haven’t held up all that well over time aesthetically, but Safdie was rather innovative in using prefabricated boxes to fit together to give every resident a roof garden, view, and privacy.
does anybody know who the architect is?
As a montrealer, I should warn that these condos are super expensive, especially for their size. Moreover, as most of their walls are exposed, they are freaking cold in winter… how cold? Canada cold.
is there still ne dwelling free?
Escher Rocks, also this architecht!!!
He played to mutch Tetris and smoke tooooo mutch weed
Nice and confusing… but I think I wouldn’t find my own appartment, if I had to live there. Wonder, how the rooms look like inside? Must be interesting to climb around there
Each appartment is identical and is made from pre fabricated parts. The result is low cost housing that can be assembled to make an interesting looking building. Sure beats the usual block of flats.
ha! i’ve been here and taken a picture of this.
I’d say a little LSD and a lot of THC, with some shrooms… Just a guess, y’know. Might have been opiopies as well
It’s so easy to look back a few years and make fun of stuff that was new back then…I’m sure we’ll be snickering over our own stupid ideas based on a mere cursory view, wont we? It’s the hallmark of all great minds that really arent all that great…too many notes, and uh…more cow bell…and really really easy.
Moshe Safdie is an architect who has created many phenomenal blunders. In an aside, note how many errors are in the posts above — Habitat 67 was built for the 1967 World’s Fair, as you can plainly see from the sign in one of the pictures (plus, I was there as a seventh-grader with my parents … thought Habitat was cool at the time, but my tastes have changed and I’m biased as an adult by anything Safdie does now).
Great pictures! I have been a resident of this building for a while. It is now forty years old and still an eye catcher for any visitor to Montreal. A correction to a previous post. The building was not built for athletes but as a new concept of urban living in the heart of the city.
Moshe Safdie the architect was quite young at the time. He managed to get his project approved in time for the 1967 Expo. He is still involved in the preservation of the building. After Expo 67 the canadian government ran the building as a rental property.
It was privatized in 1986. Appartments are available in the resale market. Cost per square foot is equivalent to any other building in downtown Montreal. Come and drive by next time you visit Montreal.
It looks as though most of this complex is one “long, dark alley”. In other words, I hope they have plenty of blue light emergency phones in place, for safety’s sake.
Additionally, they need to implement a very good wayfinding system. How in the world would you ever give directions to one’s place? Go three and a half floors up? To the one that’s a bit more diagonal than the rest? And you thought it was hard to remember where you parked…
I see someone else already chimed in on why the building looks the way it does, regarding views.
Other trivia, the structure is so unique it inspired a copycat building as a location in Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex.
To quote The Simpsons: I believe he was “smoking harmless tobacco the whole time”.
Smoke Pot. Sharing Is Caring. Love Across Borders.
I’d love to see some interior shots. I wonder how livable the spaces are?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_%2767
I have to 2nd the opinion that this is Parkour heaven! There needs to be a Parkour film made just for this apartment complex.
how can someone find this ugly? it’s beautiful in its weirdness.
Absolutely hideous. What a waste of time and money.
I know it’s low-income housing and all, but couldn’t they have sprung for some paint?
looking from distance, reminds me favelas(shanty towns) here in Brazil…
Awesome building has been a Montreal landmark since it was built. He was not smoking anything when he designed it he was having a moment of genius.
love it!, but it would be cool if the blocks actually functioned in a true modular fashion.
The architect did a great job – I don’t think everyone wants to live in a row-house or a block of flats. At least each element has it’s own views and each elevation offers a different perspective. Organic and cubic (makes it easier to place a couch…) – really cool.
You think that’s amazing? How about these houses in The Netherlands!
You may not like the look, but the best thing about this building to me is that each unit has maximum flow of natural light, as opposed to most apartment buildings where there is only light coming in on one wall unless you are in a corner unit.
http://www.sahie.com
I am pretty sure this is in Montreal, Canada. I saw it in person and was totally perplexed, my 2nd question after what was that guy smoking was who the hell would live there.
have a look at the latest issue of Dwell magazine. there is a great article by Safdie’s son talking about growing up in the house.
have a look at the latest issue of Dwell magazine. there is a great article by Safdie’s son talking about growing up in the building. i believe his mom still lives there.
This is how I imagine the housing project that Howard Roark made in the Fountainhead would look like.
God damn, I wish I knew where I could get some of that smoke.
IMHO the building could use some color. The concept itself is interesting but from a distance it looks dull and somewhat resembles a bomb shelled building
brilliant – waste of space for living – but non the less brilliant enough for all of use to gawk and talk
Perhaps a huge geodesic dome over the whole complex would solve the heating issues. the maintenance for the (plexi?)glass awnings is probably daunting.
If anyone is interested:
http://www.habitat67.com/home.html
This was built for the 1967 World Fair (Expo 67) And so, it was designed to show off design. It was a show off piece. (Who wants to fly to Montreal for a world fair and see average buildings?) Also built for Expo 67 was a geodesic dome (more like a sphere) It was perhaps the first large scale example of a geodesic dome. Only trouble was that the materials were not fire retardent, many years later the dome caught fire and burned..oh well.
Jenga!
The wikipedia page for Habitat 67 is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_67
It is quite amazing how “natural” the building actually looks once you’ve found out it was intentionally built that way by Moshe Safdie. (thanks poster #6)
damn!!! in case of fire, GO INSANE tryin’ to get outta there! XP
this is actually pretty neat…it looks like those mountainside dwellings common in the Italian Riviera.
The most idiotic housing in the world…..
It`s cool! Canadian architectors rulezzz…
Thats Freaking Amazing
I would love to live there
This is really really dumb… Retard go die in a mud puddle of dooom :]
coś pięknego!
Very useful. I found this to be a joy to browse in.
amazing arrangements os simple form square…its all about playing with forms.”FUNCTION FOLLOWS FORMS”
This can be a super place for pro traucers!!
Bardzo praktyczne;-)
hmmmm… i’ve seen these in montreal.
I have a story to relate.
About 2 weeks ago I stumbled onto this website. I made a person promise to myself to visit this place before I died. I overlooked the part of the page which mentioned where in the world it was. To me, it could have been absolutely anywhere on the globe.
Then, a few days ago some friends of mine and I (all of us just having turned 18) decided to go to Montreal so that we could say we left the country before we split up to go to college. I saw the building while I was there – it was just so striking that I should have realized my promise while putting forth absolutely no effort.
Cool guestbook, interesting information… Keep it UP. excellent site i really like your stuff.
Hi, my name is disman-kl, i like your site and i ll be back
bandwidth exceeded
Good site!