Following on from my last post that featured images of the gas station designed by the famous architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, today I have pictures of another well known Montreal building – Habitat 67.

Habitat 67 was designed by Moshe Safdie for his master’s thesis design project and report in architecture at McGill University in 1961. His design was later selected to be constructed as a housing themed pavilion for the World Fair Expo held in Montreal in 1967.

The complex comprises 354 prefabricated concrete forms that are each arranged in various combinations reaching up to 12 stories in height. In the original format, there were 16 differently configured living spaces that created 158 apartments, but due to some units being combined over time, there are now around 146 residences in the housing cooperative.

Safdie’s original vision was for a much larger complex of 950 units that would have included shops, offices and cultural spaces and be a model for future urban dwelling in overcrowded cities. Due to cost, the project was scaled back.

Almost 50 years on, Habitat 67 still draws visitors and is a well known landmark of Montreal. Although private property, I did take a quick walk through the complex (which I hadn’t done before) and took a few quick pictures. It would be nice one day to try and get permission to spend more time photographing this wonderful structure from within.

Habitat 67
ISO 100 – 12mm – f4.5 – 1/800 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

Habitat 67
ISO 100 – 10mm – f4 – 1/800 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

Habitat 67
ISO 100 – 17mm – f5.3 – 1/200 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

Habitat 67
ISO 100 – 10mm – f4.5 – 1/320 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

Habitat 67 in reflection
ISO 100 – 10mm – f4 – 1/100 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

Residents of Habitat 67 have an envious view of downtown Montreal…

Montreal skyline from Habitat 67
ISO 100 – 15mm – f13 – 1/400 sec (-2ev/0/+2ev)

Habitat 67 TShirt

Since this post has been about Habitat 67, I thought I might as well take the opportunity to promote my line of apparel with the Habitat 67 design that are available to purchase over on the Montreal in Pictures CafePress store:

Habitat 67 Men’s and Women’s Apparel

While at Habitat 67, I spent some time shooting the local surfers who were enjoying the beautiful weather surfing the rapids located behind the iconic building. I’ll be sharing a selection of these shots in my next post.

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time.

– Martin

Montréal in Pictures

Your virtual guide in and around Montréal

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