YeinJee's Asian Journal

Habitat 67 is a famous housing complex in Montreal, Canada. Designed by architect Moshe Safdie and built in 1967 as part of the Universal Expo, the project is still hailed for its futuristic design after 40+ years…

Habitat 67 (Image by Paul Lowry)

The architecture concept

The cube is the base, the mean and the finality of Habitat 67. In its material sense, the cube is a symbol of stability; as for its mystic meaning, the cube is symbol of wisdom, truth, moral perfection, at the origin itself of our civilization.  

354 cubes of a magnificent grey-beige build up one on the other to form 146 residences nestled between sky and earth, between city and river, between greenery and light.

The whole unites in a gigantic sculpture futuristic interiors, links, pedestrian streets and suspended terraces, aerial spaces, skylights of different angles, large plazas and monumental elevator pillars, without forgetting the openings, here and there, that are as many winks and calls to meditation from the environment as well as from the living experience [via Habitat 67's official website]

(Image by Joel Mann)

(Image by Harry Palmer)

(Image by Brian Pirie)

(Image by Dave MacFarlane)