Located in Montreal, Quebec, this brutalist housing complex is a striking example of the famed architecture movement from the 50s and 60s. The structure boasts a dominant presence, a strong concrete exterior and is an aggregate of carefully stacked volumes. Although the house looks magnanimous in its aesthetic, its interior is spread on only two floors.
All of these features make it a valuable token of an iconic and change-provoking time in the industry. As a result, Safdie Architects embarked on a mission to renovate the building — which bears the name of Habitat 67. The project was motivated by the desire to pay homage to a profession-defining movement. In addition, the brutalist housing complex hit its 50th-anniversary last year.
Photo Credits: Marc Cramer and Thomas Miau
Stacked Brutalist Housing Complexes
Safdie Architects Renovates a Voluptuous Concrete Building
Trend Themes
1. Revived Brutalist Architecture - The renovation of Habitat 67 by Safdie Architects represents an opportunity for the revival of Brutalist architecture as a trend in contemporary design.
2. Integration of Concrete and Nature - The concrete exterior of the housing complex provides opportunities for the integration of nature with minimalistic design, creating a new trend in eco-friendly architecture.
3. Multi-story Housing Solutions - The stacked volumes of Habitat 67's exterior present an opportunity to explore multi-story housing solutions that maximize space utilization and enhance aesthetic appeal.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - The renovation of Habitat 67 highlights the potential for innovation and novelty in the architecture industry through the exploitation of iconic Brutalist designs.
2. Construction - The use of concrete in the design of housing complexes represents a potential disruption in the construction industry, as eco-friendly materials are increasingly adopted for modern construction projects.
3. Real Estate - The design of stacked multi-story housing complexes such as Habitat 67 could provide new opportunities for real estate developers to build aesthetically unique and cost-effective housing solutions amidst the current affordable housing crisis.