Habitat 67 / Safdie Architects | Classics On Architecture Lab

Architects: Safdie Architects
Area: 238,000 ft² | 22,160 m²
Year: 1967
Photography: Gili Merin, Canadian Architecture Collection (McGill University), Jerry Spearman, James Brittain, Timothy Hursley, David DeSantis, Pierre-Alexandre Garneau via Flickr, Jade Doskow, Ian Korn via Flickr, Ykah via Wikimedia Commons, LessGreen, Jamesedition, Sam Tata, Brian Pirie via Wikimedia Commons, Wladyslaw via Wikimedia Commons, Thomas Ledl, Gergely Vass via Wikimedia Commons
Awards: National Heritage Building Designation, Quebec Minister of Culture, 2009; Prix du XXe Siècle, Best Building of the 20th Century, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, 2007; Massey Medal, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, 1968
Clients: Canadian Corporation for the 1967 World Exhibition
City: Montréal
Country: Canada

Habitat 67, a pioneering residential project designed by Safdie Architects in Montréal, set a transformative precedent for urban housing with its modular prefabrication approach. Initially created as the centerpiece for the 1967 Montreal World Exposition, this project aimed to integrate the spatial qualities of suburban living into a high-density urban context. Comprising 365 prefabricated modules, Habitat 67 forms 158 unique residences, each featuring private roof gardens and open spaces, merging suburban amenities with urban convenience. Despite facing challenges related to scaling and costs, Habitat 67 has remained an architectural icon, significantly influencing global design trends and continuing to be a celebrated residential complex.

Originally conceived by Moshe Safdie as part of his thesis at McGill University titled “A Case for City Living,” Habitat 67 evolved into a monumental project that transcends mere architectural innovation. Designed as the Canadian Pavilion for the 1967 Montreal World Exposition, it materialized Safdie’s vision of introducing suburban spatial qualities into high-density urban settings through modular prefabrication.

The complex consists of 365 prefabricated modules—each weighing approximately 90 tons—stacked in various combinations to create 158 unique residences. These dwellings range from 600-square-foot one-bedroom units to 1,800-square-foot four-bedroom units, offering fifteen different housing types overall. Despite its minimalist design, Habitat 67 is extravagant in its modernity. Each residence features its private roof garden, suspended terraces, and ample access to natural light—rare qualities for high-rise apartments.

“Habitat 67 is the amazing accomplishment of Moshe Safdie’s youth. The principal quality of Moshe Safdie’s entire work is to confer to things a character of eternity. He emphasizes architecture’s daily life: the way spaces are used, the performance of the building in its climate, and the real desires of future residents. In many ways, the essence of his work is a dichotomy: at the same time tearing and meditation between the universal and the specific, between the ideal and the real.”

– Wendy Kohn, Moshe Safdie, Academy Editions, 1996

As Safdie reflected in a 2013 interview with Domus, “Elements of Habitat are still in everything I’m doing now.”

The prefabrication process was entirely conducted on-site. Each modular unit, measuring 38 x 17 feet, was molded using reinforced steel cages and fitted with pre-installed utilities and interiors, including kitchens produced by Frigidaire, single-unit bathrooms made of gel-coated fiberglass, and Geon plastic window frames. Cranes lifted the completed units into place, forming a structure where all components—including pedestrian streets and elevator cores—serve as load-bearing members. The building’s circulation is managed by three elevator cores, with elevators stopping at every fourth floor to connect with continuous pedestrian streets that provide direct access to each residence.

During Expo 67, Habitat 67 was one of the most admired pavilions, attracting visitors from around the world. The theme of Expo 67, “Man and His World,” was inspired by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s idea of making lively spaces within new, modern structures. In this context, Habitat 67 was seen as a model of innovative housing, blending the communal and the individual while providing dignitaries and visitors with an example of future urban living.

The design’s modularity allowed for a configuration that broke away from conventional high-rise forms. The stepped-back arrangement of the modules enabled each residence to have a private terrace, ample sunlight, and fresh air, integrating qualities typical of single-family homes into an urban setting. In the years since its construction, Habitat 67 has become an iconic backdrop for photoshoots and films, featuring work from artists like Leonard Cohen and Celine Dion as well as in projects by international brands.

The structure’s lasting impact is reflected in the numerous awards it has received, including the National Heritage Building Designation in 2009 and the Prix du XXe Siècle in 2007. Despite being built as a temporary pavilion for Expo 67, Habitat 67 remains a fully functioning residential complex, with residents balancing personal modifications while maintaining the integrity of the complex’s architectural heritage. Over the last five decades, it has influenced a variety of global architectural works, from Ricardo Bofill’s Kafka Castle to Kisho Kurokawa’s Nakagin Capsule Tower, and even more recent designs like BIG’s Mountain Dwellings.

Habitat 67’s design represents a pioneering vision for urban housing that merges innovation, livability, and aesthetic appeal. Its monumental stature, minimalist elegance, and integration of modern and timeless design principles have made it one of the most celebrated architectural icons in history.