What) Moshe Safdie was just twenty-nine when he designed Habitat '67. He hoped his vision would bring an end to what he saw as the claustrophobia and uniformity of modern urban living. Picturesquely located in the harbor of Montreal's St. Lawrence River, Habitat '67 was designed as the city of the future. Its name comes from the Montréal World Expo of 1967, the theme of which was habitat. The structures are composed of more than 350 prefab blocks that make up more than 150 apartments, which range in size from between one and eight blocks. Safdie placed the apartments in a seemingly disordered manner, but when viewed from certain angles it becomes apparent that the overall shape is that of a series of pyramids. (1)

    Where) 2600 Avenue Pierre Dupuy

    Why) I have known about and wanted to visit this building for a few years now.  My curiosity has been heightened because most of the pictures you find on the internet are of the two or three exterior views that most people like.  I wanted the experience of walking around the entire building and through the many courtyards to see if any of those views are as interesting.





























If you take away the trees, this is the typical view that you can see on the internet.







This view is also popular probably because it looks kind of impossible.







From many other angles it is hard to discern the logic behind the construction.







I did like the symmetry that can be seen at this end of the building but I prefer this picture when ...







... you zoom in a bit and focus on the tree.







Perhaps I am just a simple guy but I seem to prefer simple pictures over the complex.







After walking around the building for a bit, I worked up the courage necessary to trespass and I headed through that opening. 







There were some strange interior spaces but I preferred to focus on ...











... the interesting interior details.







The interior, which was still kind of the exterior, contained many other interesting details that ... 







... were either purposely chosen or ...







... just seemed to have happened as a result of the general layout. 







Other details came about as the result of landscaping elements that have ...











... grown up since the building was completed.  Although it wasn't quite as good as I had hoped, I am certainly glad that I visited.