Riding our bikes around Montreal, one daylong loop took us unexpectedly past Habitat. This is the housing complex designed by Moshe Sadie for Expo 67. While in previous trips to Montreal we have dutifully made pilgrimages to this holy shrine of architecture, yesterday, it hit us with a fresh delight.
Everywhere we travel, new housing is being built. Typically, these buildings are 5-10 stories and are configured in a long, low form. And they all look the same. The materials are the same. The ins and outs of the facades are basically the same. New housing in Louisville looks exactly like that being built in Montreal. The sameness makes it all mediocre and boring.
Which only throws the concept of Habitat into a whole new light. This was built in 1967. That’s 50 years ago! While all of the units are identical, there is a fantastic organic quality to the form. It looks like it grew that way, and possibly may be still growing. There is visual interest. All have rooftop terraces. It is a response to the creation of a sense of community for human beings. The organicism is designed to promote human to human interaction. And all of the units were prefabricated, which is a response to efficiency, cost and technology.
Much has been written about Habitat, most of which can be found online. Not everything that you read will be positive. What continues to endure for us is the fusion of human need with technology, thereby creating a human centered environment for living.