Habitat 67

Truly unique architectural design! Built for the 1967 Expo and designed by Moshe Safdie, this condo complex is truly unique and worth seeing. We didn't have time to book a tour, but tours are offered. We slowly drove by Habitat 67, then illegally parked the car and took some photos. Traffic was minimal the day we visited.

The Wall Street Journal ran a story on Habitat 67 on September 7, 2022. That article reported that monthly dues are now $760 / cube / month and that the complex needs some structural repairs.

I was on the waterfront by the Ferris Wheel and was wondering what the building across the water!? It was so cool looking. So then I researched it and discovered it was Habitat 67! What a cool housing and architectural landmark. I highly recommend to drive over and see this amazing piece of architecture. I did not realize there is a guided tour. If I had more time, I would have done a tour. I could not stop looking at this beautiful building.

This tour was amazing. The tour guide was knowledeable and friendly. The unit that we toured had been owned by the architect, Moshe Safdie, since the community was built and had not been changed since it was built. Everything except the refrigerator was original. A couple weeks before my tour, he had donated this unit to McGill University, and the rumor was that it would soon be used as lodging for visiting artists in residence at the university and would no longer be available for tours. I don't know if that's true, but it does make the case for touring this community sooner rather than later.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.dezeen.com/2022/08/26/moshe-safdie-donate-habitat-67-apartment-mcgill-university/amp/

I don't know what it's like to live within...
But it's a terrific looking piece of architecture.
I've seen it many times, first time up close (night time not the best time; I.e. dark).

Habitat 67 is a private apartment complex with a unique design. It can be seen from most vantage points throughout Montreal and worth a visit. Since it's a private residence, you can only visit on an organized tour. The cost of the tour goes back to the residents to help maintain the property.

Habitat 67 was originally designed as the Canadian pavilion in the 1967 World Fair. Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie designed it when he was only 25-years-old to revolutionize urban housing. He wanted to build affordable, practical housing that also encourages community. The project cost $22MM ($12MM over budget).

The complex itself is divided into three pyramids with apartments out of concrete blocks. Originally, all the apartments came in 1-3 blocks (with the exception of the penthouse). In 1985 when the government decided to demolish Habitat 67 due to high maintenance costs, the residents bought it. At this time, they created 4-6 block apartments.

Once you enter the complex, you'll see there is no art of sculptures around so there's no distraction to the beauty of the architecture. "Sky roads" connect the areas and each apartment comes with a garden balcony. Each apartment has a stellar view of the city.

There is security and a private shuttle for the residents to bring them to Montreal.

Habitat 67 Tour. If you enjoy architecture, of if you are just a lookey loo, you should enjoy this tour. I really appreciated how prepared the guide was. She even had a larger iPad to show us photos to illustrate many of her points. I recommend the tour.

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I always see a photo of Habitat 67 floating around Tumblr and Instagram. The photos always looked super dope and the architecture was unique!

I was planning my trip to Montreal from Buffalo and when I was doing my research, Habitat 67 popped up. So ill, I was going to see something I only saw virtually.

The drive was pretty challenging, especially in the snow! The traffic in Montreal is real, it reminded me of traffic back home in Los Angeles. The roads were damaged and potholes everywhere! It wasn't what I had envisioned for a city like Montreal but that's why traveling is amazing, it changes all assumptions or supports it...

Anywho, I made it to the highway in front of Habitat 67 and there is no parking to be found. I wanted to explore and take cool photos but it looked like I wasn't going to be able to do so. There is a parking lot but it's for residents and I had already received a parking ticket in Toronto. I saw the Biodome across the way and decided to visit there first and then figure out what to do with parking later.

After the biodome, I drove around a couple times and mind you there are no places to make U-turns, so be careful!

I was discouraged so I just decided that the highway didn't have too much traffic and at times it was deserted. So, i put on my emergency lights and took photos from my car window. It was the best option at the time.

Cons:
- no visitors parking
- extremely damage highway

Pros:
- Impressive architecture
- Located across the Biodome of Montreal
- Historic landmark

P.S. It's super unfortunate that the property isnt more welcoming to visitors near and far.

Walked all the way from downtown Montreal to Habitat 67! Even though it was a pretty long trek (5+ miles or so) we wee in all smiles once we arrived!

You know those smiles that just happen automatically at the simplest things?

Habitat 67 was one of them! Worth the walk :)

A living embodiment of Expo '67

An architectural masterpiece, I happened upon it by chance as I was walking to the Parc Jean Drapeau and the Biosphere. From photos I had always thought of Habitat 67 as this sort of ugly Soviet brutalist thing but in person it is light, airy, and full of life.

That said, keep in mind that getting here is somewhat difficult and it is an apartment building not Disneyworld. But if you are walking, biking, or driving out to Parc Jean Drapeau and/or Ile Notre Dame you should absolutely stop for a minute or five to marvel at the wonder of it all. And perhaps dream for a moment of living in such a well designed space.

Habitat 67 will not take up too much time of your time but is most definitely something to see. Until you're there, you cannot really appreciate the uniqueness and originality of the building. I'd seen it in pictures many times before and was reluctant to drive 25 minutes out of my way to see it. However, once we drove passed the actual building and got out the car to observe the architecture and its details, we realized how completely incredible it is. Habitat 67 is worth the visit, we were most definitely in awe!