Another weird but iconic part of Montreal: Habitat 67. This urban architectural project headed by McGill graduate Moshe Safdie lies on the South shores of the St. Lawrence and was part of the pavilion for the Montreal Expo in 1967. This awkward yet innovative structure is one of the most recognized in Montreal and Canada.
The inspiration for this design was to portray the juxtaposition between suburban living environments, consisting of fresh air, greenery, and privacy, with the dense and populated life of an urban apartment building. Being apart of the Expo, it served to convey the new potential of living in increasingly crowded and urban cities and the integration of several various aspects of living. The lego-like building is now any ordinary building that you can rent or purchase; however the privilege to be apart of such a landmark does not come with a cheap price. A 1,200 square-foot, 2 bedroom apartment would cost about $500,000 if not more, while rent are upwards to $1,000 per month. The construction of Habitat as an Expo exhibition and architectural ingenuity was received with much praise, however this government-subsidized project costing about $135 million for about 200- or so unit was also perceived as a failure in the eyes of many. Regardless, Habitat 67 is redefining social urban living and remains as spectacle for many to witness.
http://walrusmagazine.com/articles/2008.02-architecture-montreal-habitat/1/
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