Case Studies

 

Habitat 67, Canada

 

Notable Features
bullet Prefabricated modular residential construction

Basic Information
Location :
Cité du Havre, Montreal, Canada
Building Type :
Residential
Contract Period :

1964-1967

Contract Sum :
$21 million
Public Circulation Space :
165,000 sq.ft.
Including circulation space 110,000 sq. ft., and parking space 55,000 sq. ft.
Livable Space :
250,000 sq. ft., including 354 units, each unit being 19 ft x 38 ft externally.
Architect :
Moshe Safdie
.
Overview
 
 
 
Habitat 67 consisted of 158 houses made from 354 modular construction units. Recent fusions have reduced the number of houses to 150. The apartment sizes varied from a one-bedroom (600sqft) to a four-bedroom (1800sqft). In the complex, 6% used one unit, 60% used 2 units, 29% used 3 units, 4 % used 4 units, 1% used 5 units and 1 used 8 units.
 
 
 
 
 
Sources
 
bullet http://cac.mcgill.ca/safdie/habitat
bullet Safdie M., For everyone a garden, MIT Press, USA, 1974
 
   
Prefabricated Modules and Structure

 

The units measured 11.7 m x 5.3 m x 3 m, and weighed 70 tons. They were assembled in a clustered geometry, with eight boxes piled on top of another. Vertical circulation was conducted through 3 elevator cores leading to horizontal pedestrian streets located on 4 floors of the complex. All parts of the building participated as load-carrying members. The units were connected to each other by post-tensioning, using high tension rods, cables, and welding, resulting in a continuous structure. The factory was located next to the building site, where units were assembled.
Construction Phases
 
 

Low-Waste Buildings Technologies & Practices
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