In 1966 Moshe Safdie explained his vision for Habitat 67, his housing complex to be built for Expo 67 in Montreal. His original vision had not only apartments, but also other elements such as schools, shopping, and cultural spaces, but the Canadian Corporation for the 1967 World Exhibition, the organization in charge of Expo, reduced his original vision to include only residential units. He hoped the other phases would be added after Expo, and that the building would accelerate the development of the other riverfront areas. He also hoped that Habitat would mix urban and suburban lifestyles.
Fifty years later his original vision, hopes and dreams for Habitat 67 have never materialized. The building still stands as it was built as a pavilion for Expo; none of the other elements of Safdie’s original vision have been added to the building, or on Cité du Havre, the neighbourhood where Habitat 67 is located. As such, over time the area has become quite isolated from the rest of the city, and little has been done to develop Habitat 67 or Cite du Havre in line with Moshe Safdie’s original plan for a mixed-use living environment.
Francois Goneau, Media Relations Officer with the City of Montreal points out that the City of Montreal considers Habitat 67 as a “building of modern heritage” and is situated in a sector of “notable heritage value”, namely Cité du Havre.
Source: Évaluation du patrimoine urbain, Arrondissement de Ville-Marie, Ville de Montréal, 2005.This evaluation of urban heritage for the Borough of Ville-Marie published in 2005, obtained from the City of Montreal, is helpful because it explains the significance of Cité du Havre and Habitat 67 as heritage sites.
On a more formal level, Habitat 67 obtained heritage classification by the City of Montreal in 2007 and the Province of Quebec in 2009, a few years after the above evaluation was published. But these heritage evaluations and designations were just the beginning. The city moved forward to place more restrictions on how Cite du Havre could be developed, and Habitat 67 be protected as its main focal point.
A document outlining urban planning regulations for the Borough of Ville-Marie also received from the City of Montreal, current as of December 1st 2016 is important to note because it outlines specific restrictions for Cité du Havre.
Source: Codification administrative du règlement d’urbanism de l’arrondissement de Ville-Marie, Ville de Montréal, 2016.Notably, that Habitat 67 must be the main focus and serve as architectural inspiration for the new structures. Also, the art objects as well as the street furniture installed on Cite du Havre, for Expo, must be preserved.
While Goneau states that heritage regulations don’t aim to prevent development, but aim to “preserve and enhance” Habitat 67 and its environment, another perspective may consider how with such limitations on construction, Habitat 67 has over time become very isolated from the rest of Montreal.
Raphaël Fischler, Associate Professor in the School of Urban Planning at McGill University notes this sense of isolation, and suggests that better integration with the city is “possible in the long term”, but would require a major overhaul to the area around Habitat 67, including ceasing port activities and relocating major highways.
This said, Fischler outlines a certain appeal in this sense of isolation
“For now, residents of Habitat 67 can enjoy their great views and the prestige of their building, and can take a short drive to all activities and facilities in downtown Montreal.”
Heritage preservation by the City of Montreal is commendable. But in this case, it would seem that the very acts of aiming to enhance Habitat 67 and Cité du Havre have in turn moved them even further away from potentially fulfilling Moshe Safdie’s original vision of mixed-use complex with more than just luxury condos, 50 years later.