Prefab Precendents. Analysing prefabricated and modular housing

HABITAT 67 (RESTORED)

Montreal, Canada

Safdie Architects, 2018

Originally designed as the Canadian Pavilion for the World Exposition of 1967 as experimental solution for high-quality housing in dense urban environments. The units are prefabricated and modular to reduce housing costs. In 2018, Safdie completed the refurbishment of the 1960s concrete building to keep in line with contemporary standards of sustainability and energy conservation and to protect it against weathering.

Circulation

This drawing shows how the units are layed out in plan and the route of circulation between units

Some pods are cantilevered by up to three metres, challenging the structural properties of CLT

Timber left exposed through pod’s internal spaces which creates a warm and natural living environments

Units Plan

Pods measure 8mx4m with open plan accomodation

Section

The units are stacked on top of each other, stacking upwards and backwards to enable views for all residents. This is a concept that would be effective for my design to allow each units a view of the canal

Pods harness CLT’s thermal massing and provide high quality and energy efficient living spaces

Natural ventilation with large triple-glazed windowswindows angled to give each resident an expansive view across campus. Pods externally clad with aluminium rainscreen panals

These diagrams show how the units stack on top of each other and their shape. Each unit has the same L-shape but is rotated at different angles. Exterior balconies extrude from each unit.

Concept. Experimental concept sketches

These sketches show my intial design responses to all the research I had gathered. Some key ideas include the arrangement of theatre seating so that everyone can see the stage at all times - I want to explore if I can arrange the units like this so that they all have an unrestricted view at all times. If they are raised up, this could allow public access underneath, separating public and private.