Revisited: Habitat 67 by James Brittain, or The hidden life of a project by Moshe Safdie
03/02/2018.
Photographer James Brittain [LON] UK
metalocus, PABLO CUESTA
metalocus, PABLO CUESTA
A interesting question, Does architectural photography always need to look pristine? One practitioner is not so sure.
The living architecture of Moshe Safdie’s Habitat 67 in Montreal by James Brittain. Photograph by James Brittain
Revisited: Habitat 67, by James Brittain
Revisited: Habitat 67, by James Brittain
Revisited: Habitat 67, by James Brittain
The photographs take an intimate and human view of the architecture. Photograph by James Brittain
Brittain show us as Habitat 67’s occupiers are constantly adapting the use of its private and public spaces. Photograph by James Brittain
Revisited: Habitat 67, by James Brittain
The photographs celebrate domestic time and tear and reveal the wear of the housing complex. Photograph by James Brittain
Revisited: Habitat 67, by James Brittain
Circulation area between dwellings at Habitat 67
Exterior view of Moshe Safdie's modular housing complex named Habitat 67 in Montreal. Photograph by James Brittain
The architectural photographer, James Brittain, whose day job is shooting newly-completed buildings for architects, has this time, presents a series of large scale colour photographs documenting Montreal's Habitat 67, the residential complex designed by the Israeli-Canadian architect Moshe Safdie as the Canadian Pavilion for the World Exposition of 1967.
When Moshe Safdie presented Habitat 67 as part of the International and Universal Exposition in 1967, all eyes were on Montreal. The Israeli-Canadian architect’s spectacular housing complex was his first-ever built project, but it totally reimagined high-density urban living with its deconstructed take on a block. Made up of 354 pre-fabricated concrete units, it remains one of Canada’s most significant architectural landmarks.
Accompanying these contemporary images are photographs of archival material from the Canadian Centre for Architecture and Canadian Architecture Collection at McGill University depicting the original ambitions for Habitat 67.
Revisited: Habitat 67 is part of Jonathan Tuckey Design’s new season of Building on the Built of talks and exhibitions at the practice’s studio, 58 Milson Road, London, W14 0LB. See the website for opening times. Brittain will be speaking about the project with architectural curator Vanessa Norward on 6 February at 6.30pm.
When Moshe Safdie presented Habitat 67 as part of the International and Universal Exposition in 1967, all eyes were on Montreal. The Israeli-Canadian architect’s spectacular housing complex was his first-ever built project, but it totally reimagined high-density urban living with its deconstructed take on a block. Made up of 354 pre-fabricated concrete units, it remains one of Canada’s most significant architectural landmarks.
“Photography has always been central to our understanding of and engagement with modern architecture. Is it still possible to photograph the places where we live and work, the spaces around us, thoughtfully and usefully? And if so, how do we do that?
I’ve been thinking about layers and traces of life left on architecture over time. I’ve also been considering the way Habitat 67 itself has aged, how it’s used and inhabited, and how both public and private space at the complex has been adapted by the residents.
The photographs are also a response to the daily dose of digital imagery of architecture on social media and the web. Mainstream photography of architecture has largely withdrawn from communicating the experience of buildings and spaces, and specific moments spent in places. The line between digital render and photograph has also become increasingly blurred. In the pursuit of standing out in the visual noise, much contemporary imagery of architecture has reduced itself to the ordinary – clean, similar and mundane.”
I’ve been thinking about layers and traces of life left on architecture over time. I’ve also been considering the way Habitat 67 itself has aged, how it’s used and inhabited, and how both public and private space at the complex has been adapted by the residents.
The photographs are also a response to the daily dose of digital imagery of architecture on social media and the web. Mainstream photography of architecture has largely withdrawn from communicating the experience of buildings and spaces, and specific moments spent in places. The line between digital render and photograph has also become increasingly blurred. In the pursuit of standing out in the visual noise, much contemporary imagery of architecture has reduced itself to the ordinary – clean, similar and mundane.”
James Brittain
Accompanying these contemporary images are photographs of archival material from the Canadian Centre for Architecture and Canadian Architecture Collection at McGill University depicting the original ambitions for Habitat 67.
Revisited: Habitat 67 is part of Jonathan Tuckey Design’s new season of Building on the Built of talks and exhibitions at the practice’s studio, 58 Milson Road, London, W14 0LB. See the website for opening times. Brittain will be speaking about the project with architectural curator Vanessa Norward on 6 February at 6.30pm.
More information
Venue
JTD at their office: Jonathan Tuckey Design, 58 Milson Road, W14 OLB, London. UK
Dates
The exhibition will be on display at Jonathan Tuckey Design, 58 Milson Road at the following times:
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Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th February - 10am to 6pm.
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Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th February - 10am to 6pm.
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James will be introducing the exhibition, and talking about his ongoing research with the architectural curator Vanessa Norwood, at a talk on Tuesday 6th February.
James Brittain
James Brittain is an independent photographer based in Montreal, Canada, and shooting worldwide. He has 15 years experience in photography specialising in the field of architecture, interiors and the built environment.
James regularly provides lectures about his practice, photography and architecture, most recently at the London Institute (UK) and the School of Architecture at McGill University in Montreal.
James is married with two children. He divides his working time between studios in Montreal and London, UK.
James regularly provides lectures about his practice, photography and architecture, most recently at the London Institute (UK) and the School of Architecture at McGill University in Montreal.
James is married with two children. He divides his working time between studios in Montreal and London, UK.
Moshe Safdie
Moshe Safdie, born in Haifa, Israel in 1938, Safdie moved with his family to Montreal in 1953. He studied architecture at McGill University, and after graduation worked with AIA Gold Medalist Louis Kahn, FAIA, in Philadelphia. He returned to Montreal to work on Habitat ’67, for Montreal’s 1967 World’s Fair, which consisted of a series of 158 stacked and terraced apartments.
Safdie then began a series of teaching posts that culminated with his appointment as the director of the urban design program at the Harvard Graduate School of Design from 1978-84. Since 1978, Safdie has been based in Boston while remaining a citizen of Israel, Canada, and the United States. Safdie established a Jerusalem office in 1970 and another in Shanghai in 2011.
Safdie then began a series of teaching posts that culminated with his appointment as the director of the urban design program at the Harvard Graduate School of Design from 1978-84. Since 1978, Safdie has been based in Boston while remaining a citizen of Israel, Canada, and the United States. Safdie established a Jerusalem office in 1970 and another in Shanghai in 2011.
