Looking through another Best Building of the Year 2009 Award Winner, gave me that “I-think-I’ve-seen-it-somewhere” though. But urban dwelling is a timely issue at any decade and here improving the old concept can be only beneficial.
So here we come:
The OLD: Habitat’67 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada by Moshe Safdi for “Man and his World” Expo in 1967.
Safdie’s dwelling complex ‘Habitat’ was designed to give privacy, fresh air, sunlight and suburban amenities in an urban location. The project was designed to create affordable housing with close but private quarters, each equipped with a garden. The building was believed to illustrate the new lifestyle people would live in increasingly crowded cities around the world.
But here, the program is 2/3 parking and 1/3 living. How many ugly parking structures are out there, so why don’t we use them as the base for the terraced housing blocks? The parking area needs to be connected to the street, and the homes require sunlight, fresh air and views, thus all apartments have roof gardens facing the sun, amazing views and parking on the 10th floor. The Mountain Dwellings appear as a suburban neighbourhood of garden homes flowing over a 10-storey building – suburban living with urban density.
I’m a strong believer that everything new is long forgotten old. And being a huge fan of history, I find the past the best source of inspiration. So with that in mind, i decided to start the new category on my blog, called “the old new” where I would post any “now-then” projects that cross my path.
The first one is Mary MacDonald vs. Paul Poiret.
The NEW: Living room of Jennifer and Bert Salke’s house in Beverly Hills. Designed by Mary MacDonald. Mural by Jefferson Miles.
The OLD: 1924. Bedroom by Paul Poiret, a famous French fashion designer, whose passion occasionally has spread into the interior design world.
Here’s the bohemian bedroom with ethereal Asian-inspired tree and oriental rugs with heavy tassels.
