Habitations Saint-Michel Nord / Saia Barbarese Toupouzanov Architectes

Over the last three years, the architectural firm of Saia Barbarese Topouzanov has revitalized Les Habitations Saint-Michel Nord, a 185-unit social housing complex in Montreal’s Saint-Michel neighbourhood. Designed by Montreal architect Philip Bobrow in the early 1970s, when brutalism was in vogue, the complex now features plenty of light and colour. It has become a joyful part of the landscape, a dignified and respectful environment for all residents. After a study of the housing complex, whose components had reached the end of their useful life, the proposal that was finally adopted entailed a remodelling of the entire complex, including the creation of a street in the centre of the block and the addition of a third floor to the existing two-story buildings. The project brief included the re-use of the buildings’ wood framework and a requirement to maintain the same number of units as before.