Safdie Architects has an update on three ongoing projects it says are direct ties to the lineage of founder Moshe Safdie’s seminal work that opened 54 years ago in Montreal. 

New buildings in Ecuador and Sri Lanka are nearing completion, and a new development is about to break ground on the next phase of a contemporary version of the Habitat in Qinhuangdao, China.

The three projects together represent “the realization of more than 50 years of study on how to improve urban living.” Each development is marked with the same stepped profile, privacy, and garden terrace design taken from the original Habitat. The sum total is a reflection of the eye-opening realizations about urban life the 83-year-old Safdie says were brought on by the pandemic.

Per the architect: “Over the past year, there has been a rediscovery of the interdependence between nature and society. We have seen an outcry for our basic human needs to be met — access to daylight, outdoor space, connection to nature, and the ritual of public life at all scales. After a year in relative isolation from one another, and the urban habitat at-large, the ideals of Habitat ’67 have become ever more relevant as we reimagine the urban landscape.”

The Altair Residences in Colombo, Sri Lanka for example, are designed for a tropical environment and feature column-less interior layouts meant to maximize freedom of movement and light balance inside the 400-unit building. The inclined, Beira Lake-adjacent two tower blocks topped out as the nation’s highest residential structure and will offer over 600,000 square feet of public space in addition to the residential units.

The Qorner Tower in Ecuador features a similar look albeit with double-height terraces in a smaller, single-tower envelope fronting Quito’s La Carolina Park. The project will top out in September with an opening set for early next year.

The firm has also begun work on the second phase of Habitat Qinhuangdao, which opened in 2017. Added garden space and two new 30-story residential blocks will double the size of the site’s littoral footprint with another pair of towers and retail complex still being planned. Phase II is expected for completion in 2024.

The trio offers statements on the legacy of Safdie's idealistic vision. Looking back 50 years to prove the efficacy of the lifestyle improvements created by the architecture, something design partner Jaron Lubin feels has plenty of leftover for future projects.