Habitat 67

20th and 21st-century architecture has transformed city centers with structures that push engineering boundaries. Observation towers like the Seattle Space Needle and experimental residential complexes like Habitat 67 in Montreal demonstrate the evolution of construction techniques. Architects have explored new forms using materials such as steel, glass, and concrete, creating structures that meet the growing demands of metropolitan areas. This collection includes buildings that marked their time with innovative design. In Barcelona, Antoni Gaudí's Casa Milà features a wavy facade that breaks traditional norms, while in London, 30 St Mary Axe incorporates energy-saving technologies into its 180-meter structure. From Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum clad in titanium to artificial islands shaped in the Persian Gulf in Dubai, these projects illustrate the diversity of architectural approaches worldwide. Each building reflects its urban context while offering solutions to technical and functional challenges of its era.

This collection gathers examples of architectural rehabilitation where former industrial sites have been transformed into new spaces for living, culture, and gatherings. These projects illustrate how contemporary architecture can give a second life to structures that marked European and North American industrial history, while maintaining their original identity. Included are the Oberhausen Gasometer, a 117-meter gas holder converted into exhibition space, the Van Nelle Factory in Rotterdam, an old coffee and tobacco factory turned cultural venue, and the High Line in New York, a 1930s elevated railway converted into a 2.3-kilometer urban park. The Zeche Zollverein complex in Essen showcases Bauhaus-style industrial architecture from the 1930s, while Strijp-S in Eindhoven, a former Philips production site, now hosts creative and technological studios. These sites demonstrate the possibilities offered by repurposing industrial heritage into accessible public spaces.

The Expo 67 left multiple structures in Montreal. The Biosphere, the Habitat 67 residential complex and the Casino in the former Quebec Pavilion demonstrate the World Fair's influence on the city's architecture. The La Ronde amusement park and Alexander Calder's Three Disks art installation remain as preserved elements of this international exhibition.

These structures demonstrate the boundaries of architectural design. From the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco to the Lotus Temple in New Delhi, architecture takes unconventional forms. The buildings combine technical innovation with artistic expression.

This collection brings together major works by architect Moshe Safdie, whose practice is distinguished by particular attention to natural light, outdoor spaces, and the integration of buildings into their surroundings. From Montreal to Singapore, through Jerusalem and several American cities, his projects demonstrate an approach that seeks to reconcile contemporary needs with respect for local contexts. Among the featured works are Habitat 67 in Montreal, an experimental residential complex composed of stacked concrete modules offering each unit its own terrace, and the Marina Bay Sands complex in Singapore with its three towers connected by a 340-meter terrace. The collection also includes several museums such as the Yad Vashem Holocaust History Museum in Jerusalem, the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, and the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. Other projects like the Salt Lake City Public Library, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City, or the Khalsa Heritage Memorial Complex in India illustrate the diversity of architectural programs entrusted to Safdie throughout his career.