The duplex apartment that architect Moshe Safdie designed for himself in his brutalist Habitat 67 complex in Montreal has opened to the public, after a major restoration completed by his firm.

Safdie Architects spent two years refurbishing the property in the 1960s concrete housing development – a famed example of brutalist architecture – to coincide with the building's 50th anniversary celebrations last year.

Known as Moshe Safdie's Unit, the updated two-storey property is located on the 10th floor and occupies several of the 354 stacked prefabricated concrete "boxes" that make up the building.
Among the 158 homes in the complex, the residence was intended as a home for the Israeli-Canadian architect but has been empty for years, which led to damage and disrepair.
The firm's renovation aimed to resolve these issues, in keeping with the original aesthetic at the time of completion, so that it can be used for scholarly research or public tours.
Additional upgrades bring the apartment in line with contemporary standards of sustainability and energy conservation, and protect it against weathering, although these features are intended to remain hidden.

Repairs were the made to the water-damaged concrete exterior of the residence's blocky form. Walls were stripped back to allow for new layers of insulation and waterproofing, which will allow the structure to better withstand Canada's cold and harsh winters.

Inside, restor...