Les Maisons traditionnelles: affordable housing for young mothers at Benny Farm.image courtesy of Holcim Foundation

A new book published by the Holcim Foundation for Sustainable Construction examines three progressive and influential projects by Montreal-based architects L’OEUF. Their approach to sustainable design enables social inclusion and ensures an enduring positive impact on the local community. The book tracks progress on the redevelopment of Benny Farm, the first ever Global Holcim Awards Bronze winner from 2006, a follow-up project at Rosemont, and plans for the forthcoming Bois Ellen Cooperative Residence.

The 128-page book summarizes the most important points about these outstanding projects that exemplify L’OEUF’s engagement in the field of sustainable construction. The described social housing projects include major innovations with respect to building envelope, energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and interior air quality that are rarely seen in this depth at this scale in the context of affordable housing.

The central garden at Benny Farm is not only a source of fresh vegetables - its a source of inspiration for thinking about how to shape the future.image courtesy of Holcim Foundation

The redevelopment of Benny Farm was the world’s first government-subsidized, large-scale, community-driven neighborhood renewal project: it combines affordability, green building technologies, rehabilitation, and new construction. This groundbreaking model unites all levels of social organization to exploit the economies of on-site energy production and shared infrastructure. The scale, diversity, and scope of the proposed environmental measures made Benny Farm the most advanced attempt of its kind in Canada when it was conducted.

Benny Farm and its follow-up project Rosemont respond to the full range of sustainability challenges: social, technical, environmental and economic. The two projects made an important first step in Montreal toward a change in attitudes and wider adoption of sustainable design and planning. Rosemont was built to include the necessary provisions for additional environmental, infrastructural, and risk-management measures, which could ultimately approach the net-zero concept. The buildings are prepped for “deep greening” over time and exemplify the essential mechanism of greening and densification of urban contexts.

Benny Farm and Rosemont: Community-inspired housing in Canada

128 pages, including 80 photos, drawings and plans
14.8 cm x 21.0 cm, Paperback
Language: English
ISBN: 978-3-7266-0098-3

The book can be downloaded as PDF or flip-book at no charge, or ordered for USD 15 per copy including surface postage at the Holcim Foundation’s Online Shop.

For more information please visit website

> via holcimfoundation.org