Montreal's Superposed Flats: The Influence of Architecture on Attachment and Sense of Place Among English-Speaking Residents of Verdun Borough

The author points out that despite the abundance of Plex-type buildings (Superposed Flats) in several North American cities, including Montreal, research about this type of housing is scarce. The dynamic lifestyle and security that prevails in this concept of urban neighbourhood, the variety and originality of its architectural forms, the human scale of this type of housing, the medium densities it allows, and the different forms of ownership it features, may explain its broad popularity and acceptance with so many residents. The author analyzes and explores Plex residents' 'sense of place' and 'neighbourhood attachment' in the Verdun borough of Montreal. The study was conducted with English-speaking young adults aged between 29 and 45. The results reveal that traditional Plex neighbourhoods continue to offer accessible, affordable and flexible housing sought by people of this generation. Despite significant social changes through time, the author's data confirms that, as a residential environment, Plex type of housing still generates a strong 'sense of place' for their residents. The author concludes that given their physical and sensory characteristics, Plex type neighbourhoods are perceived as friendly, open, conducive to the development of good social relations between residents, and fertile for a greater sense of security, sociability, livability, and community.

PhD dissertation

Université du Québec à Montréal

Montréal

2016

[vii]-283p.

en