The Arvida setting

In an effort to attract a stable and permanent workforce, Alcoa takes steps to make all the houses desirable and varied in relation to each other. Imported influences and ideas brought back by various Alcoa employees who have traveled the world certainly guaranteed diversity. This inspiration brings to Arvida houses having American and Nordic influences. However, the key to the variety of the Arvidian landscape lies mainly in the variation of architectural features made of wood. The low cost of this material, which is very plentiful in the region, as well as the standardised foundations, with few exceptions only four models are used from one house to another, make it possible to optimise and reduce construction costs, as well as resulting in diversified houses. The models can be divided into main groups (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K and L), in which there are subcategories (A1, A2, B1, B4, E4, K3, etc.). All the houses in a main group have similarities, but also variations, which creates a diversity between the models. The distinctions are found particularly in the verandas, the dormers, the doors and the windows. In addition, the orientation of the various models on their lots as well as symmetrical variations multiply the number models and create variety.

Among the 34 models, some residences are distinguished by their size. These are twenty houses built on Radin Road (La Traverse Street), not far from the Manoir du Saguenay and Britanny Row. They are privately owned by the company, in the same way as the plant, and were originally not intended to be sold. They are reserved for more mobile employees, those who do not settle down in the city in the long term. 

Mémoires d’Arvida

Alcoa executives are aware of the importance of housing that complies with local practices. Wake rejected a number of multi-family dwellings in favour of typical French-Canadian style single-family houses. Research is carried out to understand what characterises the houses on Quebec’s agricultural land in order to gain inspiration and create a sense of belonging. This research results in Arvida’s “Quebec type” houses. These are the A models. They are characterised, among other things, by small verandas, gabled dormers and curved eaves. Also, these houses are distinguished by replacing the dining room and the living room by a kitchen-family room, thus adding two bedrooms on the ground floor.

Arvida houses benefit from all recent innovations intended to make life comfortable. Each of them is equipped with a hot air or hot water heating system and with electricity. Furthermore, each house has a bathroom in which there is a toilet, a sink and a bathtub.

One of Arvida’s defining characteristics is that the city is an egalitarian environment. The subdivision was carefully outlined and divided along the area’s existing rural roads. Thus, almost all of the residences are suburban single-family houses within the reach of all. Once built, houses are offered for sale by lease-to-own, and sold at cost. This system spreads out the payment of the house according to the ability of the worker to pay. Housing is therefore accessible to all.

When the city is built, it is expected that there be no division between nationalities, nor social hierarchy between managers, employees or workers. It must be said that the city is very diverse culturally due to the workers coming from all over the world. Thus, no house is designed or located to reflect the social status of its occupants. On the contrary, in spite of the diversity of the models, one can note the concern for homogeneity of the houses with regard to their external appearance, the objective being the desegregation of the Arvidian environment. Undoubtedly, some houses are more luxurious than others. However, distinctions lie in the layout, the interior wall coverings and the appliances, rather than in the dimensions of houses. The latter are distributed uniformly throughout the city.

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