Garden City

Garden City is a term used to describe a method of urban planning that was initiated in the late 19th century by Sir Ebenezer Howard. The concept was developed in response to the overcrowded and unsanitary conditions of industrial cities. The idea was to create self-contained communities surrounded by greenbelts, containing proportionate areas of residences, industry, and agriculture.

History

The Garden City Movement was initiated by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the United Kingdom in 1898. Howard, influenced by the writings of Edward Bellamy and John Ruskin, proposed the creation of planned, self-contained communities that combined the benefits of the city and the countryside while avoiding the disadvantages of both.

The first garden cities, Letchworth Garden City and Welwyn Garden City, were developed in England in the early 20th century. The movement spread internationally, influencing urban planning in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Design Principles

The design principles of a Garden City are based on Howard's three magnets theory, which proposed that people are attracted to the town, the country, or a combination of both. The Garden City was intended to offer the benefits of both environments. Key principles include:

• Self-containment: Each Garden City would be a self-sufficient community with its own industries and agriculture.
• Greenbelt: A Garden City would be surrounded by a greenbelt of agricultural and undeveloped land.
• Limited size: Each Garden City would be limited in population and physical size to maintain a human scale and prevent urban sprawl.
• Social ownership: Land and public utilities in a Garden City would be collectively owned.

Legacy

The Garden City Movement has had a significant impact on urban planning and development. It influenced the design of many 20th-century New Towns and Suburbs, and its principles continue to inform contemporary approaches to sustainable urban development.

See Also

• Ebenezer Howard
• Letchworth Garden City
• Welwyn Garden City
• New Towns
• Suburbs