The garden city movement was a 20th century urban planning movement that promoted the development of satellite communities and greenbelts around the central city. The movement promoted the idea of proportional areas of agriculture, industry, and residences.
Howard’s concept
The garden city concept was developed by Ebenezer Howard in the late 19th century. His vision was to combine the advantages of living in a town with those of living in a city.
The garden city concept adapted to local conditions and traditions, and it also incorporated environmental principles. This concept was later referred to as the ecocity concept.
In the first half of the twentieth century, a number of European countries adopted the garden city concept. These towns were generally located close to the capital of a country. Some countries, such as Great Britain, also promoted housing cooperatives.
Initially, the garden city concept was considered to be a cheap and healthy place of residence for workers. It was a response to the unhealthy living conditions that were typical of cities during the industrial age.
Letchworth
Letchworth is a town in Hertfordshire, UK. Originally established in 1903, the town is a world famous example of garden city planning. It was conceived by Ebenezer Howard, a social reformer. He wanted to create a new kind of town to alleviate the problems of the industrial revolution.
He wrote a book called To-morrow: A Peaceful Path to Real Reform in 1898. Howard’s book outlined his philosophy about town planning and urban design. This included the concept of rudimentary competitive tendering.
Letchworth, like many cities of its era, was characterized by overcrowded conditions and squalid living conditions. Despite this, Letchworth grew to become a thriving town of over five thousand acres.
The town was based on the ideas of Ebenezer Howard, a social reformer who believed that a garden city could solve the problems of the late Victorian age. His ideals and vision were supported by prominent Quakers.
Welwyn
Welwyn Garden City is a historic town in Hertfordshire, north of London. It is one of the two garden cities in Britain. The other is Letchworth.
The original Garden City movement was a reaction against slums and pollution in cities. Welwyn Garden City was built on land that had been bought by Sir Ebenezer Howard. He believed that a town surrounded by a permanent belt of agricultural land would be ideal.
Howard also designed the town with social conditions in mind. He wanted the inhabitants to be able to walk to work. This was accomplished by a series of roads with wide grass verges.
In the 1920s, Welwyn’s first residents moved into the town. It was a model for urban planning at the time.
The Welwyn Garden City Heritage Museum tells the story of the town’s history. There are many visitor attractions, including a Roman public bathhouse.
Radial garden suburbs
In the nineteenth century, garden cities and suburbs were created in many countries around the world. They were often planned in advance, and were developed on single ownership land. They also featured diverse housing and a wide range of amenities.
Garden cities and suburbs were conceived to provide a more harmonious way of living for the inhabitants. The concept was influenced by Utopian ideas. It was also intended to be self-sufficient.
Garden city promoters wanted to create communities where all classes would live in joyful communion. These promoters were highly influenced by European countries. Their main goal was to help clients lead more fulfilling lives.
The first garden city was Letchworth. This was built in 1903 by Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin. Located 34 miles from London, Letchworth Garden City was a town of homes, a public park and ample green space.