gardencity

A garden city is a type of planned residential community designed to combine the amenities of urban living with the natural beauty of the countryside. The concept was first proposed by Ebenezer Howard in his 1898 book, "Tomorrow: A Peaceful Path to Real Reform," later retitled "Garden Cities of To-morrow." Howard envisioned self-contained communities of limited size, surrounded by a green belt of permanently cultivated land.

The core principles of the garden city movement include a balance between residential, industrial, and agricultural areas, a focus on creating a healthy and attractive living environment, and community ownership or control of land to prevent speculation. These settlements were intended to alleviate the overcrowding and poor living conditions found in industrial cities of the time.

The first successful garden city was Letchworth Garden City, founded in 1903 in Hertfordshire, England. Another prominent example is Welwyn Garden City, also in Hertfordshire, established in 1920. These early developments influenced urban planning worldwide, inspiring similar projects in various countries.

Garden cities are characterized by a lower population density than traditional cities, with ample green spaces, parks, and tree-lined streets. They often feature a central civic and commercial hub, with housing clustered around it. While the original model was focused on creating new, independent towns, the principles have also been adapted for urban regeneration and suburban development. The movement's legacy can be seen in many modern planned communities and the widespread acceptance of green belts and integrated green spaces in urban design.