Ebenezer Howard's 1898 publication "Garden Cities of Tomorrow" proposed a model for planned, self-contained communities that combined the advantages of urban and rural living. He envisioned cities of 32,000 residents with wide roads, separate zones for housing, industry and commerce, and abundant public parks integrated with the natural landscape. Howard intended these "garden cities" to remedy overcrowding and other problems facing large cities while preserving the benefits of both urban and rural life. The book served as a blueprint for the garden city movement and influenced planned communities around the world.