Ebenezer Howard was concerned with overcrowding in large 19th century cities. He proposed building new towns, called "garden cities", that would blend the best of urban and rural life. Garden cities would be planned communities surrounded by greenbelts, combining the charm of the countryside with the conveniences of the city. Letchworth Garden City, built in Hertfordshire, England in the early 1900s, was one of the first examples of Howard's garden city concept and influenced future town planning and new towns.

1. Presentation by Ola Faworaja
Author: David Pinder

2. The Vision of Ebenezer Howard.
Howard reacted strongly against what he described as the crowded, ill ventilated, unplanned unhealthy
cities of the nineteenth century. One of his primary concerns was the overcrowding and tide of migration
fuelling urban expansion of large towns. He believed rather than focusing on a major town, it was
important to stem this flow of people back to the country side through the construction of new towns that
would be bright and fair, wholesome and beautiful.
He presented the characteristics of urban city life and rural life as two magnets. With a list of their
advantages and disadvantages.
He then proposed an alternative third magnet which was meant to combine the best features of both.

3. “Town and country must be married”
The town and country magnets was meant
to overcome an unholy and unnatural
separation and provide a more balanced
way of living.
The three magnets.
http://www.victorianweb.org/victorian/art/architecture/suburbs/1b.jpg

4. Proposals of garden cities as a means to control the massive immigration problems in the major town of
London.
Howard believed garden cities were the
perfect blend of cities and nature and saw
his proposals as the perfect way to reintegrate
people with the country side.
Town and country must be united. The human
Society and beauty of nature are meant to be enjoyed
together.
Order and beauty rather than chaos.
http://www.houseplanninghelp.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/garden-
city-plans-1.png

5. The original garden city concept by Ebenezer Howard. 1902
https://erringarabesque.files.wordpress.co
m/2013/03/f4.jpg
Garden city data.
Central city (Inner ring)
Area: 12000 acres
Population: 58,000 people.
Agglomeration cities:
Area: 9000 acres
Population: 32,000 people
Distance between central city and
agglomeration : 10km (6 miles)

6. Letchworth garden city.
A town designed by Raymond Unwin and Barry Parker
Located in the Hertfordshire England and known as one of the worlds first new towns and first garden city.
It had a great influence on future town planning and the new towns movement.
It influencedWelwyn garden city which used a similar approach and inspired other projects around the world.
Was planned to combine the best of town and country living.
About 35 miles from London.
Howards proposals in use today.

7. http://greenfordable.com/clt/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Letchworth-Map.jpg