Planning theory (Radburn City)

 Radburn is located within the borough of Fair Lawn, Bergen county, new jersey 12 miles from
new York city.
 Radburn is a planned community started in 1929 by the city housing corporation from the plans
developed by Clarence Stein and Henry Wright and landscape architect Marjorie Sewell Cautley.
 The city housing corporation acquired a vacant land in New Jersey that was easily commutable
from New York city.
 The industrialization of the United States after World War I led to a dramatic growth of cities
and shift of population.
 Population shift led to severe shortage of housing and Radburn development emerged as a
solution to the problem.
 The intent was to build a community which made provisions for the complexities of modern life
while still providing open spaces and being economically viable.
 The community was intended to be a self-sufficient entity with residential, Commercial and
industrial areas each supplementing the needs of others.
 It is America's first garden community serving as a worldwide example of the harmonious
blending of private area and open spaces.
 The main concept behind the layout of community was cul-de-sac grouping i.e. Cluster grouping
and separation of vehicular and pedestrian movements.
 There are extensive range of recreational activities planned for entire community like tot lots,
preschools, sports, aerobics, amateur dramatics, library, clubroom etc.
 Also termed town for the motor age.

Objectives-To promote environmental consideration by conserving open space, arrange buildings and
grounds as to give sunlight, air and a tolerable outlook to even the smallest and cheapest house.
Providing self-contained settlement i.e., providing playgrounds, schools, theaters, public buildings, stores
and religious buildings all together. Putting factories and other industrial buildings where they can be
used without wasteful transportation of goods and people. Develop collectively services as will add to the
comfort of the individual, at lower cost than is possible under individual operation. Arrange for the
occupancy of houses on a fair basis of cost and services, including the cost of what needs to be done in
organizing, building and maintaining the community. To make the place of man’s habitation and
industry and to fit the health requirements of his daily life in same area.

Concept- SEPARATION of pedestrian and vehicular movement. SUPER BLOCK - large block surround by
main roads. CUL-DE-CAS - houses grouped around small cul-de-cas and each house accessed from main
road. Living Room, Bedroom faced garden and parks, service areas to ACCESS ROADS. Remaining Lands–
PARKS AREAS. WALKWAYS - designed such that pedestrians can reach social places without crossing
automobile street.

Planning- Inspired by the garden city idea, the city housing corporation of New York acquired a vacant
site in new jersey within commuting distance of New York city for the community of Radburn. The
industrialization of the United States after World War I led to a dramatic growth of the cities during the
1920's. Population shift led to a severe housing shortage. In answer to the needs of "modern society",
Radburn, the "Town for the Motor Age" was created in 1929 It has 25000 people, 149 acres area, 430
single houses, 90 row houses, 54 semi attached houses, 93 apartment units. Its planners were, Clarence
Stein and Henry Wright. Pathways provided uninterrupted pedestrian access to a continuous park strip,
which led to large common open spaces within the center of the superblock. Radburn works as a garden
city. Example in India- CHANDIGARH. Used not traditional grid iron pattern but Superblock. The system
was so devised that a pedestrian could start at any given point and proceed on foot to school, stores or
church without crossing a street used by automobiles. Compared to contemporary developments the
Radburn plan is more safer, orderly, convenient, spacious and peaceful.

Superblock- A Superblock is a large block of land surrounded by main roads on all its size. The houses
are grouped around small cul-de-sacs each of which has an access road coming from the main road.

Facters that influenced- Rapid industrialization after world war 1. Migration of rural to city. Dramatic
growth of city. Housing shortage. Need to provide housing and protect from motorized traffic.

Features-
1. Hierarchical transportation systems 7. Homogeneity
2. Cul-de-sacs 8. Large-scale development
3. Footpath systems 9. Clustered superblock
4. Underpasses 10. Mixed-use
5. Shopping center 11. Interior park
6. Ideal size of 30,000 people

Cul-De-Sac- The cul-de-sac, or dead-end street, came into use to eliminate through traffic in a positive
manner. Cul-de-sac terminate in a circular to retain their inherent advantages, they should be short-a
maximum length of 450 feet is recommended. Long cul-de-sacs, induce accelerated traffic speeds and
render access for service and fire protection more complicated. It eliminates the necessity for the
turnaround and provides the continuous circulation that is required by some communities to assure no
interference with the accessibility of fire protection and other services.

Henry Wright's "Six Planks for a Housing Platform"