INTRODUCTION

Following the Industrial Revolution, many European cities faced an unprecedented rise
in the rate of population growth, intensified by the migration of people from rural areas
to urban areas seeking better opportunities.
Although cities became more inviting, problems such as pollution and the growth of
informal settlements also intensified. Meanwhile, the countryside provided proximity to
nature and an abundance of natural resources, but it also suffered from isolation and a
decrease in employment opportunities.

In light of these issues, in the late nineteenth century, the concept of garden cities was
created. This model of urban planning was characterized by progressive ideals to solve
the problems of rural flight and the resulting disorderly growth of urban areas. The
garden city concept was based on the creation of a series of small cities that would
combine the advantages of both environments.
 Fig : Sir Ebenezer Howard

Ebenezer Howard (1850-1928), who had been studying cities before the establishment
of urbanism as an academic field, was one of the most influential people behind the
garden city movement. The Garden City Movement was an idea of Sir Ebenezer
Howard, is known for his Publication Garden Cities of To-morrow (1898). It describes a
utopian city in which people live harmoniously together with nature. The Garden City
concept was also given by him. The publication resulted in the founding of the garden
city movement that realized several Garden Cities in Great Britain at the beginning of
the 20th century. The garden city concept is one of the most influential urban planning
ideas of all time. Championed by British writer and social theorist, Sir Ebenezer Howard,
the concept called for small towns which were self-contained and surrounded by
greenbelts. He argued they would be able to accommodate the entirety of a person’s
daily needs, while still maintaining a connection to the surrounding countryside. The first
such town was built in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, England in 1903. He shared his vision
of town planning which dealt with garden suburb though this concept. He also talked
about garden village, urban design and regional planning in some of his books.

In addition to his publications, Howard also organized the Garden City Association in
1899 in England to promote the ideas of social justice, economic efficiency,
beautification, health, and well-being in the context of city planning. He had no training
in urban planning or design but excelled in creating places. He called these places
“magnets”, where people would want to come to reside and work. His garden cities
were planned, containing communities surrounded by a green belt (parks), containing
proportionate areas of residences, industry and agriculture. Garden city movement
aimed at addressing the urban problems plaguing the industrial city of that time. Garden
City Concept was an effective response for a better quality of life in over crowded and
dirty industrial towns which had deteriorated the environment and posed serious threat
to health. Howard suggested various additions which were related to green spaces and
open spaces. Garden city model featured the greenbelt in its urban design and as a part
of country planning.

Urban Problems That Stimulated The Concept

•the lack of space,
•overpopulation
•general dehumanization of the
•Living conditions of the majority of people was declining.
•quality of live for the poor was
•indescribably bad.
•the environment was heavily polluted
• poverty labour class; working people lived in slums
•the epidemics of fatal infective diseases
•civic unrestLife in the country was no better than the one in the urban areas

It is important to understand the context to which Howard’s work was a reaction.London

(and other cities) in the 19th century were in the throws of industrialization, the cities
were exerting massive forces on the labour markets of the time.Massive immigration
from the countryside to the cities was taking place with London.This situation was
unsustainable and political commentators of all parties sought “how best to provide the
proper antidote against the greatest danger of modern existence” to Howard the cure
was simple to reintegrate people with the countryside.

Problems Faced In The Country Side

•No jobs

•This led to rural urban migration

•As a result of this dilemma, Howard came up with the three magnets diagram.

•His theory began by investigating ways to make the countryside more attractive to
futureresidents and investors.

In trying to understand and represent the attraction of the city he compared each city to
a magnet, with individuals represented as needles drawn to the city.He set about
comparing the ‘town and country magnets’ but decided that neither were suitable
attractors for his utopian vision. Instead he believed that “Human society and the beauty
of nature are meant to be enjoyed together” – hence giving his solution “the two
magnets must be made one”."Town and country must be united and of this joyous
union, will spring a new life, a new civilization.”