THE NEW

COMMUNITIES
RADBURN
A
PLANNED
THE NEW COMMUNITIES MOVEMENT

RADBURN- A PLANNED COMMUNITY

Radburn, a planned community, was started in 1929 by the City
Housing Corporation from the plans developed by Clarence Stein
and Henry Wright.

The industrialization of the United States after World War I led to

migration from the rural areas and a dramatic growth of the cities
during the 1920s.

This population shift led to a severe housing shortage.

Drastic changes in urban design were necessary to provide more

housing and to protect people from the horseless carriage.
THE NEW COMMUNITIES MOVEMENT

RADBURN- A PLANNED COMMUNITY

In answer to the needs of "modern society", Radburn, the "Town for
the Motor Age" was created .

The concept of the "new town" grew out of the older planned
communities in Europe and the work of Ebenezer Howard and
Patrick Geddes.
THE BASIC LAYOUT OF
THE COMMUNITY
INTRODUCED THE
"SUPER-BLOCK" CONCEPT,
CUL-DE-SAC (CLUSTER)
GROUPING, INTERIOR
PARKLANDS, AND
SEPARATION OF
THE NEW COMMUNITIES MOVEMENT

PICTURES
THE NEW COMMUNITIES MOVEMENT

RADBURN
149 acres
Radburn is located within the Borough of Fair Lawn, Bergen
County, New Jersey, 12 miles from New York City.

Housing consists of 469 single family homes, 48

townhouses, 30 two family houses, a 93 unit apartment
complex and 10 condominium units.

approximately 3100 people - some 680 families living in

Radburn.
THE NEW COMMUNITIES MOVEMENT

HIGHLIGHTS OF RADBURN LAYOUT

The town is divided into large blocks known as superblocks.
A community park running through the center of superblock is
provided.

All houses are oriented to face the gardens and park strips,
also known as Radburn idea.

The footpath for pedestrians and vehicular traffic are

completely separated to grant safety to the movement of the
pedestrians
THE NEW COMMUNITIES MOVEMENT

FAILURE OF THE RADBURN

The design of Radburn believed that people would actively use
the front of the houses facing the greenways.
More people and children walking and playing in the little
driveways and cul-de-sacs than on the actual greenways.
The market has repeatedly shown that homeowners prefer more
personal land around their homes to living on tiny lots and sharing
a large green space in common.
The Depression pushed the builder, City Housing Corporation,
into bankruptcy.