Ebenezer Howard

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Ebenezer Howard (29 January 1850 – 1 May 1928) was an English urban planner and founder of the garden city movement, which aimed to create self-contained communities surrounded by "greenbelts", containing proportionate areas of residences, industry, and agriculture. His ideas were influential in the development of modern urban planning and have had a lasting impact on the design of cities around the world.

Early Life

Ebenezer Howard was born in the city of London, England. He was educated at several schools in London and later worked as a stenographer. In 1871, he emigrated to the United States, where he worked on a farm in Nebraska and later in Chicago as a reporter for the courts and newspapers.

Garden City Movement

Howard's most significant contribution to urban planning was the development of the garden city concept, which he detailed in his book Garden Cities of To-morrow (1898). The garden city was intended to combine the benefits of the urban and rural environments while avoiding the disadvantages of both. Howard envisioned a series of small, self-sufficient cities surrounded by greenbelts, with a balanced mix of housing, industry, and agriculture.

Principles of Garden Cities

The key principles of Howard's garden city concept included:

• Self-contained communities with a population limit of around 32,000 people.
• A concentric pattern with open spaces, public parks, and boulevards.
• A mix of residential, industrial, and agricultural areas.
• Community ownership of land to prevent speculation and ensure long-term planning.

Implementation

The first garden city, Letchworth Garden City, was founded in 1903 in Hertfordshire, England. It was followed by Welwyn Garden City in 1920. These cities were designed according to Howard's principles and served as models for future developments.

Legacy

Howard's ideas have had a profound influence on urban planning and the development of new towns. The garden city movement inspired the creation of numerous planned communities around the world, including Greenbelt, Maryland, and Reston, Virginia in the United States, and Harlow and Milton Keynes in the United Kingdom.

Related Pages

• Garden city movement
• Letchworth Garden City
• Welwyn Garden City
• Urban planning
• Greenbelt, Maryland
• Reston, Virginia
• Harlow
• Milton Keynes

See Also

• New towns movement
• Urban design
• Sustainable development