The Garden City Idea
Hertfordshire Archives & Local Studies
In 2020, Welwyn Garden City celebrated its 100th anniversary
In garden cities, their founder, Ebenezer Howard, brought together the best of town and county life. He intended them to provide high quality housing, green spaces, employment opportunities and good transport links. There was a strong focus on community governance, cultural and sporting activities, as well good health and easy access to nature.
Garden cities were zoned with industry separated from housing, shops and amenities and the whole town surrounded by agricultural land on which produce for the town could be grown. Everywhere was to be walkable and the population would be capped. Once that limit was reached, another connected garden city would be constructed and linked by rapid public transport. Although Howard would have liked the government to take his ideas forward, he was impatient and took up private investment instead.
The first garden city was created at Letchworth in 1903. World War One was not yet over before Howard began looking for a site for his second garden city. He purchased an area of rural land to the north of Hatfield and work began on Welwyn Garden City. First houses, then shops and businesses were established. Marketing was important to attract both industry and residents.
Successful advertising campaigns focussed on the beauty of the town and healthy, happy life that could be lived here. Major companies such as Nabisco and ICI established factories and became significant employers.
Howard’s ideas quickly spread and today there are garden cities, towns, suburbs and villages around the world…
Garden Cities and Settlements around the World
Letchworth Garden City
Welwyn Garden City
Ebsfleet Garden City
Canberra, Australia
Kapuskasing, N Ontario, Canada
Stains, Seine St Denis, Paris, France
Tapiola, Helsinki, Finland
Sunnyside Gardens, NY City, US
Putrajaya, Malaysia
Partizánske, Slovakia
Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Zlin, Czech Republic
Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor, Malaysia
Greendale, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
Greenbelt, Washington, US
Ifrane, Morocco
New Delhi, India
Goiânia, Brazil
Maringa, Brazil
Hellerau, Dresden, Germany
Jardim America, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Den-en-Chōfu, Tokyo
Podkowa Lesna, Warsaw, Poland
Wekerletelep, Budapest, Hungary
Garden city, Cairo, Egypt
Dinas Gardd, Shotton, Wales
Garden city, Winnipeg, Canada
Maracay, Venezuela
Romerstadt, Frankfurt, Germany
Pinelands, Meadow Ridge, Cape Town SA
Södra Ängby, Stockholm, Sweden
Seaside, Florida, US
Radburn, New Jersey, US
Milanino , Milan, Italy
Margarethenhohe, Essen, Germany
Greenhills, Ohio, US
White city, Tel Aviv, Israel
Colonel Light Gardens , Adelaide, Australia
Buckingham, Washington, US
Ciudad Jardín Lomas del Palomar, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Humberstone Garden Suburb, Leicester
Hampstead Garden Suburb
Oldham Garden Suburb
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