Academic Paper

The Social Housing of Garden Cities: The dilemma of conceptual idea and urbanism

Academic Paper

The way in which Garden Cities is shaping our public life is dated to 116 years ago, when the highly rate urbanization in many European cities accrued because of highly civic and economic opportunities offered within cities as a consequence of industrial revolution. The living conditions of working class in cities were worse due to overcrowded slums, lack of sanitation, inadequate water supply, and little attention to sunlight. The cities as well, were polluted by the smoky unhealthy condition of mechanics production. Sir Ebenezer Howard(1850– 1928), a parliamentary stenographer was exposed to revolutionary radical ideas. During his work, he mingled with other freethinkers and socialists, which later influenced him to address the social struggle of working class whom working in either isolated farms or unhealthy city conditions. This is the main reason behind his potentials in initiating The Garden City Movement in 1898 as an alternative urban solution for the sake of better living condition of working class. Howard’s garden city movement in that sense can be well described and criticized with refer to the following three main aspects that shaped what called The Garden Cities.

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