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Welwyn Garden City

Green-Belt Cities. The British Contribution

Author: F. J. Osborn

Published: 1946 by Faber and Faber Limited

Format: Hardback 8¾" by 5½" with 191 pages

In the Introduction, the author Frederic J. Osborn (later Sir Frederic) says that the book is concerned with "the size of towns and the disposition of towns in relation to the countryside". The author was one of the founders of Welwyn Garden City. Much of the discussion revolves around this town and also Letchworth, the first Garden City of Howard's creation. The text is illustrated by 35 black and white photographs of mostly domestic architecture, but also some of commercial and industrial buildings. The illustrations are reproduced below with captions as in the book.
 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

INTRODUCTION

PART ONE
THE GARDEN CITY MOVEMENT
A REVALUATION

I. EBENEZER HOWARD AND THE GARDEN CITY IDEA

The Problem of Urban Aggregation
A New Conception of the Town
The 'Unique Combination of Proposals'

II. THE BATTLE OF MODERN PLANNING THOUGHT

The Idea Submerged
The Period of Confusion
The New 'Symbiosis'

PART TWO
THE WORKING MODELS EXAMINED

III. THE PHYSICAL PATTERN

Choice and Purchase of Sites
The Garden City Companies
First Stages: Survey and Plan
Engineering Considerations
Landscape Gardening and Tree Planting
Agricultural Considerations
Evolution of the Town Plan

IV. THE LAND: ITS USE AND CONTROL

Planning through Lease-Covenants
Industrial Development
Retail Trade and Shopping Policy
Public Buildings, Schools and Open Spaces
Residential Areas: Layout and Densities

V. ADMINISTRATION, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND FINANCE

Administration: Control of Use and Appearance
Local Government
Garden City Finance: Housing Subsidies

VI. SOCIAL LIFE AND CULTURE

PART THREE
GREEN-BELT CITIES: THE FUTURE

VII. A NATIONAL POLICY OF DISPERSAL

The Meaning of Dispersal
Scale and Pace of Dispersal

VIII. WAYS AND MEANS OF DISPERSAL

The Siting of New Towns
Promotion and Finance of New Towns
Getting the New Communities Going
Expansion of Existing Country Towns
Local Government and its Boundaries
The Technique of Town Development

APPENDICES

I. THE GREEN-BELT PRINCIPLE: A NOTE ON ITS HISTORICAL ORIGINS

II. A NOTE ON TERMINOLOGY

III. EARLIEST PUBLIC STATEMENTS OF THE TWO GARDEN CITY COMPANIES

SELECT BOOK LIST

INDEX

I.   LETCHWORTH:   HOUSING SCHEMES

In cottage design stringent economy was reconciled with planning for internal convenience, sunlight incidence, and external harmony. The standards thus evolved had world-wide influence.
 

II.   LETCHWORTH:   PUBLIC AND BUSINESS BUILDINGS

The earlier public buildings had the informality of domestic architecture. Later civic and domestic buildings were more formal, but much variety of architectural style was permitted.
 

III.   LETCHWORTH:   FACTORIES

Factory buildings are of great diversity of design and construction. Most were built to the requirements of particular firms. A few were built on adaptable designs for letting in sections as required.
 

IV.   WELWYN:   HOUSING SCHEMES

The prevailing architectural style derives from the Georgian tradition, with which modern influences are fused. As at Letchworth, severe economy was a basic factor. Simple, convenient designs are treated with infinite variety in layout and skilful planting. The three examples shown are schemes by housing societies. Many schemes have also been built by the local authority.
 

V.   WELWYN:   THE HOUSE AND GARDEN

A fundamental merit of low-density housing, as against multi-storey dwellings, is direct access from ground-floor living space to gardens at front and back, as illustrated by these typical scenes at Welwyn.
 

VI.   WELWYN:   GROUPING AND INDIVIDUALITY

The individual design of houses is not necessarily incompatible with harmonious street pictures, if enough care and skill is given to architecture, layout and planting. Three of many solutions of this problem at Welwyn.
 

VII.   WELWYN:   COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS

The main Civic and Business Centre at Welwyn observes a consistent architectural style, with much variety in treatment of façades, openings, shop fronts and the smaller details.
 

VIII.   WELWYN:   SOME OTHER BUILDINGS

The Cherry Tree Restaurant (licensed premises with dance and assembly rooms and tea-gardens), the Railway Station, and the first Council School.
 

IX.   WELWYN:   FACTORIES

The Welwyn industrial buildings exhibit a wide variety of design and construction. Besides many factories built by firms for particular processes, Welwyn has paid much attention to sectional factories for letting on rental.
 

X.   WELWYN:   FACTORIES

One of the most recent industrial buildings in Welwyn is the Roche Products factory; 1939. The illustrations show the administrative building and laboratories, and the interior of one of the vitamin-synthesizing plants.
 

XI.   STREET PLANTING

In both Garden Cities great care has been given to the choice and arrangement of flowering and ornamental trees, shrubs, hedges, and grass verges. Of innumerable different treatments, three are illustrated. In other streets, beds of roses and other flowers have been successfully maintained.
 

XII.   SOME INDIVIDUAL HOUSES

While in both towns designs are subject to approval by the City Architects, many architects design houses for individual clients, and the range of inspiration is wide. Three illustrations can give only a faint indication of the characteristic styles.