Planning Theory: Modernism

Urban and Regional Planning is and adaptive field that responds almost exclusively to societal occurrences using practical and idealistic solutions. Modernism in urban planning is an example of how the profession has adapted, responded to and planned for the rapid and revolutionary changes to modern society. In a cross disciplinary field such as urban planning it’s important that planning has such characteristics that allow for progression and flexibility since without them the planning field could potentially become irrelevant to the needs of modern society. 'Modernism and Early Urban Planning' (Legates and Stout, 1998) partially accounts for the relationship between planning and modernism.

 An early 19^th century modernist planning response were augmented city- nature related. Industrialism promoted rapid growth of cities and between the rapid flocking of people to city and the pollution from manufacturing, city ambience and well a resident health suffered. Providing parks was viewed as both a method of increasing  city ambience as well as health. This is seen in the Parks Movement were major cities commissioned the establishment of park to integrate landscape design elements into the city which saw great support from city inhibitors. Notions of nature related benefits, as well as a socially altered (typically more ‘flatly’ structured) was culminated by Ebenezer Howard in his famous Garden City concepts and ideals. Similarly urban aesthetic focused City Beautiful movement that promoted more beautiful cities with integrated nature components because of the social benefits to society, namely beautiful organised places would promote  ideal human behaviour and activities.
  

 Image: Modern day Letworth City founded by Howard and incorporates his Garden City Ideals.


Image obtained from: http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/LocationPhotos-g503876-Letchworth_Hertfordshire_England.html