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The craftsman
(January 1910)
Stickley, Gustav
Town planning in theory and in practice: the work of Raymond Unwin, pp. 391-401
Page 391
TOWN PLANNING IN THEORY AND IN PRAC-
TICE: THE WORK OF RAYMOND UNWIN: BY
THE EDITOR
TT"IV"T .... _ .1 - .. .. . *1_ T iN a ai i uoig r tna
is sig nan in tn , ur-
ENl, a man is Uolng wOrK that is signifcant in the fur-
therance of a movement toward better conditions
in any phase of life, the record of his ideas and ex-
perience has always a special value, not only to other
workers along the same lines, but to all who are inter-
ested in the general trend of thought and effort of
which such work is merely one expression. For this
reason we have thought it best to follow our review-published in
the preceding number of THE CRAFTSMAN-of the garden city move-
ment and the amazing progress it has made in England, with an
account of the work of Mr. Raymond Unwin, who has perhaps done
more than any other one man to win in his own country general
recognition of the necessity of planning towns as well as individual
houses, and of basing these plans upon the requirements of modern
life,-by which is meant not merely what people can put up with in
the way of surroundings, but what they really need for the develop-
ment of the best possibilities in their own lives and in those of their
children.
Fortunately, Mr. Unwin is a man who recognizes the necessity
for putting into concrete form the principles which have shaped
themselves under the pressure of struggle with actual conditions,
believing that the record of each man's achievement adds just so
much to the sum total of human experience in any given direction,
and as such belongs to the world.. Therefore, directly in connection
with his active work in planning, laying out and superintending the
building of the Hampstead Garden Suburb, Mr. Unwin has found
time during the past two years to embody the results of both research
and experience in a book which he calls "Town Planning in Prac-
tice." This book was published in England only two months ago
and is not as yet to be obtained in America, but being largely the
record of actual experience, we quote from it as having great practical
value to all in this country who are interested in the planning of
new towns, villages and suburbs and in the remodeling of those
already in existence.
The subject of town planning should, by the very nature of things,
awaken a more general response in America than it has in England
because, no matter how great may be the need over there for some
force to counteract the pernicious activities of the jerry-builder and
the land speculator, the fact remains that England is an old and very
conservative country, averse to change and cherishing even the faults
391
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