From Garden City to Urban Reconstruction: New Towns in Perspective [antikvár]

FOREWORD Henrik Lisaeth, President of INTA.AIVN The four decades since World War 2 have seen a remarkable advance in the evolution and execution of úrban plans in the form of New Towns. Post War programmes of varying length and size were quickly put into operation and most of them have run their course. By the end of the 1970's new aspects of úrban change had become evident and were to be more prominent in policy-making in many of the countries in which 'model' New Towns had originated. The principle of 'overspill' no longer applied and the renewal of úrban centres took its place as a priority. Resources were switched to meet the new situation and new policies as well as new measures were adopted. Surprisingly this was done without any serious attempt to evaluate the results of the New Town programmes which, for three decades, had absorbed very substantial amounts of public and priváté money and the sustained efforts of professionals, politicians and administrators. The results have to be evaluated and sufficient time has passed to make objective judgements. At the same time, if such an evaluation is long delayed none of those who were involved in the earlier years of the New Town programmes will be available to make a contribution to the study. This is, therefore, an appropriate time to attempt such an evaluation. The contribution of the Commission for New Towns of the United Kingdom makes it possible to give an international dimension to such an exercise and to call upon experts in different fields from many countries. INTA held a three-day seminar in April 1991 at Egham Royal Holloway College near London. The seminar brought together an international group of experts capable, by presentation of papers and other contributions, of creating the nucleus of an international New Town policy review. This publication is the result of this review and stands as a critical study of this aspect of post-war urbanism. I hope this publication will have a wide circulation, not only to the membership of INTA but to those responsible for decision making in countries which are evolving new úrban policies as well as to the wide sector of the public involved and/or interested in the new town programmes now coming to an end in most developed countries.