The Planner Geddes

Abstract

It is a century since Geddes was born, and twenty-two years since his death. Yet the discussion of the theory and practice of Town and Regional Planning, which he initiated, is as alive as ever; instead of fading out, it would appear that the debate has been put on a much more advanced plane by the experience gained during the last twenty years in the building of new towns and the reconstruction of towns and regions in many parts of the world. What role do Geddes’ ideas play in these recent enterprises? Their planners and builders do not deny Geddes’ historical importance as the foremost initiator of the new Planning Movement. But opinions differ as to the extent his ideas have withstood the test of time. This question deserves further discussion. As the recent developmental enterprises in England, The Netherlands, U.S., Israel and other countries constitute merely partial achievements, they clearly harbor the dangers inherent in any partial realization — the loss of the grand directing conception. Recent experience has shown the danger that, by paying too much attention to the details of Planning, one may lose sight of the broad objectives of Planning as such. At the present stage, therefore, we may find particular value in a redefinition of Geddes’ idea of Planning; it might help us to examine and re-consider the course Planning is taking nowadays.