Difference between revisions of "Raymond Unwin"
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==Early Life== | ==Early Life== | ||
| − | Born in [[Rotherham]], [[South Yorkshire]], Unwin became an engineer for the Staveley Iron and Coal Company in [[Derbyshire]], where he was responsible, among other things, for constructing miners' housing. Inclined towards [[Christian Socialism]], he came under the influence of [[John Ruskin]] and [[William Morris]], and also the early utopian [[socialist]] Edward Carpenter, visiting him the utopian community Carpenter had founded near [[Sheffield]]. In 1893 his marriage brought him into close contact with [[Barry Parker]] - the two men married sisters - and they set up an architectural practice together. Their 1901 book, The Art of Building a Home, gained them the attention of the [[Arts and Crafts Movement]]. | + | Born in [[Rotherham]], [[South Yorkshire]], Unwin became an engineer for the Staveley Iron and Coal Company in [[Derbyshire]], where he was responsible, among other things, for constructing miners' housing. Inclined towards [[Christian Socialism]], he came under the influence of [[John Ruskin]] and [[William Morris]], and also the early utopian [[socialist]] Edward Carpenter, visiting him the utopian community Carpenter had founded near [[Sheffield]]. In 1893 his marriage brought him into close contact with [[Barry Parker]] - the two men married sisters - and they set up an architectural practice together. Their 1901 book, The Art of Building a Home, gained them the attention of the [[Arts and Crafts Movement]]. The following year, Unwin and Parker were commissioned to design a model village at New Earswick, near [[York]], for the [[Quaker]] Rowntree family, philanthropic chocolate manufacturers in the city. This created a stir, not only for the quality of the workers' housing provided, but for the innovative layout of the estate, with curved streets, much tree-planting, and a low density of development. |
==The Garden City== | ==The Garden City== | ||
| + | In 1903 Unwin and Parker were selected to lay out the site of the First Garden City at [[Letchworth]], [[Hertfoprdshire]], along the lines recommended by [[Ebenezer Howard]], the settlement's founder. | ||
Revision as of 15:05, May 15, 2008
Sir Raymond Unwin (1863-1940) was a British architect and planner, who, with Ebenezer Howard, was responsible for popularising Garden City developments worldwide and who helped shape the built environment of the United Kingdom for much of the twentieth century.
Early Life
Born in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, Unwin became an engineer for the Staveley Iron and Coal Company in Derbyshire, where he was responsible, among other things, for constructing miners' housing. Inclined towards Christian Socialism, he came under the influence of John Ruskin and William Morris, and also the early utopian socialist Edward Carpenter, visiting him the utopian community Carpenter had founded near Sheffield. In 1893 his marriage brought him into close contact with Barry Parker - the two men married sisters - and they set up an architectural practice together. Their 1901 book, The Art of Building a Home, gained them the attention of the Arts and Crafts Movement. The following year, Unwin and Parker were commissioned to design a model village at New Earswick, near York, for the Quaker Rowntree family, philanthropic chocolate manufacturers in the city. This created a stir, not only for the quality of the workers' housing provided, but for the innovative layout of the estate, with curved streets, much tree-planting, and a low density of development.
The Garden City
In 1903 Unwin and Parker were selected to lay out the site of the First Garden City at Letchworth, Hertfoprdshire, along the lines recommended by Ebenezer Howard, the settlement's founder.