We are currently working on giving meaning to the concept of ecourbanism. This paper presents the ideas and
thoughts of three of the pioneers of modern-town and country planning that were presented during the last half of
the 19th century and the two first decades of the 20th century, from 1850 to 1920. We want to look to these
pioneers for inspiration in our search for terms and concepts that will help us describe the new concept of
ecourbanism in the 21st century.
Ildefonso Cerdà {1815 – 1876} is the oldest of these three pioneers, followed by Patrick Geddes {1854 – 1932}
and Ebenezer Howard {1850 – 1928}. Cerdà worked most of his lifetime in Barcelona and is known as the
creator of the concept of urbanism. It is worth remembering that in using the term "urbanism", Cerdà claimed
that it included both the physical structure and the social system and saw the latter as being more important than
the former. His most important work on this is his voluminous book from 1867 on the General Theories of
Urbanism, followed by his extension plan, Eixamble plan, from 1859, as Barcelona is one of the iconic city
plans in city planning history.
The Scottish biologist Patrick Geddes is an important source when looking for the roots of ecourbanism. He
pioneered a sociological approach to the study of urbanization, and firmly believed that town planning must be
based upon detailed surveys of “place, work and folk” in the city, as he put it. From his “Outlook Tower” in
Edinburgh, he argued that the city must be understood in the context of a larger region, and thus coined the term
“regional planning”. Like Cerdà, he was among the first planners to apply principles of ecology and social
sciences to city planning.
Ebenezer Howard, a man with no formal education either in architecture or city planning, who through his two
books, Tomorrow: A Peaceful Path to Real Reform, 1898, and Garden Cities of Tomorrow, 1902, introduced the
concept of combining the quality of the countryside with the urban city, has had an enormous influence on town
and country planning for half a century, dating from around 1900. These ideas have been used frequently and
can be looked upon as an inspiration for concepts such as Green Belts and New Towns.
The ideas, writings and projects of these three visionaries provide a historical base in our work to give meaning
to the concept of ecourbanism.
In addition to looking at the work of these three, the paper also provides a more specific reflection on
ecourbanism itself and how this concept can be used as a theoretical foundation for resilient and humane cities in
the future.
aesop2005.scix.net/data/papers/att/254.fullTextPrint.pdf