The Roots of the New Urbanism: John Nolen’s Garden City Ethic

The New Urbanism has invigorated city planning history by invoking the tradition of American civic design to solve the conundrum of suburban sprawl. Studies have documented the similarities between the works of pioneer planner John Nolen and Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, but the ethic connecting past and present remains vague. This research presents the origins of the garden city ethic John Nolen introduced to the United States and its potential to foster a sustainable planning system capable of enlivening American civic culture.