Advocates of Garden City planning concepts across the globe are cordially invited to put their ideas forward for a new ground-breaking Research Fellowship.The Fellowship, to be awarded later this year, leading to a three-month commission in 2005, looks to encourage new and innovative expressions of the Garden City concept, conceived and developed by Ebenezer Howard, Barry Parker and Raymond Unwin. The research should demonstrate how Garden City principles can be applicable globally as part of the response to 21st Century housing needs. Based in London, the Fellowship attracts an award of £5,000 together with an honorary unsalaried position at the University of Westminster for the duration of the Fellowship. The required output will be a 7,500-word paper, in English, which will be published, potentially in a leading academic or professional journal.

Applications for the Fellowship are welcomed from academics who have completed a PhD in a relevant discipline and professionals, with at least five years experience as planners, architects or landscape architects, and currently working for a professional practice or consultancy.
Those interested in applying for the Fellowship are required to submit their application in no more than 2,000 words by 31 October 2004. Applicants should outline their particular field of interest and inquiry and will need to demonstrate a clear relevance to the Garden City tradition and its future progression as a planning tool.

The Fellowship, the world’s first on Garden City revitalisation, is a joint venture of the University of
Westminster and Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation, the charitable organisation which today owns and manages the first Garden City Estate in Hertfordshire, England.

“This is an exciting opportunity for someone out there to present the case for Garden Cities in the 21st Century,” notes Dr Maurits van Rooijen, Vice President (International Strategy and Development) at the University of Westminster, as well as researcher of ‘green town planning issues’ and Convenor of the last International Planning History Society Conference ‘Cities of Tomorrow’. “Embracing the considerable body of knowledge which already exists on Garden Cities, the Fellowship is a timely reminder of the fact that the concepts, on which they were built, can help make a better world,” he added.

Stuart Kenny, Director General of Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation commented, “I firmly believe that the Garden City concept is as relevant today as it was 100 years ago. Worldwide, there is huge demand for sustainable new communities and, adapted to reflect individual national considerations, the Garden City model has much to contribute.”

For more information on the Fellowship, and a FREE copy of the ‘Cities of Tomorrow’ CD Rom, visit www.lgchf.com/fellowship. The closing date for applications is 31 October 2004.