Tomorrow 125

A three-year collaborative journey to explore how the moral foundations of the Garden City movement can give practical hope to 21st century communities.

In 2023 the book written by the Garden City inventor Ebenezer Howard, in which he outlines a practical framework for a fairer society, turns 125 years old. Between 2020 and 2023, the Tomorrow 125 project explored the following question: in an era of climate emergency, cost of living and health crises, does Howard’s Garden City idea offer insights into a new way to live?

The Garden City story is one of radicalism, hope and practical idealism. Scroll down to find out more about the project and access the project resources.

This short video gives an overview of the project.
This poem was commissioned as part of Tomorrow 125.

A little more about the project…

Ebenezer Howard’s Garden City idea was a practical way of securing the good life by creating conditions in which everyone can thrive. It was a uniquely practical idea based on sharing the values created from developing places. In 1899 Ebenezer Howard founded the TCPA to promote the Garden City idea. You can read a detailed history of the Garden City idea in the TCPA’s books (available here and here) and in free publications (here and here).  

In the build up to the 125th anniversary of the publication of Howard’s book ‘To-morrow: A Peaceful Path to Real Reform’, the TCPA explored how relevant the Garden City idea is to our collective future. We have asked this question knowing that the label ‘garden cities’ is a much abused and devalued term. Used by some to greenwash bad development and by others simply to mean soulless suburbs. Howard’s work might be the foundation of town planning in the UK, but few are willing to talk about its creative ambition or practical relevance and his ideas are invisible to most communities. 

The Garden City story is one of radicalism, hope and practical idealism. It proved to be the most influential and enduring example of an alternative and sustainable way of living that the UK has ever produced. Despite its problems, it still remains a powerful and hopeful blueprint for a humane future in an era framed by the health and climate crisis. Tomorrow 125 has sought to test whether the detail of the ideas still work and what needs to be done to update them.

The ‘Building our Future‘ briefing sets out our ‘public pitch’ for this project.

Garden City Principles

The Garden City Principles are a distillation of the key elements that have made the Garden City model of development so successful, articulated for a 21st century context. They form a framework for the delivery of high-quality places.

Tomorrow 125: Rediscovering the roots of a new society

This final report provides a summary of activities and outputs from Tomorrow 125 and sets out opportunities and next steps for the ideas and concepts explored through the project.

Our shared future

Our shared future: A TCPA White Paper for Homes and Communities sets out a roadmap for solving England’s housing crisis. Our vision of zero carbon, affordable and healthy homes is underpinned by the Garden City principles.

 

Tomorrow 125  publications

 

Tomorrow 125 films

 

The Garden City movement

 

Garden Cities and the arts

We are grateful to the Lady Margaret Paterson Osborn Trust for sponsoring the Tomorrow 125 project.