ABSTRACT
Modern cities, Geddes claimed, reflected “the ignorant and hideous, stupefying and degrading monotony of life which goes on in both east and west ends of the modern industrial town.” 1 The actual problems he described were no different from those which disturbed his colleagues: Cities were overcrowded and defected, suffering of foulness of atmosphere and squalor of surrounding, thus unhygienic and unsuitable for women and children. Housing was in the state of slums. 2 Society suffered from poverty and unemployment, vices and apathies, crimes and indolence. 3 Like many of his contemporaries, hoping “to live again in the delightfulness of the Hellenic world, the joyous freedom of the Renaissance,” 4 Geddes urged a cleaner and a more efficient industry. He called for improved planning of railways and docklands, cleaning of rivers and the beautification of cities. 5
