The Art of Building a Garden City

‘I’d Love to Live There!’

– Why Art and Culture

Matter

C

ulture distinguishes one place from

another – it is often what makes

one place more successful than

another. The garden city pioneers placed

great emphasis on the role of the arts and

culture in improving wellbeing as part

of a cooperative approach to society: in

Welwyn, the first public building to open

was the theatre (Fig 14.01).

There are many reasons why culture

matters, particularly in new places. Its

broad benefits range from facilitating

physical and psychological health and

wellbeing, contributing to economic

success, creating place identity and

attracting skilled workers and business, ...