Tony Garnier: Une Cite Industrielle (1917)

Reviewed by Supriya Pundlik

Tony Garnier's Une Cite Industrialle is one of the most comprehensive ideal plans of all
time.Published in 1917, it is not only an outstanding contribution to architectural and planning
theories but also a sensitive expression of thought and cultural conditions of its day. Dora
Wiebenson's framing of the book focused on the Cite s lesser-known role as a product of its
cultural context, and as a bridge between nineteenth and twentieth century planning and between
academic and non-academic theories and techniques.
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION IN EUROPE
The end of the nineteenth century was a time of great change throughout Europe. The advent of
industrialisation altered the landscape of the city forever. Many of the changes were not for the
better and living conditions in industrial cities steadily deteriorated. The Industrial Revolution
had the effect of bringing more and more people from the countryside into the heart of the city
looking for work. Such dramatic over-population and unrestricted urban growth led to slum
housing, dirt, disease and a lack of communal green spaces within the city landscape. Modern
urban planning arose in response to this disorde. Reformation of these areas was the objective of
the early city planners, who began to impose regulatory laws establishing housing standards for
housing, sanitation etc. Urban planners also introduced parks, playground in city
neighbourhoods, for recreation as well as visual relief. The notion of zoning was a major concept
of urban planning at this time.
WHO WAS TONY GARNIER?
Tony Garnier was a French architect born in Lyons in 1869 and it is clear that the city and
surroundings had a great influence on him. Whilst growing up Lyons was an industrial centre for
textiles and metallurgy, the two industries catered for by Garnier s proposal for his industrial city.
Garnier studied at the cole des Beaux-Arts in Paris and in 1901 won the prix de Rome
competition and was sent to the French Academy at the Villa Medici. It was here where Garnier
started to formulate his proposal for the Cit and in 1901 Garnier sent back the proposal to the
cole. However, the cole refused to exhibit the work and instead insisted that Garnier produce
the work on classical and renaissance architecture. Garnier continued to work on his proposal
alongside more traditional work and was eventually able to exhibit his work in 1904. Afterwards,
Garnier continued to develop his plan culminating a two-volume work published in 1917.
REGIONALISM
By the end of 19th century the theory of urbanism had expanded far beyond the unitarian and
geographical concerns to include the total regional context in which the city was situated. Major
reports on municipal reforms in the last part of the 19th century were made by individuals like
Albert Shaw, who basically stressed the organic relation of the city to the country and predicted

their eventual integration. These theories of regionalism attained their greatest popularity in
England. Chief among them was Pattrick Geddes (1854-1932). Garnier's philosophy in the Cite
Indutrielle was similar to that of Geddes in the emphasis on city decentralization, it being
developed in relation to the industries, occupants and customs of the surrounding region.
Geddes's theories were considered similar to those expressed by Ebenezer Howard with regard to
his Garden City. Two of Howard's basic assumptions were also stressed by Garnier: the
emancipation of man from the monotony of his labour in order to take on more fruitful
occupations and the view that all men are inherently cooperative and equal. The schemes are also
related in such details as the inclusion of electric energy, the emphasis on planting within the city
and widely accepted 19 th century ideal of a house and garden for each family.
In his preface to Une Cite Industrialle, Garnier specifically included most of the major elements
of contemporary regionalist theory; the Cite was to represent one of a federation of cities, among
which a bond would be created through emphasis on communication and exchange of goods.
Local historical and botanical museums for regional expositions and a school of arts and
industries were to be included in this project. Local crafts were to be taught. Nearby water power
was to be used.
Deliberate proximity of the Railway Station to the old town to make it easy for the visitors,
should be understood as an interpretation of the regionalist theory of preserving and promoting
an interest in local monuments. However regionalism was never associated with socialism, and
thus in this major philosophical tenet the Cite industrialle doesn't conform to the regionalist
thought. Individual imitative is not stressed in the City, property is owned in common and public
conveniences are maintained for benefit of all. Garnier had worked in the workers quarte of the
city, some of his later planning may reflect social doctrines to which he was exposed while there.
In his city employment services and free hostels as well as meeting rooms were created for
workers' syndicates that a socialist government is presupposed. Many public facilities were
provided like slaughter houses, flour mills etc, and equality to both sexes in education etc.

SOCIAL UTOPIAN CONCEPTS

At the end of the 19th century it was believed that many social reforms could be achieved
gradually through moral and intellectual education leading to a future ideal state. Garnier
believed in the basic goodness of man :when asked why his city contained no law courts, police
force stations, jail or church he is said to have replied that the new society governed by socialist
law would have no need of churches as capitalism would be suppressed.
In the Utopias of this period, fundamental, natural and primitive conditions were stressed; the
emphasis on exercise, health, and physical well-being was a corollary to the awakening interest
in natural life. Garniers inclusion of a large public area for sports and spectacles in his city
related to early utopian philosophy, pagan antiquity and love for games.
LYONS BACKGROUNDLyons had undergone extensive urban remodelling from mid 19
century. Here public schools began, syndicates were formed, a new industrial quarter was
planned. Reinforced concrete was used for industries as well as housing. In 1894 the 15 th
congress of the Societe Francaise Geographique met in Lyons and established a program for the

region, including construction of public utilities and dams. He was emphatic about separating the
functions of the city from each other in order to allow for independent expansion, functional
convenience and ease of transportation. Garnier stated in his preface that the siting of the city
was determined by the location of water, the source of power.
THE CONCEPT
Garnier s proposal was an industrial city for approx 35,000 inhabitants situated on a area in
southeast France on a plateau with high land and a lake to the north, a valley and river to the
south. Une Cite industrialle is a well coordinated and monumentally conceived plan placed in a
park like setting where both the classical spirit of the academic tradition and the primitive
simplicity of utopian ideas is demonstrated. In his proposal, Garnier tried to take into account all
aspects of the city including governmental, residential, manufacturing and agricultural practices.
The various functions of the city were clearly related, but separated from each other by location
and patterns.
The public area at the heart of the city was grouped into 3 sections: administrative services and
assembly halls, muesum collections and sports facilities.
The residential area is made up of rectangular blocks running east-west which gives the city its
characteristic elongated form. The residential districts are the first attempt towards passive solar
architecture. Garnier had energy efficiency in mind as the city was to be powered by a
hydroelectric station with a dam which was located in the mountains along with the hospital.
The city was completed by a railroad d station to the east.

THE INFLUENCE OF JULIEN GAUDET

Garnier found a sympathetic point of view in the teaching of Julien Gaudet, a professor of
architectural theory at the Ecole. Guadet's concern with rational planning, based on axiality and
clear articulation of the separate parts of the building and his interest in the relationship of
architecture to contemporary functions. The programme for the Cite hospital is close to Gaudets
analysis of hospital planning. Gaudet favoured an arrangement of separate pavilions including
separate building blocks for different functions.
ZONING
The main factory is located in the valley at the confluence of the stream and river. A railway
passes between the factory and the city, which is on a plateau, and further up are the medical
facilities.
In the homes, the rooms should have at least one large window oriented south for the entry of
sunlight The land for the construction of the residential homes, are initially divided into 150
meters from east to west and 30 meters from north to south, dividing into lots of 15 by 15 meters,
with one side facing the street.
Primary schools are scattered throughout neighbourhoods and in the northeast corner are the

secondary schools.
CONCLUSIONS
Garniers Cit Industrielle was never built but echoes of his vision can be seen in Lyon where the
mayor appointed him the city architect in 1905, a position he held until 1919. The most
important work to emerge from his Cit Industrielle was the large stockyards complex, the
stadium, the Grange Blanche Hospital and the housing project known as Les tats Unis. The
most important connection of Garnier with later planners is definitely through Le Corbusier. Le
Corbusier was the first well-known architect to discuss Garnier's work and possibly the reason
why Garnier became known as a pioneer of modern architecture and urban planning.
This is not to say that Garnier's vision of urban utopia is neither important nor successful. Much
of what he proposed is at the least relevant today and there is no doubt that at the time someone
with Garnier's vision was required to propose what he saw as a solution to the problems that
faced society at that time.
This brings me back to the start, a utopia by its very nature is impossible to realise. Without
people proposing their visions of a Utopia there can be no progress as out of generous dreams
come beneficial realities.
In his praise, Edouard Herriot said:
This builder, this realistic person, was spontaneously human. His sensitivity was only equal to
his modesty. His culture proved to be often surprising. Indeed, Tony Garnier was a master, with
all the nobleness and intelligence included in this word. A master, which means a guide and an
example But the Man was as admirable as the scholar; his moral qualities were equal to his
genius.