Athens Charter
A manifesto of modernist urbanism
Modernist town planning differs from earlier approaches in that it considers all inhabitants. The Industrial Revolution led to mass migration to towns that were not equipped to handle it. This led to overcrowding and unbearable living conditions. London was the first city in modern history to exceed one million inhabitants, with most of its residents living in poverty.
Under the new industrial conditions that triggered significant social change, some thinkers began to view poverty as a social and political problem – something that could be solved. They argued that living conditions could be improved for everyone, not just a few. Town planners, who throughout history had sought only the perfect image of beauty and order, had never included the poor in their visions.
Modernism was the first period in history when architects began designing buildings for the masses rather than just for the elite. Urbanism was no longer merely a matter of science and aesthetics but also acquired a moral – and therefore political – dimension. By the late 19th century, ideas emerged about easing pressure on major cities by building smaller new towns outside them. The best known is Ebenezer Howard's concept of the Garden City, featuring small houses in lush green surroundings. More than a plan for new towns, it strongly influenced the development of future suburbs.
The most influential planning model of the 20th century was undoubtedly the modernist one presented in the Athens Charter. It was the outcome of the 4th International Congress of Modern Architecture (CIAM) in 1933, published ten years later as a manifesto by Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris, better known by his pseudonym Le Corbusier, the leading architect and urban planner of the time.
The Athens Charter outlined basic principles for enhancing workers' living conditions in the new industrial society: apartments should have kitchens, bathrooms, and direct access to green spaces. Built-up areas should not exceed 15 per cent of the land, which encourages construction in height to leave more room for nature.
Traffic was to be separated from pedestrians to allow for safer and more pleasant city life. Equally important was the construction of everyday facilities – factories, schools, kindergartens, cultural centres, playgrounds, and sports halls.
Urban fabric was to be organised according to the principle of zoning – spatial and functional separation of town areas: residential, administrative, educational, cultural, business, and industrial zones were to be clearly distinguished. What had once been interwoven, modernist urbanism separated – each with its own zone.
The ideas of the Athens Charter spread across both sides of the Iron Curtain (and beyond), including to Nova Gorica.
Avtor: Blaž Kosovel