Setbacks & Front Gardens

As a response to the overcrowded and heavily industrialized cities, green spaces became an essential element of modern urban planning. Ernst May, the architect behind Neues Frankfurt, envisioned a garden for each home, allowing residents to grow their own vegetables and become more self-sufficient. However, he acknowledged that this idea was difficult to implement in an urban reality where space was limited and the demand for housing was high.

Even in more densely populated areas, urban planners found ways to introduce greenery. One common approach was to set buildings slightly back, giving space for small front gardens, which provided additional green space close to existing urban developments.

Set back houses from 1930 with a small front gardenLeipzig