Sir Patrick Geddes

Sir Patrick Geddes , 1854-1932, Scottish biologist and sociologist, distinguished especially in town planning. He received his biological training in T. H. Huxley's laboratory; from the beginning he was interested in relating biological knowledge to civic welfare. His conviction of the importance of environment led to the organization of University Hall in Edinburgh as a center of student life and to his plan for the reconstruction of Edinburgh, with the eventual elimination of slums. He was selected by Zionist leaders to design the Hebrew Univ. building at Jerusalem and to plan the enlargement of the city. In biology, Geddes was an authority on the evolution of sex, collaborating with Sir J. Arthur Thomson in several works on the subject. Other books by Geddes include City Development (1904) and Cities in Evolution (1915). Geddes held professorships at Edinburgh, London, Aberdeen, St. Andrews, and Bombay (now Mumbai) and at his death was director of the Scots College, Montpellier, France. He was knighted in 1932.

Geddes, Sir Patrick (1854–1932) A Scottish polymath who coined the term ‘conurbation’ and attempted to provide town-planning with a social-scientific base and methodology of ‘survey–analysis–plan’. Some of his ideas have greatly influenced urban-planning theory and practice.

Geddes, Sir Patrick (1854–1932). Scots town-planning theorist. He gave emphasis to preliminary surveys and analysis (including sociological research) before any action should be taken. His study of Dunfermline, described by Abercrombie as the first town-planning report ever undertaken, was published as City Development (1904). He organized a huge ‘Cities and Town-Planning Exhibition’ in London (1910) that was influential, and later he prepared numerous reports on cities in India. His designs included the first hall of residence for students at Edinburgh University (1892) and the Outlook Tower (1895) in the same city.

Bibliography

Boardman (1978);
P. Geddes (1918, 1973);
LeG & and Sturgis (1996);
Meller (1990);
Tyrwhitt (ed.) (1947)