Hampstead Garden Suburb: Arts and Crafts Utopia?

Rounded by Dame Henrietta Barnett to protect the open land north of Hampstead Heath from indiscriminate development, the Hampstead Garden Suburb quickly gained a reputation as one of England’s most desirable settings. The Suburb was planned by Raymond Unwin, while architect extraordinaire Edwin Lutyens—who was anxious to participate in the high game of classical architecture and civic design—was responsible for the Central Square with its twin churches. Their work on the Suburb is a unique blend of informality and meticulously detailed Queen Anne and Georgian style. Along with covering its architectural marvels, this enthralling account follows the history of the Suburb from its earliest planning stages up through its recent developments and changes. A more commercial approach to the area developed between the World Wars when the Suburb’s tranquility was shattered by the Barnet bypass, while the post-war period was dominated by the takeover of the original Hampstead Garden Suburb Trust and the sale of its assets. Following residents’ action, the Trust was reconstituted and today continues to administer what has been designated an “outstanding” conservation area.