Thomas Adams (architect)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Adams was a pioneer of urban planning
. Born on a farm near Edinburgh
and a farmer in his early years, Adams moved to London
where he worked as a journalist. He served as secretary to the Garden City Association
and was the first manager of Letchworth, England from 1903 to 1906.
Adams became a designer of low-density residential developments that were commonly referred to as "garden suburbs." After the Halifax Explosion
in 1917, Adams designed the Hydrostone
section using Garden City
principles. He also designed a portion of Corner Brook, Newfoundland. He worked with Halifax architect Andrew R. Cobb
on this project. On other projects in Quebec and Nova Scotia he partnered with Ross and Macdonald
of Montreal. He was later responsible for surveys and a plan for New York City
.
On returning to the United Kingdom, Thomas Adams became one of the early presidents of the Institute of Landscape Architects (ILA) which became the Landscape Institute
. His son, Frederick Adams, was the first department head of Urban Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
and was named a National Planning Pioneer by the American Institute of Certified Planners
.
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
. Born on a farm near Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and a farmer in his early years, Adams moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where he worked as a journalist. He served as secretary to the Garden City Association
Town and Country Planning Association
The Town and Country Planning Association is England's oldest environmental charity. It was founded as the Garden Cities Association in 1899 by Ebenezer Howard, initially to promote the development of Garden Cities...
and was the first manager of Letchworth, England from 1903 to 1906.
Adams became a designer of low-density residential developments that were commonly referred to as "garden suburbs." After the Halifax Explosion
Halifax Explosion
The Halifax Explosion occurred on Thursday, December 6, 1917, when the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, was devastated by the huge detonation of the SS Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship, fully loaded with wartime explosives, which accidentally collided with the Norwegian SS Imo in "The Narrows"...
in 1917, Adams designed the Hydrostone
The Hydrostone
The Hydrostone is a neighbourhood in the North End of the Halifax Peninsula in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. It consists of ten short parallel streets and is bordered by Duffus Street to the north, Young Street to the south, Isleville Street to the west and Novalea Drive...
section using Garden City
Garden city movement
The garden city movement is a method of urban planning that was initiated in 1898 by Sir Ebenezer Howard in the United Kingdom. Garden cities were intended to be planned, self-contained communities surrounded by "greenbelts" , containing proportionate areas of residences, industry and...
principles. He also designed a portion of Corner Brook, Newfoundland. He worked with Halifax architect Andrew R. Cobb
Andrew R. Cobb
Andrew Randall Cobb, ARCA, FRIBA was a Canadian-American architect based in Nova Scotia.In his day, Cobb was one of the most renowned architects in Atlantic Canada...
on this project. On other projects in Quebec and Nova Scotia he partnered with Ross and Macdonald
Ross and Macdonald
Ross and Macdonald was one of Canada's most notable architecture firms in the early 20th century. Based in Montreal, Quebec, the firm originally operated as a partnership between George Allen Ross and David MacFarlane from 1907 to 1912. MacFarlane retired in 1913, and Robert Henry Macdonald...
of Montreal. He was later responsible for surveys and a plan for New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
On returning to the United Kingdom, Thomas Adams became one of the early presidents of the Institute of Landscape Architects (ILA) which became the Landscape Institute
Landscape Institute
The Landscape Institute is a British professional body for landscape architects. Founded in 1929 as the Institute of Landscape Architects, it was granted a Royal Charter in 1997. The Institute aims to promote landscape architecture, and to regulate the profession with a code of conduct that...
. His son, Frederick Adams, was the first department head of Urban Planning at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
and was named a National Planning Pioneer by the American Institute of Certified Planners
American Institute of Certified Planners
The American Institute of Certified Planners is the American Planning Association's professional institute. AICP certifies professionals in the United States in the field of Urban and Regional planning and assists planners in the areas of ethics, professional development, planning education, and...
.