There is a particular emphasis on the cultural, social, and community components of the Garden City model, to widen the focus beyond master planning.

Under the auspices of the Institute’s Academic Director, Dr Susan Parham, from the University of Hertfordshire, the Institute is conducting or planning research on a wide range of themes: urbanism and architecture, heritage, sustainability including food resilience, stewardship, governance, social purpose and economics among others.

It is intended that the results of research will be widely disseminated, and contribute to the Institute’s growing repository of information about Garden Cities worldwide: the International Garden Cities Compendium.