Nieuwe Instituut
Nieuwe Instituut

Sonneveld House

A New City Archive for Milton Keynes

Nieuwe Instituut is responsible for the National Collection for Dutch Architecture and Urban Planning, but also for the transfer of knowledge about the collection and working methods. In September, a team from the ‘New Town’ Milton Keynes in the UK visited Het Nieuwe Instituut as part of current investigations into how to shape its new city archive.

14 December 2022

Dixon, Jones, Gold and Cross, Netherfield housing estate, Milton Keynes (UK), 1972-1977. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, archief Wim van Heuvel, HEUV f429.

The International New Town Institute, which arranged this visit, subsequently invited Het Nieuwe Instituut to a two-day Archive-opia workshop in Milton Keynes. The development of the programme for the new city archive was central to this. An important requirement for this archive is to provide insight into Milton Keynes’ unique history in a single place for residents, tourists and researchers alike.

Housing in Milton Keynes with green space. 1973-1979. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, Wim van Heuvel archive, HEUV f429.

New Towns: Housing need in Britain

From the 1970s, Milton Keynes was built between London and Birmingham, becoming Britain’s largest New Town. The term New Town refers to the new, planned towns that were built in response to the New Towns Act of 1946 and later, following renewed pressure on the housing market in the 1960s, the Second New Towns Act of 1965. The principle of the New Town was inspired by Ebenezer Howard’s Garden City movement of 1900. In short, these were elaborately planned, self-sufficient garden suburbs with plenty of greenery. The principles of the Garden City were transformed into a national planning model for the UK in the various New Towns Acts.

Green and good living in Milton Keynes

The Milton Keynes Development Corporation published the master plan for the New Town of Milton Keynes in 1970. The local population of the area was then 40,000 but set to grow to 250,000 by 2000. Therefore, a lot had to be built quickly. The solution for a fast-growing city, while maintaining fast connections, was found in a grid structure of main roads. Within these grid squares, the various residential areas were built, each with its own character and lots of greenery. The shopping centre in central Milton Keynes became the big attraction for the entire area.

New City Archive

In addition to showing the special architecture and urban planning in the new city archive, the aim is to involve the different communities in Milton Keynes and incorporate their stories. For example, with a space for exhibitions and meetings that discuss not only the past but also the future of the city. The team from Milton Keynes found the Nieuwe Instituut interesting because of its combination of exhibitions, research and events in one building. The workshop resulted in an instructive exchange of ideas. Milton Keynes aims to have a concrete plan for the new city archives on paper in the spring.

Milton Keynes central station is just half an hour from London. Milton Keynes Development Corporation, Milton Keynes central station. 1979-1982. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, archief Wim van Heuvel, HEUV f429.

1 of 3

Milton Keynes central station is just half an hour from London. Milton Keynes Development Corporation, Milton Keynes central station. 1979-1982. Collection Het Nieuwe Instituut, archief Wim van Heuvel, HEUV f429.

Wim van Heuvel Archive

The construction of the New Towns in the UK was followed internationally. The archive of the Dutch architecture journalist Wim J. van Heuvel contains several files with photos of New Towns in the UK – including Milton Keynes. The photos from this archive are currently being inventoried, described and digitised in the context of Disclosing Architecture.

Further reading

  • The New Town travel guides: Milton Keynes, International New Town Institute in samenwerking met TU Delft, 2017.
  • Milton Keynes Development Company, The plan for Milton Keynes, 1970.
  • Derek Walker, The architecture and planning of Milton Keynes, 1982.
  • Mark Law, New City: Milton Keynes, 1974.

With thanks to INTI (International New Town Institute) and MK Archive-opia team

Nieuwsbrief

Ontvang als eerste uitnodigingen voor onze events en blijf op de hoogte van komende tentoonstellingen.