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How did Daniel Burnham use parks and diagonal roads in his plans for Manila and Baguio?

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In his planning for Manila and Baguio, Daniel Burnham employed core elements of the City Beautiful movement to foster order and efficiency.1

To achieve these goals, he utilized the following strategies:

  • System of Parks: Burnham integrated comprehensive park systems into both cities to enhance the urban environment and provide public open space.1
  • Diagonal Roadways: He designed networks of diagonal roads specifically to improve traffic efficiency, drawing on his interest in grand, ordered urban layouts.1
  • Civic Centres: In both locations, he planned for a civic centre complex, which served as the formally arranged heart of the community.1

These features were part of a broader "Beautification Plan" commissioned by the U.S. federal government after the Spanish-American War. While he advocated for these modern planning components, he also recommended the preservation of Manila’s historic walled Spanish city, demonstrating a balanced approach to urban development.1