What city planning philosophy emphasizes beauty and harmony in urban development?

The City Beautiful movement is a 19th-century urban planning philosophy that aims to introduce beautification and the improvement of the standard of living in urban environments. It emerged in response to the overcrowded and often chaotic conditions of industrial cities, focusing on aesthetics as a means to elevate the urban experience. Proponents of this movement believed that well-designed parks, public spaces, and grand boulevards enhance the quality of urban life, promote civic pride, and contribute to the moral and social wellbeing of citizens.

This philosophy encourages the integration of monumental architecture with green spaces, thereby fostering a harmonious relationship between nature and human-made structures. Key figures, such as Daniel Burnham, advocated for comprehensive city plans that emphasized visual coherence and monumental beauty, further popularizing the principles of the City Beautiful movement in cities like Chicago.

In contrast, other movements such as Functionalism prioritize utility and practicality over aesthetics, while Minimalism focuses on simplicity and elimination of the unnecessary. New Urbanism aims to create walkable neighborhoods and promote community interaction but does so through different principles than those championed by the City Beautiful movement. Thus, the City Beautiful movement distinctly emphasizes beauty and harmony in urban development, making it the correct answer.