The Nature of Cities
There is no doubt that humans need nature. It is absolutely necessary for our daily life. Some people are now realizing that even if we live in cities, we can have nature all around us because the natural environment can be easily integrated into urban communities. We have to forget the notion that cities and nature cannot co-exist because they can. For years, people have viewed nature as something “over there”, separate from modern life. Often a person travels – sometimes for hours – to spend some time in nature. But modern city planners are working to change that perception.
The general idea is to bring nature back to the city. According to Paul Soglin, former mayor of Madison, Wisconsin, “There are two kinds of environmentalists: those who understand that cities are part of the environment, and those who don’t.” Designing Vertical Gardens on Urban Architecture , planting lawns or gardens on rooftops, and even allowing millions of bats to live under bridges are some creative ways of bringing nature into cities. It’s not just about avoiding the environmentally harmful habits we’ve developed, but creating an environment for thriving and meaningful interaction with the world around us. The good news is that this can be done in a relatively short amount of time.
According to Swedish urban planner Eva Dalman, it is not enough to develop systems to enhance environmental sustainability. The plan must include building attractive communities that people love. When people love their homes, they’re more likely to care about smart systems designed to reduce energy use and protect the environment.
It is also important to provide children with fun and educational nature experiences. Kids today spend far more time indoors than they did a decade ago. Programs like the BioBlitz and Sierra Club in downtown San Diego realize this and are doing what they can to make the outdoors more appealing to younger generations. Children need to be close to the nature where they grew up.
The Nature of Cities is a thought-provoking documentary that follows Professor Timothy Beatley as he explores many different urban projects around the world. He does so as a representative of the new green movement, which seeks to transform our urban environment from a sustainable to a regenerative way of life.
