{"id":2,"date":"2012-04-20T18:56:18","date_gmt":"2012-04-20T22:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2026-02-10T13:29:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T18:29:21","slug":"the-nature-of-cities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/the-nature-of-cities\/","title":{"rendered":"About The Nature of Cities"},"content":{"rendered":"

TNOC is an idea hive<\/b><\/h3>\n

TNOC’s Mission: “Of” is a key word in our name: it modifies the word nature to mean the character of cities, through a green, blue, and community lens. We believe the route to cities and communities that are better for nature and all people is through transdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration. We combine art, science, and practice in innovative and publicly available engagements for knowledge-driven, imaginative, and just green city making.<\/h4>\n

TNOC is two legally distinct and independent organizations. TNOC is a nonprofit (501c3) in the United States; TNOC-Europe is a Registered Charity in Ireland. TNOC-Europe participates in European projects such as Horizon Europe.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>We work in three principal ways. First, we publish a virtual magazine and discussion site<\/strong> featuring, in multiple formats, writing by our contributors around the world. Second, we pursue partnerships and special projects related to our mission<\/strong>, such as place-based work in the union of art, culture, education, and science. Third, we create innovative and interactive live and online events and conferences<\/strong> that engage diverse voices from multiple ways of knowing and modes of action in joined conversations focused on specific challenges. The most recent of such events was The Nature of Cities Festival<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Want to collaborate with us? Check this out<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The 100 world cities from which TNOC visits have most often come.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

TNOC was founded in 2012<\/strong> and is led by Dr. David Maddox (New York City), with thanks to and inspiration from Mike Houck of Portland, Oregon, USA. Write to us at\u00a0TNOC-Admin@thenatureofcities.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

We are read by about 100,000 people every month<\/strong>, totaling over a million visits per year,\u00a0from over 3,700 cities and 100 countries. Our readers are as diverse as our writers.<\/p>\n

Our intended audience is everyone<\/strong> interested in creating better cities that are resilient, sustainable, livable, and just \u2014 cities that effectively function as ecosystems and are better for all people and nature.<\/p>\n

Are TNOC and TNOC-Europe \u00a0place-based organizations?<\/strong> TNOC links universal urban-nature ideas with grounded local practice. Our global magazine shares cross-city lessons in art, science, and justice, while partnerships turn those lessons into action in real communities. Festivals and events bridge both scales, carrying local experiments into transferable strategies for greener, fairer cities. \u00a0TNOC also does specifically place-based work in individual projects and programs. For example, in the NaturePLACE collaborative artist residencies, artists are embedded with scientists, land managers, and community partners in specific places to co-learn, create, and communicate urban social-ecological stories. These residencies generate artworks, public programs, and new practices rooted in local ecologies and cultures.<\/p>\n

Why do we publish in English?<\/strong> One of the core purposes of TNOC is to share city-building ideas across disciplinary boundaries and geographic frontiers. For better or worse, English is the language that is more likely to be shared among city-builders around the world. Further, we have not wanted to narrow the reach of our essays by publishing regional versions only in that region’s language. The ideas need to be shared more broadly. We simply don’t have the money to translate all of our essays\u2014and anyway, which language(s) would we choose?\u00a0We have responded with two imperfect solutions.<\/span> First, Google Translate is embedded on the site so that readers can choose from a wide range of languages. This tool is improving, and it is certainly better than nothing. Second, we offer all our authors the option to provide a second version of the essay in a second language; the works are then published in both that language and English.<\/p>\n

Intellectual property.<\/strong> All of the work and publications at TNOC and TNOC Festival remain the intellectual property of the original creators: the authors of the essays, the photographers, the creators of the art. TNOC is a promoter of their work and does not own or profit from it. By publishing at TNOC, the contributors agree to their work being shown at TNOC sites in perpetuity (or as long as TNOC exists).<\/p>\n

Who We Are<\/h2>\n


\n\"\"<\/a>David Maddox<\/strong>,\u00a0New York
\nFounder and Executive Director<\/strong>
\nDavid loves urban spaces and nature. He loves creativity and collaboration. He loves theatre and music. In his life and work he has practiced in all of these. After a PhD at Cornell he worked at The Nature Conservancy on climate change and stewardship, leaving in 1992 to be a theatre artist as a musician, director, playwright, and composer. In 2012, David founded The Nature of Cities, a transdisciplinary essay and discussion platform\u20141,200+ writers from around the world, scientists to activists, designers to artists. He has published over 60 journal articles and books chapters, edited six books (both fiction and non-fiction), and written 7 produced works of musical theatre, and created a poetry journal. Much of his storytelling and collaborative work in theatre directly influences the structure and actions of TNOC. He lives in New York City.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Claudia Misteli,\u00a0<\/strong>Barcelona
\n<\/strong>Associate Director, TNOC-Europe
\nNetworkNaturePLUS \/ TNOC Festival
\n<\/strong>Social communicator, journalist, and social designer, interested in how design, communication, and social innovation can shape and reshape a more resilient and sustainable future. A strong believer that empathy, creativity, cooperation, and the force of landscape opens up infinite opportunities to build better societies, more connected to nature and people.<\/p>\n

Bettina Wilk, <\/strong>Bilbao
\nDirector of Projects, TNOC Europe<\/strong>\"\"<\/a>
\nBettina Wilk is a social scientist with a master’s degree in social and cultural anthropology from the University of Vienna, and a master’s degree in environmental governance from Utrecht University. She has extensive work experience in project management in culture and the arts, sponsoring, and event management (up to 20,000 attendees). As a researcher for the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University, she worked on environmental policy integration, climate adaptation, and urban resilience with respective publications in these fields. Previously with ICLEI Europe \u2014 as senior expert for nature-based solutions and biodiversity \u2014 she coordinated the Horizon Europe project and multi-stakeholder platform NetworkNaturePLUS, which aims to accelerate the uptake of nature-based solutions along the policy priorities of the European Green Deal. Her areas of expertise are policy integration and mainstreaming of nature-based solutions, as well as their co-creation and co-governance.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Patrick Lydon<\/strong>, Tongyeong
\nArts Curator & Events, Webmaster<\/strong>
\nPatrick M. Lydon is an ecological artist who enjoys learning from trees, soil, wind, the sea, as well as kids and elders. He writes an illustrated column called The Possible City<\/em><\/a> and is founder of City as Nature<\/a><\/em>, a socially-engaged art and media lab based in Osaka and Seoul. He has produced exhibitions<\/a>, workshops, films, essays, gardens, and various other projects across five continents, including for the Seoul Biennale of Architecture & Urbanism, David Brower Center, and Setouchi Triennale. He co-directed the Buchanan Prize-winning documentary Final Straw: Food, Earth, Happiness<\/em>, during which time he spent several years as a nomad in East Asia. Formal studies include The University of Edinburgh (MFA, Art, Space & Nature), the Isao Suizu Project Lab at Aichi University of the Arts, and San Jose State University (BA).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Carmen Bouyer<\/strong>,\u00a0Paris
\n<\/strong>TNOC Europe, Arts Curator
\n<\/strong>Carmen Bouyer is a French environmental artist and designer based in Paris. Her recent work involves environmental art education, community events in relation to urban agriculture and stewardship, riverside ecosystem restoration, and researches on Neolithic life way transitions in Mesoamerica and Mesopotamia. Carmen\u2019s artistic works have been presented at Palais de Tokyo and Park in Progress in Paris; The Istanbul Art Fair and Halka Art Center in Istanbul; The Maquis Projects Gallery and Port Izmir 3 Triennale in Izmir; The Salone Satellite in Milan; and Pioneer Works and Flux Factory in New York City. As a designer, Carmen created sustainable and environmental designs and community programs for Till Design, landscape architecture studio; Pioneer Works, center for research and experimentation in contemporary culture; and the New York City Urban Field Station, a research partnership between the New York City Department of Parks & Recreation and the USDA Forest Service.<\/p>\n

\"\"Mar\u00eda Ang\u00e9lica Mej\u00eda<\/strong>, Bogot\u00e1 \/ Nairobi
\n<\/strong>Regional Curator for LATAM, TNOC
\n<\/strong>A bio-disperse profile and a committed heart to listen, reflect and design collaborative networks that put biodiversity at the core of our work. I hold a Double Major in Economics and Political Science. Following one of my life passions I did a Minor in Architecture and Cities and a MSc. Global Ecological Change<\/a>. From Bogot\u00e1<\/a>, to Medell\u00edn<\/a>, Manila<\/a>, Berlin<\/a> and now Nairobi, I keep expanding my knowledge on how to enable systemic change to achieve more biodiverse, just and healthy cities. Conspirator \u00a0of\u00a0Urban Nature: Platform of Experiences<\/a><\/em>\u00a0<\/em>(2016), BiodiverCities by 2030: Transforming Cities with Biodiversity<\/a> (2022) <\/em>and Ciudad Humedal para Am\u00e9rica Latina y el Caribe<\/a> (2025). <\/em>Friend of TNOC since 2013. I love chocolate, dark skies, films, music and currently doing my best to keep up with hot yoga.
\n| Contact Mar\u00eda<\/a> |<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Emmalee Barnett<\/strong>, Spokane
\nEditor: Essays, Roundtable, Fiction, Poetry, Comics
\nCo-Director: NBS Comics
\nManaging Editor: Sprout Eco-Poetry Journal
\n<\/strong>Emmalee loves the impact the smallest gestures can make in life. She believes a simple word or idea can grow into something spectacular and world-changing if put in the right hands. Emmalee has a Bachelor\u2019s in Literature from Missouri State University and currently resides in Spokane, MO. She is interested in the editing and publishing world since it\u2019s the final step between the creator and the consumer.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Chris Fremantle<\/strong>,\u00a0Ayr
\nCuratorial Research Associate: NaturePLACE Arts<\/strong>
\nChris Fremantle is a producer and research associate with On The Edge Research, Gray\u2019s School of Art, The Robert Gordon University. He produces ecoartscotland<\/a>, a platform for research and practice focused on art and ecology for artists, curators, critics, commissioners as well as scientists and policy makers.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Marta Delas<\/strong>, Barcelona
\nResident Artist, TNOC-Europe
\n\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>Marta Delas is a Spanish architect, illustrator, and videomaker. Concerned about urban planning and identity, her artwork engages with local projects and initiatives, giving support to neighbourhood networks. She has been involved in many community-building art projects in Madrid, Vienna, Sao Paulo and Barcelona. Her flashy coloured and fluid shaped language harbours a vindictive spirit, dressed with her experimental rallying cries whenever there is a chance. Together with comics and animations, she is now building her own musical universe.<\/p>\n

Board of Directors, 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Marcus, Collier, Dublin (also TNOC Europe)
\nMarta Cecilia Fajardo, Bogot\u00e1
\nDavid Haley, Walney Island
\nOliver Hillel, Montreal
\nMike Houck, Portland
\nRobin Lasser, Oakland
\nGilles Lecuir, Paris
\nToni Luna, Barcelona
\nDavid Maddox, New York (also TNOC Europe)
\nSiobh\u00e1n McQuaid, Dublin (also TNOC Europe)
\nMary W. Rowe, Toronto
\nChantal van Ham, Brussels<\/p>\n

Former members of the Board:<\/strong>
\nPippin Anderson, Cape Town
\nThomas Elmqvist, Stockholm
\nValerie Gwinner, Washington & Vaison au Romaine
\nRodolpho Ramina, Curitiba
\nHuda Shaka, Dubai
\nDavid Tittle,\u00a0London<\/p>\n

Board of Directors, TNOC-Europe. 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Marcus, Collier, Dublin
\nDavid Maddox, New York
\nSiobh\u00e1n McQuaid, Dublin<\/p>\n

Legal status:\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

TNOC Europe is a registered Charity in Ireland. The Nature of Cities\u00ae is a 501(c)3 Public Charity in the USA<\/strong> (as recognized by the U.S. Department of the Treasury), a nonprofit corporation registered in the State of New York. TNOC-E and TNOC are legally separate and independent organizations. The Nature of Cities\u00ae is a registered trademark.<\/p>\n

If you find value in what TNOC does, please consider supporting us with a one-time or recurring gift.<\/strong>
\nDonate<\/a><\/p>\n

Design History: <\/strong>Since 2022, our site has been designed and maintained by Patrick Lydon. The TNOC site launched on 12 June 2012, originally designed by Pure+Applied<\/a>. The site was extensively redesigned in 2014 by Juan Pablo Gomez at\u00a0jupago.com<\/a>\u00a0and by Karen Tsugawa in 2021.<\/p>\n

Citing TNOC:<\/strong> To cite content from TNOC, use the following format:
\nAuthor last name, first name<\/em>. Year<\/em>. Title of article<\/em>.\u00a0The Nature of Cities<\/span>. Publish date<\/em>. Web: URL of content<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Interested in contributing to TNOC? <\/strong>Write us<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and tell us a little about yourself and the kinds of things you want to write about.<\/p>\n

\u00a92012-2026 The Nature of Cities\u00ae. The Nature of Cities is a registered trademark.
\nAll rights reserved.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

TNOC is an idea hive TNOC’s Mission: “Of” is a key word in our name: it modifies the word nature to mean the character of cities, through a green, blue, and community lens. We believe the route to cities and communities that are better for nature and all people is through transdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8171,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"coauthors":[118,361],"class_list":["post-2","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2"}],"version-history":[{"count":49,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60350,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions\/60350"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8171"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thenatureofcities.com\/TNOC\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=2"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}