When Serenbe was in its early stages, people often tried to put a label on it. Terms like agrihood and eco-community came close, but never quite captured the vision. Then Steve heard urban planner and author Tim Beatley speak about biophilic cities and something clicked. A community shaped by a deep connection to nature and a respect for the living systems around us was exactly what he was trying to create at Serenbe.

Tim Beatley is the Teresa Heinz Professor of Sustainable Communities at the University of Virginia, where he has taught for more than 25 years. His work explores how cities and communities can become more sustainable, resilient, livable, and equitable. He is also the founder of Biophilic Cities, a global network connecting cities, researchers, and advocates working to bring nature back into the places we live.

In this conversation, Steve and Tim explore how growing up surrounded by nature shaped Tim’s work, what cities around the world are doing to reconnect people with the natural world, and why that connection matters so much to our everyday lives and wellbeing. They also talk about what each of us can do to build a deeper relationship with nature—starting right where we are.

Show Notes

• Biophilic Cities
• Biophilic Cities Journal
• Timothy Beatley
• Start In Your Own Backyard
• Serenbe

Keywords: Tim Beatley, biophilic cities, biophilic design, biophilia, nature and cities, sustainable cities, sustainable communities, urban planning, urban design, city planning, regenerative design, resilient cities, livable cities, equitable cities, nature in cities, reconnecting with nature, urban nature, green cities, green infrastructure, environmental design, nature-based solutions, Serenbe, Steve Nygren

Are You Ready For Radical Common Sense? Visionary placemaker Steve Nygren chronicles the rise of Serenbe, a pioneering model of biophilic living outside Atlanta, and charts a path for others wishing to challenge the status quo, embrace optimism, and reinvent their communities…and themselves.

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