Wild Cities

A globe-spanning look at how to integrate nature into urban design – and create the wild cities of the future.

A connection to nature is vital to our wellbeing. The sound of birds, the smell of tree oils, the effects of natural sunlight. Studies have shown that patients who can observe a natural scene through a hospital window recover faster, and lockdown proved that when most other aspects of life falls away, nature still feels like a necessity, not a luxury.

But the majority of the world’s population lives in some form of urban environment, and by 2050, two thirds of humanity – nearly 7 billion people – are expected to live in towns and cities. As these cities expand, brick and concrete and metal, what do we do about our connection to the outdoors?

Wild Cities tells stories from pioneering cities around the world to imagine a hypothetical wild, truly nature-focused city. This book tours Tokyo, Singapore, Brazil, Nairobi, Sydney, Flagstaff, Helsinki, Berlin, Copenhagen, Lisbon, Seattle.

© 2025 William Collins (Audiobook): 9780008557218

Release date

Audiobook: 10 April 2025