Jonathan Smales is the founder and CEO of Human + Nature, a campaigning development company working to create “a far, far better future” through sustainable building and design. As a former MD of Greenpeace (UK), a sustainability advisor to the government, and developer of some of the UK’s first major sustainability projects, Jonathan’s expertise is now focused on The Phoenix: a sustainable neighborhood in Lewes, East Sussex. Human + Nature, along with a team of some of the UK’s leading architects, designers, and engineers, seeks to transform a neglected former industrial site into a regenerative, restorative, and community-centered living space.

Principled and passionate, Jonathan shares with us his vision for a better world: one that recognizes the need for creating living spaces and communities with families and social connection in mind, rather than just adults with cars; the potential of sustainable developments like The Phoenix to create more vibrant, livable spaces in the face of climate change; and where we can collectively strive, despite the obstacles, to stay true to a better, more sustainable way of living for all.

"Let us gather in a flourishing way" by Juan Felipe Herrera Let us gather in a flourishing way with sunluz grains abriendo los cantos que cargamos cada día en el young pasto nuestro cuerpo para regalar y dar feliz perlas pearls of corn flowing árboles de vida en las cuatro esquinas let us gather in a flourishing way contentos llenos de fuerza to vida giving nacimientos to fragrant ríos dulces frescos verdes turquoise strong carne de nuestros hijos rainbows let us gather in a flourishing way en la luz y en la carne of our heart to toil tranquilos in fields of blossoms juntos to stretch los brazos tranquilos with the rain en la mañana temprana estrella on our forehead cielo de calor and wisdom to meet us where we toil siempre in the garden of our struggle and joy let us offer our hearts a saludar our águila rising freedom a celebrar woven brazos branches ramas piedras nopales plumas piercing bursting figs and aguacates ripe mariposa fields and mares claros of our face to breathe todos en el camino blessing seeds to give to grow maiztlán en las manos de nuestro amor

Show Notes:

* https://www.humannature-places.com/

* https://www.phoenixlewes.com/

* https://www.instagram.com/humannatureplaces/

* “The Phoenix, Lewes: a new riverside neighborhood that sounds almost too good to be true” by Rowan Moore, The Guardian

* Sign up for The Phoenix Project Newsletter

Connect with Andy:

* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjcahill/

* Instagram: instagram.com/wonderdomepodcast​

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