About

Human Nature creates remarkable places where living is affordable and inclusive, people thrive by sharing and communities grow strong

We help shape a healthier and more optimistic social imagination of what it is to live well in the 21^st century and how, together, we might get there.

The places we create, and associated services, support a step change in the quality of life for all in ways that regenerate nature and point the way to the essential actions needed to stabilise global climate. We hope to empower and support people in our communities to demonstrate how new ways of living and working can overcome barriers and catch on at an extraordinary pace.

Human Nature’s first project, the Phoenix neighbourhood in Lewes, East Sussex, fulfils the ambition to create whole places not housing estates. It will innovate in construction and infrastructure for rapid delivery, go beyond zero carbon and cultivate dynamic local economies.

human nature’s purpose

CLIMATE AND GLOBAL FAIR SHARES CARBON

To show how all can be supported in taking huge steps in the transition to the target of 2.3 tonnes of carbon, representing a Global Fair Share allowance per person and an appropriate international model of contraction and convergence.

REGENERATIVE ENVIRONMENTAL HANDPRINTS

Turning greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and land footprints into environmental handprints where dangerous gases are taken out of the atmosphere so that the climate stabilises, and land, soil, aquatic and other habitats are regenerated and enhanced.

SOCIAL VALUE

Ensuring people are housed well, new forms of affordable living are made accessible to all, and shared spaces, resources and experience help heal social divisions and build a more open, tolerant, and cohesive society in which all have the opportunity to fulfil their capabilities and flourish.

BEAUTIFUL AND RESILIENT HOMES & PLACES

Creating beautiful and resilient living environments for people to enjoy and flourish in; designed to established traditions in how places stand the test of time, adapt to ever-changing context and needs and cultivate and nurture a compelling sense of place and belonging.

A NEW SOCIAL IMAGINATION AND THE STORIES TO INSPIRE CHANGE

Helping to forge and amplify a wonderfully optimistic and relatable world view – a new social imagination – about how to live well with abundance and ease in this Century of extraordinary challenges and opportunities; what it will take to make this opportunity available to all, grounded in relatable action and stories not theory or abstract expressions of hope.

AN ENGINE OF BEHAVIOURAL CHANGE AND BETTER CHOICES

Widespread behavioural change with people being supported; better choices about what we eat and its provenance, in consumption generally, in our use of energy, to discretionary travel and travel modes and shared resources and services, all having regard to greater affordability and accessibility.

AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR ALL

Inspiring and enabling a series of cumulative step-changes in the emergence of the creative, productive, inclusive and circular economy.
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history

‍Human Nature has its
origins in activism

Founders Jonathan Smales and Michael Manolson were directors and international trustees of Greenpeace in the 1980s – a period when environmentalism appeared to be breaking into the mainstream ahead of the Earth Summit in 1992. With Gro Harlem Brundtland’s World Commission on Environment & Development and its report, Our Common Future in 1987, our focus shifted towards sustainability in which “vast campaigns of education were needed to correct the course of development”.

Many years of consultation with major businesses, investors, international agencies, government and local authorities, has resulted in pioneering work on green buildings, energy and sustainable construction. Our directors have worked on projects as diverse as the London 2012 Olympics; the Earth Centre, a millennium project; and with the Premier League on its sustainability strategy.

Combined with a passion for urban design, community engagement and placemaking, Human Nature took the leap into development. It has become clear that new breakthrough models of place, social inclusion and development are needed, with new values and cultures to displace the cynicism and short-termism of real estate. Better designs, economic models and protocols are needed to weave together the qualities of buildings, places and spaces to super-charge the shift to sustainable ways of living.

Human Nature intends to create replicable and scalable solutions to enable these changes, creating services and new models in active mobility, community food, wellbeing and health.

The Phoenix

A sustainable new neighbourhood in East Sussex