Urban jungle

The messy thing that we like to call civilization is actually more like a coral reef, crawling with critters that camp out in our architectural nooks and crannies and make a pretty good living on our scraps. Those creatures, and natural spaces like parks, can have a profound influence on our lives and our urban culture, too. Join Grist as we explore the wild landscapes of our cities.
(Photograph by Kārlis Dambrāns)

In This Series:

Cities

A mixtape love letter to the parks that birthed hip hop

Here are some great rap songs that celebrate the role of parks in city life and the history of hip hop.

Cities

An inner-city neighborhood rallies around a long-neglected park

In a down-and-out corner of Washington, D.C., kids cleaned up a local park. The adults followed, and now it’s a national example of urban renewal done right.

Cities

New show of guerrilla urbanism is both inspiring and a little creepy

Remember when DIY urbanism was frowned upon if not outright illegal? According to a new exhibition, guerrilla tactics have become symbols of American ingenuity and the rebirth of urban cool.

Cities

Architect Jeanne Gang threads nature into urban landscapes

Gang is among the new generation of designers and urban planners who are working natural forms and habitat into a world of steel and concrete -- for nature's sake and for ours.