Welcome to Nontropolis, my world, my creations, my happy place. Explore the magic of Nontropolis, a world that is both imagined and yet very real. 

A Nontropolis is an old-world-charm tiny town or neighbourhood with an organic urban scape. A Nontropolis is the opposite of a metropolis. The term, a neologism was coined by creator Marcello Baaijens.

TV programmes such as 'America's Got talent' show us how much we love it when souls sing, literally and figuratively. On that note, my soul sings when I explore a Nontropolis, sit down in its streets and start sketching it essence. 

I am attracted to Nontropolises in southern Europe, nestled organically on hill tops in places like Italy, Spain, and the Greek islands. Its architecture is vernacular in nature, was not planned, but built by the people who live there.

The winding alleyways, arches, steps, and piazza's slow down life, hold space for life, and allow for humans to thrive. Modern towns and cities are designed for efficiency and speed, often overlooking the needs of the human spirit.

When I could not travel last winter to discover new Nontropolises and I began creating my own at home in 3D from off cuts from a cabin I was building. 

My friend Lynsey Gedye from Wellington totally understood the essence of Nontropolis. His soul began to resonate, which resulted in him writing 100 Love Stories, short stories about the people living in Nontropolis.

The book is witty, clever, profound. Its stories short and sharp as an old fashioned pen nib that effortlessly makes the ink flow. It is not a book about romantic love, but about love that is 'life' itself, that celebrates Nontropolitans, their connections and interactions. It takes the reader on a walkabout through the streets of Nontropolis to meet its inhabitants. In turn Lysey's book inspired me to turn some of the stories into short films, see below.

I trust you will enjoy exploring Nontropolis. 

Marcello Baaijens