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Regenerative Design for the Future

Regenerative Design for the Future

Regenerative for the future Although environmentally options are becoming more common in new buildings, true sustainability in the longer term may involve a big rethink in design approach. By Maibritt Pedersen Zari, Lecturer – Sustainable , Victoria University, email [email protected]

onventional in and wellbeing for humans, other living beings goals should be for ecological performance. New Zealand has resulted in a built and as a whole. Regenerative Regenerative development acknowledges environment with wide-ranging development for the built environment could humans as an integral part of ecosystems and C negative environmental impacts. It become a conduit for producing resources aims to repair the capacity of ecosystems to is responsible for half the country’s waste, and energy, remedying past pollution function at optimum levels without on-going up to 40% of all materials used, a quarter of and transforming and filtering waste into human intervention. all water and energy consumed and a fifth health -giving resources. This reflects a shift in designing the built of greenhouse gas emissions (not including A -based approach is crucial to environment from human-only oriented design in materials). regenerative development. Buildings are not that has a focus on improving efficiencies, to a Most existing and newly constructed considered as individual objects, but rather are systems approach. Comparing the benefits of buildings take into account few, if any, designed to become parts of larger systems, eco-efficiency and can help environmental sustainability issues in the allowing mutually beneficial interactions this rethink process (see Table 1). design or use of the building. between the built environment, the living world and human inhabitants over time. Benefits of regenerative Eco-efficient design not true development sustainability Rethinking design Regenerative development has key differences ‘Business as usual’ in our built environment So how can we change to building environments to conventional development. Ecological health includes some green or high-performance that regenerate the capacity for ecosystems and improves rather than degrades, and the place- building design, often termed eco-efficiency. communities to thrive? based, integrative and Eco-efficiency is the concept of creating the same First, we need to expand our idea of what methods ensure that significant community or better outcomes while using fewer resources constitutes the built environment and what its health and wellbeing benefits accrue. The and producing less waste and pollution. Although eco-efficient design is an improvement Shift in thinking on conventional design, it still results in negative environmental impact. The outcome of reducing rather than reversing negative environmental impact will be that the ecosystems that support Conventional Eco-efficiency, green, Regenerative healthy human communities and economies continue to degrade over time, but presumably Negative Zero state Positive at a slower rate. environmental outcome Increases in the uptake of eco-efficiency are outcome to be encouraged. But are they enough to bridge the gap between existing built environments and truly sustainable ones? Given the seriousness of issues such as , eco-efficiency may only be a short-term response. Regenerative built environments The goal of a truly sustainable built environment ‘Business as usual’ in New Zealand 5 years 40 years 80 years 100+ years is ecological and community regeneration. The move to a truly sustainable built environment is a long-term process that will require a major shift in thinking. Success is measured by improvements in health

68 BUILD 115 December 2009/January 2010 potential result is healthier, more resilient and lack of an integrated approach and the scarcity more equitable communities. of completed examples to provide quantifiable Another key benefit is the emphasis evidence of the benefits of regenerative built Creating on understanding local traditions and environments. indigenous , which can preserve The and expertise necessary to regenerative or create cultural identity. This is particularly implement such ideas exists, so developing the significant in New Zealand given the importance concepts and testing them in built form presents of tangata whenua , traditions and an opportunity for New Zealand. development knowledge of place. In the long term, a regenerative approach Regenerative development would also to the built environment that integrates with Creating regenerative development is all contribute towards offsetting the on-going ecosystems will increase the chances of a about looking at the bigger picture and how negative environmental impact of the existing continuous suitable environment for humans whole systems work, rather than focusing building stock in its transition to better (and other species). on buildings as separate entities. A good environmental performance. Although this may be difficult to test currently, way to do this is to: These aspects of regenerative development development that aims to repair and integrate ❚❚ Understand the whole or master could mean greater acceptance of new with ecosystems is more conducive to positive pattern of place beyond site boundaries. development by the public and therefore faster healthy outcomes than that which only slows Translate these patterns into design transformation of the built environment. In turn, the rate of degradation. guidelines. a more adaptable and resilient built environment A Ministry for the Environment discussion ❚❚ Understand and base design on local is a potentially useful strategic response to document entitled ‘Rethinking our built reality (both ecological and cultural) climate change. environment’ explores regenerative and related rather than theory alone. cutting-edge development concepts for the New ❚❚ Understand and align the human Challenges to opportunities Zealand context, providing case studies and aspirations of a project. Understand The main challenges in implementing regen­ further resources. To download, see www.mfe. that the diversity and uniqueness of erative development are around the current govt.nz/publications/sus-dev/. each place (socially, culturally and environmentally) is crucial to the design. Use this to define the project and to Table 1: Benefits of eco-efficient and regenerative design. create a sense of place. Conventional Eco-efficiency Regeneration ❚❚ Leverage and understand relationships Works within current mode of thinking and systems. ❚❚ Use multi-disciplinary knowledge and Reduced environmental impact design teams. Increased human physical health ❚❚ Design to allow and on-going Increased psychological wellbeing and dialogue processes that Reduced economic costs (over life cycle) allow the development to evolve over Increased economic value of projects long time periods. ❚❚ Use integrated and participatory design Increased innovation in projects and construction processes. Positive environmental outcomes ❚❚ Conserve, restore and regenerate Building/development becomes a potential source of ecosystems. Seek to create or restore income the capacity of ecosystems and Manageable and strategic approach to global issues such as climate change through a place-based approach biogeological cycles to function without More integrated and therefore accurate knowledge of place human management. Mutually beneficial relationships between people and place Increased robustness, flexibility and adaptability in the built environment Creates stronger, more equitable communities

BUILD 115 December 2009/January 2010 69

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