Ecological thinking in regenerative architecture: Relevance of abduction in ecoLogic Studio’s Deep Green research project

Abstract

This article explores the connotations of regenerative architecture in the context of the Anthropocene, emphasizing the role of abduction on human cognition and its potential impact on innovation, especially when applied to a bio-cybernetic design method. The DeepGreen research project, developed by ecoLogicStudio in collaboration with the University of Innsbruck and the Bartlett UCL, serves as an exemplification of this method. The project combines biological and artificial intelligence to create an urban ecological infrastructure that integrates architectural and ecological systems. Centering on the DeepGreen project, this study discusses the creative potential and ecological embodiment of bio-cybernetic design protocols. It focuses on the mechanism of abduction in triggering innovative design solutions from a logical perspective, aligning with the principles of mind ecology at a cognitive level. The analysis suggests an innovative and ecological design thinking mode, asserting that regenerative architecture can encompass not only material aspects but also informational and spiritual dimensions. This approach ultimately promotes a holistic and harmonious urban environment. Furthermore, this research posits that the bio-cybernetic stance and the morphogenetic approach share commonalities with the holistic conception of nature and the ecological view in ancient Chinese Daoist philosophy. This contribution can potentially offer a contemporary interpretation of the Daoist principles of “Nature and Humans in One Unity (天人合一)” and “The Dao Imitates the Laws of Nature (道法自然).” Such an interpretation is deemed beneficial for addressing today’s concerns related to holistic, balanced, and harmonious urbanism. Henceforth, the study endeavors to facilitate discourse between Eastern and Western trends of thought, culminating in a cohesive yet heterogeneous regenerative approach.