Design Region Research Articles

Key Factors Influencing Urban Regenerative Strategies in Public Open Spaces: A Case-Study in Lhasa

Abstract In the last decades, significant efforts have been made in urban construction to achieve rapid economic development. However, with climate change on the agenda, there is a growing recognition of the importance of urban sustainable development and of its potential impacts on residents. Reflection reveals that many policies, measures, and tools are inadequate; therefore, public open spaces are regarded as a potential target of urban regeneration strategies. This study explores users’ perceptions of public open spaces through participatory methods. The developed methodology is applied to specific areas of Lhasa, the major city of the Tibet region, which was selected as a test-bed site. The survey involved a selected pool of participants and emphasized the coverage of different types of public open spaces. Investigate factors including personal background, overall satisfaction, user evaluation, usage preference, and willingness to change, analyze key factors based on quantitative survey results. Subsequently, identify the key regenerative design elements that require highlighting. The findings indicate that comfort and safety are emphasized by users of all types of public open spaces. Additionally, their initial impression upon entering a space significantly influences their overall satisfaction with it. Besides, although individual background differences play a role, they are not sufficient to significantly influence the user’s evaluation of the space. However, variations in the purpose of space use result in differences in user evaluations and needs, impacting their attitudes based on the type of space. Finally, urban regeneration design strategies are proposed for various types of public open spaces and users.

A regenerative design approach to address Carbon Neutrality in construction. Methods and Tools to assess the ecological reliability of construction process.

Abstract The ongoing research at the inter-university center ABITAlab focuses on the transition toward carbon neutrality in the construction sector, emphasizing technological innovation with advanced materials using biogenic and bio-based materials to enhance sustainability indicators towards energy transition and carbon neutrality. The project aims to assess the ecological reliability of such materials, namely their ability to maintain long-term performance and minimize environmental impact. The adopted methodology utilizes Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to distinguish between the ecological profile, which considers the ecological footprint of the material, and the environmental profile, which evaluates the overall environmental impact. This approach addresses two critical aspects: the temporal durability of the materials and their effectiveness in decarbonization. The research provides an experimental and technological response to conditions of uncertainty, proposing architectural solutions that integrate principles of circularity and innovation, as demonstrated in the case study of the People Pavilion in Eindhoven. This study suggests pathways for future research aimed at applying these principles in diverse contexts and analyzing their economic and environmental impacts, including implications for the construction market.

3D Printed Mesh Geometry Modulates Immune Response and Interface Biology in Mouse and Sheep Model: Implications for Pelvic Floor Surgery.

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a highly prevalent yet neglected health burden for women. Strengthening thepelvic floor with bioactive tissue-engineered meshes is an emerging concept. The study investigates tissue regenerative design parameters, including degradability, porosity, and angulation, to develop alternative degradable melt electrowritten (MEW) constructs for surgical applications of POP. MEW constructs are fabricated in hierarchical geometries by two-way stacking of the fibers with three different inter layer angles of 90°, 45°, or 22.5°. Implants printed at 22.5° have higher tensile strength under dry conditions and show better vaginal fibroblast (VF) attachment in vitro. In vivo assessment using preclinical mouse and ovine models demonstrates more effective degradation and improved tissue integration in 22.5° angular meshes compared to 90° and 45° meshes, with evidence of neo-collagen deposition within implants at 6 weeks. The pattern and geometry of the layered MEW implants also influence the foreign body response, where in the anti-inflammatory phenotype shows a greater ratio of anti-inflammatory CD206+ M2 macrophages/pro-inflammatory CCR7+ M1 macrophages. This presents an attractive strategy for improving the design and fabrication of next-generation vaginal implants for pelvic reconstructive surgery.

Holistic regenerative design: the Common House by Common Practice

In the August 2023 issue of The Structural Engineer, Oliver Broadbent and James Norman presented the principles of regenerative design, and Will Arnold and Phil Isaac discussed how structural engineers can achieve this in buildings through designing for place, circularity and reuse, material choices and knowledge transfer. However, while the article gave example projects for each of these aspects of regenerative design, it noted that case studies that can be considered exemplars in all four areas at once were lacking. The Common House is a community gathering space and the heart of the Hazelmead co-housing development in Bridport, Dorset, UK. Featuring a locally sourced timber frame, straw-bale wall panels, and concrete-free foundations, its construction was also a catalyst for long-term social engagement and ecological conservation. The authors believe that the Common House project design process has roots in the four areas outlined above. With a quietly revolutionary vision for its surrounding land and communities, the Common House is a rare case study representing a holistic approach to regenerative design. Through conversation with designers Common Practice, this article examines the transformative potential of developing construction projects as strategies to empower local communities, support continuous-cover forestry, protect endangered crafts, minimise fossil carbon emissions and promote biogenic carbon storage, and make construction sites spaces of care and support.

Research on the regenerative design and practice of the residential architecture atlases in Jiangnan during the Ming and Qing dynasties: a case study of the Mingyue Bay village in Suzhou

ABSTRACT The residential architecture atlases, chronicling the design motifs and craftsmanship of residences in Jiangnan during the Ming and Qing dynasties, serves as a cornerstone in deciphering the cultural metamorphosis and unearthing the subtle architectural essence specific to the region. With the advent of modern digital paradigms, this atlas has undergone a regeneration, evolving into a digital, real-time, and interactive embodiment of architectural lore. This study delves into the contents and characteristics of traditional and informational architectural atlases in Jiangnan during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It includes detailed surveys and mappings of the Mingyue Bay village in Suzhou, focusing on its geographic location, historical culture, and residential architectures. Utilizing AutoCAD and Photoshop, the study delineates the architectural plan atlas, elevation atlas, wooden frame atlas, and decoration atlas. It suggests regenerative design strategies for these traditional atlases. Furthermore, through MasterGo and SketchUp, this study elaborated on the regenerative design strategies of residential architecture information atlases in the Mingyue Bay village, including spatial-temporal information atlas, cultural tourism service atlas, scene experience atlas, model simulation atlas, and game interaction atlas. These atlases are integrated into a service platform of rural intelligent tourism, aimed at fostering the global inheritance of residential architecture culture and the revitalization of rural intelligent tourism.

Ecologically Regenerative Building Systems through Exergy Efficiency: Designing for Structural Order and Ecosystem Services

Regenerative design is being increasingly explored in urban environments to counteract and adapt to the changing climate and degradation of ecosystems. A critical success factor for the implementation of regenerative design is the evaluation of urban and building systems in relation to ecological performance and benefits. In biological ecosystems, the availability of high-quality energy, called exergy, and structural order can be used as indicators of the efficiency of on-going ecological processes. Structural order refers to the organization and systematic arrangements of biotic and abiotic elements within an ecosystem based on the available space and interactions with the goal to form a functional system. Ecological processes use the available exergy and generate ecosystem services (ESs) upon which human survival and that of other living organisms depend. In this article, structural order and ESs generation are proposed as indicators for exergy efficiency and accumulation in building systems, respectively, which can evaluate to what extent they are ecologically functional and regenerative. Based on this insight, design strategies are derived from the functioning of ecosystems that describe how buildings could become habitats that host living, non-living, and hybrid systems with optimized thermodynamic efficiency and that can generate ESs. This research suggests that when buildings improve structural order (an ecological concept) and implement ESs generating processes similar to biological ecosystems, they can facilitate regenerative processes more effectively that consume and generate resources and, with this, destroy but also accumulate exergy.

Workshop: Regenerative design: what is it and how can we do it?

Workshop: Regenerative design: what is it and how can we do it?

Towards a Regenerative Future: Understanding Practical Implementation, Research, and Benchmarking in the Built Environment

The 73rd Session of the United Nations in 2019 marked a pivotal moment, emphasising the urgent need for sustainable development to avert irreversible climate change impacts within a mere 11 years. Vulnerable communities have been experiencing food security and ecosystem crises since the 1990s, and the IPCC predicts that environmental damage will lead to 200 million permanent displacements by 2050. Built environment professionals such as those in architecture and construction carry a moral obligation to act as critical agents of systemic change, driving the study’s investigation into “Regenerative Design” with a focus on practical implementation, application, research, and benchmarking. The study conducted a comprehensive search and scoping review of peer-reviewed literature and an industry-specific audience poll at a built-environment professional summit. The findings reveal an inconsistent application and limited comprehension of “regenerative” among industry professionals. The study poll of key stakeholders in the Australian built environment context, accentuates the lack of consensus surrounding regenerative design’s definition. This research contributes to interdisciplinary knowledge, bridging domains of education, design, construction, planning, urban development, and policy. It underscores the need for more extensive research and highlights the absence of consensus in defining regenerative design. By shedding light on these aspects, the study aims to galvanise collective action and foster transformative change towards a sustainable future.

Integrated geophysical Investigation for gold mineralization potential over southern parts of Kebbi state and its Environs, northwestern Nigeria

The potential zones of gold mineralization were identified in this study using aeromagnetic and aero-radiometric methods. The Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA) provided half-degree airborne magnetic and radiometric datasets covering the southern part of Kebbi State. Magnetic data were subjected to first vertical derivative (1VD), total gradient amplitude (TGA), total horizontal derivative (THD), source edge detection (SED), center for exploration targeting (CET), Euler deconvolution (ED) and source parameter imaging (SPI) to identify favourable structures to gold mineralization. Aero-radiometric data delineation of the region of hydrothermal alteration zones through the K/eTh ratio, K_deviation, F_parameters, and Ternary image analyses were successful. The results of the magnetic data techniques revealed the regions of major structures/or lineaments with gold mineralization attributes, trending in the NE to SW directions and the SE to NE parts of the study area. The depth to the structures of the magnetic source hosting gold mineralization was less than 5 m using algorithm ED and SPI techniques. Normalized radiometric data showed the area of anomalously high and moderate hydrothermal altered zones. The region's designation as a gold field is supported by major fault lines observed on the 1VD, a sequence of bristle fractures from the CET analysis, and high values of K_deviation and F_parameter, all of which are were visible on the Ternary images. The integrated results revealed zones of major structures and hydrothermal regions of gold fields at Agwara, Western Magama, Rijau, Fakai, Bukkuyum, and Borgu in the SE of the study area.

A Conceptual Approach to Abandoned Industrial Sites within the Scope of Brownfield in the Context of Regenerative Design

A Conceptual Approach to Abandoned Industrial Sites within the Scope of Brownfield in the Context of Regenerative Design

Towards a Regenerative Design Project Delivery Workflow: A Critical Review

Regenerative design (RD) is an approach to creating positive change in the built environment rather than reducing its negative impacts. RD focuses its design work on improving the relationship between humans, places, and ecosystems. It also proposes fundamental paradigm shifts that promise to address the urgent climatic and biodiversity crises. While it presents a systemic, holistic method of understanding the place and the interrelationships between economic, social, and natural systems with a participatory and collaborative approach to design, its design methodology needs a detailed definition of tools to help new practitioners and students develop RD projects successfully and promote its widespread implementation. In particular, a general project delivery workflow is needed. This paper undertook a comprehensive review to fill this gap, examining 150 references, including articles, books, reports, and theses related to RD. It selected and analysed 19 sources from 1994 to 2024 to analyse and extract their content referencing project delivery steps. This paper proposes a novel six-step project delivery workflow and a workflow diagram that creatively synthesises the proposed RD project delivery workflow. These practical and applicable contributions are helpful for design and building practitioners willing to start a regenerative project. Additionally, this research found links and overlaps between RD and circular building (CB), suggesting opportunities for mutual further development of RD and CB.

Towards Sustainable Education by Design: Evaluating Pro-Ecological Architectural Solutions in Centers for Environmental Education

The imperative shift towards ecological consciousness in architectural design, driven by the pressing need to mitigate energy consumption and carbon emissions while fostering user well-being, has propelled the discourse on sustainable architecture to the forefront of contemporary dialogue. Concepts such as ecological architecture, sustainable, green, and regenerative design have emerged as pivotal frameworks aimed at aligning architectural practices with environmental imperatives. In this evolving architectural landscape, the centers for ecological education (CEEs) play an important role, embodying the intersection of architecture and ecological education. These centers, with their diverse educational initiatives, provide dedicated spaces for comprehensive ecological education. However, a gap exists in the literature regarding studies focusing on CEEs and the evaluation criteria for such facilities. This article seeks to bridge this gap by evaluating buildings designated for ecological education, aiming to present ecological content while exemplifying sustainable architectural principles. The study employs a research by design approach, combining a literature review with site investigations and qualitative assessments to elucidate the unique challenges and opportunities inherent in designing CEEs. Criteria for assessing the ecological quality of buildings are formulated. Through a comparative analysis, the article identifies key parameters for evaluating CEEs, considering their dual function as educational spaces and architectural exemplars. The evaluation framework developed in this study provides a valuable tool for architects, designers, and policymakers seeking to promote ecological education and sustainable architectural practices.

Preface

This WSBE24 Conference Proceedings comprise the selected papers presented at the 2024 World Sustainable Built Environment Conference (WSBE24). The world conference, held on a triennial basis, is the premier event of the Sustainable Built Environment (SBE) Conference Series managed by the SBE Partners and Permanent Co-hosts – consisting of the International Initiative for a Sustainable Built Environment (iiSBE), the International Council of Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB), the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). WSBE24 was conducted online from 12-14 June 2024, under the overarching theme of “Innovation Pathways & Partnerships for Sustainable Built and Urban Environments”. This conference not only facilitated a diverse array of talks and discussions but also ensured wide accessibility by publishing its proceedings as an open access document, with both the whole proceedings and the individual papers available online. The video recordings of the presentations are also available online in another platform. This Proceedings include the articles that underpin the conference’s scientific program. Each submission underwent a double-blind peer-review process. A globally represented Scientific Committee and the Editors carefully reviewed initial abstracts and full paper submissions, ensuring that only those meeting the necessary scientific standards were presented at the conference and included in these proceedings. The breadth of topics covered in these papers is vast, spanning current trends and innovations, challenges and solutions, and empirical findings across the fields of science, industry, policy, and governance. A major focus was placed on reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the construction, building and real estate sector, reflecting discussions in line with those at the Buildings and Climate Global Forum held in Paris in March 2024, organized by UNEP and the French Government, amongst others. This collection reflects the field’s most pressing challenges and emerging solutions. Papers examine greenhouse gas reduction strategies, the integration of climate action and resource conservation, and the transition toward a circular economy. Tools for environmental performance assessment – including the expanding role of lifecycle assessment (LCA) in design and management workflows, especially in a digital environment (e.g., BIM) – feature prominently. Questions and innovative research and solutions range from specific materials and building physics in individual buildings to broad urban development strategies, always guided by the principles of sustainable development. The continuing needs for enhanced educational and capability development – which is also an emerging subject within the Global Alliance for Building and Construction (GlobalABC) – and expanded scope of SBE issues and impacts on people and communities and economics, and vice versa, in future editions are highlighted. The first principles concept of sustainability continues to be a suitable umbrella for topics such as circularity, resilience and regenerative design. List of Reviewers is available in this Pdf.

Combining Building Information Model and Life Cycle Assessment for Defining Circular Economy Strategies

Although the construction industry has the potential to implement circular economy (CE) principles, the sector suffers from a veritable lack of initiatives to develop circular and regenerative design principles. However, existing buildings intended to be demolished could be considered as material banks for future constructions, with the aim to exploit anthropogenic resources, extend material/product efficiency, and reduce the extraction of natural resources. This concept of buildings as material banks is being studied more and more in the scientific literature, but it still requires the existing building stock to be fully digitalized, thus making materials reusable in new buildings starting from the architectural design stage. Moreover, the decision process regarding CE strategies requires the consideration of the environmental impacts of the deconstruction and end-of-life processes, which is essential in CE implementation. This paper introduces a digital platform for generating materials inventory and supporting the definition of reuse strategies. Then, by using digital tools in combination with life cycle assessment (LCA) studies of the deconstruction process and output of materials and components inventories, a method is defined and tested on a pilot building in Luxembourg.

Complexity biomechanics: a case study of dragonfly wing design from constituting composite material to higher structural levels.

Presenting a novel framework for sustainable and regenerative design and development is a fundamental future need. Here we argue that a new framework, referred to as complexity biomechanics, which can be used for holistic analysis and understanding of natural mechanical systems, is key to fulfilling this need. We also present a roadmap for the design and development of intelligent and complex engineering materials, mechanisms, structures, systems, and processes capable of automatic adaptation and self-organization in response to ever-changing environments. We apply complexity biomechanics to elucidate how the different structural components of a complex biological system as dragonfly wings, from ultrastructure of the cuticle, the constituting bio-composite material of the wing, to higher structural levels, collaboratively contribute to the functionality of the entire wing system. This framework not only proposes a paradigm shift in understanding and drawing inspiration from natural systems but also holds potential applications in various domains, including materials science and engineering, biomechanics, biomimetics, bionics, and engineering biology.

Reconstruction of vanished cities

The preservation of historical heritage has the potential to act as a means of regenerative design in line with the concept of sustainable architecture. The idea of revitalising monuments is a tool to preserve and restore large green spaces and biodiversity. It is possible to create a multiplicative effect between historical and requested values of the contemporary environment: revival of dervish hotels – “hanakas” for digital nomads, wine taverns for tourists, craft workshops, gardens, art etc. to preserve crafts and natural environment, while participating in climate change mitigation.

Exploring the regenerative potential for community-based ecotourism in the Niah National Park in Sarawak, Malaysia

ABSTRACT Regenerative tourism has recently gained much attention, joining other regenerative ideas like regenerative agriculture, regenerative design, and regenerative development. It promotes value-driven approaches that prioritise community-based tourism development and aims to enhance local well-being by fostering alternative pathways. Concerns regarding the future of the tourism sector as well as its contribution to community empowerment have increased in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in the case of tourism-dependent and developing economies. In the context of the Niah National Park in Sarawak, Malaysia, this research note critically reflects on past and current development approaches and discusses regenerative tourism potentials.

THE ROLE AND PLACE OF THE BIOSPHERE ECO-CITY IN THE MODERN MODEL OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

This article explores the significance of biosphere eco-cities in contemporary human development by examining their evolution in response to the challenges faced by traditional urban development models. It explores the key characteristics of biosphere eco-cities, which are guided by the principles of sustainability and have unique features that distinguish them in the modern development landscape. Trends in the development of biosphere eco-cities, such as green technology and regenerative design, are discussed. The importance of biosphere eco-cities for achieving global sustainable development goals, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, is highlighted. The concept of a biosphere eco-city envisages the creation of urban spaces that prioritize environmental sustainability, striving to achieve a harmonious balance between human activity and the natural environment. These cities integrate the principles of environmental protection, resource efficiency, and social well-being into their design and development. Biospheric eco-cities are key to addressing the challenges posed by rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, and climate change. They seek to create urban environments that are not only sustainable but also contribute to the overall well-being of their inhabitants. This approach is essential to achieving a more balanced and sustainable human-nature relationship.

A Quantitative Analysis Towards Interim-Reuse of Urban Voids: An Ecological Treatment Guideline with Regenerative Approaches

According to the United Nations declarations in 2019, cities, as humanity’s primary living habitat, will accommodate 68% of the world’s population by 2050. The more people settle in urban centres, the more severe the impacts are on ecosystems and the climate. Due to rapid urbanisation, the number of unused and under-managed urban spaces or “Urban voids” is rising. However, regenerative approaches can turn urban voids into assets to combat climate change and environmental issues. The regenerative design promotes ecological systems to regrow by allowing every urban component, like houses, workplaces, and neighbourhoods, to flourish ecologically. This research starts with reviewing related terms for urban voids beside a fundamental approach towards utilising them, “Interim re-use.” With these in hand, the research’s methodology mapped 577 urban voids in its “Balat and Fener” case study, two juxtaposing historical districts in Istanbul, Turkey. The study goes on to classify the mapped urban voids into six distinctive types. The classification of urban voids is done using a decision tree model with five features that are assigned binary values. The features are as follows: “Ownership,” “Debris,” “Economic activity,” “Seal,” and “Leisure facilities.” The next phase evaluates each parcel based on ecological criteria; each void is rated through a Likert scale in terms of “Vegetation,” “Permeability,” “Ruggedness,” and “Enclosure,” and thence, receives an ecological identity. After each parcel is classified and assigned its ecological identity, a two-phased treatment approach composed of twelve solutions is applied. Suppose the subject lacks the fundamental prerequisites, such as a permeable surface. In that case, proper land preparation solutions will be applied, and based on their ecological identity, they then receive the second phase’s applications. In conclusion, following the guidelines proposed in this paper, the decision-makers can treat urban voids to become more ecologically thriving and enhance their ecological performance.

A framework to support the design of a regenerative indoor environment

In recent decades, a new generation of “green indoor” spaces has fulfilled the latest regulations and guidelines for a carbon-neutral society. Their targets are reachable through certifications embracing sets of measures and the adverse effects on occupants. Notwithstanding this, it has constituted a significant step forward in building design. However, the challenges given by climate change and the ecological crises lead to the need for new disruptive approaches to indoor design and function, enhancing human health and adopting regenerative design” at the forefront of buildings’ conception. Besides the positive energy-performance attributes, the creation of a Regenerative Indoor Environment utilizes appropriate construction technologies and systems, to reinforce human health, and enhance users’ experience. This regenerative paradigm shift foresees putting ecosystems at the centre and the users’ psycho-physiological wellbeing, thus magnifying their collaboration. Despite regenerative design gaining some attention, a framework towards its implementation promoting the actual performances of the indoor environment is still missing, and designers do navigate among guidelines with no apparent performance indicators to be achieved, technologies to be implemented, or methodologies for post-occupancy evaluations. These three levels, constituting a stepwise methodology, are addressed by the authors within the sections of this paper, and validated as an example of the office buildings’ typology. i) What characterizes a Regenerative Indoor Environment? ii) What technical solutions underpin the realization of a Regenerative Indoor Environment? iii) What methods or standards are crucial for its evaluation? With these premises, the paper contributes to supporting the creation of a regenerative indoor’ design, by sampling and outlining regenerative indoor performances to be obtained, describing the adequate tools to implement them, as well as by displaying approaches and solutions for their final verification.