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A STUDY ON REGENERATIVE ARCHITECTURE

Presentation · February 2019

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.13066.52166

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 A STUDY ON REGENERATIVE
ARCHITECTURE
115AR0004
Haritha Bharath
Semester VIII
Under the guidance of Dr. Khuplianlam Tungnung
Department of Planning and Architecture, N.I.T. Rourkela

I. ABSTRACT
This paper is an attempt to study regenerative principles across a diverse range of fields such as, architectural passive design,
Cradle-to-Cradle principles, and biophilic design. The research and data compiled shall be used to facilitate the design of a
Regenerative Observation Center in Shillong, Meghalaya (India) at a later stage.

II. INTRODUCTION
Regenerative system is like a closed loop life cycle. Every being or element is dependent on the other. It main focus is on the
native plants, site and the ecology surrounding the site. It is a conscious development of design in a way that is restorative and
every stake holder of the ecology (water body, flora, fauna etc.) is benefitted.

Regeneration is not exclusive and cannot be achieved as a separate product. It has close relations to Sustainable Design,
Green/High performance building, and Restorative Design. Keeping in mind all these design techniques, understanding the
context of building or any human creation before execution, giving equal importance to other elements to the ecology, planning
out their future progress and then designing, could lead to a regenerative design.

As of today, no proper techniques exist to assess a regenerative building.

Fig. 1. Range of sustainability approaches (B. Reed, 2007)

Bill Reed suggests that “these sustainability approaches and their trajectory are a progression and not exclusive of one another
as all practice levels are necessary to achieving this change towards regeneration. An observation center is a place to experience
the landforms (city/ mountains/ sea/ marine life/ jungle etc.) or the sky and beyond. It has a borderless vision and is a tool
through which beauty of the earth forms can be observed and embraced.”
A. Sustainability paradigms

Table (i) Sustainability paradigms influencing architecture in 20th and 21th century. (S.Attia, 2018)

III. PASSIVE TECHNIQUES

A. Passive climate map

The passive climate map is a way to analyze and represent climatic design parameters.

“It represents temperature, horizontal global solar radiation, relative humidity, wind direction and wind speed. These maps
were developed based on EPW (EnergyPlus Weather Data) files, as an up-dated and detailed passive climate chart with
advanced computer graphic techniques aided by the numerical data of the selected specific locality.” (Tungnung et al, 2016)

B. Methodology
“India has about 80 EPW weather data.

The vertical y-axis and horizontal x-axis represent 24 hours in a day, and the 12 months in a year, respectively. Horizontal and
vertical lines for the 24 hours and 12 months were overlaid on the map, and various passive techniques can be accessed for
winter and summer with respect to thermal comfort is determined by climatic parameters: temperature, humidity, air speed
that corresponds to a temperature range of 20-30ºC (DBT) and 30- 60 % humidity in still air.” (Tungnung et al, 2014; 2016).

EXAMPLE: N-85 Residence by Morphogenesis.

Fig. 2. EPW Weather Data stations in India, about 80. (Tungnung et al, 2014; 2016).
C. Climate characteristics of Delhi

“Temperature（°C）: During the day, the temperature will be 20°C or more through the year, while 32°C or higher can be
read from April to September. Minimum temperature is 10°C in January and December, and maximum is 36°C or more during
May and June. (Tungnung et al, 2014; 2015; 2016).

Horizontal Global Solar Radiation (W/m²): During the day, solar radiation shows a high value of 600W/m² or more from
February to December, and records as high as 800W/m² from March to July. (Tungnung et al, 2014; 2015; 2016).

Relative Humidity (%): Humidity, during the day, is dry throughout the year with 25% or less in April, and 35%, in
November. The night time humidity reads as high as 90% throughout the year, except for a comfortable 55-60% from March
to June. (Tungnung et al, 2014; 2015; 2016).

Wind Speed (m/s): During the day, wind speed of 2m/s or more can be availed throughout the year. Night-time records 0.6m/s
or less throughout the year, except from May to August 1m/s or more. However, wind direction is not determined.” (Tungnung
et al, 2014; 2015; 2016).

Fig. 3. Passive Climate map of New.Delhi, India (Tungnung; et al., 2016)

Fig. 4. Passive Climate Map of Shillong. (Tungnung et al, 2016)

Based on the readings of passive climate maps and upon interpreting them. The team at Morphogenesis came up with the
design of N-85 Residence.

Example: N-85 Residence by Morphogenesis.

Fig. 5. East-west section of House 2, Delhi. (Tungnung; et al., 2014; 2016) Fig. 6. Atrium living-room, test -room in House 2, Delhi.
(Tungnung; et al., 2014; 2016)
Fig. 7. Pool side view of the House (Tungnung et al., 2014; 2016).

East-west section of the residence shows the intake of incoming air. The air passes through the lotus pond, which absorbs the
heat from the incoming air as water has a good thermal capacity. The same happens at the upper level where evaporative
cooling takes place. The fresh air is circulated throughout the house and hot air (as it rises up) exits the building envelop from
openings on the top. The punctures in the building have been made to ensure an accelerated air flow and heat release.

Wall on the western façade has a high thermal mass. Hence, delaying the incoming heat from the sun. Furthermore, a staircase
has been placed on the western side to create a heat buffer.

The pool on the upper level has a glass wall coincides to be a wall for the living room. This ensures a moderate and pleasant
climate due to water’s high thermal capacity and slow rate of heating/cooling, along with spectacular interior to exterior views.

IV. URBAN BIODIVERSITY

A. Importance of urban biodiversity

Cities must become a key player in global efforts to conserve and restore biodiversity. At the same time if the goal of urban
design is to create or retrofit cities so that they support the wellbeing of people, the support and regeneration of urban
biodiversity must be integrated into design decision making and interventions. This may help to reframe the essential human-
nature relationship and may be of use to designers or policy makers working to create highly sustainable or even potentially
regenerative urban areas.

Fig. 8. Built environment drivers of biodiversity loss. (M. P. Zari, 2018)

B. Impact of biodiversity loss on cities and people

Fig. 9. Impact of biodiversity. (M. P. Zari, 2018)
 V. BENEFITS OF REGENERATIVE DESIGN

Table (ii) Benefits of Regenerative Design. (M. P. Zari, 2009;2010)

VI. THE HANNOVER PRINCIPLES

Developed by William McDonough

William McDonough, a very prominent architect who employs many of these principles in his work has developed a set
principles called The Hannover Principles. They are a set of design guidelines that were created for the World Exposition
in Hannover, Germany in 2000. They prescribe a method for designing that is based on the elements Earth, Air, Fire, Water
and Spirit and that humans must coexist with nature. The Hannover Principles describe the innate interdependence that
humans have with the natural world including the effects of our designs on the viability of ecosystems.

• Insist on rights of humanity and nature to co-exist in a healthy, supportive, diverse and Sustainable condition.

• Recognize interdependence. The elements of human design interact with and depend upon the natural world, with
broad and diverse implications at every scale. Expand design considerations to recognizing even distant effects.

• Respect relationships between spirit and matter. Consider all aspects of human settlement including community,
dwelling, industry and trade in terms of existing and evolving connections between spiritual and material
consciousness.

• Accept responsibility for the consequences of design decisions upon human well-being, the viability of natural
systems and their right to co-exist.

• Create safe objects of long-term value. Do not burden future generations with requirements for maintenance or
vigilant administration of potential danger due to the careless creation of products, processes or standards.

• Eliminate the concept of waste. Evaluate and optimize the full life-cycle of products and processes, to approach the
state of natural systems, in which there is no waste.

• Rely on natural energy flows. Human designs should, like the living world, derive their creative forces from
perpetual solar income. Incorporate this energy efficiently and safely for responsible use.

• Understand the limitations of design. No human creation lasts forever and design does not solve all problems. Those
who create and plan should practice humility in the face of nature. Treat nature as a model and mentor, not as an
inconvenience to be evaded or controlled.
 VII. PRINCIPLES OF ECOLOGICAL DESIGN
Developed by Sim Van Der Ryn and Stuart Cowan

They highlight the importance of knowledge of place and the importance of designing structures that complement the
natural world. Cowan and Van Der Ryn emphasize the importance of integrating the natural systems and processes in the
most fluid manner possible as they believe that “the more seam-less these factors are integrated into the design, the less
our activities will detract from the health of nature.

• Solutions Grow from Place. Ecological design begins with the intimate knowledge if a a particular place. Therefore,
it is small scale and direct, responsive to both local conditions and local people. If we are sensitive to the nuances of
place, we can inhabit without destroying.

• Ecological Accounting Informs Design. Trace the environmental impacts of existing or proposed designs. Use this
information to determine the most ecologically sound design possibility.

• Design with Nature. By working with living processes, we respect the needs of all species while meeting our own.
Engaging in processes that regenerate rather than deplete, we become more alive.

• Everyone is a Designer. Listen to every voice in the design process. No one is participant only or designer only.
Everyone is a participant-designer. Honor the special knowledge that each person brings. As people work together
to heal their places, they also heal themselves.

• Make Nature Visible. Denatured environments ignore our need and potential for learning. Making natural cycles
and processes visible brings the designed environment back to life. Effective deign helps to inform us of our place
within nature.

VIII. THE TODDS’ PRINCIPLES OF ECOLOGICAL DESIGN

Created by John and Nancy Jack Todd

Their principles focus on nature being the teacher and generator of design. They incorporate architecture, food production
and waste management into the principles so as to acknowledge, what they view as the three most important criteria to address
in regenerative and ecological design.

1. The living world is the matrix for all design.

2. Design should follow, not oppose, the laws of life.

3. Biological equity must determine design.

4. Design must reflect bio-regionality.

5. Projects should be based on renewable energy sources.

6. Design should be sustainable through the integration of living systems.

7. Design should be coevolutionary with the natural world.

8. Building design should help heal the planet.

9. Design should follow a sacred ecology.

IX. THE 9 PRINCIPLES OF REGENERATIVE ARCHITECTURE

By Jacob A. Littman, University of Massachusetts

“They (the principles mentioned above) are all based on the same basic premise, though each has their own fundamental
focus, whether it is architecture or design in general. The basic theme that is concurrent throughout all three is the premise
that design needs to be in response to the local biosphere and the specific place that the architecture is generated for.” (J.A.
Littman, 2009)

Littman formulated his own 9 principles that are cumulative and inclusive of Hannover Principles, Principles of Ecological
Design and Todd’s Principles of Ecological Design.
 X. INSPIRATION FROM THE NATURE
Honeybees and Flowers –mutually beneficial and reciprocal relationships
Nectar- Pollens

Fig. 10. Bee and flower, mutual relationship. (https://thescentedhound.com/2018/03/28/hiram-green-slowdive/slowdive/)

XI. R-URBAN INTERVENTION DWELLING

R-Urban dwelling is a term coined by Jacob A. Littman. He has given the design of Coop House that uses its contextual
features to its best in order to achieve regeneration.

THE COOP HOUSE

By Jacob A. Littman, University of Massachusetts; Massachusetts, United States of America.
 EAST ELEVATION

PERSPECTIVE SECTION

Fig. 10. Sectional View of the Coop House. ()

Fig. 11. Design Development. ()

Fig. 12. Solar path analysis model

N. Site importance
Before specifying any positives, an existing building can generate, a deeper understanding of its place is required by asking:

• What patterns, dynamics and relationships between physical, human and natural systems characterize this specific
place? Do they add positive value to the whole system?

• What is the existing role of this building? Does it enable or diminish the ability of others to play their role? Does it
need to change?

• What are the major issues preventing the building from improving its own performance and its ability to add positive
value to its occupants and the local ecosystem?
Fig. 13. Potential interacting components for regenerative building retrofits. (W. Craft et al. / Procedia Engineering 180, 2017)

XII. A NEW TYPOLOGY

A. Earthships
Earthships are buildings for a post-apocalyptic era. If a collapse of this nature occurs, the public infrastructure in which we
rely on for food, energy, transport, etc., will collapse with it. This thought has led to the rethinking of future buildings in
order to be prepared for a downfall. David W. Orr, professor at Oberlin College and author of several important books, states
in the foreword of The Sustainability Revolution: portrait of a paradigm shift, “All informed citizens know about the perils
ahead, including rapid climate destabilization, species extinction, pollution, terrorism and ecological unraveling in its many
forms, and the human political and economic consequences.”

Fig. 14. Earthship. (https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zWefO9iCZdg/maxresdefault.jpg)

XIII. CONCLUSION
Present scenario of mass construction in lieu of ecological perspective of the same has proposed a degenerated and dark
future. To heal the nature and boost ecology, regeneration is ineluctable. To realize the same Regenerative Rrinciples and the
elements to be considered while designing a building or any man-made component have been discussed. The paper has
provided the basis of techniques which shall be used in planning, designing and modelling of an Observation Center in
Shillong, Meghalaya (India) by the author for her thesis project.
 XIII. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I gratefully acknowledge the guidance of Prof K. Tungnung, all the scholars who lent their research papers, friends and family
who kept me motivated.

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