Research Thesis Proposal - Regenrative Architecture
Research Thesis Proposal - Regenrative Architecture
REGENRATIVE ARCHITECTURE:
A way ahead of Sustainability
by
Aditi Sanjiv Tailor
AR2085
(2020-2025)
BACHELOR OF ARCHITECTURE
(B.Arch.V. SEM IX)
June 2024
1.Introduction:
From time being Sustainable architecture has been into focus. Main reason being contemporary
architecture collapsing Earth’s systems with more and more usage. Problems of oil crisis, ozone layer
depletion, global warming, climate change, environmental pollution, loss of habitats all this leading
to environmental crisis. An easy way out to solve these problems was to introduce sustainability in
the construction sector.
The concept of ‘Green building’ and ‘Sustainable Architecture’ took the front seat in solving the
very environmental crisis reducing negative impacts on the natural environment. It ensures energy
efficiency, water conservation, material selection and indoor environmental quality. Globally this
concept ensures minimum emission of greenhouse gases. Provision of green building certificates like
LEED, BREEAM, GRIHA, IGBC etc. ensures empowering the concept widely. These steps are taken to
achieve the Sustainable Development Goals till 2030. Many builders, contractors, clients all work
hard enough to achieve the highest level of rating certificate for the sole purpose of fame. The big
question remains once certification is achieve,. What more could the building do for the ecology
and context after it has achieved sustainability?
Sustainability means ‘to sustain’. This works merely as a bandage to the wound that has been
caused to the environment. What it really needs is way beyond the steps that are being taken. In
other words, ecology need to be present in the life cycle of building rather than just eliminating it.
There are two types of environmental approach: shallow ecology and deep ecology. As the name
suggest Shallow Ecology is just human centric and approaches nature in terms of the benefits for
human. This talks more of the Sustainable approach of Design. While Deep Ecology is holistic and
centres in understanding the relationship between humans and nature. This talks more of
Regenerative approach.
The word Regenerative means ‘to create again’ i.e. it is in continuation. In Architecture it represents
a comprehensive structure that promotes efficient systems using renewable resources and energy,
aiming to achieve equilibrium between production and consumption while replenishing its own
sources of energy and materials. Regenerative Architecture is a mindset of prolonged sensitivity
towards nature, people and society.
ecosystem and buildings need to be planned in such a way that they provide a mutual
adaptation between people and environment. This goes way beyond certification to improve the
connections between people, other buildings and the natural processes in the area through
time.
3.3. Regenerative systems
It is the co-evolution of human and natural systems, to design to actively heal the environment.
The idea is to learn way about from nature itself. Industrial development generates waste and
results in environmental damage that keeps on increasing breaching the capacity of earth to
absorb it. Nature in contrast, presents a very different model of production and consumption. It
is a closed loop model where the effluents of one organism serves as a raw material of another
organism. This is a cycle where material flows are constantly exchanged and renewed. The
effectiveness of regenerative systems lies in the key principles like: Effectiveness as end goal,
close loop system, integrate human processes with natural processes, symbiosis between
different elements, multiple pathways to the same goal.
3.4. Living, Regenerative and Adaptive buildings
The future lies in healing the damages on the environment while integrating green infrastructure
and creating a constructive relationship with the land.
Mitchell Joachim, a professor of architecture at Columbia University in an interview mentions, “I
don’t like the term sustainability. It is not evocative enough. You don’t want your marriage to be
sustainable, you want to be evolving nurturing, learning. Efficiency doesn’t cut it either, it just
means ‘less bad’”.
In simpler terms if we take an example of hybrid car models. Now they are not the solution for
environmental damage as it still uses fuel. It is just intended to cause less pollution. Same is the
scenario with current buildings. They are there to just sustain and not to grow and nurture the
surroundings.
3.5. Living, Regenerative and Adaptive buildings(LBC)
Net-positive impact of buildings on the surroundings means to repair surrounding ecosystems.
This can be done in various ways like producing more energy than required and providing it to
surrounding buildings, creating opportunities for agriculture be it green roofs, recharging
groundwater systems or creating ecosystems for local species etc. Now restorative design is
reversing the damage that has been caused by either nature or humans to that site while
regenerative design creates even better condition to support the ecosystems. As known about
the green building certification a similar to the kind Living Building Challenge certification has
been introduced. The LBC, administered by the International Living Future Institute, is a
4.Research Methodology:
To adopt qualitative methodology and majorly using secondary data collection. Primary data
collection for the sole purpose to understand human behavioural patterns and data
collection of a singular building having the green building certificate and solutions that could
be further provided that would be learnt beforehand while in the process of learning
regenerative architecture.
5.Data Source:
Secondary data collection for various case studies built keeping the factors of regenerative
architecture in mind.
Understand biodiversity growth patterns and human living patterns and try to link them.
Try and find out the impact of a particular building to its surroundings and try and find
solution to inculcate it in the ecosystem.
Work on replenishing the resources to a greater extent
Try to have Stakeholder inclusion in the decision- making process
6.Refrences:
https://www.archdaily.com/993206/what-is-regenerative-architecture-limits-of-sustainable-design-
system-thinking-approach-and-the-
future#:~:text=Regenerative%20architecture%20is%20the%20practice,demands%20a%20forward%
2Dthinking%20approach.
https://www.arch2o.com/how-is-regenerative-architecture-changing-sustainability-fundamentals-
we-all-know/
https://discover.hubpages.com/education/Regenerative-Architecture
https://ilab.city/living-regenerative-and-adaptive-buildings/
https://living-future.org/lbc/basics4-0/
https://www.wbdg.org/resources/living-regenerative-and-adaptive-buildings