Next steps on AD's Regenerative Design Primer + Signposting other regenerative design resources

Over 100 people joined us for our special online session earlier this month to learn about a range of practical resources on offer to help build the transition to a regenerative built environment with positive, people and planet-friendly actions to turn around the global climate and biodiversity emergency.

Members of the AD group of volunteers working on our Regenerative Design Primer provided a walkthrough of the guide, which we launched earlier this year as initial support alongside the Regenerative Architecture Index we’ve developed with Architecture Today.

• Eike Sindlinger set out what regenerative design is and why it is needed.

• Kevin Logan explained how AD’s Primer is set out to support this shift in practice.

• Anna Pamphilon, who has been leading this work for UK Architects Declare, set out the next steps towards version 2 of the Primer, which we will kick off with a dedicated event on 21st January - details to follow.

As Anna says, “AD sees this work as an iterative and interactive process to support architects and other built environment designers and we encourage any AD signatory practices (and others) who would like to be involved to get in touch.” 

Participants had brief introductions to substantial and practical resources that others have brought to the growing debate on a regenerative design paradigm:

• Isabel Allen, editor of Architecture Today, spoke about the online Regenerative Architecture Network that’s recently launched as part of the Regenerative Architecture Index initiative.

• Oliver Broadbent of Constructivist spoke about their Regenerative Design Lab initiative.

• Joanne Wheeler and Anna Hollyman of UK Green Building Council introduced their Regenerative Places Programme.

• Rachel Sayers of architects FCBStudios outlined the Regenerative Symposium they held for the sector earlier this year. 

• Pete Swift of urban and rural place design practice PlanIt talked about their Regenerative Practice Tool. 

You can watch all the talks in this video from the event. 

And we've created a short summary of the discussions from the Q&A session and Zoom chat, along with all the links to the resources and other sources mentioned in the event. 

Speaking after the event, Anna Pamphilon, said: “It was wonderful to see so many signatories at our Regenerative Design Resources event and encouraging to hear about the various actions being taken across our industry in support of a more regenerative built environment. While there is still a long way to go and much more to be done, this is a strong start!”

Pete Swift of Planit said: “Whilst we are not architects, the invitation by AD has been welcome and timely. This is a joint endeavour and to make any impact we have to get out of our disciplines, as much as our silos. In a world where there is no ‘training manual’ to move towards regenerative thinking and design, we are all compiling our own manuals, building on the work of others. I’m excited to share what we are doing here at Planit – it’s ‘open source’ in the very best way.”

And Rachel Sayers of FCBStudios said: “It is great to see such a strong cohort of thinkers, researchers and practitioners contributing to approaches for regenerative design.”

We look forward to working with our speakers and participants at this event - and with many other organisations - as we navigate and accelerate the shift in paradigm away from ‘business as usual’ and beyond ‘sustainability’ to truly regenerative approaches to a built environment aligned with the needs of the planetary emergency.