Constructivist ’s Post

This week marked the end of a 6 month programme (and the start of new beginnings) for cohort 3 of the Regenerative Design Lab, of which I count myself very fortunate to be a member. This culminated in 2 days in the woods to bring together everything we've collectively learnt in that time. I feel as though I've joined a particularly special community and am now fully indoctrinated into all things regenerative. Here's some of my take aways... 🌍 We can't just minimise impact, we need to reverse it. See a link in the comments to Will Arnold's excellent post on the house party analogy for climate impact, which explains this better than I ever could. 💊 There needs to be a significant mindset shift in construction. One of my favourite quotes of this lab has been "what if every time we built, the planet got better". The change we need is probably not achievable in increments. It needs us to think differently. 🗒️ Design can no longer start with blank sheets of paper. When we build we must consider what we already have before deciding what we need next. You should need a REALLY good reason to demolish and rebuild in any context. 🤔 It's ok not to have all the answers. Regenerative design is a horribly complex subject matter with a simple aim. Not knowing is (for me at least) part of the attraction to it and should not be a reason for not jumping into it (as I've done in the past). 🚴 Others are going to have to come on this journey. Meaningful change isn't completed by early adopters. It happens when a critical mass of those who believe in something are assembled. "The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it." - Robert Swan The lab was expertly facilitated by Oliver Broadbent and Ellie Osborne of Constructivist . Be on the look out for future lab applications opening. I'd highly recommend it. A massive thank you to all those who attended the lab (too many to tag here). You're collective kindness and generosity has been incredible. I'm looking forward to stepping out into what comes next. #regenerativedesign #construction

Regenerative design is a holistic approach – considering all systems, feedbacks and impacts – where human and natural systems can flourish. Fundamental to this is ‘seventh generation’ thinking across multiple scales and systems. Our imaginations seldom reach beyond 50 years: our children or grandchildren’s futures. We need to consider at least the next 150 or 200 years. How will our great-great-great-great-great-grandchildren view our actions and the consequences? Our thinking must also expand beyond local or national scales to embrace the planetary as well. Our actions are embedded in the world’s web of physical, ecological and human systems; we must embed them in our designs. With this in mind, we have drawn out three underpinning principles that should be considered as drivers for your practice and in designing all projects. ·      Being a good ancestor ·      Co-evolving with nature ·      Creating a just space for people Regenerative design relies on a different mindset and high ambitions, with feedback that supports learning and adaptation throughout. This is a circular process, where effort in the initial and final stages can have disproportionately big and positive impacts. The principles listed above also underpin our Regenerative Architecture Index. You still have until this Friday 24th May to enter! https://lnkd.in/gY3vDht8. This post uses extracts from our new, free, Regenerative Design Primer, which is a useful companion when entering the Index. Please do view and download from our website here https://lnkd.in/e22dVStx. #regenerativedesign #RAI #regenerativearchitectureindex #enter #callforentries #ukarchitectsdeclare #architecturetoday #regenerativedesignprimer Photograph: Michael Eko / Climate Visuals Countdown

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟖 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬.... 8 years ago (wow, time flies!), long before Context-Coffee | Design-build, I designed "A contained Urban Forest." Now, thanks to one of our newest clients, this project is finally being revived!👇🏾 https://lnkd.in/dr9RqruX We’re experimenting with a different approach: using tempered glass slates over rubber tubing to heat water, an alternative to traditional solar panels. The concept is similar, and we're excited to see how this experimental method plays out. Anyone with experience in this? I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas on how far we can take it! Follow along as we explore new ways to merge sustainability with design. #ProgressNotPerfection #SustainableArchitecture

We’re experimenting with a different approach: using tempered glass slates over rubber tubing to heat water, an alternative to traditional solar panels. The concept is similar, and we're excited to see how this experimental method plays out. Anyone with experience in this? I’d love to hear your thoughts and ideas on how far we can take it! #ProgressNotPerfection #SustainableArchitecture

Just over 2 weeks until the deadline for the Regenerative Architecture Index! Have you started working on your practice's entry yet? We encourage all practices to enter! You do not need to fully answer every single question, and the scheme welcomes the good, the bad and the ugly too – share your stories, challenges and achievements. The over-arching aim is to engender knowledge-sharing and to support organisations making real efforts to incorporate regenerative thinking into their practices and projects. 📣 Deadline for entries is 17th May 📣 The Index looks at both the practice level and the project level across three key criteria for addressing the planetary emergency: 'Being a good ancestor' looks at evidence of long-term thinking and a concern for the well-being of future generations. 'Co-evolving with nature' looks at measures to support a mutually enriching coexistence with the natural world. 'Creating a just space for people' looks at issues around inclusivity, diversity, equality and engagement. The Index won't be ranked 'top to bottom' in the conventional way, but highlight practices that have performed well on each individual question, with examples where appropriate. From this, we will end up with a compendium of best practice, rather than a conventional ranking table. The Index will also anonymously highlight barriers, challenges and obstacles to help learning across the sector.  Architecture Today Submit your entry via the link below

“As an all-volunteer organization, One Community is committed to facilitating component assembly for human evolution. We are dedicated to creating sustainable approaches to food, energy, housing, education, economics, and social architecture. Our model, driven by the principle of doing this for "The Highest Good of All" is designed to become self-replicating, fostering a global collaboration of teacher/demonstration hubs. Everything we create is open source and free-shared, created to evolve sustainability, regenerate our planet, and create a world that works for everyone. Join us in our mission towards a brighter future. This is the May 20th, 2024 edition (#583) of our weekly progress update detailing our team’s development and accomplishments.” #Planet #Sustainability #Community #Design #Globalization #HowTo #Living #SocialArchitecture #Permaculture #ClimateChange #Regeneration #OpenSource #GlobalSustainability

“As an all-volunteer organization, One Community is committed to facilitating component assembly for human evolution. We are dedicated to creating sustainable approaches to food, energy, housing, education, economics, and social architecture. Our model, driven by the principle of doing this for "The Highest Good of All" is designed to become self-replicating, fostering a global collaboration of teacher/demonstration hubs. Everything we create is open source and free-shared, created to evolve sustainability, regenerate our planet, and create a world that works for everyone. Join us in our mission towards a brighter future. This is the May 20th, 2024 edition (#583) of our weekly progress update detailing our team’s development and accomplishments.” #Planet #Sustainability #Community #Design #Globalization #HowTo #Living #SocialArchitecture #Permaculture #ClimateChange #Regeneration #OpenSource #GlobalSustainability

It’s not the deer crossing the road. It’s the road crossing the forest. Regenerative design is about the pathway to a world where human and natural systems can coexist. Our report presents complementary design principles that we can all adopt to develop in harmony with nature. What will it require of us? Read along here: https://lnkd.in/dAKg2ESV

🌊 What if a river had rights, like a person? 🌸🐝What if a building could double flora and fauna and provide habitat for hundreds of species?🌿What if we built our infrastructure for and with #nature, as a collaborator? These are just some of the exciting questions already being answered by #RegenerativeDesign. To all the designers reading this, for whom the practice of Regenerative Design seems out of reach, let us explain why it’s not… From partnering with beavers to increase #water storage across a catchment, to mimicking the strategies of termites to keep a building cool, Regenerative Design is the start of a necessary paradigm shift towards co-existing in harmony with nature. Our latest report, Arup Explores: Regenerative Design, sets out three design principles (#nature-led, #systemic, #equitable), a collection of case studies and a theory of change to guide and support the emergence of this necessary practice. With over a third of global waste produced by the built environment sector alone, we know that #engineers, #urbanplanners, #architects and #designers have a more important role than ever in responding to the climate and ecological crisis through their work. This piece of work was a labour of love and it’s only the start of the conversation. I joined Arup to inject some life and soul into the grey, concrete jungle I found around me when I first moved to #London. I hope what we have created here, the space to collaborate with nature and give back, will inspire designers to learn and take action over the decisions they make, no matter how small those decisions might feel. Lola Bushnell Katelyn Nagle Tobias Revell Josef Hargrave Malina Dabrowska Freddie Oxland Claudia Palcova Emily Clements Essi Maikola Julien Clin Arlind Neziri Lucy Henriques Stephanie Schemel Sarah Bushnell #wearearup #arup

At the beginning of a new year we can choose to review what has happened or look to the future with an eye to shaping what will happen. As a partner in the international ReCreate project I had the opportunity to put some thoughts to paper (at least virtually) regarding where the #construction and #realestate sectors are headed, what to anticipate and most importantly, what we can achieve with a deliberate transition to #circulareconomy in broad terms. Towards a ReCreated Spirit: