Arup Explores:

Regenerative Design
Towards living in harmony with nature
Contents
Foreword 3
Michael Pawlyn, Director of Exploration Architecture 3

Executive summary 4

Chapter 1: The regenerative context 8

Aim of this report 9
Humanity’s relationship with nature 10
Regenerative design: what and why? 15

Chapter 2: The guiding principles 17

Nature-led 19
Systemic 28
Equitable 39

Chapter 3: Sowing the seeds for tomorrow 48

Creating the enabling environment for a regenerative future 49
Theory of change 56
From towards 57

Glossary 58

Contact & credits 61

References 62

2
Foreword As the results of our impacts on the planet become ever more obvious,
it would be easy to allow a pervasive sense of inevitability about the
Our urgent challenge is to integrate everything we do as humans into
the web of life that supports us so that we can flourish within planetary
“What could possibly
be more fulfilling than
future to dominate. However, there is much that we can, and must, limits.
do to set humanity on a safer course. The great systems thinker leading the world out
This expansion in thinking must also embrace the way we see
Donella Meadows makes the case in her seminal essay Leverage
ourselves as humans. In recent times, we have moved from identifying
of the industrial age
Points that, too often, we try to bring about change by intervening
as subjects, to consumers, to conscious consumers. We must now go and into the ecological
in the less influential points in the system and, to really bring about
further and see ourselves as citizens or ‘possibilists’ actively engaged age?”
change, we should strive to change the whole mindset or paradigm
in shaping a positive future with neither the constraints of pessimism
that determines how the system works.1 That is the spirit that lies
nor the false comforts of optimism. Where we encounter obstacles to
behind the shift from sustainable to regenerative.
regenerative solutions, we may need to expand our spheres
The limits to the framing of sustainability are becoming increasingly of influence to press for change at institutional, national and
clear — we must transcend and include that into a broader paradigm. international levels.
Whereas, previously, pressure may have come from activists
As practitioners in the built environment (including policymakers,
or critics within our professional spheres, now we must face the
designers and engineers), we have far greater agency than many other
prospect of the admonishment for inaction coming from closer to
professions. We have the training in integrative thinking that allows
home. Drew Dellinger, in his poem Hieroglyphic Stairway, raises
us to develop strategic as well as detailed solutions — and we have
the uncomfortable reality that many of our children will ask:
the opportunities to implement those ideas at scale. We can lead
“What did you do when you knew?”
teams to develop solutions that our clients never dreamed would be
Ove Arup once observed that he “took up engineering in order to possible. We know how to embrace complex situations with multiple
practice philosophy”, and this feels more relevant now than ever. opposing constraints and to resolve these creatively. Indeed, some of
It is clear that our current worldviews which see humans as separate the greatest opportunities in regenerative design are to be found in the
from nature, and nature as an externality to our economic system, synergies between cycles of food, energy, water and materials. Where
need to be fundamentally revised. The shift towards regenerative previously ‘grey infrastructure’ may have been the default solution,
design will compel us to rethink much that we thought we knew for now nature-based solutions can deliver much better outcomes in terms
certain. It will change our notions of success and coax us into defining of whole-system benefits — sometimes even at lower costs.
a deeper purpose for ourselves as individuals and as organisations.
We live in the most extraordinary moment in history. We have all the
Some of the terms in this document may be unfamiliar and some of solutions we need to make rapid progress on addressing the planetary
the aims may seem daunting, but this can be seen as an opportunity emergency. What could possibly be more fulfilling than leading the
for personal growth. Historically, the evolution of human world out of the industrial age and into the ecological age?
Michael Pawlyn consciousness has expanded through various stages: from
Architect and systems thinker
Director of Exploration Architecture
individualistic to tribal to national and international perspectives.
& co-author of Flourish: Design Now, we must extend that further to a planetary perspective that
Paradigms for Our Planetary Emergency sees all life on Earth as connected.
3
Executive summary
Executive summary

Regenerative design is an Understanding our place within nature Regenerative

(Net-positive impact)
approach in which human
Humans are part of nature, yet we are most unusual in the natural
systems are designed to world. In our brief time on this very old Earth, we’ve become one of
co-exist and co-evolve

ck
the most influential species in its history with an extraordinary ability

ba
with natural systems, to alter our planet’s systems irreversibly.2 Extractive human activities

es
giv
ensuring planetary are pushing us beyond the limits of Earth’s capacity to regulate against
shocks and stresses and to support all life. These are known as the Restorative
and social health. planetary boundaries. As an influential species, we have an ethical
and ecological responsibility to leverage our position and to
participate in the natural system in a positive, reinforcing way.
Net zero
What is regenerative design?
Regenerative design is a holistic approach in which human systems Sustainable
harm
are designed to co-exist and co-evolve over time with the natural es
c
systems of which we are part, ensuring planetary health. Green design, du

re
in contrast, merely focuses on reducing harm while sustainable design
is about recovering an equilibrium where human needs no longer
exceed planetary resources. To achieve this in perpetuity requires Green
us to go a step further; to restore planetary health and design systems
that support human life and repair the damage done to date.
This is part of the transition towards a regenerative future.
In the optimal, regenerative state, human systems replenish
ecosystems and fully align with the needs and characteristics of
thriving natural systems. This means incorporating nature as a key Conventional
stakeholder and co-creator. Integrating regenerative design into our (Net-negative impact)
built systems will require human ingenuity, inspired and supported
by life’s unique adaptations that are the result of 3.8 billion years Transitioning towards regenerative outcomes
of ‘natural R&D’ (research and development) called evolution. Adapted from Reed and Mang (2007)3 5
Executive summary

The guiding principles of regenerative design

This report proposes three complementary design principles that Nature-led Systemic Equitable
place-based design that enhances relationships, exchanges and flows of materials collective change, co-creation and collaboration
we can adopt to guide our transition toward a regenerative future. and emulates natural systems and resources that restore, protect and replenish that ensure inclusivity and social justice

They are intended to inspire and equip, and include evidence to

demonstrate the art of the possible. Together, the principles serve Biosphere economy
Life’s Principles Systems thinking
to catalyse activity that achieves positive outcomes for people Learn from and leverage the design principles Build a deep understanding of resource flows
Value planetary health over narrow financial
gain and inspire collective action within
and planet. The guiding principles are: embodied by nature’s 3.8 billion years of evolution to develop an interconnected ecosystem
the planetary boundaries

Nature-led: place-based design that enhances and emulates – Value planetary health
– Mimic life’s unique adaptations – View the city as an ecosystem
natural systems – Utilise living organisms and biological materials – Inform policy and regulations
– Capture benefits at every exchange
with science-based targets
Regenerative design lets nature shape human-built forms by – Partner with nature as infrastructure – Break down silos with technology
– Coordinate action globally
integrating them with, and leveraging, ecosystem functions
and processes. It enables humans to live in harmony with natural
Place-based design Nature compatible Just social foundations
cycles; thus ensuring resilience through planetary health. Work in harmony with biological cycles Enable humans to co-evolve with nature through
Respond to and work with the features of a site
through regenerative material cultivation equitable and just foundations which meet
to cultivate greater systemic health over time
Systemic: relationships, exchanges and flows of materials and life-friendly chemistry the needs of all people

and resources that restore, protect and replenish

– Cultivate public luxury and the commons
– Be locally attuned and responsive – Utilise life’s toolbox
Regenerative design ensures human-made systems participate – Integrate rather than segregate – Transition to biological resources
– Co-create healthy and resilient communities
positively in the wider natural system. It guides us to understand – Capture and grow surpluses in the system – Design for decomposition – Address historical inequalities
with environmental justice
interconnections between systems and helps us identify design
interventions to build synergies; thus leading to greater systemic
health. Planetary health Circular infrastructure Contextual stewardship
Create a system that enables materials, Prioritise nature as a key stakeholder
Ensure the resilience of human systems by actively
products and resources to be reused and co-creator, and shape places led
Equitable: collective change, co-creation and collaboration reconnecting natural cycles where we disrupt them
and remain in circulation by the local community
that ensure inclusivity and social justice
– Give land back to nature – Integrate place-making with land stewardship
– Understand our place in the living system
Regenerative design guides us to nurture a just space for humanity by – Adopt new business models to – Embed participatory and inclusive democracy
– Reconnect natural cycles where we disrupt them
prioritising the biosphere that supports us all. It maximises harmony optimise lifecycle value
– Partner with Indigenous and
– Support the web of life
and justice through equitable nature, climate and social targets; thus – Bioremediate waste and pollution traditional ecological stewards

ensuring human health and wellbeing.

6
Executive summary

Sowing the seeds for tomorrow

Even though we may not have all the answers today, we can take
steps right now across our projects and designs that embed and test From towards
regenerative design principles and deliver positive outcomes for
the real world. Adopting a regenerative mindset and applying these From degradation & conventional practices Towards regenerative & positive practices
guiding principles require a fundamental shift in the values and
desired outcomes that frame our decisions, investments, policy Extractive built systems Human civilisation co-evolving as part of Earth’s cyclic living systems
and planning. Consequentially, the objectives of our economies
also need to be reframed. Being insulated and disconnected from nature’s cycles Expanding nature literacy by increasing touchpoints with nature
Governments have responsibility to set the direction of travel
and enable the coordinated action that is needed to achieve Appropriating Earth’s finite resources Responsibly cycling resources within human systems
a regenerative future. They have the power to guide market
movements away from ones that are increasingly serving fewer The ‘builder’ of uniform systems that control nature The ‘gardener’ working in harmony with a place’s complexity and variability
stakeholders, and instead embed them in the web of life.
This way, markets can deliver benefits across whole ecosystems. Fragmented systems of buildings, infrastructure, spaces Buildings, infrastructure, spaces that contribute to wider systemic health
Meanwhile, practitioners across numerous sectors must keep in
mind the long-term trajectory towards regeneration, while setting Marginalised groups bearing environmental burdens A just transition that corrects for historical harms and builds equity
detailed and specific short-term targets. Which investment, design
or procurement criteria can we change today? What parts, products Short-term, siloed politics and decision-making Long-term, progressive politics that meet the needs of future generations
or processes can we rethink right now?
The final section of this report describes the potential for a shift An individualistic mindset Community and shared prosperity for the greater good
to regenerative design, with example actions that can be taken
immediately. It also presents a theory of change to visually Markets that degrade nature and drive inequalities Markets embedded in science-based targets for planetary and social health
demonstrate how we can achieve a regenerative future
in which human systems contribute to planetary health. * Inspired by Michael Pawlyn & Sarah Ichioka’s book Flourish, 2021.

7
The regenerative
context
We are part of nature

In this chapter:

- Aim of this report

- Humanity’s relationship with nature

- Regenerative design: what and why?

The regenerative context

Aim of this report

This report is a prompt. It calls built environment practitioners and This report establishes the historical context of humanity’s place nd economic enabling
t ical a env
iron
decision-makers to rethink their approaches by better understanding in nature, before discussing the values that are fundamental to e poli
me
th ry Syst nt
the natural world and humans’ place in it. regenerative design and proposing three guiding design principles. la netah e
think ms
P ealt ing
It then highlights how we can take action today through a framework h
It also serves as inspiration for how, after millennia of human
we call ‘STEP UP’: change areas we can leverage in Society,
development and its contribution to what are now near-catastrophic
Technology, Economy, Politics, under Uncertainty and through
levels of nature loss, we can restore and regenerate planetary health

ign ed
relatio
Partnerships. This shapes a transition to a regenerative future.

co
Na patib
des -bas
nsh
s
through our interactions with the wider landscape and the way we ips

m
ce resou
an s rce , ex

tur le
h st
ha ch

ce
en stem

e
shape buildings, neighbourhoods, cities and economies. We all have This document is the result of research, of a wide exploration sy
Sy tr

Pla
led

a tor
na that

ng e, p
es
al

es
a role to play, whether we design spaces, write policies, deliver and of the convening of experts over several years. It builds on

ign
tur

an
des

st
e-

d fl
es
services or make decisions that shape the world around us — the thinking of leaders in this space, and sets out a glossary of key

rote
em
Natur
place-based

ows
and emulat

ct and replenish
Regenerative
both locally and globally. terms which can be referenced. It also includes case studies

of materials an
ic
Design
(by Arup and others) to illustrate pioneering practices that employ

stru ct ur e
Guiding
Mainstreaming a regenerative mindset and nature literacy —

P ri n ci pl e

i n fr a ir c u l a r
Principles
these regenerative principles and that implement the fundamental

Life’s s
in education, through play and in practice — will ensure that

d
lessons of Life’s Principles.

C
we collectively develop relevant skills and knowledge to enable
Equ
a transition towards regenerative design and net-positive impacts. it a b l e

ic e
co
b o c o ll d

ll a
a n l ju

st
ra e c ti
This begins with a deeper understanding that we can, and do, We all have a role to play, whether we design spaces, ti o v
n t e c h a n g e, c o-cre at
h at
e nsur
i o
and
n
s oc
ia

e i n cl u s i v it y
detrimentally impact nature. write policies, deliver services or make decisions

hi al
o t

Bi e
co sph ex ds

u
p
t
The report’s content strikes a balance between the visionary and the that shape the world around us — both locally no er
my e
n r
Co wa
practical. It introduces Life’s Principles and opportunities to include ste
and globally. J u st
s o cial
them in our processes. The goal is to draw out a new paradigm where f o u n d a ti o n s
design is oriented towards enabling people and nature to co-exist and
co-evolve over time. The report cannot provide all the answers nor
specific technical solutions. Rather, it offers avenues for exploration,
informs the conversation and empowers readers to embrace
a regenerative approach in their designs and decision-making. Figure 1: Regenerative Design Guiding Principles
Arup

9
The regenerative context
December 31st

Humanity’s relationship with nature 00:00

23:59:58 Industrial revolution
23:59 Agriculture
23:24 Homo sapiens
December
23: 00

3 1 st 22: 00

3 0 th
Understanding our place within nature 36 minutes to midnight 29 th
21: 00

20: 00
2 8 th

The planet we live on today has been 4.6 billion years To understand our place in nature, it is important to grasp the DEC 2 7 th 19: 00

in the making, with life itself evolving over the last 3.8 billion years. conditions that allowed humanity to thrive. Homo sapiens arrived 24th Insects
2 6 th 18: 00
22nd Land plants
It is the product of a complex co-evolution of living organisms in the last 36 minutes before midnight of the new year, and all of 25 Dinosaur extinction
th

NOV 20th Fish 17: 00

15th Fungi 2 4 th
and the non-living chemical and physical parts of the environment. human history since the end of the last ice age occurred in the last 2 3 rd 16: 00

We call these evolving, interconnected systems ‘nature’. 82.2 seconds. Known as the Holocene, this geological epoch of the OCT 2 2 nd 15: 00

past 10,000 years or so has been characterised by uniquely stable 2 1 st

History of Earth across a calendar year weather patterns. This allowed Homo sapiens to develop place-based 2 0 th Flowers
14: 00

SEP 17th Sexual Reproduction 13: 00

agriculture and settlements, which in turn led to a unique ability to 1 9 th

Imagine Earth’s history as one calendar year. On that scale, life grow by leveraging natural processes and extracting stored energy.5
1 8 th Birds 12: 00

appeared at the end of February. A month later, photosynthesising AUG 16th Multi-cellular organisms
1 7 th 11: 00 11:30 Hominids walk

organisms evolved, reshaping the atmosphere as they soaked up That is our place in nature: we are a very recent part of it, wholly 1 6 th
10: 00
1 5 th
carbon dioxide and exhaled oxygen. Life evolved from single-celled dependent on its continuing processes, yet with an unusual ability JUL 09: 00
1 4 th
bacteria into multicellular organisms in August. Lifeforms grew to unsettle and alter these processes irreversibly. Humans have so 1 3 th Mammals 08: 00

increasingly complex through their interaction with each other and profoundly changed and disrupted Earth’s natural processes that JUN
1 2 th
07: 00

their environment, and eventually began to shape rainfall patterns scientists suggest we have forced the planet into a new geological 11 th
06: 00

as plants exhaled water vapour. Meanwhile, microbes and fungi epoch – the Anthropocene (anthropos is Greek for ‘human’). As one 1 0 th
MAY 9 th
of the most influential species on the planet, we have a responsibility
05: 00

unlocked and cycled nutrients. Over time, weather patterns and 8 th

Calendar year
species distributions evolved to a state that could support human life. 4 to better understand and improve our place within nature. 7 th
04: 00

APR 03: 00
6 th Reptiles

“Our everyday lives are shaped by 5 th 02: 00

28th Photosynthesis
MAR 4 th 01: 00

processes that vastly predate us, and our 3 rd

habitats will in turn have consequences FEB

25th Life appears 2 nd

1 st
Amphibians

that will outlast us by generations.”

— Marcia Bjornerud, professor of geology JAN
1st Earth Born (12:00:01)
and environmental studies6

Figure 2: Earth’s history in a calendar year

Adapted from Biomimicry 3.87
10
The regenerative context

Starting in Africa, just before midnight on the 31st of December, 100% Urban
humans migrated around the world. The pressure that the human Villages

population placed on the wider natural systems was immediately

Cropland
obvious: human migration patterns coincide with the extinction
of more than 178 of the world’s largest mammals, highlighting
80%
the unusual ability of humans to quickly shape the natural world
around them.8 Pasture

One minute to midnight

60%

At one minute to midnight, humans began to farm, and land

became a means of production. Wild forests and plains turned
Semi natural land
to farmland, which sustained the development of settlements.9
Technological advances meant metals began to replace stone and 40%
wood, and this enabled humans to extract even more resources.
As we established and expanded our cities, human systems
were increasingly developed in conflict with, or at the expense
Wild woodlands
of, natural systems. Meanwhile, land, environmental resources, 20%
fauna, flora and even humans were increasingly measured by
their productive potential alone. The race to expand and exploit
new land and resources drove European colonialism, while the Wild barren land

expansion of global capitalism has now reached a point where the

Permanent ice
natural world, and everything in it, is commodified at the cost of 0%

its health, diversity and stability.10 4,000 BCE 2,000 BCE 0 2015

Today, 75% of the land-based environment and 66% of the marine

environment have been significantly altered by human actions.11
Figure 3: Global land use since 4,000 BCE
Adapted from Our World in Data12
11
The regenerative context

Humans have striven for ever more financial and material One tonne of carbon is equal to either:
wealth at the expense of plants and other animal species: some
100 people (weighing 67kg)
species were considered useful and, therefore, transported and
cultivated globally for human prosperity, while others were 110 pigs (weighing 60kg)
60 million tC
replaced and dispensed of.13 Extinction rates in birds, insects, 20 cows (weighing 300kg)
mammals and amphibians have grown to 100 to 1,000 times Humans
2 elephants (each weighing 3500kg) Population: 7.4 billion
higher than the natural background extinction rate.14 35% mammal biomass

The final seconds

In the final seconds of the calendar year, the human population Quarternary Megafauna
Extinction (QME)
grew by around 400%.15 Fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, Killed more than 178
were the common energy source. Transportation and industrial species of the world’s Population: 1.7 billion
largest mammals. Livestock
processes made use of new extractive fuels, accelerating Humans were the primary >100 million tC 63% mammal biomass
economic growth and increasing atmospheric CO2 levels. driver of these extinctions. 13 million tC 23%
Poultry not included
In real time, this corresponds to an increase in atmospheric
CO2 levels of 50% in less than 200 years, altering the climate.16 Humans
Meanwhile, novel materials and inorganic compounds were Population: 5 million
35 million tC 60%
16,000 tC
developed that cannot be reabsorbed in natural processes.
20 million
tonnes of carbon (tC) 15 million tC Wild land mammals
A time to regenerate 10 million tC 17% 3 million tC 2% mammal biomass
100,000 10,000 1900 2015
years ago years ago
We are now at a unique point in time where people are starting
to understand the complexity of Earth’s systems, and how
significant of a geophysical force humans have become, 85% decline in wild terrestrial mammal biomass since the rise of humans
while still having the ability to change the trajectory
and repair the damage done to date.
Figure 4: Changing distribution of the world’s land mammals
Adapted from Our World in Data17

12
The regenerative context

Recognising the planetary boundaries

World
In 2009, a team of researchers at the Stockholm Resilience Centre
identified planetary boundaries to highlight how stable Earth has 400 ppm
been over the last 10,000 years and to set limits which cannot be
crossed if the planet is to remain a safe operating space.18 In 2023,
the Earth Commission published the first study quantifying safe
and just Earth-system boundaries, this time placing human needs 350 ppm
at the centre.19
This richer and clearer understanding of humanity’s place within the
planet’s systems leaves little doubt: we must begin to restore and
regenerate Earth. This requires us, first, to dismantle the artificial 300 ppm
divisions between humans, non-humans, and nature that have led
to our exploitation and misappropriation of the natural world.

250 ppm

200 ppm

+ Exemplar case study Read more

150 ppm

800,000 BCE 600,000 BCE 400,000 BCE 200,000 BCE 2022

Planetary boundaries20
Location: Global Figure 5: Global atmospheric CO2 concentrations in parts per million
Adapted from Our World in Data21

13
The regenerative context

Recognising Indigenous and traditional wisdom Through their close connection to the land, Indigenous and
traditional cultures have observed and respected ecological patterns, + Exemplar case study Read more
To design regeneratively, we must heal this artifical divide between such as the symbiotic relationships between species and the role of
human activity and natural cycles. And we must learn from nature. natural disturbances like fire. Indigenous communities around the
world have used fire as a tool to shape landscapes and rejuvenate
Land stewardship, where humans care for the land regeneratively the soil. For example, biochar, a carbon-rich charcoal produced
rather than exploit it, is not a new concept. Indigenous and from organic waste, was intentionally introduced by prehistoric
traditional ecological knowledge systems have long recognised Indigenous groups in Western Amazonia to improve soil structure
the interconnectedness of all living beings and, accordingly, have and nutrient retention for greater fertility. Controlled burns and

© Rafael Carlos Gaviria Santos

developed practices that foster abundance and biodiversity.22 the creation of biochar are evidence of the intentional cultivation
Indigenous peoples — distinct cultural groups that share of biodiversity and of regenerative practices.26 Deep Indigenous
collective ancestral ties to the land and its resources — make ecological knowledge has also led to remarkable discoveries, such
up approximately 6% of the global population, yet they are the as the use of natural substances with antimicrobial properties long
conservationists looking after 80% of the remaining biodiversity before the accidental Western discovery of penicillin.
on the planet.23
Acknowledging, partnering with, and learning from Indigenous
Considered the world’s most experienced conservationists, peoples and traditional approaches, creates the opportunity to
Indigenous cultures contain “thousands of years of observation integrate their regenerative practices and ecological wisdom with
and trial and error on how to not only promote the regeneration of modern scientific knowledge and technology. This provides Chinampas of Mexico27
their native ecosystem but to enhance its properties for their own a greater systemic understanding of our natural systems, of how Location: Mexico City, Mexico
community’s benefit”.24 Their teachings are rooted in ancestral, humans disrupt them and of the opportunities we have to regenerate
intergenerational thinking that often views nature as an elder nature at scale and across modern systems. It is our responsibility to
relative, recognising kinship with plants, mountains, lakes care for the Earth, a planet which supports us and underpins all life.
and all natural beings.25

Indigenous and traditional ecological

knowledge systems have long recognised
the interconnectedness of all living beings.

14
The regenerative context

Regenerative design: what and why?

Regenerative design is an Regenerative design is a holistic approach in which human systems Living systems design Regenerative
are designed to co-exist and co-evolve over time with the natural (Net-positive impact)
approach in which human
systems that we are a part of, ensuring planetary health. Such
systems are designed to human systems replenish ecosystems and are fully aligned with ac
k

b
co-exist and co-evolve

es
the needs and characteristics of healthy, thriving natural systems.

giv
with natural systems, Green design, in contrast, merely focuses on reducing harm.
ensuring planetary Sustainable design is about recovering an equilibrium where
and social health. human needs no longer exceed planetary resources, but to achieve
this in perpetuity requires us to go a step further. With many
ecosystems depleted and species and habitats in rapid decline,
we must repair the damage done to date. Restorative design
siti on
is fundamental in the transition towards a regenerative future. Tran

In the optimal, regenerative state nature is a key stakeholder More energy required Less energy required

and co-creator, able to continuously renew and replenish itself.

rm
s ha
In practice, this requires a place-based approach built on an red
uce

understanding of local conditions and established natural

processes. A regenerative approach does not seek to recreate
the pre-development ecosystem; but rather to understand how
infrastructure, buildings and spaces can co-create with nature
to perform the functions supported by those earlier ecosystems.
By leveraging natural processes, this requires less energy.
From decomposition and the cycling of nutrients to the capture
and storage of water: how can our human-built systems participate
Conventional Fragmented design
in and positively contribute to the wider living system?
(Net-negative impact)

Figure 6: Transitioning towards regenerative outcomes

Adapted from Bill Reed (2007)28

15
The regenerative context

The socio-economic case for regenerative design Yet, many of these processes are on the verge of collapse. 2 years 10 years
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity
1 Misinformation and disinformation 1 Extreme weather events
As one of many species within an ecosystem, our health and survival and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) estimates that 25% of animal
depends upon planetary and ecosystem health. This is the basic and plant species are threatened with extinction. This amounts 2 Extreme weather events 2 Critical change to Earth systems

premise of environmentalism. We are subject to the constraints to 1 million species over the next few decades.33 The emphasis
of the natural environment in which our human ancestors evolved.29 on these risks shows us the acute impact of human activity 3 Societal polarisation 3 Biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse

When we damage natural ecosystems and their biodiversity, on the natural world, as well as the long-term health of people
4 Cyber insecurity 4 Natural resouce shortages
we dismantle our own support system. and the global economy.
Forgetting that we are subject to the laws of nature has made 5 Interstate armed conflict 5 Misinformation and disinformation
Nevertheless, many consider nature to be a resource from which to
extract for human gain, as if we were separate from it. The biologist us most unusual. Robin Wall Kimmerer — a scientist, professor,
6 Lack of economic opportunity 6 Adverse outcomes of AI technologies
and naturalist E. O. Wilson, who studied the genetic basis of social enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation,
behaviour of all animals, called this worldview “exemptionalism”.30 and founder and director of the Center for Native Peoples 7 Inflation 7 Involuntary migration

Exemptionalism is the belief that humankind is exempt from the and the Environment — notes that, “Forces which sacrifice
laws of nature, and that we can find a solution to any crisis we face. the natural world for so-called economic growth have forgotten 8 Involuntary migration 8 Cyber insecurity

Far from solving crises, this human-led approach keeps creating them. that unlimited growth is not an ecological possibility.
9 Economic downturn 9 Societal polarisation
How strange to be a species that engineers its own demise.”34
The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2024 ranks risks
by severity over a 2-year and 10-year period. Environmental risks This is not inevitable. Reflecting what Indigenous peoples 10 Pollution 10 Pollution

become increasingly prevalent over time, as seen in the diagram have long done, Kimmerer also says, “we can be co-creators
on this page. Climate change and nature loss are not separate crises: of biodiversity and abundance when we do it right”.35 In short, Risk categories: Societal Technological
they are interlinked and mutually reinforcing. Critical change to we need design that is regenerative. The next chapter proposes
Environmental Economic Geopolitical
Earth systems, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, and natural three guiding principles to steer us towards a regenerative future.
resource shortages are major risks to people and planet. They cause
or aggravate extreme weather events and diminish our ability “We must understand that everything we do Figure 7: Global risks ranked by severity over the short- and long-term
to buffer against them.31 World Economic Forum Global Risks Perception Survey 2023-202437
affects everything else, and that we must
As such, our economies are highly dependent on planetary health: consider the consequences of our actions.”
$44 trillion of economic value generation — over half the world’s
— Sir Ove Arup36
total GDP — is moderately or highly dependent on functioning
natural processes, from crop pollination and fisheries to water
regulation services.32 16
The guiding
principles
Regenerative design in practice

In this chapter:

- Nature-led

- Systemic

- Equitable
The guiding principles

This section describes three complementary – Nature-led: place-based design that enhances
itic a l and econ
omic enablin
g en
viro
and emulates natural systems pol nm
design principles that we can adopt to guide the
ry Sy stem
en
t
a neta th s
our transition toward a regenerative design – Life’s Principles Pl ealth
h
inkin
g
practice. They are intended to inspire and – Place-based design
equip, and include evidence to demonstrate – Planetary health

ign ed
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the art of the possible.

Na patib
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– Systemic: relationships, exchanges and flows of materials

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and resources that restore, protect and replenish

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Regenerative

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– Nature compatible

stru ct ur e
Guiding

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– Circular infrastructure

Life’s s

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– Equitable: collective change, co-creation and Equ
it a b l e

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collaboration that ensure inclusivity and social justice

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– Biosphere economy

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– Just social foundations no er o nt r d
my e C wa
J u st ste
– Contextual stewardship
s o cial
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Figure 8: Regenerative Design Guiding Principles

Arup

18
Nature-led

© Arup
 Nature-led

We are part of the Earth’s living system. To sustain its underlying Regenerative design lets
Nature-led patterns of health and resilience, regenerative design enables natural
nt
nature shape human-
e systems to lead development by adopting ‘Life’s Principles’ and
onm netary built forms by integrating
vir a
Pl ealth Life’s Principles reconnecting natural cycles where we disrupt them. This means
n
e h
designing for nature by giving it space to flourish, and designing with with, and leveraging,
g
lin

nature to leverage the adaptations of 3.8 billion years of evolution. ecosystem functions
ab

– Mimic life’s unique adaptations

en

Rather than imposing human-centric — one size fits all — industrial and processes. It enables
ign ed
ic

s
ce
om

des bas

n – Utilise living organisms and biological materials

nha ms systems on nature, nature-led design takes root in the local geography humans to live in
con

ce-

e ste
sy and climate. Just as each organism within an ecosystem has a role
harmony with natural
na that
Pla
nd e

ed – Partner with nature as infrastructure

al

l to play in its wider functioning and health, each component within

n
tur
sig

cycles; thus ensuring

the political a

e-
d de

a human system should give to and receive from its neighbours.

tes

Natur

Place-based design resilience through

place-base
and emula

This way, it participates in nature’s cycles in a positive, reinforcing

way.38 planetary health.
– Be locally attuned and responsive
es

Because we are a part of the living systems, all human activity —

l
Life’s
cip

from manufacturing to agriculture and wastewater treatment —

Prin

– Integrate rather than segregate

will function best, and be more in harmony with ecological processes,
– Capture and grow surpluses in the system when nature is the model and guide. When there is a problem to solve,
local species have often already evolved to solve it.
Planetary health In practice, this means: conserve water like the surrounding flora
and fauna; network and communicate with or like mycelial networks;
– Understand our place in the living system decompose waste with the many organisms evolved to do so; model
a circular economy on a flourishing ecosystem.
– Reconnect natural cycles where we disrupt them

– Support the web of life

20
Nature-led

Life’s Principles

“We are still beholden to ecological Life’s Principles are design lessons from nature. First articulated
by biologist Janine Benyus, they represent the overarching patterns + Exemplar case study Read more
laws, the same as any other life-form.”
found amongst the species surviving and thriving on Earth.40
— Janine Benyus, biologist and author of Biomimicry: These Principles are rooted in the understanding that life on Earth
Innovation Inspired by Nature39 is interconnected, interdependent and subject to a common set of
operating conditions. They encompass design concepts such as
using waste as a resource, fitting form to function, optimising rather
than maximising, banking on diversity for resilience, and rewarding
Life’s principles cooperation to foster symbiotic relationships.
Life has had a head start on human technology. Over the course of 3.8
– Mimic life’s unique adaptations
billion years on Earth, it has been taking part in natural ‘research &
– Utilise living organisms and biological materials development’ as evolution has selected the most efficient and optimal
designs and discarded the non-functional ones.41 Local plants, animals

©NAARO
– Partner with nature as infrastructure and ecologies have evolved to thrive in the specific climatic conditions
and resource constraints.42 When we learn from and incorporate
their unique adaptations, we can design human systems that are
well integrated with the local ecosystem. 43
Life’s Principles reveal how nature overcomes disturbance, adapts Slime mould urban planning45,46
to change and prolongs existence on an ever-changing landscape. Location: London, United Kingdom; Paris, France
They are a both a model and a metric, inspiring innovative strategies
and enabling us to measure our designs against the tried-and-tested
strategies that life has evolved to create and maintain conditions
conducive to its continuity.44 By following them, we can create
systems that not only sustainably meet human needs but also
contribute positively to the surrounding environment – promoting
resilience, efficiency and harmony with the wider natural system.

21
Nature-led

– Mimic life’s unique adaptations – Utilise living organisms and biological materials
Biomimicry is a scientific, research-based practice that learns from, Bioutilisation is the process of using biologically derived materials + Exemplar case study Read more
and emulates strategies found in nature to solve human design or the services of living organisms in a designed product, process
challenges and create more life-compatible technologies. Biomimicry or system.50 Living organisms have evolved to solve many of the
Riyadh Bioremediation Facility – Wadi Hanifa Wetland53
operates on different scales: organism, behaviour and ecosystem.47 same challenges that we seek to re-engineer with our technologies,
It can take inspiration from the coordination of a hive, the pathfinding within similar contexts and resource constraints. Yet, they do so in Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
of slime mould to optimise complex systems, or even replicating an elegant, sustainable manner. Bioutilisation is particularly useful
a termite mound’s cooling technologies in a building design. in cases where replicating complex biological machinery
The greatest regenerative outcomes are realised when biomimicry or processes in our own technologies is beyond our capabilities,
is applied at system scale, learning from ecosystems to build in too time-intensive or too energy-intensive to be cost-effective.51
self-regulation in a closed loop system.
Examples of bioutilisation include applying fungi and microbes
+ Exemplar case study Read more
In ecosystems, materials and energy are costly, but complex geometry to treat waste and using fermentation to produce materials, such
is free. Organisms must be resource efficient, preferring what is freely as spider silk. In the case of spider silk, fermentation produces
available and easily accessible — such as sunlight, wind currents, biodegradable powder at 37°C that can be formed into a fibre, Abalone shell inspiring high-performance ceramics54
and commonly occurring local minerals — over what is scarce. film or gel. The fibre is lightweight with a tensile strength about
Location: Global
five times that of steel, similar to that of Kevlar and significantly
Organisms assemble the materials that make up their bodies and
higher than that of silk, rubber or nylon.52
habitats at ambient temperature and pressure, using precisely what
they need for optimal performance. For example, the distribution of
mass in a bone is structurally optimised to bear weight while reducing
material need. Life’s chemistry is water-based and life-friendly, using
a limited subset of materials of only 28 out of 118 elements in the
periodic table.48 Eleven of these are found in all organisms, including
four of the most abundant elements in the atmosphere: carbon,
hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen. 49

22
Nature-led

– Partner with nature as infrastructure NO N-EQUI

LIBRIUM LIMIT
IC SA
NAM ND
BO
At landscape scale, the best way to align with Life’s Principles is to DY UN
ADAPT TO DA
maximise the intactness of ecosystems. At the urban scale, it is about IT
Y NGING C ONDITION RI
ES
V CH A S
strategic integration. Nature-based solutions are actions to “protect, RA
G
sustainably manage, and restore natural and modified ecosystems that

ND

CY
e diversity

,A
address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously co rporat

CL
n

ER
I integrity through
ntain al

B AN
benefiting people and nature”.55 i

IC
a

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AT
M renew

E
self-

LO R

PR
IV
,W
Le

RV
ody resilience thr

CA ES
rk Us ve

OC
Emb tion redundanc ough

HT
For example, incorporating green roofs, permeable surfaces wo

SU

LL PON
a
vari decentralisat y m e

LIG

ES
ed

ra
at

pe at
ion

Y A SIV
and

ge ily a nd e
and natural water retention features in urban design can enhance

TO

h
Us

re ls
st

ma ct

SE
er
SUN

cy
a
Cu e

Resh e the gie

TT E
d
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stormwater management, recharge groundwater supplies and reduce re l

e in une
ate

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fe te c

UN
a
la

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Integ te str

roc
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aila ergy
EVO

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the urban heat island effect — all the while providing cultural space

ED
ess
n
ck lo
ica

o
rat
uffl
that enhances wellbeing. Mangroves, which dissipate storm surges

es
Repl

o ps
at the same time as they provide habitat for fisheries and a range

tive
LIFE CREATES
of cultural services, avert $57 billion in flooding damages in China, CONDITIONS
India, Mexico, the US and Vietnam every year.56 Effectively, CONDUCIVE

e nts
TO LIFE

cts
the objective is to restore the capacity of ecosystems to function

S elf- o
B u il d

n c p ro d u

ents
Co
nested

t u
at optimal health, for the mutual benefit of both human and non-

t i
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of e h
ons

lem
IN TE

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w
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human life.

com

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e m pone

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ter

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ry
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Bu s

ist

E M -F R
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em
proce low energy a

EV WT

ch
esses

C H IF E
n Do

EL H
si g
+ Exemplar case study Read more Use
m u lt i- f u n c ti o n a l d e

L
OP

E
Recy

US
EN cle all materials

M
T Fit fo
rm to function

Habitat Royale57
Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands BE R
E S O U R C E E FFICIE N T
(MAT
E RIA L & E N E R G Y)

EAR Figure 9: Life’s Principles

S
T H ’S
OPERATING O N D I TI O N Adapted from Biomimicry 3.858
C
23
Nature-led

Place-based design

“Where nature evolved an ever-varying, ‘Place’ is a unique, multi-layered, dynamic network of natural and – Be locally attuned and responsive
human systems within a geographic region. Natural systems are
endlessly complex network of unique places Regenerative design is informed by the richest possible understanding
characterised by factors including their climate, species composition,
adapted to local conditions… humans have of the evolution and dynamics of a place. It asks what the local
mineral and other deposits, soil, water, and geological features. features and forces are that need to be designed for. From the climate,
designed readily manageable uniformity.” Human systems include cultural norms and values, economic topography, waterways, soils, vegetation, wildlife, and wind through
— John Tillman Lyle, landscape architect and author of the seminal activities, traditions, and physical artefacts such as buildings to culture, community, economy, and tradition: regenerative design
text Regenerative Design for Sustainable Development (1994)59 and infrastructure. responds to and embraces the dynamic network of natural and human
Place, then, is a socio-ecological whole that results from these ecosystems with a geographic region, considering all materials and
systems’ complex interactions through time. Taking a place-based energies in flow in the ecosystem that affect or are affected by design
approach means to work within the local complexity and variability, interventions.
Place-based design
rather than to impose a universal system that seeks to control the Understanding the dynamics of a place enables interventions that
place. It means to be a ‘gardener’ rather than a ‘carpenter’: that is,
– Be locally attuned and responsive achieve greater systemic health over time as a result of human
to leverage human interventions and development so as to achieve presence in that place. For example, some environmental conditions
– Integrate rather than segregate greater systemic health through time for the place we occupy change in a cyclic pattern, such as tides, day and night, seasons, and
and depend on.60 annual floods or fires. A regenerative system dynamically responds to
– Capture and grow surpluses in the system Permaculture is an example of a place-based approach, derived from these changes, seeing them as an opportunity rather than a disruption;
a study of the natural world and pre-industrial, sustainable societies. with good design, a seasonal flood is an opportunity to capture and
As a design methodology, it is grounded by three core ethics that store water in the landscape and build abundance.
guide all decisions: care for the Earth, care for people, return the
surplus. Place, including natural and human systems, is a key
stakeholder in all decisions and a co-creator of designs. Through
permaculture, humans co-evolve as part of the local living system,
nourishing the land by returning surpluses rather than depleting it,
so that it is richer for our presence.

24
Nature-led

– Integrate rather than segregate – Capture and grow surpluses in the system
Throughout the living world, from the internal workings of organisms Regenerative design captures flows of renewable, and surpluses + Exemplar case study Read more
to the dynamic relationships between bacteria, fungi and plants of non-renewable energy to re-build ‘capital’ for future needs.
in the soil food web, the interconnections between elements are This is part of the intergenerational stewardship of a place.
as vital as the elements themselves. Similarly, to support the self- For instance, cultivating biomass, which is the result of plants’
regulation of our human systems, each element should be designed turning photons into carbohydrates, stores energy in a landscape. Passive cooling like a termite mound61
to serve the needs, and accept the products, of other elements. Water can be caught and stored in ponds, reservoirs, and depleted Location: Harare, Zimbabwe, Africa
For example, co-locating biochar production at walnut processing aquifers. Rebuilding healthy soils by returning organic matter
site creates value from the waste stream of shells in the form of energy retains rainfall and nutrients, stores carbon, and enables
production and stored carbon, as well as a soil amendment to improve the cultivation of food. + Exemplar case study Read more
the productivity and resilience of crops. The practice of scaling up this
This can happen over different time scales. When the sun Seawater agriculture62,63,64
integration in our human systems is often termed industrial symbiosis
is shining, excess solar energy can be stored in the form of Location: Massawa, Eritrea, Africa
or industrial ecology (see ‘view the city as an ecosystem’
potential energy by pumping water to elevation. Thermal mass
in the ‘systemic’ section for more).
can be leveraged to store the heat of the sun during the day so
This holistic perspective recognises that diversity, redundancy, that it can be slowly re-radiated during cold nights and similarly
and feedback mechanisms are essential for resilience, enabling keep things cool during the day as temperatures rise, serving
systems to adapt to disturbances, maintain stability, and thrive over to average out extremes.. Sustainable forestry practices that
time. In a resilient system, each element performs multiple functions, balance selective logging with reforestation efforts can maintain
and each important function is supported by many elements. or increase forest cover over time. In all contexts, stewardship
More relationships between parts of the system make for more requires proactive resource management that seeks to reduce
resilience. Built and human systems that are well integrated extractive pressures build abundance over time.
into natural systems can benefit from the evolved symbiosis
and resilience of the ecosystem.

25
Nature-led

Planetary health

Enabling healthy natural systems means Healthy ecosystems naturally provide a range of services that underpin – Understand our place in the living system
the resilience of our society and economy. Mangroves, coral reefs,
designing for nature, giving it space to flourish Becoming regenerative at an impactful scale requires a full
seagrass meadows and other coastal habitats, for instance, dissipate
and actively intervening to reconnect natural appreciation of the core services that healthy natural systems provide
wave energy to protect against storm surges, stabilise sediment for to human systems, such as the regulation and storage of water
cycles where we disrupt them. By working erosion control, and provide essential breeding habitats to support in a forested catchment. Ultimately, this means establishing,
in harmony with nature as a co-creator and fisheries. Inland, thriving ecosystems prevent run-off by slowing down and designing within, science-based limits to our impact on
and storing rainfall in healthy, absorbent soils stabilised by deep root
key stakeholder in the planning and design Earth system processes (such as freshwater flows or nutrient cycles).
systems. This mitigates flooding, erosion and drought, and it improves
processes, we embrace its complexity and The planetary boundaries framework is a strong example of this.
water quality at the same time.
variability rather than trying to control it. To ensure that the Earth remains habitable for its current and future
It is also essential to understand systemic interdependencies;
monitoring and predicting the interaction between natural phenomena
residents, we as a species must support the factors that underpin this and human activities. New technologies such as remote sensing and
web of life. This requires, fundamentally, the creation of space for the artificial intelligence (AI) can help us to monitor systems’ health.
variety of genetic and functional characteristics within a population.
Planetary health Advanced modelling can simulate the positive socio-economic
Rich diversity contributes to an ecosystem’s long-term capacity outcomes of regenerative interventions by integrating data from
to cope with shocks and adapt to change. In practice, this means
– Understand our place in the living system natural and human-made systems.
restoring habitats, with a particular focus on the maintenance
– Reconnect natural cycles where we disrupt them of ecosystem functions, and allowing movement between them.
A key mechanism for safeguarding planetary health is including
– Support the web of life nature as a key stakeholder in planning and design decisions.

+ Exemplar case study Read more

Sponge cities: using AI to measure green and blue space65

Location: Auckland; Nairobi; Singapore; Mumbai;
New York City; Shanghai; London; Sydney

26
Nature-led

– Reconnect natural cycles where we disrupt them – Support the web of life
Urban and artificial systems interfere with Earth system processes. When ecosystems have been degraded, they can regenerate on their
This happens locally in the form of habitat destruction from land own. But it takes time. We can jumpstart biological activity by + Exemplar case study Read more
system change and pollution; urban heat altering rainfall patterns; supporting the factors that underpin the web of life: soil stabilisation,
impermeable paved surfaces that inhibit groundwater recharge; water capture and storage, and decomposition of matter.
and night-time external illumination that disrupts natural patterns
Fundamental to building healthy soils is stabilising them against
of wildlife. It happens globally, too: the consumption and release
erosion by cultivating deep root systems, as well as the associated
of resources and pollutants disrupt the provision of ecosystem
mycelial networks and the wider soil food web. Together, they
services and cycling of energy, nutrients, water and carbon.
aerate soils and build structure to increase water infiltration and
Where human development interferes with natural systems, storage. Strategic earthworks such as on-contour swales and ponds
engineered interventions that are co-created and inspired by also accelerate landscape hydration. By introducing native fungi,
thriving ecosystems can help reconnect flows and cycles. microbes, plants, and animals that colonise depleted landscapes
This might be managed aquifer recharge through constructed and attenuate pollutants, and by returning organic matter to nourish
wetlands and bioswales, or the recovery and useful application these organisms, we can support life and the ecosystem functions
of nutrients in sewage. that biodiversity it provides.

©XXX
The objective of an ecosystems-based approach is not to recreate Rewilding and the reintroduction of so-called ecosystem engineers
the pre-development ecosystem, but instead to understand how can further accelerate the restoration of natural environments.67
infrastructure, buildings, and spaces can co-create with nature Ecosystem engineers are species, such as beavers, that significantly
to perform the functions and processes those earlier ecosystems modify their environment. They create new habitats for themselves Reintroduction of beavers, the ecosystem engineers68,69
provided.66 Just as each organism within an ecosystem has a role to or modify existing ones to suit their needs and, in doing so, provide Location: Great Britain
play within the wider functioning and health, each component within and maintain microhabitats that would not otherwise exist. This
a human-built system should give to and receive from its neighbours allows other species to thrive, too. These ‘engineers’ participate
and participate in nature’s cycles (e.g., water, carbon, nutrients) positively in the wider ecosystem functioning.
in a reinforcing rather than damaging way.

27
Systemic

©Arup
Systemic

The human and natural worlds are arranged in systems of varying Regenerative design
Systemic scale and complexity. Whether it be the flow of capital in an economy
ment ensures human-made
iro
n or the relationship between species in an ecosystem, these systems
env ir
C truc
r
cula ture
are all interconnected. systems participate
g ras
lin inf Systems thinking positively in the wider
ab

Understanding such systems and the dynamics between them is crucial

natural system.
en

to identifying design interventions that build synergies and create

ic

and
om

rials
ate – View the city as an ecosystem greater systemic health. This interconnected view enables us to think It guides us to understand
le
con

f m replenish
pa e
tib
com tur

o
ws t and
interconnections
de

about how decisions made today will ripple through the environment,
Na

ec – Capture benefits at every exchange

pr flo
al an

ic society and economy over time, thus giving weight to long-term

stor and
ot

between systems and

s

m
e,
the politic

outcomes rather than short-sighted gains. It also involves engaging

nge

– Break down silos with technology

helps us identify design
Syste
ps, excha

with multiple stakeholders and perspectives, and co-creating solutions

t re

interventions to build
ha

that are inclusive and equitable for all.

e s t

Nature compatible
tionshi

synergies; thus leading

c
ms
Systeing

Our current human systems are wasteful. More than 100 billion tonnes
ou
res
think

to greater systemic health.

a

of resources are extracted globally each year, of which just 7.2%

rel

– Utilise life’s toolbox are reused.70 The losses in our dominant linear ‘take, make, waste’
economic model are unaccounted for economically; for instance,
– Transition to biological resources
global GDP is linked to 99% of energy consumption and close
– Design for decomposition to 100% of material use. With current economic forecasts predicted
to grow by an average of 2-3% GDP growth per year, our energy
and material use will double every 25 years.71 At the same time,
Circular infrastructure activities that degrade ecosystems are subsidised by an estimated
$4-6 trillion per year.72
– Give land back to nature By identifying potential synergies within resource streams, it is
possible to develop a system where a material’s value is not lost
– Adopt new business models to optimise lifecycle value
at the end of its perceived life.
– Bioremediate waste and pollution

29
Systemic

Systems thinking

Build on a deep understanding of resource, When we design our human systems, such as buildings or cities,
we should not view them as isolated entities but as parts of a larger, + Exemplar case study Read more
material and nutrient flows to develop
interconnected whole. A systemic design approach considers how
an interconnected ecosystem where ‘waste’ these components interact with and influence each other, and how
streams continue to create value the human system interacts with the wider natural system. Urban metabolism74
and opportunities in a closed loop. Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Energy, nutrients, water, people and more flow through these
components, creating a dynamic and complex network.
Each component within our human systems must understand
its role in the functioning and health of the wider system, and how
Systems thinking it can give to and receive from its neighbours in a positive,
reinforcing way — just like an ecosystem.
– View the city as an ecosystem Properly harnessed, urban ‘waste’ will facilitate growth and new
– Capture benefits at every exchange life. The density of agglomeration in towns and cities presents the
opportunity to capitalise on interdependencies by redirecting and
– Break down silos with technology reallocating existing waste streams, such as nutrients or energy.
This complex network relies on technology to connect human
and natural systems in creating the possibility of the Earth meeting
people’s needs and demands, while also remaining within
its resource capacity.73

30
Systemic

– View the city as an ecosystem – Capture benefits at every exchange

Our cities only cover 2% of the world’s land area but consume over Every interaction within our human systems is an opportunity
75% of the planet’s material resources and generate 85% of global to create multiple benefits and shared value for all inhabitants. + Exemplar case study Read more
GDP.75 Inputs that ‘feed’ our cities — freshwater, food, building By diversifying use and cooperating with our neighbours, we can
materials, fossil fuels — lead to outputs, such as nutrient-rich make full use of our urban infrastructure, buildings and spaces.
Kalundborg Symbiosis79
wastewater, rubble and heat. The higher the utilisation rate of the
For example, we can design heat networks that reuse residual Location: Kalundborg, Denmark
inputs, the greater the growth and the smaller the impact a city will
heat from industrial processes in housing rather than wasting
have on its surrounding environment. We can learn from ecosystems
it to the atmosphere. With an interconnected design view, green
to optimise this.
infrastructure to manage surface flooding will typically win out
This system of biomimetic infrastructure is called ‘industrial ecology’ over grey infrastructure, because it understands and values the
or ‘industrial symbiosis’.76 Where networks emulate ecosystems wider benefits for the socio-ecological system, including urban
through co-location and resource sharing, they increase the number cooling, groundwater recharge, carbon storage, and physical
of useful outputs from the same inputs by adding elements to the and mental health benefits.
system that create more value. For example, rather than treating
Every time we intervene in a system, we should intentionally
wastewater from beer, grow spirulina and use that water again for fish
design to optimise shared value and net-positive outcomes by
farming. The spent grains from brewing can be a substrate to grow
incorporating multiple stakeholders and fostering synergistic
mushrooms and, after harvest, fed to animals and used for earthworm
relationships. This requires us to understand the nature and
rearing to feed chickens. Manure can be anaerobically digested to
interdependence of relationships and immaterial abundances,
produce gas for the brewery. That is what the Tunweni Brewery
being mindful of how changes can ripple through a system.
in Namibia did, to produce 12 products instead of just one and seven
As such, this calls for a growth in care, sharing, participation
times as much food, fuel and fertiliser, four times as many jobs, yet
and collective intelligence as well as for investment in intangible,
a fraction of the waste.77
immaterial infrastructure that create new pathways of abundance.78

31
Systemic

– Break down silos with technology

Advances in technology can provide a better understanding of our

Open
current natural and built systems, but only if data is shared as openly Data trusts Low friction
and widely as possible. This requires forward-thinking governance
and a sense of collective responsibility for the future, with the aim
to increase the value chain throughout the system.
Wider access to data — in the shape of data pooling or decentralised
data sets — drives innovation. It develops opportunities to mitigate Decentralised
degradation and cultivate regenerative systems. Earth’s most abundant publishing

Market openness
lifeforms transmit a wealth of information — at present, far more
than the current technosphere.80 Improving access to this data
would provide greater understanding of the complex biosphere.
Data pooling
For example, digital twins — that is, digital representations of
a physical asset ranging from buildings to oceans — help us to
understand the damaging effects human processes can have on built
and natural systems.81 These large data sets can also be accessed,
Bilateral
processed and manipulated using other technologies, such as artificial
sharing
intelligence, to observe the health of ecosystems — and to better
understand the positive impacts that regenerative interventions have
as we create closed-loop systems that grow and replenish nature.
Commercial platforms
High friction
Closed

Centralised Centralisation Federated

Figure 10: Exploring new approaches for sharing data in the built environment
Open Data Institute for Arup82
32
Systemic

Nature compatible

Working in harmony with biological cycles All of human activity — from manufacturing to agriculture and
wastewater treatment — will function best, and be more in harmony + Exemplar case study Read more
through regenerative material cultivation
with ecological processes, when nature is the model and guide
and life-friendly chemistry enables organic (see Life’s Principles section).
materials to be returned to natural systems. In 2020, a threshold was crossed. The mass of human-made things
exceeded the mass of all living beings and biomass on Earth.83
In 2023, just over a quarter of all resources extracted globally were
organic materials (biomass), with fossil fuels, metal ores and non-
metallic minerals making up the rest.84 Due to our materials selection,
manufacturing processes and limited recycling infrastructure, these
materials largely cannot safely re-enter the environment or be reused.
Nature compatible
This is because most industrial chemistry is petroleum-based, happens
– Utilise life’s toolbox at high temperature and pressure, and often involves toxins —
which makes chemistry highly energy-intensive, dependent on
– Transition to biological resources non-renewable resources and hazardous to natural systems at the
end of life.
– Design for decomposition
Biological chemistry, on the other hand, is water-based and generally
happens at ambient pressure and temperature. However, it is
complicated and has been honed over billions of years of evolution

©Unsplash
that has tended towards increasing complexity. As a result, it has been
challenging to understand and replicate. Yet, advances in science such
as AI will support this transition by integrating nature as a guide.
If we use the right materials and processes from life’s toolbox upfront,
we can also leverage life’s processes of decomposition and renewal Aguahoja, Oxman85
to mitigate the need for landfills and mines. Location: New York City, New York, United States

33
Systemic

– Utilise life’s toolbox – Transition to biological resources

+ Exemplar case study Read more
Growing the biological cycle and transitioning to more organic Organic materials have a significant role to play in a regenerative
materials will require a mixture of technical innovation, as well as future. Unlike finite and manufactured materials used in the technical
a deep understanding of nature and local contexts.86 By adopting cycle, biological materials can flow in and out of natural and human
Life’s Principles and toolbox (see Life’s Principles section), it is cycles through processes such as composting and anaerobic digestion.
possible to create a cycle that contributes to natural systems, instead Organic materials can also circulate through the technical cycle, being
of one that sends materials to sit idly or damagingly in landfills. reused and remade, before rejoining the biological cycle.88
Engineered materials use a large variety of elements, often sourced Location is key. Each city, town or building project takes place
from all over the world. They tend to be fabricated at high temperature in a bioregion; a location defined by its soil, climate, native plants
and pressure and are often toxic to natural ecosystems. This is not and animals. If utilised responsibly in the appropriate context, local
only inefficient but also hard to biodegrade into useful constituents resource streams can create a connection between the built and natural
at the end of the lifecycle. systems they sit within. Local resource loops avoid the offshoring of
negative externalities, which puts pressure on producing nations rather
However, natural processes can be utilised to help transition away
than those consuming.89
from such materials. Mycelium has the capacity to break down
toxic, petroleum-based construction materials and to create low- Through innovation and with a greater understanding of natural
carbon materials while preventing toxin run-off.87 Carbon dioxide processes, the biological cycle can be expanded. Natural alternatives
can be mineralised with a waste concrete substrate, capturing carbon are being developed through both low-tech solutions, such as
and creating a new construction material. A combination of these rediscovering traditional building techniques, and high-tech solutions
innovations, along with the increased utilisation of low-energy in synthetic biology and biomanufacturing. It is important that natural
materials, will enable a shift to a regenerative circular economy. alternatives be cultivated in a responsible manner, recognising

©Arup
the local context and integrating regenerative agriculture.90

Materiom91
Location: Global

34
Systemic

– Design for decomposition

Once the original product or material has been used, as with the
+ Exemplar case study Read more
technical cycle, it is crucial that its value be recaptured. This will only
be made possible through conscious design decisions from the outset.
Designing out toxins from a material or product’s creation through to
its end-of-life means that the elements can be reabsorbed and broken
down naturally, unlocking their regenerative potential.
Artificial compounds, on the other hand, are not designed for end-
of-life as they do not break down in the environment. Such ‘forever
chemicals’, also known as PFAS, have been found at about 17,000
sites across the UK and Europe92 and risk harming over 600 species
across the globe when exposed.93 The common methods for getting rid
of PFAS may end up leading to further pollution,94 and unless action
is taken, about 4.4 million tonnes of PFAS will end up
in the environment over the next 30 years.95
When design decisions set the parameters for decomposition,
appropriate decomposition technologies can come into play to support
the natural system.96 Anaerobic digestion, for example, is a process
that breaks down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. It produces
biogas and a digestate which can be used as a nutrient-rich fertiliser.97

©Notpla
Notpla98,99,100
Location: London, United Kingdom

35
Systemic

Circular infrastructure

Creating a system that keeps products To transition to a regenerative world, we must use materials
in circulation enables materials and responsibly; that is, in a manner that reflects the energy required for
resources to be reused, repaired, the Earth to produce them and for people to obtain and process them. Renewables Finite materials
This is particularly the case when we appropriate Earth’s materials,
remanufactured or recycled. This reduces such as those that are mined, and when we use materials produced at Renewable flow management Stock management

the need for extraction and enables high temperature or pressure. The responsible use of materials reduces Farming collection

nature to flourish. the impact on the planet. It frees up degraded land to be regenerated,
and it shrinks the energy demand for material processing. Biosphere
Parts manufacturer

Recycle
Of the more than 2 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste generated Biochemical
feedstock
Product manufacturer

Circular infrastructure by our human systems, just 19% is recycled or composted with
the rest either ending up in an open dump (33%), landfill (37%) or
Service provider

– Give land back to nature incinerated (11%).101 The technical cycle deals with materials and Refurbish/
Remanufacture
products that are not consumed during their use, such as metals and Regeneration
Biogas Reuse/

– Adopt new business models to plastic. A regenerative technical cycle keeps products and materials Redistribute

Maintain/
optimise lifecycle value in circulation, much in the same way as nature does. When using finite Prolong

resources is unavoidable, it is crucial that products be designed such Consumer User

– Bioremediate waste and pollution Anaerobic
that they can be reused, repaired, remanufactured and recycled, with digestion Collection Collection

the necessary infrastructure in place to do so adequately.

Extraction of
These processes reduce the need for extraction and thus, allow biochemical
feedstock

nature more space to flourish.102

Reusing and sharing materials must be prioritised with the
remanufacture and recycling of materials considered as secondary Minimise systematic
leakage and negative
alternatives. A product maintains the greatest value when it is whole externalities

and not split up into its constituent elements. By remanufacturing

or recycling materials, they not only lose value, but the materials’
properties are also impacted.103

Figure 11: Circular economy systems butterfly diagram

Adapted from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation104
36
Systemic

– Give land back to nature – Adopt new business models to optimise lifecycle value
Over 6 billion tonnes of waste are produced each year from torn- The way we utilise resources and assets within the technical cycle
down buildings.105 These resources must be harnessed. Developing is driven by our business models, with many privately owned assets + Exemplar case study Read more
the infrastructure to recover materials will reduce the demand on new currently underutilised. New economic and business models, such
extraction, and space that is otherwise used for extractive processes as the sharing economy and as-a-service models, increase
Arup Circular Buildings Toolkit112
can be returned to nature. the utilisation of assets from housing to vehicles, specialist tools
and even clothes. At the same time, they build communities by Location: Global
Mining, for instance, fragments habitats, damages land, pollutes
creating new connections and a shared ownership of resources.109
and depletes surrounding waters, and degrades soil.106 Since 1960,
on average, a land area equivalent to twice the size of Germany Reuse and retrofit are enabled by design for long-term use and
(720,000km2) has changed in use every year due to human activity.107 disassembly, decisions made at the conception of a product which
Meanwhile, our oceans and waterways are being littered by materials optimise for durability and allow the constituent elements to be
+ Exemplar case study Read more
and products, after a single use. Land use change is estimated to have remanufactured. Regulation such as right to repair, and models
affected 32% of global land area in just six decades (1960-2019), that capture value from use rather than production, are key to
with about three-quarters of the Earth’s land surface being altered incentivising better design upfront. Up to 90% of a product’s Freshkills Park113,114,115
by humans within the last millennium.108 By circulating extracted environmental impact is influenced by decisions made at the
Location: New York City, New York, United States
materials so that they are reused or remade, we can give land back design stage.110
to nature and avoid new destruction. We can also regenerate sites
New economic and business models must be properly regulated
previously used for extraction.
and monitored. If not managed appropriately, the sharing economy
risks leading to increased inequality, less sustainable habits
and a commodification of everyday life.111

37
Systemic

– Bioremediate waste and pollution

Bioremediation harnesses living organisms like fungi, bacteria and + Exemplar case study Read more
plants to treat pollution, including waste and contaminated land,
water and air. These organisms absorb, accumulate and degrade
pollutants, transforming them into harmless byproducts. The process
is cheap, low-energy and scalable, as compared to conventional
physicochemical treatment methods.
In mycoremediation, mycelium (the vegetative part of fungi) produces
enzymes that break down heavy metals, organic pollutants, textile
dyes, petroleum fuels and more. Mycoremediation is typically applied
to soil, but Mycocycle is a company that uses the process
to transform asphalt roofing tiles into low-carbon raw materials for the
built environment.116 Techniques such as bioventing and biosparging
introduce oxygen and nutrients into contaminated soil to promote
the growth of native microorganisms, while phytoremediation utilises
plants to extract, stabilise, and/or degrade contaminants from soil
and groundwater.117 Bioremediation also plays a role in treating
wastewater in degrading organic matter, removing nutrients and
filtering contaminants. Living machines, for instance, mimic the
natural processes of wetlands to treat wastewater.118
Various organisms can also degrade plastics through enzymatic

©Arup
activities. For instance, Ideonella sakaiensis bacteria can break down
PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic used in bottles,119 while fungi
such as Aspergillus and Penicillium species degrade different plastic
types.120 Mealworms, beetle larvae, can consume and break down Construction waste in Singapore122
polystyrene foam, while waxworms can do so with polyethylene Location: Singapore, Asia
(used in plastic bags).121

38
Equitable

©Arup
Equitable

The polycrisis — the knot of crises facing humanity — highlights our Regenerative design
Equitable interconnectedness with each other and with the planet. Geopolitical
ment guides us to nurture
ron tensions increasingly threaten our economies. Declines in nature are
nvi
sphere a just space for humanity
g
e Bio onomy bringing species to the brink of extinction. Extreme weather events are
lin ec Biosphere economy
affecting our food systems. Now more than ever, science-based targets by prioritising the
ab
en

and efficient collaborative efforts are needed to achieve positive biosphere that supports
ic
om

n – Value planetary health systemic outcomes, locally and globally.

oratio
us all. It maximises
tio l

b
nda cia
con

a
ns

ll
co justice
fou t so

d l
an ocia
harmony and justice
de

s – Inform policy and regulations with science-based targets Respecting the planetary boundaries is integral to this. Our survival,
Jus
al an

ity ion

d
le and that of many other species, depend on our living within the
through equitable nature,
t
an
nsure inclu crea

ab

planet’s ecological limits. Yet, a successful transition also requires

the politic

– Coordinate action globally

o-
siv

climate and social

ctive change, c

Equit

inclusive policies that ensure equitable social foundations. They in

Just social foundations turn begin with acknowledging the past so we can address and repair targets; thus ensuring
environmental and social inequalities. human health and
Contardship

e
al

at
extu

colle
th

– Cultivate public luxury and the commons Celebrating local stewardship of the land, such as the long-standing wellbeing.
stew

practices and traditions of Indigenous peoples, will further ensure that

– Co-create healthy and resilient communities everything we do in the physical environment is in the safe operating
space of nature. Nurturing a just space for humanity is how we ensure
– Address historical inequalities with environmental justice regenerative outcomes are equitable.123 This way, both people and the
planet will thrive.
Contextual stewardship

– Integrate place-making with land stewardship

– Embed participatory and inclusive democracy

– Partner with Indigenous and traditional ecological stewards

40
Equitable

Biosphere economy

“We came all this way to explore the Moon, Rather than seeing social, economic and environmental factors as – Value planetary health
three distinct fields — as has too often been the case in the debate
and the most important thing is that we Understanding that people and nature are interdependent socio-
— there is now a push to view societies and economies as embedded
discovered the Earth.” ecological systems ensures a shift in perspective that values the
parts of the biosphere.125 This biocentric perspective encourages health of the planet.128 To achieve a regenerative future, our social
— Bill Anders, NASA Apollo 8 astronaut and photographer of humans to reconnect to the life-supporting ecosystems that provide and economic models must transition away from prioritising narrow
Earthrise124 us with a hospitable climate, clean water, food and other goods and financial gain towards a model in which nature is always a principal
services. In turn, this enables us to create societies, economies, targets stakeholder. Reframing our approach in this way reflects our
and policies that enable planetary health.126 This embeddedness is responsibility to repair the environmental damage we have caused
depicted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN
Biosphere economy and to regenerate planetary health.
SDGs) ‘wedding cake’ image as seen here.
Practical ways we can value planetary health in our systems can take
– Value planetary health many forms. Incorporating green and blue infrastructure in all our
designs, such as native plants and wetlands, delivers wide-ranging
– Inform policy and regulations with science-based targets co-benefits for all participants. Prioritising locally grown agriculture
and urban farming initiatives creates jobs, increases food supply and
– Coordinate action globally Economy
generates positive health outcomes for communities. Capitalising
on the collateral and long-term value achieved through regenerative
Society design helps move beyond immediate profit and GDP: increased
mental and physical health or enhanced urban resilience, for instance,
represent not only value in themselves but also future savings.
Biosphere

The SDGs wedding cake

Economy & society as embedded parts of biosphere (Stockholm Resilience Centre)127

41
Equitable

– Inform policy and regulations with science-based targets – Coordinate action globally
Regenerative design requires us to have a positive impact on The global reach of the nature and climate crises demands that we
all natural systems. To achieve this at scale, new policies and develop solutions through strong partnerships. An interconnected + Exemplar case study Read more
frameworks must incorporate science-based targets that respect the and coordinated approach is necessary to influence emerging
planet’s ecological limits. ‘Do no significant harm’ is not sufficient. practice and policy, share best practice and catalyse the regenerative
Regulation must enable positive outcomes for people, place and transition. This does not preclude adaptation to the specificity Safe and just Earth system boundaries136
planet: revive natural systems, strengthen local communities and of local conditions, but indeed helps guide it. Location: Global
ensure the infrastructure and processes that drive the economy are
The UN’s ‘Our Common Agenda’ is an example of this. It is a set
circular and regenerative rather than linear and extractive.129
of actions to accelerate the implementation of existing agreements
Only long-term thinking that prioritises nature as a stakeholder including the UN SDGs and the 2030 Agenda.132 It includes
and includes future generations can hope to be successful. Such recommendations across four areas: renewed solidarity between
policymaking must also learn from traditional and Indigenous peoples and future generations; a new social contract anchored
peoples, whose knowledge as historical custodians of the land is in human rights; better management of critical global commons;
integral to this. They have thrived alongside nature for millennia. and global public goods that deliver equitably and sustainably for all.
Some countries are already starting to think in this way. In Wales, Another instance of a science-based, global approach is The
the Senedd passed the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)’s Sixth
Act 2015.130 This act was created to align with the UN SDGs and Assessment Report (2022). It assesses the impacts of climate change
“requires Welsh public bodies to think about the long-term impacts through an examination of ecosystems, biodiversity and human
of their decisions, to work better with people, communities, communities at global and regional levels. The report considers
and each other, and to combat deep-rooted societal problems vulnerabilities of nature and the capacity of societies to adapt to
such as poverty, health inequalities, and climate change”.131 climate change.133 To disseminate this scientific information, the
IPCC produced a supporting Summary for Policymakers, which
provides a concise narrative on observed and projected impacts
and risks, benefits of adaptation, and more, to catalyse political
transformation.134 To support the systems change needed to resolve the
worldwide crises we are currently facing, we need a hyper-connected
community of governments, corporations, organisations and citizens,
all working together to provide regenerative solutions.135
42
Equitable

Just social foundations

“We need to meet the needs of all within the For people truly to thrive, humanity needs to co-evolve as part of – Cultivate public luxury and the commons
nature. This requires a rediscovery of what it means to be a citizen,
means of the planet. Bring everybody over “Private sufficiency, public luxury” is a phrase used by George
as we are all inhabitants within the shared living system. A healthy
the social foundation but to do so within the Monbiot, a British author known for environmental and political
society requires the establishment of equitable social foundations, activism.140 The underlying premise is that, because our resources are
planetary boundaries. To me, that’s the 21st- while the economy shifts from extractive towards regenerative. For limited, we should use space more intelligently and prioritise public
century definition of human progress and it’s this transition to be just, communities must not be left behind and amenities, such as transport and goods, to create better conditions
ecologically resilient outcomes should be cultivated for all places.138
about creating a thriving balance between and spread resources amongst the many, not an elite few.
those two.” Collaborative local and global efforts to regenerate the health of the The commons is an approach to distribute wealth amongst
biosphere will result in a renewed common perspective and awareness
— Kate Raworth, economist and creator of doughnut economics137 communities in which all people have open access to a resource.
to the importance of human health. Increasing access to opportunities It relates to distributive justice, which focuses on a fair distribution
and shared resources, and creating equity through redressing past of the burdens and benefits of social cooperation among people with
harms, will catalyse systemic change to ensure all humans can be well. competing needs.141 Farhan Samanani, an anthropologist and lecturer
Just social foundations in social justice at King’s College London, advocates for people
to move away from only claiming individual rights to space, towards
embracing differences and practising trust. Through trust, finding
– Cultivate public luxury and the commons common ground is possible even with a plurality of users’ needs.142
– Co-create healthy and resilient communities Together, these concepts promote inclusion and create more communal
places in which land and resources are rebalanced for the enjoyment
– Address historical inequalities with environmental justice of all. Physical space in cities, for instance, could be redistributed
to accommodate active travel, recreation, urban farms and nature
reserves to equitably meet the needs of everyone in the community.143
If we can acknowledge and respect our interdependency, we are
better equipped to live in harmony with others.144

©NASA
Earthrise
Taken by Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders during lunar orbit (NASA, 1968)139
43
Equitable

– Co-create healthy and resilient communities – Address historical inequalities with environmental justice
Health is a human right. Wellbeing should be prioritised in all The origin of environmental justice has close ties to the American
communities to ensure the resilience of people and of society. Civil Rights movement, as low-income groups — particularly + Exemplar case study Read more
Revitalising natural systems increases the health of people, as People of Colour — disproportionately bear the burden of
humanity is intrinsically linked to and depends upon the health of environmental degradation.152 Acknowledging the historical
nature.145,146 Eliminating pollutants that cause environmental harm context enables us to redress past harms which have impacted Doughnut economics158,159,160
— by prioritising organic materials in our systems, manufacturing, some communities more than others. Without correcting disparities Location: Global
and buildings — has a direct, positive impact on the wellbeing of that evolve over time, truly regenerative outcomes are impossible.
people. Reducing air pollution levels through proactive measures In the United States, low-income and minority areas are typically
such as clean transport, energy efficient homes and circular waste hotter than wealthy areas due to a lack of green space.153 American
management helps diminish the societal burden of disease from Forests created a Tree Equity Score to demonstrate “how much tree
stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic and acute respiratory canopy and surface temperature align with income, employment,
+ Exemplar case study Read more
diseases.147 race, age and health factors”.154 This science-based approach can
help city governments, activists and others to make the case for
Design interventions should promote active lifestyles through the
planting trees and allocating resources to the areas most in need. Research on transforming US urban green
equitable provision of appropriate travel routes and natural green
corridors, at scale. Spending time in nature is associated with multiple Justice can include publicly remediating contaminated land for infrastructure planning to address inequity161,162
health benefits, including improved attention, cognition, sleep, and community use. It can involve providing incentives to farmers who Location: United States
stress recovery as well as lower rates of obesity, mental distress, have ‘dead’ soil but wish to be more environmentally conscious.155
and diabetes.148,149 This also has economic co-benefits, such as lower It can also include funding coastal restoration in less developed
healthcare costs, less sick leave taken by employees, and a more countries. Negotiations at the 27th United Nations Climate Change
resilient and functional labour force.150 The creation of ample local conference (COP27) echoed this sentiment. Wealthy nations agreed
green networks and spaces increases opportunity to enjoy nature to create a fund for vulnerable nations who have been hit hard
conveniently close to home, allowing everyone to be well, not just by climate change and disasters, providing vital ‘loss and damage’
those with the time to be. In turn, feeling connected with nature results support.156 ‘Loss and damage’ is defined as “the most severe
in happier emotions and pro-environmental behaviours, enabling impacts of the climate crisis, too great for countries to adapt
people and nature to thrive.151 to or prepare for”.157 Addressing such inequalities will create
equity and social value, supporting a just transition to a more
regenerative future.

44
Equitable

Contextual stewardship

“We don’t inherit the Earth from our ancestors. Caring for the land and its natural resources properly requires humans – Integrate place-making with land stewardship
to be deeply rooted in, and knowledgeable about, the local context.
We borrow it from our children.” Place-making is the multifaceted process of creating spaces in which
It is not about ownership or utilising the land for extractive purposes.
— Ancient Native American proverb163 people want to live, work and play.165 This includes the planning,
Rather, an attitude of stewardship sees nature as a stakeholder and design and management of public spaces. Land stewardship involves
co-creator, seeking to create symbiosis within the local environment. managing land in such a way that it can be used in perpetuity,
Adopting such a mindset empowers individuals to participate by future generations.166 Regenerative design integrates thoughtful
Contextual stewardship in decision-making processes and to shape places proactively, and conscious place-making practices with land stewardship,
integrating native ecosystems and reflecting communities’ identity, enhancing nature to deliver positive places which work for people
– Integrate place-making with land stewardship culture and local traditions. It is regenerative in that it will ensure and planet. To enhance whole ecosystems, this should also include
the planet’s future habitability and that humans can co-exist consideration of multi-species, or non-human clients. Rewilding is an
– Embed participatory and inclusive democracy and thrive with nature. example of how we as humans can consider both non-human and local
community needs, restoring degraded or abandoned land with native
– Partner with Indigenous and traditional ecological stewards species.167
+ Exemplar case study Read more
Accountable political leadership is required to ensure that policies
and development proposals truly reconnect natural systems and meet
Whanganui River claims settlement164 community needs. However, every single practitioner can be an
Location: Aotearoa (New Zealand) advocate for, and work with nature. From the outset of design, only
the collaboration of a multitude of stakeholders ensures that the local
context is represented accurately in proposed development schemes.
Prioritising nature as a stakeholder and co-creator will be key
to rethinking and designing healthy places where humans and nature
can thrive. This aligns a local approach with planetary outcomes.168

45
Equitable

– Embed participatory and inclusive democracy – Partner with Indigenous and traditional ecological stewards
Inclusive design and participatory democracy empower citizens Indigenous and traditional practices have evolved over time, + Exemplar case study Read more
to shape their spaces more actively. Their outcomes address the learned and inherited by communities around the world as part
needs of different user groups and promote equitable access to of their culture and intergenerational thinking. The basic tenet that
Living tree bridges176
opportunities. One tangible method to achieve this is structured underpins Indigenous design is that “spiritual and cultural forces
decision-making (SDM). SDM is an organised approach to devising … are more profound than any individual’s single intervention.”171 Location: Cherrapunji, India
alternative courses of action with transparency on how they deliver The Seventh Generation Principle encourages everybody “to think
against a group’s manifold objectives. It begins by establishing of the seventh generation coming after you in your words, work
objectives based on the values of all stakeholders, including and actions, and to remember the seventh generation who came
the non-human, cultural and scientific. Robust data and expert before you.”172
elicitation then seek to quantify each alternative’s strengths and
A key focus of Indigenous architecture is storytelling.
weaknesses. This reduces inherent biases and supports decision-
For instance, it might look at a building and see the landscape
making in complex situations.169 The method is both inclusive and
behind it.173 A building that contributes to regenerative outcomes
participatory, which increases the overall buy-in from the group.
does not stand on its own; rather, the space within and around
Proactive use of technology, rather than meeting minimum it should come alive and reflect the natural and social environment
regulatory standards, can help promote engagement and it is part of. Designer and environmentalist Julia Watson
transparency. This includes methods such as accessible online promotes Lo-TEK design philosophy. Lo-TEK — local traditional
voting, simple yet engaging web-based platforms to inform the ecological knowledge — reframes our view of what technology
public on proposed development, or urban data models such as is and what we can do differently to live in symbiosis with natural
Urban Citizen Learning to evaluate and visually simulate public systems.174 Canadian Indigenous architect Douglas Cardinal
policies and intangible aspects of urban agendas.170 When decision- believes “that the Indigenous worldview, which has always
making is more inclusive and participatory, it results in more sought this balance between nature, culture and technology,
straightforward and efficient resolution of conflicting human-made is the path that humanity must rediscover and adopt for our
and natural environment issues. This creates spaces that reflect future.”175 Partnering with Indigenous and traditional ecological
the communities which inhabit them while also fostering native stewards will ensure this essential knowledge and mindset
habitats. is core to regenerative approaches.

46
The guiding principles

In conclusion
This section has described three complementary design principles
that we can adopt to guide our transition toward a regenerative Nature-led Systemic Equitable
design practice. They are intended to inspire and equip, and place-based design that enhances
and emulates natural systems
relationships, exchanges and flows of materials
and resources that restore, protect and replenish
collective change, co-creation and collaboration
that ensure inclusivity and social justice
include evidence to demonstrate the art of the possible.

Life’s Principles Systems thinking Biosphere economy

The next section sets out how we can begin to sow the seeds for Value planetary health over narrow financial
Learn from and leverage the design principles Build a deep understanding of resource flows
a better tomorrow by taking positive action today in line with embodied by nature’s 3.8 billion years of evolution to develop an interconnected ecosystem
gain and inspire collective action within
the planetary boundaries
the three principles. It presents a ‘theory of change’ that maps
the wider transition, and a ‘From → towards’ that contrasts our – Mimic life’s unique adaptations – View the city as an ecosystem
– Value planetary health

current paradigm and ways of working with a regenerative future. – Utilise living organisms and biological materials – Capture benefits at every exchange
– Inform policy and regulations
with science-based targets
– Partner with nature as infrastructure – Break down silos with technology
– Coordinate action globally

Place-based design Nature compatible Just social foundations

Work in harmony with biological cycles Enable humans to co-evolve with nature through
Respond to and work with the features of a site
through regenerative material cultivation equitable and just foundations which meet
to cultivate greater systemic health over time
and life-friendly chemistry the needs of all people

– Cultivate public luxury and the commons

– Be locally attuned and responsive – Utilise life’s toolbox
– Integrate rather than segregate – Co-create healthy and resilient communities
– Transition to biological resources
– Capture and grow surpluses in the system – Design for decomposition – Address historical inequalities
with environmental justice

Planetary health Circular infrastructure Contextual stewardship

Create a system that enables materials, Prioritise nature as a key stakeholder
Ensure the resilience of human systems by actively
products and resources to be reused and co-creator, and shape places led
reconnecting natural cycles where we disrupt them
and remain in circulation by the local community

– Give land back to nature – Integrate place-making with land stewardship

– Understand our place in the living system
– Adopt new business models to – Embed participatory and inclusive democracy
– Reconnect natural cycles where we disrupt them
optimise lifecycle value
– Support the web of life – Partner with Indigenous and
– Bioremediate waste and pollution traditional ecological stewards

47
Sowing the seeds
for tomorrow
The transition to regenerative design

In this chapter:

- Creating the enabling environment for a regenerative future

- Theory of change

- From towards
Sowing the seeds for tomorrow

Creating the enabling environment for a regenerative future

Even though we may not have all the answers today, we can take Prioritisation will not be easy; practitioners across numerous sectors
steps right now across our projects and designs that embed and test must keep in mind the long-term trajectory towards regeneration,
regenerative design principles and deliver positive outcomes for whilst also setting detailed and specific short-term targets. Which S
Social
people and planet. With scientists arguing that Earth’s systems investment, design or procurement criteria can we change today?
are on the edge of collapse,177 there is no time to wait — designers What parts, products or processes can we rethink right now?
and practitioners can lead by example.
To do this, we need to take a holistic approach to transition to
What matters is that we begin to make choices in accordance a regenerative future; an examination of the wider operating context T
Technological
with our values and start to invest and drive change now, through to avoid blind spots and identify interdependencies or collaboration
prioritising research, projects and actions that will support planetary opportunities. Rather than grouping actions by sector, we can focus
health and resilience for the long-term; and crucially by letting on six change areas across ‘STEP UP’: in Society, Technology,
go of practices that do not. Economy, Politics, under Uncertainty and through Partnerships. E
Economic
Built environment practitioners and decision-makers should be Social ensures people are an integral part of a regenerative future,
integrating regenerative principles and experimenting with their with Technological covering the tools and practices needed to get us
application, sharing results and best practices widely. Policymakers there. Economic and Political, together, ensure the transition includes
and regulators should develop a coordinated direction-of-travel, which a shift away from a pure focus on growth, built on long-term thinking P
gives confidence to business and industry in regenerative design; and and mechanisms as the foundation for change. Uncertainty recognises Political
importantly prevents further delays arising from any uncertainty on the need to drive resilience in increasingly uncertain times, with
this being the right way forward. Many solutions and frameworks we Partnerships setting out the need for broad coalitions and collaboration
need to push already exist, such as science-based targets, multi-species to collectively achieve a regenerative future.
design, planetary boundaries, doughnut economics, circular economy, U
This section describes the potential for a shift to regenerative Uncertainty
and many more. What needs to happen now is that they must
design through each of these areas, with example actions that can
be amplified, integrated and aligned towards a common aim
be taken immediately. It also presents a theory of change to visually
and set of priority outcomes.
demonstrate how we can achieve the aim of a regenerative future,
in which human systems contribute to planetary health. P
Partnerships

Figure 12: Arup’s STEP UP Framework

Theory of change identifying key change areas
49
Sowing the seeds for tomorrow

Social

The regenerative transition must be driven by a social

transformation that prioritises collaboration and Actions to take now + Exemplar case study Read more
co-creation as opposed to extraction and exploitation.
– Identify key members and groups in the community who
It requires strong social foundations, established can steward the project after completion, delivering long-
in communities and shared resources, skills and work. term impact. They can champion a project as well as
Ecological regeneration can be a tool for conflict ensure that unheard voices are brought to the table.
resolution and community by building trust and – Co-design allows you to hand over some authorship
social cohesion, for example community gardens of the project to local stakeholders, increasing their
and the Paani foundation (case study, right). As with engagement and ownership of it. This will make the
project more nuanced, impactful and meaningful.
a natural ecosystem, social systems are strengthened
by diversity and interconnectedness, where a rich and – Start with and maintain a relationship with the history
diverse social fabric enhances resilience and ensures and culture of a place, to ensure the project becomes an
intervention that enriches the heritage and social fabric
a range of needs are met. of the local context. This should also include partnering
with traditional and Indigenous ecological stewards.
Co-design techniques that involve collaboration with

©Paani Foundation
diverse stakeholders to integrate cultural perspectives,
local knowledge and scientific insights are therefore
vital to achieve a regenerative future.178 More broadly, Relevant knowledge and approaches

nature supports, gives richness to, and underpins our Social value
health, wellbeing, culture, and society. The hypothesis Accessible environments
of ‘biophilia’ describes human’s innate tendancy to Paani Foundation: Satyamev Jayate Water Cup181
Community engagement
seek out connections with nature.179 Daily connection Location: India
to nature reinforces the values of respect and care Inclusive cities
for the environment.180
50
Sowing the seeds for tomorrow

Technological

Living in harmony with nature requires a nuanced

understanding of how our human systems interact Actions to take now + Exemplar case study Read more
with natural systems to inform regenerative
– Innovate with biomimicry and biophilic solutions before
intervention. These systemic interconnections are vast artificial interventions. These are often much more efficient,
and complex, giving technology an integral role as an more resilient and less wasteful than artificial solutions.
LIVING
enabler of change and desired outcomes. For example, BUILDING

– Enrich our understanding of natural systems, material flows CHALLENGE

novel modelling technologies using big data and AI and ecologies through emerging data science. Doing this will

HIGH PERFORMANCE
can monitor change, predict outcomes and optimise

SUSTAINABLE
provide an evidence-led and quantitative approach to developing

GREEN
CODE
interventions and designs. Monitoring can integrate regenerative solutions that can support natural systems.
citizen science, camera trapping, lidar and more. – Where possible, draw on Indigenous and traditional practices POSITIVE
ENVIRONMENTAL
and technologies, which can lead to more regenerative and IMPACTS

Technology should work for nature in ensuring that effective place-based outcomes. Modern technology is not NEGATIVE

we design and live within the science-based targets always appropriate. Indigenous and traditional groups often ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS

have much to teach us about the tools, techniques and methods

required for healthy ecosystems; and with nature in
of stewardship they have developed over generations.
leveraging 3.8 billion years of nature’s innovations
(see asknature.org for a catalogue). We should draw
inspiration from communities around the world Relevant knowledge and approaches

©Arup
with a wealth of local ecological knowledge and Planetary boundaries
technologies, who have been fostering mutually Earth observation
beneficial relationships between community
Digital twin
and place for generations. Indigenous knowledge Living Building Challenge182,183
of, for example, regenerative soil practices is good Indigenous knowledge Location: Global
science, and we must value it as such. Circular economy

51
Sowing the seeds for tomorrow

Economic

The economist Kate Raworth suggests that a

healthy economy is designed to thrive, not grow Actions to take now + Exemplar case study Read more
exponentially. “Our current model of growth
– Adopt best practice of factoring lifecycle and economic
is not actually growth”, she writes. “The unpriced damage from ecosystem degradation into plans and proposals.
externalities we are generating are self-terminating This encourages action towards regenerative design.
us.”184 A shift away from a pure focus on growth
– Utilise case studies and scenarios that highlight the enormous
can lead to more regenerative, distributed economies economic benefit of restorative and regenerative design.
that work within the planet’s ecological limits.185 For example, how restoring ecosystems restores communities
Understanding how we attribute value reveals the and, therefore, attracts business and investment.
tangible economic risks that conventional design – Adopt a futures mindset. Integrate design interventions in the
approaches have on the natural world. A recalibration built environment with long-term economic targets to show how
will prevent harm caused by short-term and near- regenerative interventions can support or drive business goals.
sighted economic policy decisions from becoming – Develop and use ways to better highlight and track the direct and
an irreversible reality. indirect economic value of restorative and regenerative practice.

Representing social values and natural systems in

financial valuation — for instance, by pricing in the

©iStock
damage to ecosystems as a cost — is a powerful way Relevant knowledge and approaches
to sow the seeds for a better future. Rethinking the Doughnut economics
way we cost resources and the way we price impacts Total value Mesoamerican Reef: insuring a natural
on ecosystems will drive the transition. It will create asset for its resilience services186
a market that reflects our values more accurately. Location: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras

52
Sowing the seeds for tomorrow

Political

Regulation and policy are the mechanisms that

will guide and drive the transition and ensure Actions to take now + Exemplar case study Read more
it is equitable and effective. Governments articulate
– Encourage government stakeholders to take joined-up
the long-term vision for communities, societies approaches to education, human health and ecosystems
and international relations. They are responsible that can contribute together to more positive outcomes.
for creating the conditions and platforms to
– Include diverse sets of stakeholders from across different
enable change through investment in research political priorities in projects. For example, how can we
and innovation, regulation and treaties. Understanding align the needs of infrastructure providers, educators,
and working with government to build the foundation community carers and policymakers for long-term benefits?
for change is vital. Businesses need to demonstrate – Embed projects in the context of long-term policy goals
the art of the possible to signal to government what and targets, demonstrating how regenerative approaches
they should set policy for. In this feedback loop, to design and planning issues can help policymakers
and legislators on the path to achieving these targets.
businesses needs to feel confident that their strategies
are aligned with the long-term vision, while the
governement needs confidence that businesses Relevant knowledge and approaches
can deliver.

©Shutterstock
Green economy
Policymakers can identify levers of change through Inclusive, participatory stakeholder engagement
health, wellbeing, education and social care Nature legislation
that support a quality of life for all — enabling (e.g., UK’s Environment Act 2021, Australia’s Nature Repair Act
communities to take part in, act on and drive positive 2023, EU’s proposed Nature Restoration Law) Stormwater retention credit trading programme187
change locally. Societies struggling with social Location: Washington, D.C., United States
and wealth inequality, poor health and education
outcomes, and weak infrastructure will lack resilience
and deprioritise needed regenerative interventions. 53
Sowing the seeds for tomorrow

Uncertainty

We live in a volatile, uncertain, complex and

ambiguous (VUCA) world.188 Increasing geopolitical Actions to take now + Exemplar case study Read more
instability, supply chain crises, divided societies with
– Utilise case studies, examples and scenarios to tangibly
contested elections, the return of high inflation and demonstrate how regenerative design can mitigate shocks and
extreme weather are just a handful of phenomena enhance resilience for clients in an increasingly uncertain world.
driving businesses and governments to risk-averse,
– Utilise case studies to show how regenerative design’s holistic
short-term planning and strategies. It is the role of approach to natural systems, society, technology and economies
regenerative practitioners and designers to show allows stakeholders to manage risk and quickly adapt to
how they can drive resilience in uncertain times. rapidly changing social, technological or climatic conditions.

– Seek to provide adaptability for uncertainty. As part of a project,

For example, healthy ecosystems are inherently designers should understand potential futures for an area,
more resilient. This could help support and quickly community or ecosystem, and build them into the project. For
recover businesses and sectors affected by extreme instance, what might the area’s future climate look like? Its future
demographics? Its future economy? How can communities and
weather events. For another example, as climate and
users be empowered to adapt a design as circumstances change?
geopolitical uncertainty continue to drive accelerating
global migration, regenerative design practices build
inclusive and well-supported communities, resilient Relevant knowledge and approaches

©Arup
to migratory shocks and stresses. We know that we
Climate change adaptation
will be experiencing great change, from species
Urban resilience
compositions to weather patterns, but we can’t be sure
about an end state. Thus, the objective is building Foresight advisory City Water Resilience Approach189,190
adaptive, nature-led systems that can co-evolve over Location: Global
time with our ever-changing contexts.

54
Sowing the seeds for tomorrow

Partnerships

Regenerative design cannot scale or be effective

without the participation and mutual interest of broad Actions to take now + Exemplar case study Read more
coalitions who can contribute and benefit collectively
– Focus on ambitious goals for projects through new
across global and local levels. These partnerships systems like mission-oriented innovation. This frees
can take a variety of shapes, such as formalised up space to be innovative and experimental by focusing
knowledge exchange between industry and academic on outcomes rather than the process of design.
research, collaborative development projects, or more – Engage partners beyond your comfort zone to ensure
informal methods of co-design and participation. longevity and lasting change. For example, you can
partner with local organisations for political support,
Partnerships, coalitions, and collaborations should scientific institutions for rigorous evidence, tech
be flexible enough to benefit the different needs of companies for data, or schools for education.
different organisations, institutions, communities and – Explore new forms of collaboration through decentralised
individuals while being framed around ambitious networks, open data and open science. These new
types of networks can provide easier ways to drive
outcomes for a regenerative future. These partnerships
more ambitious, interconnected outcomes.
can be strengthened and enabled by new approaches,

©The Earthshot Prize

such as mission-oriented innovation, and new
technologies of decentralisation and open data.191
Relevant knowledge and approaches

©Arup
The key partnership that we need to rebuild is with Strategic partnerships
nature. Nature is our ultimate, universal stakeholder Regenerative land management
and we must re-learn how to co-create and co-design The Earthshot Prize192,193,194
Open data
with it rather than seeking to control and contain it. Location: Global

55
Sowing the seeds for tomorrow

Theory of change Figure 13: Theory of change

Arup

Why Stakeholders Change areas Outcomes Impacts Aim

Nature • Insurers • Investors • Institutions • Practitioners & designers

A regenerative future: human systems contribute to planetary health

Asset owners & developers • City & regional government • Regulators
S Economy and infrastructure
$44 trillion of economic value Social that value healthy natural
conomic enabling 2030
generation – over half the c a l and e env and social systems
oliti iron
world's GDP – is moderately or e p me
nt
Nature is a stakeholder
th ry System
ne ta and co-creator in
highly dependent on nature Pla ealth think s
ing
h design and decision-making,
T Nature inspires research contributing to reversing
ign ed
Technological and development for nature loss
relatio life-compatible solutions

co
Na patib
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m
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We have exceeded six of h st
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limits of acceptable

rote
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place-based

ows
and emulat

views people and place as

ct and replenish
alteration to Earth systems Regenerative
Economic 2040

of materials an
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Design part of nature
The built environment

stru ctu re
Guiding
P ri n ci pl e

i n f r a ir c u l a r
Principles
corrects for historical
Life’s s

harms and restores

C
P Local communities and natural systems
25% of animal and plant Equ
it a bl e species have a voice in
ic e
co

b o c o ll
species are threatened with d
a n l ju Political
lla

st
ra e c ti n
ti o v
n t e c h a n g e, c o- cr e at
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so
extinction, amounting to 1 hat
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million species over the next

hi al
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Bi e

co sph ex ds
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n r
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Ju st ste U Environmental justice
s o cial
Uncertainty addresses spatial inequalities
f o u n d atio n s
and remediates land 2050
Environmental risks are increasing Human systems co-evolve
in prevalence, causing extreme with and regenerate nature,
weather events and ecosystem Partners achieving continuous
collapse, in turn diminishing our Nature • Land owners • Traditional & Indigenous ecological stewards Long-term accountability ecosystem health
P to future generations
ability to adapt and increasing Innovators • Local communities & groups • Professional bodies Partnerships
risks to human health is prioritised
Educators • Market-focused partners • Communities of practice

56
Sowing the seeds for tomorrow

From towards

From degradation & conventional practices Towards regenerative & positive practices

Extractive built systems Human civilisation co-evolving as part of Earth’s cyclic living systems

Being insulated and disconnected from nature’s cycles Expanding nature literacy by increasing touchpoints with nature

Appropriating Earth’s finite resources Responsibly cycling resources within human systems

The ‘builder’ of uniform systems that control nature The ‘gardener’ working in harmony with a place’s complexity and variability

Fragmented systems of buildings, infrastructure, spaces Buildings, infrastructure, spaces that contribute to wider systemic health

Marginalised groups bearing environmental burdens A just transition that corrects for historical harms and builds equity

Short-term, siloed politics and decision-making Long-term, progressive politics that meet the needs of future generations

An individualistic mindset Community and shared prosperity for the greater good

Markets that degrade nature and drive inequalities Markets embedded in science-based targets for planetary and social health

* Inspired by Michael Pawlyn & Sarah Ichioka’s book Flourish, 2021.

57
Glossary

Abiotic: Non-living parts of the ecosystem, such as water, light, Biophilia: The biophilia hypothesis suggests that humans possess Circular economy: Circular economy, or circularity, refers to
temperature, wind, soil composition and pollution. The composition an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms a resource use model that moves away from the linear process of
of these factors shape a variety of different ecosystems. Abiotic can of life. Edward O. Wilson introduced and popularized the hypothesis taking materials to manufacture products and eventually disposing
be translated to without (a) life (bio). In comparison, biotic factors in his book, Biophilia (1984). He defines biophilia as “the urge them, to a circular process that manufactures products and resources
are the living parts of an ecosystem.195 to affiliate with other forms of life”.200 in a circular way, based on the principles of reduce, reuse, recycle
— or in a closed-loop system. The circular economy aims to create
Anaerobic digestion: Anaerobic digestion is a process through Biosphere: The biosphere represents the sphere of our planet where
an economic system based on circularity around three principles:
which bacteria break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. life exists — this includes the solid layer (ground), the atmosphere
eliminate waste and pollution; circulate products and materials;
An anaerobic digester is a sealed tank that works without oxygen to (air) and the hydrosphere (water). It consists of all natural and
regenerate nature.207, 208
break down the organic matter and produce biofuels and biofertiliser living organisms on Earth, and provides us with habitable climatic
from the leftover matter.196 conditions, air, water, food and other goods that support life Co-create/co-creation: Co-creation refers to the action of creating
on Earth.201, 202 something jointly with others, or by working with others.209
Anthropocene: Earth’s history has been divided into times or epochs.
Officially, our current epoch is referred to as the Holocene, which Bioutilisation: Bioutilisation refers to the use of living organism Co-evolution: In biology, co-evolution refers to the reciprocal
started after the last major ice age. However, as human activity services, such as microorganisms for fermentation or synthesis, or evolutionary change in a set of interacting populations over time
is currently believed to have a major impact on the Earth’s climate biologically-derived materials, such as the harvest of wood or plants, resulting from the interactions between those populations. The term is
and ecosystems, since around the 2000s, the current epoch is in the design process. As opposed to biomimicry, bioutilisation used metaphorically, similarly to ‘evolution’, to refer to the reciprocal
unofficially described as the Anthropocene — deriving from man directly utilises nature’s services.203 change within systems resulting from their interaction.
(anthropos) and new (cene).197
Blue-green infrastructure: Blue-green infrastructure (BGI) refers to ‘Do no (significant) harm’: This term refers to an aspect of
Biodiversity: The term biodiversity encompasses all living species natural and strategically planned networks of natural and semi-natural sustainability in which no (significant) harm to the environment or
on Earth. This includes plants, bacteria, fungi, animals and humans. areas that deliver a wide range of ecosystem services, including air/ an environmental objective should be caused by undertaken actions
It is estimated that around 8.7 million plant and animal species exist water/biodiversity enhancement, climate mitigation and adaptation, and activities.210
on Earth.198 as well as spaces for recreation. It consists of a combination of
Doughnut economics: Doughnut economics refers an economic
green and blue infrastructure elements wherein blue infrastructure
Biomimicry: Biomimicry, meaning ‘imitation of the living’, is an mindset that defines goals which meet the needs of all of humanity
refers to elements such as ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, wetlands and
approach that learns from and emulates the strategies found in nature withing the means, or limits, of the planet. It consists of two rings, the
floodplains, and green infrastructure refers to elements including
to solve human design challenges. It leverages the efficient and ecological ceiling and the social foundation which form the doughnut.
forests, trees, parks and agricultural areas.204, 205
optimal designs selected by evolution over 3.8 billion years of ‘natural It argues that the space between these rings represents an ecologically
R&D.’ Local plants, animals and ecologies have evolved to thrive in Built systems: Built systems refer to the totality of man-made safe and socially just space for humanity.211
the specific climatic conditions and resource constraints, and we can structures that form the backdrop of human activity. They include
learn from their adaptation. Biomimicry-based designs include aspects everything from buildings and parks to cities, infrastructure, transport,
such as resource efficiency, self-healing or aerodynamic designs.199 water and energy systems.206 58
Glossary

Earth systems: Earth systems refer to the five systems of Earth, and Global commons: The global commons refers to the Earth’s resources Permaculture: Permaculture (from ‘permanent [agri]culture’) is a
their interaction and interconnection, which create our environment. which humanity shares and relies on. They include the atmosphere land management and settlement design informed by arrangements
The five systems are referred to as the geosphere (interior and surface and land, the ocean and freshwater, a stable climate and abundant observed in flourishing natural ecosystems. It includes a set of design
of Earth), the biosphere (the sphere where life exists), the cryosphere biodiversity.218 principles derived from the study of the natural world and pre-
(ice), the hydrosphere (water), and the atmosphere (envelope of gas industrial sustainable societies. It seeks to leverage synergies with
Habitat: Habitat refers to the home or natural environment
providing oxygen and carbon dioxide).212 whole systems thinking.224
of an organism. In a habitat, all environmental conditions needed
Ecosystem: An ecosystem refers to an area — large or small — for survival of an organism are met.219 Physical environment: The built and natural environment including
in which a dynamic complex of biotic factors (plants, animals, geographic features, the climate and urban systems.
Holocene: A period of time which is the current geological epoch
micro-organisms) as well as abiotic factors (water, light, temperature,
that started approximately 10,000 years ago.220 (See Anthropocene.) Planetary boundaries: A framework that characterises the limits of
humidity, rocks) form a functional unit and depend on each other.
acceptable alteration to nine key Earth systems: biosphere integrity,
The term ecosystem usually refers to natural ecosystems. Those are Living system: Living systems are described as open and self-
climate change, novel entities, stratospheric ozone depletion,
naturally occurring systems that don’t rely on human intervention. organising systems that hold characteristics of life and an interaction
atmosphere aerosol loading, ocean acidification, biogeochemical
On the other hand, human-made or artificial ecosystems refer to with their environment. The term stems from the Living Systems
flows, freshwater use, and land-system change.225
the adjustment of an ecosystem by humans or the creation of an Theory that is concerned with the way living systems work, maintain,
ecosystem that mimics natural conditions. The ecosystems usually develop and change themselves.221 Planetary health: The health of the planet as a system. This health
rely on constant attention.213, 214 is maintained by staying within the planetary boundaries.226
Nature: The evolving, interconnected systems of life and non-living
Ecosystem functions: Ecosystem functions — also referred to as things occurring naturally on Earth. This comprises the interaction of Public good: Public goods are defined as a commodity or a service
ecosystem processes — describe flows of materials and energy all living species (including humans), climate and weather, and natural that benefits, and can be accessed or used, by everyone. These can
through the ecosystem, such as decomposition, biomass production, resources.222 include access to drinking water and clean air, but also governmental
the cycling of nutrients, etc. These functions are the biological, services.227
Nature literacy: The ability to understand the natural systems
geochemical and physical processes that occur within an ecosystem.215 that make life on Earth possible, including the principles of the Regenerate/regenerative: Regenerative design takes a holistic
216
organisation of ecosystems and the flows of energy and matter within approach in which built and natural systems are designed to co-exist
Environmental justice: Environmental justice is concerned with them (such as photosynthesis and decomposition), and applying those and co-evolve over time, delivering positive environmental and social
equal access for all people to decision-making processes around principles to inform design and decision making. Nature literacy is outcomes and ensuring both human and planetary health.
environmental and health concerns with regards to their living and cultivated principally through practical, hands on experience (such
working environment. In addition, it refers to equal protection for all as surveying, farming, and land restoration), but also through formal
people from health and environmental hazards, and actively correcting education in ecology, and informal education in daily life by noticing
for past injustices and their ongoing consequences.217 nature’s principles all around us.223
59
Glossary

Resilience: The capacity of social, economic and environmental

systems to cope with a hazardous event or trend or disturbance,
responding or reorganising in ways that maintain their essential
function, identity and structure while also maintaining the capacity
for adaptation, learning and transformation.228
Restorative design: Restorative design refers to design strategies that
reverse damage done to places and spaces by humans or nature.229
Rewilding: An approach to nature restoration that focuses on
the re-instatement of ecological processes (often termed ‘natural
processes’), such as seasonal flooding, habitat succession and
naturalistic grazing. Rewilding can be characterised as being
nature-led but human-enabled, with no predetermined end point.230
Safe operating space: The concept of a safe operating space is closely
linked to the planetary boundaries that characterise the limits of
acceptable alteration to nine key Earth systems. The safe operating
space refers to the space within these planetary boundaries in which
it is expected that humanity can develop and thrive.231
Social value: Social value goes beyond measuring value in economic
terms, and is instead concerned with the positive value businesses
and decisions create for the economy, communities and society.232
Sustainable/Sustainability: Sustainability is defined as “meeting
the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs”.233
Urban metabolism: Urban metabolism conceptualises a city as an
organism. Inputs that ‘feed’ our cities — such as freshwater, food,
building materials, fossil fuels — lead to outputs, such as nutrient
rich wastewater, rubble and heat. It looks at how resources are being
imported into the cities and utilised to produce useful outputs.234 60
Core research team Credits

About Arup Programme leader Key contributors

Katelyn Nagle Amy Leitch
Dedicated to sustainable development, Arup Andrew Chalmers
is a collective of designers, consultants, and experts Lead researchers & authors Arlind Neziri
Katelyn Nagle Becci Taylor
working globally. Founded to be humane and excellent, Lola Bushnell Devni Acharya
we collaborate with our clients and partners using Freddie Oxland Dima Zogheib
Eike Sindlinger
imagination, technology, and rigour to shape Lead designer Fiona Patterson
a better world. Lauren Davies Frances Yang
Francesca Galeazzi
Researchers & authors Franki Chiu
Lucy Henriques Graham Dodd
Stephanie Schemel Isobel Vernon-Avery
About Arup University Jan Wurm
Arup University is the firm’s global excellence Designers Jessica Watts
Emily Clements Kate Jackson
programme of directed learning, expert skills Malina Dabrowska Laetitia Lucy
development, collaborative research, foresight, Eleanor Tomlinson Lillian O’Mahony
Marie Walker-Smith Linda Toth
and knowledge and information management. Arup’s Liz Crump
Foresight team analyse the major trends shaping Marketing & communications Martin Pauli
Essi Maikola Mathew Vola
the future of the built environment. Annabel Elliott-Browning Mel Allwood
Eleanor Davis Melanie Grills
Mona Ivinskis
Copy editor Neil Harwood
Julien Clin Rainer Zimmann
Sarah Gillhespy
Editorial & review Stuart Smith
Josef Hargrave Tom Butterworth
Tobias Revell Tom Norton
Zoe Webb
Business sponsors
Barbara Lane Other contributors
Jo da Silva Arup global & region reviewers, interviewees, &
Paula Kirk workshop participants
Global survey respondents
Steering group Joanna Choukeir, The RSA
Get in touch Florence Lam Michael Pawlyn, Exploration Architecture Limited
Arup’s Foresight team Ian Carradice Nick Jeffries, Ellen MacArthur Foundation
e: [email protected] Joseph Correnza Sarah Clement, The Australian National University
arup.com Malcolm Smith
Arup © 2024 Mark Fletcher
Nille Juul-Sorensen 61
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early Holocene. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 110(22), 8830-8835. Anthropocene Epoch. Communications Earth & Environment, 1(1), 32. 26. Millison, A. (2022, April 15). Chinampas of Mexico: Most productive
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Climate Change. Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet; 27. Reed, B., Mang, P. (2007), Regenerative Development
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Salicornia, © Barmalini
Beaver, © Unsplash
City on River, © Unsplash
Beaver, © Unsplash
Systemic Principle Visual, © Arup
Urban Metabolism, © FABRICations
Adapted Kalundborg Symbiosis, © NORDREGIO
Bee wing close up, © Unsplash
Materials Library, © Arup
Notpla seaweed packaging, ©Notpla
Bee wing close up, © Unsplash
Materials Library, © Arup
Notpla seaweed packaging, ©Notpla
Construction Waste Singapore, © Arup
Circular Buildings Toolkit, © Arup
Freashkills Park, © Freshkills Park Alliance
Construction Waste Singapore, © Arup
Equitable Principle Visual, © Arup
Adapted Earth System Boundaries, © Earth Commission
The SDGs Wedding Cake, ©
Earthrise, © NASA
Adapted Doughnut Economics, © Kate Raworth
Portland River, © Unsplash
Whanganui River, © Rumboalla
Living Tree Bridge, © Debjit
Satyamev Jayate Water Cup, © Paani Foundation
The Living Building Challenge, © International Living Future Institute
Mesoamerican Reef, © iStock
US Capitol, © Shutterstock
City Water Resilience Approach, © Arup
The Earthshot Prize Principles, © Earthshot Prize
Satyamev Jayate Water Cup, © Paani Foundation
The Living Building Challenge, © International Living Future Institute
Mesoamerican Reef, © iStock
US Capitol, © Shutterstock
City Water Resilience Approach, © Arup
The Earthshot Prize Principles, © Earthshot Prize