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![Range of sustainability approaches (Developed from Bill Reed, 2007 [10]).](publication/317622622/figure/fig1/AS:505979424391168@1497646303263/Range-of-sustainability-approaches-Developed-from-Bill-Reed-2007-10.png)
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Current building retrofits are predominantly focused on energy and cost efficiency at an individual building or building component scale. Whilst the aspirations of these retrofits are crucial to the sustainable development of our built environment, we can and need to do better. Many argue that we need a shift in worldview from mechanistic to regene...
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Context 1
... suggests that to support current human systems, "cities must be retrofitted to increase indigenous ecosystems and eco-services [1]." [10]). Figure 1 highlights the range and trajectory of the different sustainability approaches so as to emphasise the need to shift from degenerating to regenerating systems. The fragmented, technological driven systems that are evident in today's conventional, green and high performing buildings can only hope to achieve a net-zero or carbon neutral impact. ...
Context 2
... design concept, this idea of a building envelope to improve indoor quality and restore the surrounding environment is clearly evident in the work of eco-architect Ken Yeang. His 'Solaris' building in Singapore emphasises an ecological approach to building design with a 1500m perimeter 'green ramp' which wraps around the façade of the building (Fig. 10). This ramp allows for "fluid movement of organisms and plant species between all vegetated areas within the building, enhancing biodiversity and contributing to the overall health of these ecosystems [11]." Furthermore, the green areas of this building not only reduce its overall energy consumption, but provide social and interactive ...
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This report is the final PART IV of a series of reports for the IEA EBC Annex 68. The overall objective is the development of an integrated Heat, Air, Moisture and Pollution (iHAMP) model for the built environment in MatLab/SimuLink and Comsol.
The methodology consists of four steps:
Step 1. Benchmark existing state-of-the-art HAM models of build...
Citations
... Paradigm shift from conventional design to regenerative design approach. (Inspired from the work of Bill Read[2] and Craft et al.[18].) ...
The pursuit of sustainable design has made strides in improving building practices, yet traditional approaches often fall short in addressing the holistic needs of both the environment and human well-being. This research delves into the emerging field of regenerative design, which extends beyond sustainability by seeking to restore and enhance ecological and human systems. By integrating regenerative principles into indoor environments, this study evaluates their impact on indoor environmental quality (IEQ). Through a comprehensive literature review, the research demonstrates that regenerative design can significantly enhance air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, and acoustics, ultimately creating healthier and more productive indoor spaces. This paper also discusses potential challenges and outlines future research directions to further advance the application of regenerative design in building practices.
... Through an extensive review of the literature, it highlights how regenerative approaches can foster healthier, more productive environments. Additionally, the manuscript identifies challenges in implementing 3 [2] and Craft et al. [12]). ...
The pursuit of sustainable design has made strides in improving building practices, yet traditional approaches often fall short in addressing the holistic needs of both the environment and human well-being. This research delves into the emerging field of regenerative design, which extends beyond sustainability by seeking to restore and enhance ecological and human systems. By integrating regenerative principles into indoor environments, this study evaluates their impact on indoor environmental quality (IEQ). Through a comprehensive literature review, the research demonstrates that regenerative design can significantly enhance air quality, thermal comfort, lighting, and acoustics, ultimately creating healthier and more productive indoor spaces. This paper also discusses potential challenges and outlines future research directions to further advance the application of regenerative design in building practices.
... Numerous research papers have been published dealing with the subject of renovating buildings with a focus on energy efficiency. These studies have mostly focused on the effectiveness of various building renovation measures [13,14] in terms of potential energy savings for different building typologies [15][16][17][18][19][20], economic potential [21][22][23], environmental implications [24][25][26][27], indoor environmental quality (IEQ) [28,29], or the evaluation of the impact that building renovations have on residents' health and well-being [30,31]. However, there are far fewer studies that specifically explore the potential and possibilities of vertically extending existing buildings. ...
Vertical addition to already-existing structures is an approach to energy-efficient building renovation. It presents an opportunity for the densification of built-up areas and the construction of new usable spaces. While many studies have dealt with the subject of renovating buildings with a focus on energy efficiency, far fewer studies have specifically examined the potential of vertically extending existing buildings, an approach which could be introduced in new sustainable building policies. The objective of this study is to redevelop optimal timber–glass upgrade modules, considering the ideal proportions of glazing for all cardinal directions, by using discrete Mixed-Integer Non-Linear Programming optimization. The novelty of the suggested method resides in the synchronous optimization of the upgrade modules’ daylighting and energy-efficiency performance, resulting in the creation of optimization methods that can determine the optimal glazing proportions for all cardinal directions and incorporate rational design and window measurement. The impact of the developed Mixed-Integer Non-Linear Programming-optimized upgrade modules is compared to previously designed optimized upgrade modules. Finally, a methodology for estimating the energy efficiency of building renovations incorporating vertical additions using the timber–glass upgrade modules was developed, supporting the quick assessment of the reduction in hybrid buildings’ energy consumption for heating and cooling according to boundary conditions, presuming that they undergo the suggested renovations. The findings are applicable (not exclusively) to Slovenia’s residential building stock, which makes up around 20% of the country’s current housing stock and was mainly constructed between 1946 and 1970. This offers a substantial opportunity to improve the overall sustainability and energy efficiency of the country’s housing stock. The proposed approach offers a holistic solution to drive sustainable development in the built environment by incorporating all three pillars of sustainability (environmental, social, and economic).
... The regenerative concept redefines our understanding of the built environment, shifting away from the traditional building-centric definition to encompass the interconnections among buildings, infrastructure, natural systems, and the broader context of communities, including their culture, economy, and politics (Mang and Reed, 2012). To enable the construction industry to shift towards regenerative thinking, Craft et al. (2017) concluded that less emphasis needs to be placed on building elements and more on processes that focus on the co-evolution of the whole system; that is making a case for humans to be equally and part of the built environment. ...
... Extant studies have been able to reveal several regenerative practices that could be incorporated during the design stage of construction SCM. For example, Craft et al. (2017) proposed a set of regenerative design practices in developing a design model aimed at investigating the fundamental interactions between human and natural systems, thus providing net-positive benefits. Their study revealed that creating a visually engaging entrance that blends natural elements with social interaction spaces such as walkways and integrating a building façade that extends to integrate planter boxes are important regenerative design practices. ...
... Conversely, NBS in buildings entail integrating greenery such as green roofs, green and living walls with sustainable drainage systems to restore, safeguard, and sustainably manage the built and surrounding environment. Craft et al (2017) showed how this approach is also promising for building retrofitting, improving occupants' health, and connecting to nature. Expanding this holistic approach in the urban scale, the UHI effect can be mitigated, biodiversity will be enhanced, and urban livability standards will be elevated by fostering regenerative urban environments (Goodwin et al 2023). ...
To achieve the objectives of COP28 for transitioning away from fossil fuels and phasing these out, both natural and technological solutions are essential, necessitating a step-change in how we implement social innovation. Given the significant CO2 emissions produced by the building sector, there is an urgent need for a transformative shift towards a net-zero building stock by mid-century. This transition to zero-energy and zero-emission buildings is difficult due to complex processes and substantial costs. Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) offers a promising solution due to the benefits of enhanced energy efficiency and electricity production. The availability of roof and façade space in offices and other types of buildings, especially in large cities, permits photovoltaic integration in both opaque and transparent surfaces. This study investigates the synergistic relationship between solar conversion technologies and nature-based components. Through a meta-analysis of peer-reviewed literature and critical assessment, effective BIPVs with greenery (BIPVGREEN) combinations suitable for various climatic zones are identified. The results highlight the multi-faceted benefits of this integration across a range of techno-economic and social criteria and underscore the feasibility of up-scaling these solutions for broader deployment. Applying a SWOT analysis approach, the internal strengths and weaknesses, as well as the external opportunities and threats for BIPVGREEN deployment, are investigated. The analysis reveals key drivers of synergistic effects and multi-benefits, while also addressing the challenges associated with optimizing performance and reducing investment costs. The strengths of BIPVGREEN in terms of energy efficiency and sustainable decarbonization, along with its potential to mitigate urban and climate temperature increases, enhance its relevance to the built environment, especially for informal settlements. The significance of prioritizing this BIPVGREEN climate mitigation action in low-income vulnerable regions and informal settlements is crucial through the minimum tax financing worldwide and citizen’s engagement in architectural BIPVGREEN co-integration.
... Also, several green rating systems have been developed to demonstrate the impact of green buildings and cities on the environment [8]. This approach shifted into the "restorative design" that requires the renovation of ecological and social systems [3,5,6,9] through the use of natural sources (e.g., light, ventilation, energy, water), and RES (e.g., PV, wind energy) [10,11]. Recently, the "regenerative design" [3,12] aims at creating a positive interaction between built, human, and natural systems for minimizing negative effects of degeneration processes [4]. ...
The growing interest in applying photovoltaics for construction results in solutions based on the concept of integration with the architecture of the building and its surroundings. This means that the challenge lies not only in the technical integration itself but also in a strictly relationship with architecture. The study aims at determining a critical history of the evolution of photovoltaic architecture, narrowing down its role in the contemporary architecture design, in terms of firmitas (structure), utilitas (functionality), and venustas (aesthetics) of the building as well as its relationship with the environment. This study offers an architectural perspective on the design approaches through the carefully selection of several case study to illustrate main topics, design criteria, limitations, and challenges with a broad spectrum of interpretation. The results demonstrate that the development of integrated photovoltaic systems strengthens the relationship between PV technology and architecture in terms of structure, utility, and aesthetics. This relationship is synergistic and stimulates the parallel development of photovoltaic technology and architectural solutions.
... This understanding aids construction stakeholders in recognizing the potential of proposed environments and guiding the development of design and construction solutions. Examples of regenerative construction practices that stem from the social constructivism theory include: Incorporating public art and design features for human delight and establishing place-based relationships (ILFI, 2019;Petrovski et al., 2021), Prioritizing construction materials from ethically and inclusively oriented manufacturers, considering gender equality and responsible working conditions (Peretti and Druhmann, 2019), Designing visually engaging entrances that seamlessly blend natural elements with opportunities for social interaction within buildings (Craft et al., 2017), among others. ...
... Regenerative construction practices rooted in the living system theory include: Integral Assessment, which evaluates sites as holistic living systems encompassing cultural, geographic, climatic, and ecological aspects (Mang and Reed, 2020), Considering cultural and aesthetic values during construction while ensuring occupants' access to essential elements like sunlight, fresh air, food, clean water, and soil (Forsberg and de Souza, 2021;ILFI, 2019), Redesigning discarded building components for adaptability to evolving community needs (Çimen, 2021;Xuili and Maliene, 2021), Incorporating nature-inspired elements such as urban agriculture, green roofs, ecological networks, and biophilic design approaches Craft et al., 2017), and more. ...
... Examples of regenerative construction practices grounded in the complex system theory include: Fostering community involvement and support for construction workers to establish a sense of belonging and mutual assistance (Peretti and Druhmann, 2019;Thomson and Newman, 2018), Employing participatory decision-making models that consider diverse perspectives and feedback throughout the construction and planning phases (Dalla Mora et al., 2018;Giorgi et al., 2019), Selecting construction materials that promote biodiversity and ecosystem services (Craft et al., 2017;Mang and Reed, 2012), among numerous others. ...
While sustainable construction practices effectively reduce environmental impact, their exclusive focus on
environmental, economic, and social goals limits their ability to actively foster positive transformation and
ecosystem restoration. Addressing the growing challenges in the built environment necessitates a shift to
regenerative practices within the construction industry. Unlike sustainability, regenerative practices go beyond
the concept of merely sustaining the status quo; they are geared towards actively enhancing and restoring the
built environment over time. However, implementing these practices is less prominent in the construction industry due to the absence of a suitable tool for evaluating their expected performance outcomes. This study
bridges this gap by introducing a novel performance evaluation framework for implementing regenerative
construction practices, establishing a benchmark for implementation. Through an extensive literature review and
data collection from a committee of regenerative outcome leads, we employ the Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchical
Process (FAHP) to establish interconnections among key regenerative performance criteria. Results highlight the
dominant significance of “Healthy, more resilient, and connected communities,” surpassing other criteria like
“Thriving and prosperous natural systems,” “Prosperous and resilient local economies,” and “Net-positive
environmental development.” The proposed evaluation framework offers theoretical and practical implications,
fostering a new theoretical approach that exceeds sustainability standards and provides tangible guidance for
construction decision-makers.
... -"Stimulate human nature co-habitation and local biodiversity": Creation of shared spaces where humans interact with each other and with nature, accommodating green space and promoting biodiversity (Attia, 2018;Craft et al., 2017;Kubbinga et al., 2018). Examples include urban farming (Thomaier et al., 2014) and green roof ecosystems (Calheiros & Stefanakis, 2021). ...
... -"Exchange excess resources": Capturing economic value from regenerative building operation. Positive buildings are equipped with advanced technologies that allow them to share surplus resources with their surroundings (energy, water, food and others) (Craft et al., 2017). Particularly for energy, recent years have seen tremendous advancements in smart grid technology that allow prosumers (consumers who also produce and sell energy) to trade surplus energy within their neighbourhoods (Mengelkamp et al., 2017). ...
This thesis explores the integration of Circular Economy (CE) principles of narrow, slow, close, and regenerate in the social housing practice through digital technologies. Beginning with the examination of the CE implementation in Dutch social housing organisations, the research extends its focus to the broader built environment, introducing the Circular Digital Built Environment Framework and identifying ten enabling technologies. Subsequent chapters explore realworld applications of these digital technologies in circular new built, renovation, maintenance, and demolition projects of forerunner social housing organisations. The thesis includes a comprehensive study of material passports, addressing challenges around data management and proposing a digitally-enabled framework. The thesis concludes with critical reflections on the findings and their implications and provides further recommendations for research and practical applications in advancing circularity in the building industry through digital technologies.
... Previous studies have defined the theoretical basis for understanding regeneration, while more recent research on the topic has explored aspects such as a literature review focusing on urban regenerative thinking [40], investigations into linking regenerative principles with building retrofits [41], development of a design process guide for communities [42], and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a Living Building [43]. Search queries conducted on the Web of Science and Scopus databases using combinations of regenerative design, BIM, computational, and parametric keywords returned few relevant results. ...
Design methods, frameworks, and green building certifications have been developed to create a sustainable built environment. Despite sustainability advancements, urgent action remains necessary due to climate change and the high impact of the built environment. Regenerative Design represents a shift from current practices focused on reducing environmental impacts, as it aims to generate positive effects on both human and natural systems. Although digital design methods are commonly employed in sustainable design practice and research, there is presently no established framework to guide a digital regenerative design process. This study provides an analysis of existing literature on regenerative design and digital design methods and presents a framework based on building information modelling (BIM) methodology and computational design methods, that can be applied to both urban and building design. This framework identifies digital tools and organizes indicators based on the pillars of climate, people, and nature for regenerative design, drawing upon a comprehensive analysis of literature, including standards, sustainability frameworks and research studies. The framework is illustrated through a case study evaluation. The paper also highlights the potential and limitations of digital methods concerning regenerative design and suggests possibilities for future expansion by incorporating additional quantifiable indicators that reflect research developments, to achieve positive outcomes.
... Representing on an axis the degenerative-regenerative evolution, the level of sustainability is located in the neutral point, the transition point from degenerative systems to regenerative systems (Plaut et al., 2012;Craft et al., 2017), Fig. 3. The regenerative design promotes the site of placement, as the primary starting point, and the connection of people with the spirit of the place. ...
... The evolution of the relationship between built environment and natural environment(Craft et al., 2017). ...
The built environment, through the consumption of energy from non-renewable sources and the associated CO 2 emissions, as well as through the production of waste throughout its life cycle and the effects of soil and water degradation, contributes significantly not only to the phenomenon of climate change, but also to the irreversible degradation of the natural environment. The concept of regenerative design provides a framework for a holistic approach to these issues in order to identify the most effective remedies, proposing the restoration and regeneration of the global socio-ecological environment through a system of engineering practices suitable to the specific context. The defining aspects of the regeneration applied in the buildings sector refer to the architecture and inserting in the natural environment ensuring a healthy and well-being indoor environment, reducing to zero the consumption of energy from non-renewable sources and promoting renewable energy sources, minimizing carbon footprint by rational use of materials and waste management throughout the life cycle.
