Regenerative Design and Development - A Pioneer's Perspective

Regenerative design and development is next-generation sustainability innovation now, in its formative moment.  “Sustainability is a neighborhood phenomenon,” Busby says. “We’re moving from buildings to communities—it’s whole-systems thinking.”

Regenerative design is an approach where "each operation in a building's construction is measured by its positive impact on human and natural systems." The approach requires on-going research by architects, engineers and sustainability strategists to advance practice. That research has been occurring in different corners of the profession, is gathering momentum, and coalescing into the outlines of a practice.

Regenerative buildings and communities offer the most comprehensive opportunity for rethinking the role of building and planning as a catalyst to positively support the co-evolution of human and natural systems. The opportunity has challenged us to begin creating tools and frameworks that assist us in developing the “new mind” required to fully shift prevailing design models. 

Explore the topic through the lens of Peter Busby, a long-time pioneer and champion of regenerative design and recently appointed managing director of Perkins+Will's San Francisco office.

• An overview lecture on the roots of sustainable design on June 6th at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, 6-8 pm (free Eventbrite ticket and summary).
• Article: Towards a New Relationship with Nature: Research and Regenerative Design in Architecture. 
• Living Future Workshop Summary.
• Perkins+Will Bio, including links to cases and related resources.
• Perkins+Will press release. 
• Article, Architect Magazine, AIA: Perkins+Will Portfolio, and links to four cases:
  • VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre
  • Energy.Environment.Experiential Learning  
  • The Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability  
  • Studio Visit: Perkins +Will