Clegg, P (2012) A practitioner's view of the 'regenerative paradigm'. Building Research & Information, 40(3), pp. 365-368. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
The Building Research & Information special issue titled 'Regenerative Design and Development' (2012, volume 40, number 1) describes emerging theory and practices. This commentary reflects on some practical aspects of understanding and implementing regenerative development. Design professionals can certainly engage with the concepts of regenerative design to increase social and natural capital. Its scope provides for increased boundaries of practice by considering not only the building as an artefact, but also the potential to broaden the brief and engage with wider issues: the surrounding site, the encouragement of a low-carbon lifestyle and providing a positive contribution to eco-services. Drawing on some experience from practice, key challenges are raised: What impediments are likely to arise? What methodologies are needed for overcoming impediments and integrating these ideas into practice? How can the regenerative concept be applied to an urban context? Concern is expressed about how the complexity of systems thinking can be translated into the decision-making processes without adding undue complication. An important implication of regenerative development is for the existing building stock to be treated as a valuable resource of embodied carbon; its prolonged life and avoided demolition are fundamental.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | built environment; design framework; design practices; regenerative design; sustainable building; sustainable development |
| Index terms: | design framework, systems thinking, building research, embodied carbon, design practice, regenerative design, encouragement, lifestyle, drawing, decision-making process, sustainable development, building stock, artefact, practitioner, built environment, sustainable building, paradigm, methodology, boundaries, complexity |
| Subjects: | analytical methods, property law, sustainability and energy, technical documentation, practitioner, environmental impact, systems engineering, infrastructure and transport systems, research management, sociology, decision analysis, asset management, demography, sustainable construction, design process, health safety and environment, research methods, management, design practice, education and knowledge transfer |
| Topics: | Legal Issues, Design Practice, Urban Studies, Human Resources, Risk Management, Roles and Professions, Sustainability, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Research Practice, Engineering Principles |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here