A regenerative design framework: Setting new aspirations and initiating new discussions

Given the success of building environmental assessment methods in moving green performance criteria into mainstream practice, it is anticipated that similar support tools will be necessary to make regenerative design and development approaches more widespread. This paper describes the rationale, design and potential application of a framework developed to support regenerative design and development in practice and, in particular, the transition from current green practices and discussions to those shaped by regenerative principles. Rather than present sets of specific design strategies and directives that could inhibit creative solutions, the framework is populated with provocative questions. These are considered the most effective basis for initiating a different and expanded dialogue between the design team members and with the client and users and to engage a broader range of possibilities by moving beyond the immediate building and site boundaries. Moreover, while the framework has a consistent structure, the questions change and can be adapted to different situations - from community engagement, design charrettes and team meetings to detailed design explorations.