Cole, R J; Oliver, A and Robinson, J (2013) Regenerative design, socio-ecological systems and co-evolution. Building Research & Information, 41(2), pp. 237-247. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
A key notion in regenerative design is the co-evolutionary, partnered relationship between socio-cultural and ecological systems, which requires an explicit engagement with the implications and consequences of future design decisions. However, despite the extensive literature in other disciplines regarding the co-evolution of socio-cultural and ecological systems, this approach has yet to receive serious scrutiny within the context of the built environment and within the emerging notions of regenerative development and design. Drawing on an interdisciplinary body of literature, a discussion is initiated on how socio-cultural and ecological systems and their co-evolution might connect to the concept of regenerative design. Following a critique of a relevant example highlighting the current practice of regenerative design, the new building for the Centre for Interactive Research on Sustainability at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, potentially relevant aspects of a socio-ecological system and of evolution theories are examined for the built environment. Several observations are presented on how these may offer a stronger theoretical framing of regenerative design, particularly the shifts in design thinking: from buildings as artefacts to their dynamic role in adaptive processes over time; widening the boundary focus of a building from its site to the neighbourhood.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | built environment; co-evolution; conceptual frameworks; evolution; regenerative design; socio-ecological systems |
| Index terms: | artefact, drawing, conceptual framework, critique, design decision, regenerative design, socio-ecological system, built environment, evolution, framing |
| Subjects: | conceptual models, sustainability and energy, technical documentation, infrastructure and transport systems, environmental science, evaluation and assessment methods, sociology, design practice, theoretical framing |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Design Practice, Urban Studies, Research Practice |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCA |
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