Regenerative Built Environments Are Grounded in Living Systems Thinking

Working regeneratively requires understanding how life works as a living system. In the built environment, this translates to seeing any project as an interconnected part of a much larger system, which has the potential to influence its behaviour and structure. By adopting this living systems perspective, this chapter offers a new direction on why and whom we are building for. A building, neighbourhood or city becomes an opportunity to engage with and contribute to the healthy functioning of the living world around us. This chapter presents two key strategies that demonstrate how the built environment can be delivered through living systems thinking and act as a bridge and support a more harmonious relationship between humans and nature. The first strategy relates to prioritising direct and indirect connections with nature in the built environment and the important role of nature-based solutions to increase resilience and restore damaged ecosystems. The second strategy explores how the built environment can engage and contribute to its larger system through multi-functional design and small targeted interventions. Practical examples from around the world are presented throughout this chapter to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing living systems thinking and its central role in delivering regenerative built environments.