Regenerative Architecture as a pathway beyond sustainability by catherineronniecook

DE MONTFORT UNIVERSITY FACULTY OF ART, DESIGN & HUMANITIES

LEICESTER SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

Regenerative Architecture as a pathway beyond sustainability: Regenerative Architecture as a pathway beyond sustainability: A study of living architecture using theories of regenerative design within the urban environment comparing Une Bosco Verticale with The Shard and Harmonia 57 with The Garden City.

A study of living architecture using theories of regenerative design within the urban environment comparing Une Bosco Verticale with The Shard and Harmonia 57 with The Garden City. Catherine Cook p2411076

Catherine Cook p2411076 Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MArch

2019

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY

I confirm by submitting this work for assessment that I am its sole author, and that all quotations, summaries or extracts from published sources have been correctly referenced. I confirm that this work, in whole or in part, has not been previously submitted for any other award at this or any other institution.

I would like to sincerely thank Dr Alona Martinez Perez for her provision whilst writing this paper, even though it is not specifically within her field of expertise, she offered encouragement and support throughout. I would also like to acknowledge Louise Mitchinson BSc Msc MRCOT who currently works as an occupational therapist and has kindly proof read this work.

Originality Report: 4%

Word count: 9986

Abstract This paper investigates the emerging field of regeneration within the built environment, focusing on cities, the theory and practice behind it and how it is a way of designing for the future. Creating regenerative architecture. The percentage of the global population predicted to live in cities is continually increasing, along with a heightened consciousness to be environmentally aware and responsible. This percolates into architecture and the need for a step beyond the current definition of sustainable design (Du Plessis and Brandon, 2015). The objective of looking forward to regenerative design and development is to enable and encourage communities, places and ecosystems to survive together, not as separate entities. Comparisons will be drawn between two types of buildings within cities. One that emulates salient green design strategies and another that demonstrates regenerative architecture. This paper will illustrate the main differences and economic and ecological benefits of regenerative buildings compared to those that have been designed with less environmental integrity. This paper aims to further explore sustainability, as we know it. The emergence of regenerative architecture within the urban environment will be examined, as well as the theory that regenerative development represents and promotes a mutually evolutionary partnership between the natural world and human beings; it will also explain why we are aiming for this partnership. This paper will define, differentiate, distinguish and evaluate the relationship and contrasting qualities between sustainable, restorative and regenerative design, and their affiliated frameworks. Providing an understanding on how they engage with the natural environment and for what purpose. It will also explore how applications of regenerative design are successful within cities and what their limitations and gaps are, along with recommendations for further reading and research.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Introduction .......................................................................................................... 11 2 Literature & Theory .............................................................................................. 17 2.1 Literature Review........................................................................................... 17 2.2 Theory / Methodology .................................................................................... 18 3 Theory of Regeneration ....................................................................................... 19 3.1 The Language of Sustainability ..................................................................... 19 3.1.1 Sustainability, a Less Destructive Approach ........................................... 21 3.2 The Shift Between Restoration and Regeneration and Importance of Place.24 3.3 The Theory of Biophiic Design ...................................................................... 27 4 A New Mindset ..................................................................................................... 28 4.1 Ecological worldview VS Mechanistic Worldview .......................................... 28 5 Sustainable cities ................................................................................................. 30 5.1 The Problem With Our Cities ......................................................................... 30 5.2 Cities As the Solution .................................................................................... 31 6 Case Studies 1 .................................................................................................... 32 6.1 Une Bosco Verticale ...................................................................................... 33 6.1.1 Urban Forestry ........................................................................................ 36 6.1.1.1 Adapting to Local Biodiversity ........................................................... 39 6.1.1.2 Toward A Forest City ........................................................................ 42 6.2 The Shard ...................................................................................................... 42 6.3 Summary ....................................................................................................... 43 7 Case Studies 2 .................................................................................................... 45 7.1 Harmonia 57 .................................................................................................. 45

7.2 The Garden City ............................................................................................ 49

List of figures

7.2.1 Garden City Theory ................................................................................. 49 7.3 Summary ....................................................................................................... 50

Number

Page

8 Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 53 9 Recommendation for Further Research .............................................................. 54

Trajectory of design, range of sustainability approaches and how 12 they are applied within the built environment. Distinguishes the main variations of green, restorative and regenerative.

Deforestation in Myanmar, the country has some of the vastest remaining forests in Asia yet it suffers substantial deforestation and illegal exploitation including logging and expansion of agriculture and urban lands.

Cattle farm inhabiting land that was once the Amazon Rainforest. 16 Cattle ranching is the biggest cause of deforestation in the Amazon, Brazil has the largest commercial cattle herd in the world and tops the worlds beef export charts. Thousands of species will have lost their lives and homes for this land clearance

Regenesis Group levels of work needed in order to achieve a continuous mutual evolution between natural systems and human beings.

Unsuccessful storm management design in Los Angeles showing poor engineering.

Natural storm management system in South America.

A framework spiral that illustrates how the three elements needed 26 for truly sustainable living come together to reach the end goal of coevolution within the natural world on a theoretical basis.

28 Example of Biophilic Design used in Amazon building in Seattle, featuring plants, sunlight, soil and water that links urban spaces with nature on a smaller extent.

Graph depicting the population and the rising rate of those who live in cities compared to urban areas.

10.

Diagram showing the varied species of plants and animals that live in and around Une Bosco Verticale two towers.

11.

Elevation of Une Bosco Verticale that shows the balconies with trees 35 and plants intertwined throughout the faรงade to create a living,

10 List of illustrations .............................................................................................. 56 11 Bibliography ....................................................................................................... 60 11.1 Books ........................................................................................................... 60 11.2 Journals ....................................................................................................... 61 11.3 Websites ...................................................................................................... 61 11.4 Articles ......................................................................................................... 62 11.5 Essays ......................................................................................................... 63

breathing structure. 12.

Elevation of Une Bosco Verticale that shows the building in surrounding context in Milan.

13.

Une Bosco Verticale view that shows how residents will live within the outdoor spaces.

14.

Diagram depicting the hydration and irrigation system, the calculation of requirements was carried out by examining the characteristics of the climate and was changed dependent on the exposure of each façade to the sun and how the vegetation is distributed on each level.

15.

Façade of Harmonia 57, showing the running pipes around the façade and green walls.

25.

Façade of Harmonia 57, showing the running pipes around the façade and green walls.

26.

Pipes and vegetation encasing the building

27.

The Garden City Theory Diagram by Ebeneezer Howard 1898, it aims to harness the benefits of a rural environment and city environment together.

Diagram of how the vertival forest microclimate operates, it filters fine particles that are present in urban environments, the plants help 38 to protect against noise pollution, produce oxygen and absorb c02 particles.

16.

Not to scale: Section of the building showing the interaction between humans and nature.

17.

Proposed Vertical Forest in Albania, the shrubs will be very vivid green colour and brightly coloured flowers in yellow and violet, as well as scented plants and herbs such as myrtle and rosemary.

18.

Climatic Zones in the world and how vertical forestry can be applied 41 to these zones and what vegetation will be successful.

19.

Forest City sketch by Stefano Boeri (2015)

20.

The Shard showing the steel structure and glass façade zoomed in to show the materiality.

21.

The Shard within the City of London skyline, showing the relative height within the city.

22.

Irrigation and hydration system diagram.

23.

Hydration system in action, the building breathes and sweats connecting to nature by using low tech elements such as sprinklers, tubes and plumbing tanks, these pipes border and encase the building.

24.

28.

Aerial photograph of Letchworth Garden City in Hertfordshire built in 51 1903 by Ebeneezer Howard

29.

Principles of Regenerative Design as a form of suggestions for further research. Heerwagen, Kellert and Mador (2008)

30.

Vertical forest proposal in Singapore by WOHA (2016).

44 47 46

INTRODUCTION

It is predicted that by 2030, 60% of the global population will live in cities (Boeri, 2017). Cities significantly contribute to climate change; urban environments consume 75% of the world’s natural resources, with buildings and transport being among the biggest problems. Climate change impacts cities and urban life through increased global temperatures, leading to extreme weather. This has a costly impact on basic services, housing, infrastructure and human health (C40 Group, 2017) If we want to reverse climate change, the continued survival of living species and want to survive and more importantly thrive in an urban context as well as making our cities greener, cleaner and healthier (Watts, 2016). Then we must make designing and investing in regenerative buildings a priority (Regenesis, 2015). This paper will explore the theory of regenerative architecture and how it differs to other types of sustainable design and the idea that it can give back to the planets’ ecosystem. It will also explore different applications of regenerative architecture within urban contexts and provide a comparative to more traditional forms of architecture, looking at regenerative and living designs as a way to build for the future and move beyond the current sustainable method of “going green”. Climate change affects the world today more than ever which is why looking at alternative and forward thinking methods of environmentally friendly architecture is crucial to the built environment. As designers, our unified goal should be moving beyond ‘going green’. Instead we should focus on thriving and growing, not simply sustaining life. We should want to do better than just existing and using the world we live in to exist. It is important to ask, and answer the question of why more sustainable design is needed. Currently regenerative design is not a widely applied practice. There is very little literature existing regarding theories of regenerative design taken forward and applied within the built environment. This research will help to identify how these types of design could potentially be used within our Thereby filling gaps in the research of regenerative design. If cities like Milan, which will be further discussed in Chapter 5, successfully incorporate this type of design into their urban environments and provide a long-term plan of strategy then this could become stepping-stone to introduce it into more cities. This paper will develop the existing writings on regeneration within the design field, taking the current research into regenerative theories and real world applications of regenerative design and closing the gap as to why this new type of design is essential for the future. It will look It will look at how a new way of designing and building can be adopted and the reasons why this is critical within our cities. Sustainable, environmentally responsible and efficient high performance buildings have become important issues within the built environment today. The combined concerns of increased population and the depletion of fossil fuels and natural resources is a widely recognised problem (McLamb, 2011). The next step to combating the environmental crisis is to look at new ways of thinking (see fig 1.). Which will lead to new informed ways of designing and regeneration is one of these methods. Regenerative Design aims to go

beyond traditional approaches of environmentally viable design (Regenesis, 2015). To understand the concept of “regenerative design”, the difference between regeneration and simply being sustainable or green must be acknowledged. (fig 1.) This paper will discuss forms of design on the spectrum of sustainability. The theory of current and necessary mindset will be illustrated and how as designers, we must change the way we think about creating in order to facilitate a healthier planet.

Figure 1. Trajectory of approaches of design showing the main processes used within this paper. Catherine Cook (2019) Sources: Bill Reeds trajectory of ecological design (2007)

The current standard of designing and constructing does not have a high regard for the environment, what is needed for a building to be considered sustainable is very low. When something is built, if it acknowledges the environment in any form it is deemed successful (Littman, 2009). Regenerative Architecture goes beyond this and responds to the surrounding ecosystem and living organisms, recognising that natural systems exist and should become the building blocks of the design and not just a site that needs to be cleared in order to build on. Regeneration treats the environment as an equal shareholder in architecture (Littman, 2009). It puts forward the theory that design is based on the foundation that everything we construct has potential for integration in the natural world. The definition of architecture is “the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings.” (Reed, 2007) This common description is incomplete, as the range of possibilities for integration and regeneration do not exist within this definition, and we are limited to architecture just being a building or piece of construction (Reed, 2007). A building exists within a place and site, why do we remove the building from the site in which it exists in the

definition? Site and place is required for the building to exist yet designers view them as separate entities. We should be designing and constructing within the place through the amalgamation of site and building. Including both of these is the only way in which a building can truly be beyond sustainable; this theory of place importance is further discussed in chapter two. Sustainability is frequently talked about in terms of efficiency but regenerative design methods go much further than this. Not only does regenerative design encourage us to push boundaries and consider the economic and ecological impacts, it also looks to simplify the way we approach designing. It encourages us to focus on the space and site more and the natural systems available. The built environment is a principal user of natural resources, which is new methods are needed, we must start to change our thinking pattern when it comes to being truly sustainable. In terms of the wider picture, collectively, as a planet we are losing 18.7 million acres of forests annually through deforestation, (see fig. 2) this is equivalent to 27 football fields every minute. One of the reasons for this destruction of forest is to create more land for livestock (see fig .3) (Bradford, 2018). Trees and forests play a vital role in vindicating climate change as they absorb the carbon dioxide that would be in the air around us and deforestation harshly destabilizes this. (World Wildlife Fund, n.d.) This is why it is important when discussing regenerative techniques to also realise how we are removing vital parts of the ecosystem, which provide life for us and many other plant and animal species. The concern with regenerative development and theory is that it is not simple in terms of setting and measuring performance goals. Regeneration uses a more organic approach as opposed to a strategic one with results and data. As this new type of sustainability is relatively new, there is a wide need for long term studies into regeneration to gain a better knowledge of eventual benefits and outcomes however this paper will look at the current applications and practices of regenerative, adaptive and living buildings in cities today. This paper will approach the question in sections. The introduction covered above establishes what this paper will be focused on, and it identifies the gaps within the current literature surrounding the topic of regenerative design and introduces the current research within the design and building field. It also establishes why this research is needed, the current health of the planet and increased awareness into ecological issues that can be improved and stopped by human beings.

Chapter 3 will introduce the wider theory of regenerative design and examine the definitions provided by key theorists, which are highlighted within the Methodology section. It will present how sustainability and regeneration is situated within the world today and explain how the concept of sustainability, in terms of environmental approachability, is not good enough. Chapter 4 will further discuss how changes are needed for the planet to remain a healthy and a thriving habitat for all species of life such as a shift from a mechanistic way of thinking toward an ecological one. (Du Plessis and Brandon, 2015) (see fig 1.) One that will provide relief on the world and use less resources, less energy and produce less waste that has a direct impact on environmental wellbeing. One field that has started demonstrating positive changes through considered thinking and processes is the built environment, an area that currently has a considerable impact on global systems and resources. Architects and designers can facilitate a response to the ecological problems faced today through evolution and application of new processes and theories, which are shaped to provide a type of architecture that feeds into the planets ecosystem. The current rigid worldview is discussed further in this paper and what is needed to shift global thinking to being more ecologically beneficial. This is important when considering what is needed to change to become a planet that looks toward regenerative design as a serious new method as it identifies the initial response, which is human thought. This is the first step needed to alter how we approach design and truly understanding the shift of mindset will provide a credible and authentic foundation for change. Chapter 5 offers insights and critically assesses how cities are the most damaging entity to our planet taking citations from Richard Rogers and his ideas of how cities and the population grows without taking into account the impact on the environment. This directly connects the theory of regenerative design and the physical need to begin to introduce it into the built environment. The problems within our cities can start to be lessened if we change how we think and start to design and build differently. Now we have understood the theory and basis of regenerative design, what is needed in order to start incorporating it into our world and where this change should be made, in the place where climate damage is excessive.

The methodology following the Literature Review will discuss the methods undertaken to gather and complete the research. It will provide a foundation for explaining how the data of case studies was analysed and why this is the appropriate method of research.

Chapter 6 will examine two case studies as a method of as comparison between two high rise buildings of a similar typology, these are used to provide further understanding of a real life application of regenerative architecture. This section will examine a new type of tall building, Une Bosco Verticale, or The Vertical Forest, which departs from a solely image concerned structure toward one that puts emphasis on energy efficiency and functionality, a new architectural language compared to a more traditional approach to high rise, The Shard. These comparative case studies provide an insight into a typology of architecture utilised and presented in different ways. They are both aesthetically positive but what real benefits to they have for the long term? Are they more than just buildings in cities with no other

The Literature Review will provide an overview of key concepts, readings and their theorists as well as situating the research found in this paper within the existing knowledge of regenerative architecture.

purpose or addition to the place in which they are situated? This is backed up Gang (2008 p498) who comments on the absence of environmental responses within architecture:

â&#x20AC;&#x153;A plethora of contemporary tall building designs appear to lack genuine architecture for they employ eccentric forms to compete or attention and they poorly respond to their specific environment and the climateâ&#x20AC;? Emphasis is placed on Une Bosco Verticale as this essay focuses on regenerative design, as a new form of architecture and the purpose of the case studies are to introduce these real applications to form a better understanding of regeneration. The main objective is to bridge the gaps between theory and application to provide a clearer comprehension of what is needed for a building to be regenerative. Chapter 7 will continue the discussion of applications of regenerative design with another two case studies. It uses low rise buildings and spaces to represent a comparative on a smaller scale than previous studies. The Garden City in Hertfordshire, London is widely known as the first garden city and represents a time when people began using green spaces for social, economic and environmental benefits within cities and urban settings. It could be acknowledged as a form of regenerative design at a very early stage and this is why it will provide an interesting case study to compare with a more modern form of regenerative architecture again, Harmonia 57 in Brazil as a breathing building.

Figure 2. Deforestation in Myanmar, the country is 45% covered by forest. Li Jia IUCN (2009)

2 3 Figure 3. A cattle farm in Mato Grosso, Brazil. 60% of all mammals on Earth are Livestock and forests are being destroyed to provide land for cattle. Daniel Beltra/Greenpeace (2018)

4 4.1

LITERATURE & THEORY LITERATURE REVIEW

Looking at a pathway beyond our traditional definition of sustainability will be approached in key sections, one of these is to reference the existing literature associated with Regeneration as a term, Regeneration as a design strategy and understanding the problem with our cities in order to understand why Regenerative Design is needed within them. The term behind the examined theory of Regenerative Design was widely used by Regenesis Group in “Designing for Hope: Pathways to Regenerative Sustainability (2015)”. This is where most of the definitions used within this paper originate. Regenesis Group is a collective of people from fields of architecture, business, landscape ecology, landscape design, urban planning, living systems theory and developmental psychology who have joined together to create a design practice specialising in regenerative development. Many of the strategies and theories used in this paper come from the people involved within Regenesis Group. The existing theories and research conducted by them help to provide a framework and basis for regeneration theory. A connection to these theories and application to the built environment will be made throughout. The built environment refers to Cities within this body of research, they are ever expanding with little regard being given to how the atmosphere and ecosystem will cope, and how they are major contributors to climate change. This is examined in Chapter 5. Continuing from Regenesis Group is - Designing from Place: a Regenerative Framework and Methodology (2012) written by Pamela Mang and Bill Reed. This looks at methods of regenerative practice and suggests a framework for adopting new techniques for both humans and designers. Throughout this paper, the idea of a new mindset will be embraced and discussed as a way of changing the way we think to become more conscious of the natural world around us. “Shifting our Mental Model – “Sustainability” to Regeneration” written by Bill Reed (2006) is used as a source to examine why a mindset shift is needed and how this can be implemented. This paper will look at how Reed’s (2006) work can be implemented within the built environment. These gaps between theory and application are the reason for this paper being written. It is hoped that a pathway beyond traditional sustainability can be identified which takes the idea of place into consideration whilst recognizing the problems we face in our cities. All of these aspects lead to a wider understanding of regenerative architecture as a route beyond what we, as humans, consider sustainability to be. Certain authors used within the body of this research simply refer to regenerative theories and showed no real world application. These theories will provide a strong basis in understanding regeneration theory however it will be the case studies that illustrate how regenerative design and thought is put into practice and what sort of visual aspect is also

demonstrated. Some of the authors used within the paper cover individual sections of what it takes to provide an end result beyond sustainability, these are broken down in methodology. Some of the theories mentioned do not relate to architecture however they go beyond “going green” and help accurately comprehend what is meant by Regenerative Design and why it is needed. Of specific importance within this dialogue are the impact that our cities have on the planet and the importance of creating sustainable cities by highlighting current issues within them. The main body of research will discuss citations from the book Cities For A Small Planet, Richard Rogers (2008). Rogers demonstrates how cities of the future could provide a foundation for restoring humanities affect on the environment. The book outlines the devastating effects that civilization has on the planet. This source helps to pinpoint underlying cultural and social problems and the lack of understanding we experience as humans and how this affects the natural world around us. This is an important piece of research to take reference from as it explains the reasons why new methods and mindsets are needed. This piece of literature helps to distinguish why we need to move forward from sustainability, to more innovative methods.

4.2

THEORY / METHODOLOGY

The research question of living architecture within urban environments will be examined and broken down by primarily understanding what regenerations means as a term and then what it means within architecture and finally what it means within a place or a city. This will be explored alongside the reasoning for this research, why it is needed today and how it is valid, as well as how it can be applied for future use and if it will be used in the future. This is fundamental as the reasoning for this paper and the gathering of the research is because of heightened environmental awareness in today’s economy and what can be done to try and combat climate change. Language definitions will be clarified in subsequent sections. The theory of regeneration within architecture can be lost in translation, it can be perceived as just being partly “sustainable” or “green”, which is incorrect. Regeneration goes beyond green design (see fig. 1) This paper will focus on applications of regeneration within cities whilst underlining the problems being faced within cities and more broadly, within the planet. As designers we do not take into consideration the spaces that surround the site we are building on, this

includes ecology, nor do most understand or have any knowledge of the reasons for considering the ecosystem when building.

survive in, it is important to understand the differences and benefits of regeneration as opposed to the more widely understood term of sustainability.

These determining theories of regeneration will help to identify gaps within current research and how they can be used together to truly understand what needs to be changed and why.

Regeneration as a general term is the theory of renewal through a body or system. Regenerative and living architecture describes processes that renew and revitalise their own sources of energy and materials, creating systems that integrate the requirements of society with the integrity of nature. It is a process that ultimately recognises that humans are an integral part of nature; the design process acknowledges that there is a necessary alignment between humans and natural systems that needs to be in place in order to achieve a state of continuous and healthy evolution. (Littman, 2009). Regenerative design can also be referred to as biophilic design, which literally means â&#x20AC;&#x153;love of natureâ&#x20AC;?. The term suggests a more evocative and passionate type of design; it unifies a deeper understanding and appreciation between nature and human beings- the idea of buildings being alive and creating bonds with nature to provide a positive and healthy outcome. It is a response to the human need to re-align our contact with nature in the built environment. (REstore, 2017). Regenesis Group has developed methods and frameworks (see fig. 4), which will be used within this paper. Part of the framework understands the need to regenerate the planetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ecosystems as a final goal and to do this, green and sustainable design to mitigate our impacts (operate and maintain). Hoewever, to sustain life we must engage the restoration and regeneration of the living systems around us (improve and regenerate). (Regenesis, 2015). Operate focuses on the green building movement, increasing efficiency of material and energy consumption. Maintain focuses on resilience. Potential is what exists but not yet fully manifested (Mang, Reed, 2012). Improve relates to restoration which is elaborated below, where humans attempt to restore an ecosystem. Regenerate goes much further than the current performance, it aims to improve its own self and performance.

In order to accurately understand what regenerative architecture actually means when applied to cities, case studies will be used as a form of qualitative and comparative data. They will highlight how they have been contemplated and how it is beneficial. There are gaps in current literature surrounding regenerations theories. There are pieces of research on living, adaptive and regenerative buildings however these fail to give examples of regenerative design in terms of real world applications. This paper will discuss two typologies and provide a comparative of these case studies. Une Bosco Verticale will be analysed alongside The Shard to draw differences in terms of design and environmental benefits, these are both high rise buildings situated within European cities. The Garden City in London and Harmonia 57 in Sao Paulo illustrate types of changes made to the built environment to produce a more ecologically and environmentally responsible design. They are both in an urban setting and represent a new way of thinking and designing in terms of a low-rise building. These case studies will provide insights into two typologies of building within cities and from this, where we can progress forward using regenerative methods and ways of thinking. Regenerative theories are explained within Chapter 3. The ideas behind what is needed to reach these theories, including a change of mindset are demonstrated in Chapter 4. The end products and case studies are shown in Chapters 6 and 7. Each of these gives a basis to understanding how this new type of design can be implemented.

A tier down is restorative design, which focuses on reversing the damage caused by nature or humans. It focuses on approaching design by using the architecture of a building to restore the capability of local natural system. Sustainable or green architecture focuses on achieving a low environmental impact design and puts an emphasis on being able to merely sustain the health of the worlds organisms and systems over time, not to provide anything more than stability or continuing and growing benefits to the ecosystem.

5.1

THEORY OF REGENERATION

THE LANGUAGE OF SUSTAINABILITY

To understand the theory that forms the basis of this paper, its imperative to recognise that the concept of regenerative development sits within the broader context of sustainability. To understand why regenerative design is needed in order to create a better world to

The principles of green design that are currently in practice are a step in the right direction however looking into long term benefits for the natural world, it needs to flourish and expand to consider more than just existing. It is missing the human elements; regenerative design provides a more holistic approach to building design. It aims to connect and create a harmonious working partnership between humanity and nature. This paper will analyse applications of regenerative design within an urban environment. The theory of sustainability on a spectrum is discussed further within this section. Living systems are capable of regeneration and renewal, they can adapt to sustain life and

avoid damage on the environment, the role of architecture in urban landscapes and in our cities can be seen as an opportunity to generate and act as a catalyst for renewal by utilising the difference systems of life. Mcgrath (2003, p116) supports this by: “Our attitude towards the world must be grounded in the deep structures of nature – structures that we did not place there and did not invent, but that were there before us, and must shape our responses to nature”

in the world, not merely just existing to exist. We can use the term of sustainability to associate with something that has less of a harmful approach, a mildly reduced impact on the planet. As Tom Vanderbilt (2008, p178) puts it: “I don’t like the term. It is not evocative enough. You don’t want your marriage to be sustainable, you want to be evolving, nurturing, learning. Efficiency doesn’t cut it either, it just means “less bad”. The term of being sustainable is used too widely within the built environment, it has become a catch phrase that most of the time just means meeting the minimum requirements without going beyond that in a forward thinking or positive way. As humans, we currently live in a counterproductive way, we are surrounded by things that degrade the quality of our world and we continue to add to the damage being done and we cannot fix the issues of buildings being unsustainable until we recognise and acknowledge that being “less harmful” isn’t good enough. Technology will not provide the answers, it has to be human based decision making (Mang, Reed, 2012). We must adopt the idea that everything is connected and reintegrate ourselves with the natural world around us. If we implement that we are a part of nature, it will lead us to enhancing the health and longevity of the environment.

Figure 4. Regenesis Group levels of work (2012)

5.1.1 SUSTAINABILITY, A LESS DESTRUCTIVE APPROACH

A “green” building focuses on using technology as means of conservation. It is widely seen as positive to reduce contribution to environmental damage however the methods typically used are not the most intelligent solutions for achieving a truly sustainable approach. The goal is to be sustainable in the long term of the planet, whereas “green” usually means natural methods are avoided and the environment is engaged with minimally. The trend of hybrid vehicles provides an analogy for this. The hybrid car is the car industries solution to the degrading climate conditions. It does provide relief, although the car will still burn fossil fuels in order to operate. (Regenesis, 2015)

An example of how human interference can cause more problems than there would have been without any human interaction can be seen in fig 4 and 5. It shows a simple storm water management route, these figures highlight the brash idea that humans are above the natural world, showing a lessened connection with our earth. It displays the way humans have tried to come up with a solution to the problem. Water is not a “problem” and does not actually require a solution. This type of regeneration illustrates the integration of human sand nature in a positive way, channeling the storm water to flow away from human development but in a natural and ecofriendly way. This example is a useful visual reference to aid the terms and theories discussed in this paper. An example of successful integration of human practices and nature; the highly engineered drainage system used in the Los Angeles River demonstrates a degradation of a natural system. Contrastingly, the drainage system of a healthy river watershed embodies an abundant environment for species in a complex natural environment.

By adopting the theory of regenerative architecture, we are providing solutions using, not ignoring, the natural world around us. Architecture has the capability of a positive existence

5.2

THE SHIFT BETWEEN RESTORATION AND REGENERATION AND IMPORTANCE OF PLACE.

This section first discusses the differences between restoration and regeneration and then the importance of place within the theory of regeneration. To understand the distinction between restoration and regeneration, it must be initially understood that an ecosystem can never be returned to its original condition. It is a living thing and is not sedentary. The traditional approach of restoration which aims to keep the ecosystem safe by keeping humans as far away from it, through conservation and other land protecting forms. (Regensis Group, 2015). This definition suggests that to restore something, means to reinstate it to a better condition, but we shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be looking to destroy something and then have to restore it afterwards. The intention should be to keep something or somewhere from being destroyed. Restorative design thinks about design in terms of using the activities of design and building to restore the capability of local natural systems to a healthy state of self-organization. (Reed, 2007) Figure 5. Unsuccesful example an over-engineered drainage system in Los Angeles. Regenesis Group (n.d)

Regenerative development takes the alternative approach of re-aligning humans with the ecosystem. Humans should be partners in this growth, unlike restorative design. A regenerative approach is based on the ideology that it is critical to truly understand the unique dynamics of a place, to truly benefit the surrounding ecosystem. A way to explain this is that one type of regeneration could work in one place, with a certain climate, but not another, which is why understanding place prior to design is key. The term biological diversity was first used by wildlife conservationist and scientist Raymond F. Dasmann in 1968. During the 1980â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s it became a common term within science and environmental discussion. Biodiversity generally refers to all viable life on earth. It recognises the vast existence of living organisms, considering plants and animals are important in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem and economy.

Figure 6. A natural storm management system in South America. Regenesis Group (n.d)

In summary, green design is insufficient, as it does not fill the potential that humans could have on this planet. Human activity could be organised in a way that continuously feeds living systems, as humans and designers we have the opportunity to do more than co-exist with other natural systems. It is not enough to want to mitigate the effects of human presence and activity (Reed, B. and Mang, P, 2012). This suggests that human behaviors can be directed toward harmonizing with the energies of nature. The end goal shouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be to preserve the ecosystem, or to restore it. (Reed, B. and Mang, P, 2012). The end goal should be the continual evolution of humans alongside the evolution of nature.

Place, refers to surroundings and context. It is a key part of the pathway to go beyond sustainability as the context in which a building sits can determine how it survives and what other natural conditions surround it, which is what regeneration aims to do â&#x20AC;&#x201C; take into consideration the immediate ecosystem and ecology. Place is considered as a unique, multilayered network of living systems within a geographic region that results from the complex interactions, through time, of the natural ecology and culture. (Reed, B. and Mang, P, 2012). To create a world that harmonises humans and nature, the place in where we are creating must be accounted for, this is why regenerative architecture does not have a â&#x20AC;&#x153;one size fits allâ&#x20AC;? framework. This gives us opportunity to design something that can be greatly beneficial within its landscape. An example of this is discussed within Une Bosco Verticale, discussed in subsequent chapters. Therefore, in order for co-evolution to be the end goal for humans and natural systems, we must place more importance on understanding where we are designing. This involves a more integrative thinking process to achieve this goal (see fig 4.) This diagram illustrates how all of these separate entities must amalgamate to continue the survival and health of species and planet.

Figure 7. Depicting the three phases that are needed to create regenerative architecture. Catherine Cook (2019)

5.3

THE THEORY OF BIOPHIIC DESIGN

Biophilic design is necessary when introducing Regenerative Theory as it provides an explanation into the amalgamation of human life and natural systems- two key components when discussing regenerative design. As previously stated, biophilia is the human inclination to join with nature. As humans we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t affiliate with nature and these systems as much as we should and yet we need the natural processes in order to exist. Most of our problem solving, critical thinking, emotional responses and construction abilities reflect the skills learned in close connection with natural processes (Dias, 2015). The natural world is all around us and has influenced the way that we interact and critically think-peoples physical and mental health remains dependent on the natural environment, so why do we try and fight the response to be a part of the natural world. We will destroy natural sites and trees in order to build on, when we could instead embrace the existing and harmonise with it.

Figure 8. Biophilic Design used in the Amazon Spheres in Seattle, linking nature with urban spaces (2018)

Biophilic design the first step in creating a strong co-evolving relationship between nature and humans, an example of simple biophilic design can be seen in fig 8 showing the Amazon Building Spheres in Seattle, these spheres are a botanic style workspace for their employees as well as being open to visitors. (Day, 2018). These changes made to a working environment solidify the relationship between nature and human life. Creating spaces that reflect natural elements is a key part of engineering a regenerative designed future for our cities.

6.1

A NEW MINDSET

ECOLOGICAL WORLDVIEW VS MECHANISTIC WORLDVIEW

In trends of sustainability, two worldviews are apparent through existing literature. A detachment to the natural world around us is known as a mechanical worldview, one that views a city or building as a machine. This mindset is dominant and suggests a strong disconnect from nature. (Du Plessis and Brandon, 2015) What is lost from this mindset is human consciousness, an emotional or personal connection to the world around us. In some technical aspects this may not matter but it is a key mindset to adopt for things that do affect us. Architecture is one of these things, it can be taken further and suggested that a lack of human consciousness in the universe cannot make the distinction between good and bad, beautiful and ugly. If we continue thinking in a mechanistic way, we risk losing our connection to the planet. This could lead to bad or harmful decisions. Architecture is a human act that invades and displaces the natural ecosystem. Biological order is destroyed every time we clear native plant growth and erect buildings and infrastructure. (Salingaros and Alexander, 2013). If we are considering architecture as an essential part of natural ecosystems then it only makes sense that any architecture does not harm the natural systems around it.

A useful metaphor for exploring the role of designers in a regenerative practice is that stated by Orr. (1992, p16)

scale implementation of regenerative design principles in cities, this will create a new design model to connect us to the world which we live in and will solidify the union between us, architecture, the ecosystem and the place which we choose to live and build.

“A gardener is consciously designing an ecosystem, nested within other ecosystems, in order to create and maintain the conditions for healthy growth through seasonal cycles and environmental perturbations. Success clearly requires an understanding of how living systems work, or ‘ecoliteracy’” He is suggesting that architects will design an ecosystem that amalgamates natural and human systems to generate greater health and longevity for both. The co-creative not just co-existing nature of regenerative processes requires cultural and physiological knowledge, which is discussed in chapter one. The awareness of the community and surroundings (place) that is designed within must be recognised in order to create a definitively regenerative design. The initial step on the journey to regeneration is a change in mindset. The idea of wanting to create spaces that are in line with nature is demonstrated within the Garden City case study; it is a simplified version of incorporating nature into the built environment and now, over 100 years later, we must keep pushing toward a forward thinking approach. Humans must develop a new way of thinking about how buildings are planned, designed and constructed and well as how they are then operated. This is supported by Ben Haggard (2002, p18) who states:

“Regenerative development derives much of its creative power from a fundamental shift of focus, a flipping of paradigms. Rather than seeing a site, or a development project, as a collection of things (slopes, drainages, roads, buildings, etc.), a regenerative designer cultivates the ability to see them as energy systems – webs of interconnected dynamic processes that are continually structuring and restructuring a site.” Bill Reed describes the unnatural design paradigm that we currently adopt as our principal means of construction in his 2006 article “Shifting our Mental Model – “Sustainability” to Regeneration”. He elaborates by stating that we mostly see systems as human designed and these have no regard for the continuous use of resources and energy needed to sustain themselves. Therefore, a continuous need for resources and energy are not by any means maintainable or sustainable. We are exploiting the resources available to us faster than they can be recycled and regardless of our technological advances, it leads to the degradation of the environment using this human-system mindset. In closing, it narrows down to a human made choice. We can decide how to approach architecture and it can start with single buildings and designs that adopt the regenerative theory, as discussed within the case studies subsequently. This can then lead to a larger

7 7.1

SUSTAINABLE CITIES

THE PROBLEM WITH OUR CITIES

Cities consume over 75% of the worlds natural resources (Watts, 2016) and on average 70% of cities greenhouse gas emissions come from the construction industry and this industry consumes more than 12% of the world’s water (Guthrie, 2012). This rate will not be improved unless we make significant alterations to the way in which we view and build within our cities, more sustainable buildings are being erected however they are just not sustainable enough. The Shard, which is one of the case studies discussed further in the research has attempted to become environmentally responsible by using recycled materials and principles of low carbon however further steps must be taken, as mentioned, changing the way we think as designers. We must improve our cities by trying to create a harmony between the urban environment and natural systems. Understanding the problem with our cities will help us to understand why new methods and architectural theories are needed. If we recognise that the way in which we currently design is not maintainable in the long term then we will be able to understand the reasons why a change in mind set is needed. The GAIA theory introduced by James Lovelock proposed that all living organisms interact with their surroundings to form a complex and self regulating system that helps to maintain and allow the perfect conditions for life on the planet. Lovelock (1970, p101) “The planet is not inanimate. It is a living organism. The earth, its rocks, oceans and all living things are one great organism. A coherent holistic system of life, self regulating, self changing” The theory focuses on how the evolution of life forms contributes to the consistency of the oxygen in the atmosphere, global temperature and ocean salinity. The GAIA theory provides an ideology that the world is self sufficient, and can adapt and change when it needs to. This relates to the concept of regeneration as if we accept the idea of all living things are of value, then we need to accept architecture as part of this also. Adaptive and living buildings should be created to have an input into the ecosystem and become harmonized with other living things, which surround it, further emphasising the

importance of place and environment. In terms of place, the city or urban setting is the key part of understanding how to design for future cities and societies. Cities are like organisms, drawing in resources and emitting waste, the larger and more complex they grow, the more the greater their reliance on the surrounding areas (Rogers, 2008). Comparisons drawn between cities and organisms strengthens the idea that regenerative architecture is needed in order to grow and evolve as humans; we are living beings existing in a living place and therefore we must create and diffuse living architecture and biophilic design within this place, not build stagnant sedentary architecture to interrupt the natural process which is occurring within this place.

the regenerative architecture to become unique and relevant to the place and city in which it sits. Cities that have a greater amount of solar gain can use the suns power and create life out of it, and similar applications could work in various environments. This recognition is important in determining where the first steps in change need to be, once we change our mindset we can then look at the bigger picture of our cities on the Earth.

In 1900 only one tenth of the worlds population resided in cities, however in 2008 half of the population lives in cities (Rogers, 2008) and this expected grow (see fig 5.). This is why it is important to find innovative ways to design and house these people. The question of how the surge in the predicted amount of residential properties within the UK might be accommodated is examined by the Urban Task Force, a report “Towards and Urban Renaissance” published in 1999. This was written to identify the causes of urban decline and determine a visual future for Britain’s Cities based on the principles of environmental responsibility, social health and design excellence. Since Towards and Urban Renaissance was published 20 years ago, not enough has changed. We are still facing environmental impact issues and the rising rates in which people are living in cities in contributing to this damage, which is why this paper is highlighting and introducing new ways to design. This is supported by Richard Rogers (2008, p6) who states: “Cities can only reflect the values, commitment and resolve of the societies, which they contain.”

7.2

CITIES AS THE SOLUTION

The research and findings above highlight the problems we are facing within our cities, and it is important to now understand that a better global future lies In urban environment innovation as well as action (C40 Group, 2017). As the majority of humans live in cities and as they are a major contributor to global warming, it makes the most sense that the solution to climate change should be applied there first and foremost. Cities have the capacity and ability to make this change. Cities have begun to realise this and many are already using renewable energy sources and utlisiing recycled and sustainable build materials (C40 Group, 2017). These changes will suppress the vast amount of pollutants in the atmosphere and help to improve urban air quality and human health however this does not offer any form of restorative let alone regenerative methods for the long term (see fig 1.) The theory of place must be understood here also (see fig 7.), as each city and climate has different needs, any form of regenerative design must be carefully considered within that specific space. This also creates a gap for

Figure 9. World Population Growth. Catherine Cook (2019) sources: Richard Rogers, (2008)

CASE STUDIES 1

All major cities in the world are densely populated with high rise towers. They might reach record breaking heights but most only do the bare minimum in terms of being environmentally responsible (green), relating to the definition mentioned in section 2.1. Most high rise buildings fail to incorporate design aspects which contribute toward a truly sustainable future. The following case studies explore the comparisons of a regenerative building and a traditional building within similar contexts.

8.1

However, the living greenery throughout the building has potential issues. Such as, if the residents within the apartments would not appreciate other species within their space then this type of regenerative architecture would not work for them. It has limitations for real world application, which could suggest that other types of this design need to be applied to see how a less vegetative approach would be done, this would provide an interesting comparison between two types of similar regenerative design using different elements of the natural world.

UNE BOSCO VERTICALE

This case study will provide an investigation into a type of regenerative design. Un Bosco Verticale translates from Italian to English as Vertical Forest, a high-rise structure in Milan which supports an intensive living facades (see fig 5). It uses the regenerative process of urban forestry to create two towers with abundant greenery (see fig 6) intertwining amongst the structure. Each tree is positioned and the distribution of plants across various floors was taken into account in terms of providing water to the plants by an irrigation system. The residential towers are 27 and 18 floors high, there are roughly 20,000 specimens and 700 trees, with 100 different species of plant and 15 species of trees which populate the two towers (see fig 6) creating not only a living breathing building but also one that provides habitats for wildlife, particularly birds. (Boeri, 2017) Shifting a forest to a vertical axis allows for engagement of condensed human habitation in urban areas whilst simultaneously increasing the biodiversity of other living species within the same urban setting. This new building typology is an experiment for a form of Regenerative Architecture, a new type of human biome (Vandergoot, 2017). In this biome, human activity plays a prime role in influencing the character of the greenery. This means that humans have the same impact on the vegetation as geographical location and climate do. (see fig 7) The forest system contributes to the formation of a microclimate; it absorbs CO2 and dust particles and produces humidity and oxygen (Boeri, 2017). One of the inspirations behind the vertical forest was Ebenezer Howards â&#x20AC;&#x153;Garden Cityâ&#x20AC;? (Boeri, 2017) which is discussed within the next section. This style of sustainability gives a basis to improve on the design to become more environmentally aware, which is what Stefano Boeri is trying to achieve with Une Bosco Verticale, moving toward the bigger picture of Urban Forests around the world.

Figure 10. Diagram showing different species present in Bosco Verticale.. Stefano Boeri (2015)

8.1.1 URBAN FORESTRY

A way of counteracting damage through deforestation, mentioned in the introduction is Urban Forestry; deforestation is a very real and widely recognised problem in the environment which is why steps should be taken to understand how to combat it and employ real systems within the world that will re-introduce trees into our cities.

Figure 11. Une Bosco Verticale façade. Boeri Studio (2014)

Figure 12. Une Bosco Verticale surrounding landscape. Boeri Studio (2014)

Urban forestry is the application of introducing trees and greenery into a city or town. It is a term that is increasing in popularity. It refers to the engagement of resilient and adaptive cities. There are varied definitions of an urban forest. It can simply refer to the idea of a wider green infrastructure implemented within a city. Urban forestry as a regenerative application model utilises trees and forests directly within an urban context. Trees and particularly forests are at continuous risk of erosion all over the world (see fig. 2). Trees absorb 40% of fossil fuel emissions, which are largely produced by cities each year (Boeri, 2017). If a single tree can bring great benefits to a city or town, then a whole urban forest could become an essential part of the solution to improve the quality of health and life within an urban environment. Urban trees can benefit the ecosystem by absorbing rainfall and reducing the risk of flash flooding to the area. They can help to regulate temperatures and remove airborne pollutants. The living trees breathe and release oxygen into the environment, which creates healthy air for humans and other species. “The trees are not “green”, they are not “forest”, and they are not “nature”. Every tree is a character in the life giving story of the planet, with its own biography and a mysterious ability to preserve our public and private memories” (Boeri, 2015). This quote, direct from Une Bosco Verticale describes the urban forest in Milan as so much more than just a forest or a building with trees. These trees and the building become co-inhabitants and the theory of living architecture is shown. Not only does deforestation have devastating impacts on the immediate species whose habitats are destroyed but creating more land for cattle directly causes more greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, making Brazil the fourth largest greenhouse gas emitter (Greenpeace, 2009). This destructive path that human beings seem to be on is a reason for needing to be more responsible with what we create. Currently we are taking from the earth without thinking of the consequences. This is why Urban Forestry is a forward thinking way in which we can introduce trees and forests into our urban spaces, creating a collective of humans, building and greenery as well as homes for other species. Urban forestry strongly supports the theory of a pathway beyond the traditional idea of “green’ design, it amalgamates life with architecture, creating a building breathes and actually provides habitats for more life within it.

Figure 13. Une Bosco Verticale vertical view showing human living amongst the trees. Boeri Studio (2014)

Fig 14. Diagram showing the hydration and irrigation system. Boeri Studio (2014)

Fig 16. Not to scale: Section of the buidling showing interaction of plants and humans. Boeri Studio (2014)

Fig 15. Diagram of Vertical Forest microclimates. Boeri Studio (2014)

Any issues due to the trees being suspended at height within the structure were prevented by designers working with Stefano Boeri, botanists and sustainability researchers provided solutions for the issues of trees being possible broken by winds, to insure the watering of the trees higher up that are greater affected by sun exposure and humidity conditions. (see fig 9). The vegetation within the building is made to form a continued green filter between the outside and inside which helps to absorb the polluting particles produced by the urban traffic around the site. The balconies are shielded and inside also protected from noise pollution whilst the building simultaneously absorbs C02 and produces oxygen. These improvements do not only benefit the residents but they help to keep the air healthier throughout the city. (Boeri, 2015). This benefits a wider space within a city and even creating one regenerative and healthy building within Milan has helped to improve air quality, which is why more applications of regenerative design are needed in urban settings, not only for humans but for other species which live in and around cities.

8.1.1.1 ADAPTING TO LOCAL BIODIVERSITY Figure 17. Vertical Forest Albania. Boeri Studio (2019)

This new prototype of architecture has shown to be successful as there are more vertical forests emerging.. Stefano Boeri has began designing a Verticale Forest in Tirana, Albania (see fig 17), one that will house shrubs and herbs. Tirana is a Mediterranean capital, which is why we have chosen different essences typical of this particular ecosystem for the first Albanian Vertical Forest,â&#x20AC;? (Gatti, 2019). Each application of Urban Forestry must consider place as a not a constraint, but a forethought. The climate in which the vertical forests are situated is important in how the foliage will survive and what it will need to continue to live. This real life application of the connection of place and regeneration supports the theories mentioned in chapter 1 and 5.2 Vertical urban forestry provides a model of the co-evolution of the natural world, the urban environment and human growth. This model can be applied around the world and be adapted to the various climates and environmental conditions according to the biodiversity in parts of the world. (Boeri, 2015). This adaptive model of regenerative application will change its vegetative species which populate the buildings according to the climatic zones (see fig 9). This emphasizes the importance of place when discussing regenerative methods, and the biodiversity as well as climate must be taken into consideration when creating this new form of design within cities.

8.1.1.2 TOWARD A FOREST CITY

Urban Forestry theory (see fig 19) combines a form of life in trees; trees that are usually spread over thousands of acres are brought together within an urban space. The Forest City is a new type of settlement for trees, plants, humans and animal species to co-exist. It combines true environmental sustainability, biodiversity, and social culture. (Boeri, 2015). This takes the initial idea of Une Bosco Verticale to new levels and presents a further potential application of regenerative architecture. It creates an innovative balance between the key concepts discussed previously, place, human and nature and keep this amalgamation consistent in every day living in cities.

Figure 19. The Forest City concept sketch. Boeri (2015). Figure 18. Climatic zones of vertical forestry application around the world. Boeri (2015)

8.2

THE SHARD

8.2

THE SHARD

42different aesthetic approach to Une Bosco The Shard, or London Bridge Tower, has a very Verticale, it is a pyramid of glass and steel standing (see fig 20) as the tallest building in Europe that towers over the City of London. It has a dominating appearance over the cities skyline (see fig 21). The Shard is recognised not only as a landmark of London but for its sustainable principles. The 11,000 glass panels that create the façade reduce the suns heat by 95%, which in turn shields the occupants and minimises the need for air conditioning. Another environmentally friendly component of the building is the triple glazed glass with an added layer of sun shielding glass that sits between the outer and inner sheets, which boosts its efficiency. (Guthrie, 2012). Similarly to Une Bosco Verticale, it is a residential building but does include office space and a hotel. 8.3

SUMMARY

Whilst it cannot be denied that The Shard has taken steps to become green or sustainable (see fig 1.), it still doesn’t focus on the one thing that will ensure a healthy future for humans and the ecosystem, which is to co-evolve with nature. There is no room for any species or wildlife on or in the building and its harsh exterior does not promote a welcome environment for living creatures unlike Une Bosco Verticale. It seems that although the idea of Urban Forestry cannot be understood in terms of long term assessment, it still provides an innovative and newly developed way of designing which seemingly incorporates a new way of thinking, the design concept took many years to finalise (Boeri, 2017) and this demonstrates the new way of thinking. Both The Shard and Une Bosco Verticale have been built with varying degrees of enrivonrmental awareness and further comparisons can be drawn when Une Bosco vertical has been as long standing as The Shard. It appears that the greater consideration for place and surrounding ecologoy was the main strategy behind Une Bosco Verticale, a lot more than The Shard, which main focus is recycled materials and this does not harmonise with the existing landscape and simply does not “ do more’. The Shard’s features which allow it to be considered eco friendly, such as the sun shielding glass, provide greater efficiency and benefit those within the building, showing that no consideration has been taken for the surrounding or place in which it sits. Furthermore, there is no part of the Shards environmentally friendly elements that consider natural elements or other species like Une Bosco Verticale does.

Figure 20. The Shard close up showing steel structure and glass façade. Rob Telford (2018)

Figure 21. The Shard within context of other buildings in the City of London. Rob Telford (2018)

CASE STUDIES 2

These case studies will provide a different type of comparison; The Garden City is an early example of “green” design and the theory behind it will be compared to the much more recently built Harmonia 57 which uses more relevant and recent regenerative methods to apply sustainable practice to an urban setting. The reason for these two comparative buildings is to establish an understanding of a developed concept of “green design”. The Garden City offers an insight into very early forms of this and Harmonia 57 illustrates this in a more recent time, which suggests an increased awareness of environmental issues within the built environment. This further signifies that as human beings, we are looking to improve and adapt the way we live and build in order to put a bigger emphasis on protecting or taking care of our ecosystem.

9.1

HARMONIA 57

Designed by Triptyque Architects, Harmonia 57 a residential project. Located in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It is situated in the centre of an artistic district and the building is one of Brazils first regenerative buildings. The Low rise breathes, sweats and behaves in a similar capacity to a living organism (Boylston, 2012). It is an example of how a building can close the gap between living and building, adapting itself to become more than a sedentary piece of architecture.

Figure 24. Façade of Harmonia 57 showing pipes and tanks around the building.

The façades of the home are perforated with small holes that allow for vegetation to intertwine through its faces. An irrigation system provides water for the flowing greenery and to provide relief from Brazils climate. The water is recycled as it travels around the building and administers life for the growing plants. (see fig 25-26) This type of regenerative design differs from Une Bosco Verticale as it used a much more low-tech method of irrigation throughout the building. (see fig 22) The methods of irrigation that serve the whole building cover the façade. They run around the building like arteries of a body, as if the construction has been turned inside out. This mirrors the idea of a living breathing entity, suggesting the building is alive, which ultimately connects and joins architecture and life- creating a building that fits the very definition of regenerative architecture. This is further advocated by Scott Boylston (Boylston, 2012, p1) who describes Harmonia 57 with a likeness of a living organism by referencing the holes in the building to that of pores in humans.

Figure 25. Façade of Harmonia 57 showing pipes and tanks around the building.

“One of the most striking features are the walls, which have pores containing a great variety of plants and flowers.” 45

Figure 26. Façade of Harmonia 57 showing pipes and tanks around the building.

Fig 22. Low tech hydration and irrigation system. Triptyque (2008)

Fig 23. Hydration system in action, showing the building breathing using the sprinklers, tubes and pipes. Nelson Kon (2008)

9.2

THE GARDEN CITY

The world’s first garden city, forty miles outside of London in Hertfordshire (see fig 28) was the creation of Sir Ebenezer Howard in 1903, a social reformer who aimed to address problems of deprivation and poor living conditions by reforming land ownership. Through a series of “garden cities” he sought to create a social, economic and community model. This model led to the garden city theory where the value from land is reinstated back into the local community and healthier environments are created (see fig 27). Howard (1898) described this theory and why he developed it as: “The advantages of the most energetic and active town life, with all the beauty and delight of the country, may be secured in perfect combination" Letchworth the first garden city created on this theory and was effective in following the guidelines from his diagram and was successful in putting emphasis on greenbelt areas which in turn, controlled population densities and had a positive impact on the over development of towns (Lewis, 2014).

9.2.1 GARDEN CITY THEORY In 1898 Ebenezer Howard published “a peaceful path to reform” which illustrated a breakthrough theory of links between city and nature. He proposed to address social inequalities, pollution, traffic issues and hygiene risks associated with overwhelming urban expansion. This is where “Garden Cities” came from, the first ones being Letchworth and then Welwyn, these became a model for a new trend in architecture and planning that ran throughout the 20th century. (Lewis, 2014). This early concept for integrating nature with humans living in urban contexts has paved the way for new and improved methods going beyond sustainability, which is why its important to illustrate the key elements within Letworth Garden City and how they differ to those currently used within the sustainable built environment and in Harmonia 57.

areas into this rural belt and the rise in land values to be used for the towns welfare. (Lewis, 2014). This relates to Harmonia 57 in the sense that more than just the building or city is being taken into consideration. Where the Garden City is or the Regenerative Design is located, surroundings are taken into account with the aim to give back to the economy which they surround.

9.3

SUMMARY

Both of these case studies show an innovative way of approaching urban planning. The Garden City looks to create a concept on a wider scale and Harmonia 57 is one building within a city, both of which demonstrate forward thinking previously discussed in this paper. They show that change is needed in order to create a healthier environment whether that be socially, economically or environmentally. The first Garden City in Letchworth was over 100 years ago, as was the Garden City Theory (1989). A progressive mindset at this time illustrates how a lack of regard for the environment in architecture has been a problem for a considerable amount of time and that more consideration must be taken to ensure the health and survival of the planet. The problem with the Garden City theory and diagram is that it proposes surrounding towns and cities to be created through the same layout and context. The diagram shows a particular plan, which has worked successfully with Letchworth and potentially most UK towns. However this theory does not have any evidence that it can be applied globally. A global effort is required to provide change to the way we design. However, Howard did note that the placement of garden cities would be informed by the site and context. This relates to the importance of place mentioned in section 3.2. In order for Regenerative Architecture to work, the case studies suggest that they must be adaptable dependent on climate, place and the existing issues within the city they are proposed in. There are varying factors that determine this, such as climate and industry.

The Garden City Concept was Howard’s solution to the problems of ever expanding cities and towns as well as a reaction to the need for enhancement of urban life quality since the Industrial Revolution (Lewis, 2014). Fig 27 clearly illustrates this concept and how he envisioned it to exist. This diagram represents a typical city (Howard, 1898). The main ideas were to purchase large areas of agricultural land and encourage the planning of a compact town to be surrounded by a wide rural belt which would limit the over development of urban

Figure 27. Diagram of Ebeneezer Howards concept of the garden city and a initial theory of urban planning within towns (1898)

Figure 28. Letchworth Garden City aerial (2017)

10 CONCLUSION

Finally, the research throughout this paper has concluded that if we can learn to adapt and change the way we think about the environment around us, in terms of place, in terms of nature, and then we can design better and play a more meaningful role within society. A more meaningful role where continually evolve and at the same time, so do the living communities we are apart of. Regeneration, Biophilia, adaptive and living all amalgamate to one definition and that is to design and then build with the ecosystem in mind, to integrate natural systems with human beings using architecture as the bridge for this. This new type of thinking introduces the importance of human health and encourages us to engage with natural elements, not using them for human benefits only, which is the current mindset. This research has provided the basis that humans have always though of ways to improve the human-nature connection. Letchworth Garden City and Ebenezer Howards principles were an early example of this dating back to 1898. The more recent examples of environmentally responsible design can be seen in Une Bosco Verticale and Harmonia 57. This illustrates how our way of thinking and designing has developed from 100 years ago. We don’t need to make “green spaces” within cities to integrate nature; these can be united within the design of the building and even within tall vertical structures, which is shown in the imagined “Forest City” in section 6.1.1.2.

species. This type of environmental strategy is one that has limited existing literature and why this paper has combined missing parts to create a whole picture, from the initial mind set and thought process to the implementation of types of regenerative design within the world.

In further conclusion, the theories and strategies provided throughout this paper give an option on how to approach regenerative design within cities, it provides examples of this through the case studies and explains the main steps needed in order to achieve this pathway beyond sustainability. Regenerative theory and how it can be used within architecture and the built environment has been laid out in chronological order within this research, once the mindset is altered then we can objectively look forward to implementing regeneration as a way to combat cities being main contributors toward climate change.

11 RECOMMENDATION FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

In the same way that a garden in the middle of an urban space scenario was a design theory a century ago, the vertical forest could become an applicable theory to cities, repeated with endless variations that will allow engagement of ecosystems and biodiversity in the built environment and it will form a new type of city, the urban forest where architecture and nature is not binded or restricted by each other but instead is coevolutionary. As Regenerative Design and Architecture “is a relevantly new concept,” the limitations of its application are not clear. It will be challenging to determine how successful the designs mentioned in the aforementioned case studies will be. However, attempting to illustrate real changes coming from new ways of thinking whilst respecting place and ecology of the surroundings will have a positive impact regardless. The improvements being made to cities using this type of design has been informed by an innovative and fresh thought process. Which could lead to mindsets being altered to become more environmentally aware for designers and architects. This paper has demonstrated a way of preserving the future of our cities by altering the way we think about our designs in order to start building a healthier and cleaner planet for all

Figure 29. Principles of Regenerative Design. Heerwagen, Kellert and Mador (2008)

Future research should endeavor to break down Regenerative Design further, considering design strategies and looking at the benefits and constraints of each and what could be taken forward within cities or in more rural settings. It would also be worth investigating into specific methods and paradigms of regenerative design and their associated principles to understand a breakdown of these methods and theories. Such as: The Todds’ Principles of Ecological Design, created by John and Nancy

Jack Todd and The Hannover Principles. An overview of these design principles for ultimate sustainability can be seen in fig 29. Une Bosco Verticale is a fascinating new style of building with many aesthetic and environmental advantages. Further research could be taken breaking down each aspect of what makes it so revolutionary and discussed further; these can be briefly identified in fig 15. Further vertical forests are planned around the world, such as the one in Albania. Looking specifically at how these buildings would need to be adapted to each climate and place to give a sense of whether they are applicable to multiple continents, climates and cities could provide a point for research. The global impact of “the city” is a fundamental part of this paper and further research into the exact areas in which cities vastly need to improve along side the built environment could provide insight into the damage being done and how urban forestry can tackle these target areas.

12 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

1. Trajectory of design, range of sustainability approaches and how they are applied within the built environment. Distinguishes the main variations of green, restorative and regenerative. Sources taken from Reed, B. (2007) Shifting from ‘sustainability’ to regeneration, Building Research & Information. 2. Deforestation in Myanmar, the country has some of the vastest remaining forests in Asia yet it suffers substantial deforestation and illegal exploitation including logging and expansion of agriculture and urban lands. Li Jia/IUCN (2018) Available at: https://www.iucn.org/resources/issues-briefs/deforestation-and-forestdegradation (Accessed on 19.02.19) 3. Cattle farm inhabiting land that was once the Amazon Rainforest. Cattle ranching is the biggest cause of deforestation in the Amazon, Brazil has the largest commercial cattle herd in the world and tops the worlds beef export charts. Thousands of species will have lost their lives and homes for this land clearance. Daniel Beltrá (2009). Available at: https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/how-cattle-ranchingchewing-amazon-rainforest-20090129/ (Accessed on 19.02.19) 4. Regenesis Group levels of work needed in order to achieve a continuous mutual evolution between natural systems and human beings. Taken from: Reed, B. and Mang, P. (2012). Designing from place: a regenerative framework and methodology.

5. Unsuccessful storm management design in Los Angeles showing poor engineering. Regenesis Group (n.d) Available at: https://regenesisgroup.com/projects/ (Accessed on 22.03.19) Figure 30.. Vertical Forest competition entry for Singapore by WOHA (2016)

Fig 30 illustrates further ideas on the concept of urban forestry, in particular the vertical forest. An interesting stance on urban forestry could be the architectural motivations behind the surge in green skyscrapers – are they at all plausible? There needs to be extra reinforcement for the added weight of trees and obviously irrigation systems are needed as discussed above. A further look into the viability of these “treescapers” could lead to more discussion and research on the topic.

6. Natural storm management system in South America. Regenesis Group (n.d) Available at: https://regenesisgroup.com/projects/ (Accessed on 09.03.19) 7. Depicting the three phases that are needed to create regenerative architecture. Catherine Cook (2019). Sources taken from Reed, B. (2007) Shifting from ‘sustainability’ to regeneration, Building Research & Information

8. Example of Biophilic Design used in Amazon building in Seattle, featuring plants, sunlight, soil and water that links urban spaces with nature on a smaller extent. The Seattle Times (2018) Available at: https://www.seattletimes.com/business/amazon/want-to-check-out-amazonsspheres-heres-how-to-get-in/ (Accessed on 22.03.19) 9. Graph depicting the population and the rising rate of those who live in cities compared to urban areas. Catherine Cook (2019) Sources taken from Rogers, R. (2008). Cities For A Small Planet. Boulder, CO: Basic Books.

16. Not to scale: Section of the building showing the interaction between humans and nature. Boeri Studio (2014) available at: https://www.archdaily.com/777498/bosco-verticalestefano-boeri-architetti (Accessed on 23.03.19) 17. Proposed Vertical Forest in Albania, the shrubs will be very vivid green colour and brightly coloured flowers in yellow and violet, as well as scented plants and herbs such as myrtle and rosemary. Boeri Studio (2014) available at: https://www.archdaily.com/777498/boscoverticale-stefano-boeri-architetti (Accessed on 04.04.19)

10. Diagram showing the varied species of plants and animals that live in and around Une Bosco Verticale two towers. Paolo Rosselli (2015) available at: https://www.archdaily.com/777498/bosco-verticalestefano-boeri-architetti (Accessed on 22.03.19)

18. Climatic Zones in the world and how vertical forestry can be applied to these zones and what vegetation will be successful. Boeri Studio (2014) available at: https://www.archdaily.com/777498/bosco-verticale-stefano-boeri-architetti (Accessed on 04.04.19)

11. Elevation of Une Bosco Verticale that shows the balconies with trees and plants intertwined throughout the façade to create a living, breathing structure. Paolo Rosselli (2015) available at: https://www.archdaily.com/777498/bosco-verticalestefano-boeri-architetti (Accessed on 22.03.19)

19. Forest City sketch by Stefano Boeri (2015) available at: https://www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net

12. Elevation of Une Bosco Verticale that shows the building in surrounding context in Milan. Paolo Rosselli (2015) available at: https://www.archdaily.com/777498/bosco-verticalestefano-boeri-architetti (Accessed on 22.03.19)

13. Un e Bosco Verticale view that shows how residents will live within the outdoor spaces. Paolo Rosselli (2015) available at: https://www.archdaily.com/777498/bosco-verticalestefano-boeri-architetti (Accessed on 23.03.19) 14. Diagram depicting the hydration and irrigation system, the calculation of requirements was carried out by examining the characteristics of the climate and was changed dependent on the exposure of each façade to the sun and how the vegetation is distributed on each level. Boeri Studio (2014) available at: https://www.archdaily.com/777498/bosco-verticalestefano-boeri-architetti (Accessed on 23.03.19) 15. Diagram of how the vertical forest microclimate operates, it filters fine particles that are present in urban environments, the plants help to protect against noise pollution, produce oxygen and absorb c02 particles. Boeri Studio (2014) available at: https://www.archdaily.com/777498/bosco-verticale-stefano-boeri-architetti (Accessed on 23.03.19)

20. The Shard showing the steel structure and glass façade zoomed in to show the materiality. The Shard / Renzo Piano Building Workshop. Rob Telford (2018) Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/photographer/rob-telford (Accessed on 05.04.19)

21. The Shard within the City of London skyline, showing the relative height within the city. The Shard / Renzo Piano Building Workshop. Rob Telford (2018) Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/photographer/rob-telford (Accessed on 05.04.19) 22. Low tech hydration and irrigation system. Triptyque (2008) available at: https://www.archdaily.com/6700/harmonia-57-triptyque (Accessed on 05.04.19)

23. Harmonia 57 Hydration system in action, showing the building breathing using the sprinklers, tubes and pipes. Nelson Kon (2008) available at: https://www.archdaily.com/6700/harmonia-57-triptyque (Accessed on 05.04.19) 24. Façade of Harmonia 57, showing the running pipes around the façade and green walls. Leonardo Finotti (2008) available at: https://www.archdaily.com/6700/harmonia-57-triptyque (Accessed on 05.04.19) 25. Façade of Harmonia 57, showing the running pipes around the façade and green walls. Nelson Kon (2008) available at: https://www.archdaily.com/6700/harmonia-57-triptyque (Accessed on 05.04.19)

26. Harmonia 57, Pipes and vegetation encasing the building. Nelson Kon (2008) available at: https://www.archdaily.com/6700/harmonia-57-triptyque (Accessed on 15.04.19) 27. The Garden City Theory Diagram by Ebeneezer Howard (1898) Source from: Lewis, J. (2014). Preserving and maintaining the concept of Letchworth Garden City. Planning Perspectives, 30(1), pp.153-163. 28. Aerial photograph of Letchworth Garden City in Hertfordshire built in 1903 by Ebeneezer Howard RIBA collections, available at: https://www.architecture.com/awards-andcompetitions-landing-page/competitions-landing-page/re-imagining-the-garden-city. (Accessed on 18.04.19)

13 BIBLIOGRAPHY

13.1 BOOKS

Beatley, T. (2004). Native to nowhere. Washington, DC: Island Press. 29. Principles of Regenerative Design as a form of suggestions for further research. Source taken from Heerwagen, J., Kellert, S. and Mador, M. (2013). Biophilic design. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. 30. Vertical Forest competition entry for Singapore by WOHA (2016) available at: https://99percentinvisible.org/article/renderings-vs-reality-rise-tree-covered-skyscrapers/ (Accessed on 27.04.19)

Boeri, S. And Muzzonigro, A. (2015). Un bosco verticale. Mantova: Corraini. Edwards, A. (2005). The sustainability revolution. Gabriola, B.C.: New Society Publishers. Heerwagen, J., Kellert, S. and Mador, M. (2013). Biophilic design. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. Hemenway, T. (2015). The Permaculture City : Regenerative Design for Urban, Suburban, and Town Resilience. Chelsea Green Publishing Co. Iyengar, K. (2015). Sustainable architectural design. London: Routledge. Lacy, P, & Rutqvist, J 2015, Waste to Wealth : The Circular Economy Advantage, Palgrave Macmillan Limited, London. Available from: ProQuest Ebook Central. [21 February 2019]. Reed, B. (2009). The integrated design guide to green building. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley. Regenesis Group (2016). Regenerative Development and Design: A Framework for Evolving Sustainability. Hoboken. John Wiley & Sons. Rogers, R. (2008). Cities For A Small Planet. Boulder, CO: Basic Books. Salingaros, N. and Alexander, C. (2013). Unified architectural theory. Kathmandu (Nepal): Vajra Books. The Structural Design of Tall and Special Buildings, Vol. 16, pp.411–427. VanderGoot, J. (2017). Architecture and the forest aesthetic. Routledge. Yeang and Powell (2007). ‘Designing the ecoskyscraper: premises for tall building design’,

13.2 JOURNALS Dias, B. (2015). BEYOND SUSTAINABILITY – BIOPHILIC AND REGENERATIVE DESIGN IN ARCHITECTURE. European Scientific Journal, 1857. du Plessis, C. (2012). Towards a regenerative paradigm for the built environment. Building Research & Information, 40(1), pp.7-22. Du Plessis, C. and Brandon, P. (2015). Journal of Cleaner Production, 109, pp.53-61. Lewis, J. (2014). Preserving and maintaining the concept of Letchworth Garden City. Planning Perspectives, 30(1), pp.153-163. Lovelock, J. (1970). Hands up for the Gaia hypothesis. Nature, 344(6262), pp.100-102. Mang, N. (2007 The rediscovery of place and our human role within it. Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center. McGrath, A. (2003) The Re-enchantment of Nature – The Denial of Religion and the Ecological Crisis, Doubleday/ Galilee, New York, NY. Reed, B. (2007) Shifting from ‘sustainability’ to regeneration, Building Research & Information Reed, B. and Mang, P. (2012). Designing from place: a regenerative framework and methodology. Building Research & Information. REthinking Sustainability TOwards a Regenerative Economy, Working Group One Report: Restorative Sustainability. (2017). RESTORE. Sertyesilisik, B. (2016). A preliminary study on the regenerative construction project management concept for enhancing sustainability performance of the construction industry. International Journal of Construction Management.

13.3 WEBSITES

Adams, W.M. (2006) The Future of Sustainability: Rethinking the Environment and Development in the Twenty-First Century. Report of the IUCN Renowned Thinkers Meeting, 29–31 January 2006 (available at: http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloadsiucn_future_of_sustanability. pdf) anonymous (2015). The Paris Agreement | UNFCCC. [online] Unfccc.int. Available at: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement [Accessed 21 Feb. 2019].

Boylston, S. (2012). Harmonia 57: São Paulo’s living, breathing eco building. [online] Transition Consciousness. Available at: https://transitionconsciousness.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/harmonia57-sao-paulos-living-breathing-eco-building/ [Accessed 1 May 2019]. Bradford, A. (2018). Deforestation: Facts, Causes & Effects. [online] Live Science. Available at: https://www.livescience.com/27692-deforestation.html [Accessed 17 Mar. 2019]. Carbonnier, E. and Babtiwale, E. (2018). Sustainability is dead: Regenerative architecture is the new green. [online] Building Design + Construction. Available at: https://www.bdcnetwork.com/blog/sustainability-dead-regenerative-architecture-new-green [Accessed 22 Jan. 2019]. Ecotoad (2009) Self Sufficient Buildings and Vertical Farms for the Future, March 02, Greenpeace (2009). How cattle ranches are chewing up the Amazon rainforest | Greenpeace UK. [online] Greenpeace UK. Available at: https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/how-cattle-ranching-chewingamazon-rainforest-20090129/ [Accessed 17 Mar. 2019]. McLamb, E. (2011). Fossils Fuels vs. Renewable Energy | Ecology Global Network. [online] Ecology Global Network. Available at: http://www.ecology.com/2011/09/06/fossil-fuels-renewable-energyresources/ [Accessed 14 Mar. 2019]. Rogers, R. (2019). Richard Rogers: Delivering the urban renaissance. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2002/jul/21/regeneration.comment [Accessed 7 Mar. 2019]. Stefano Boeri Architetti. (2019). urban forestry, a call to action | Stefano Boeri Architetti. [online] Available at: https://www.stefanoboeriarchitetti.net/en/project/urban-forestry-a-call-to-action/ [Accessed 28 Jan. 2019]. Watts, J. (2019). We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN. [online] the Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/08/global-warmingmust-not-exceed-15c-warns-landmark-un-report [Accessed 17 Mar. 2019].

13.4 ARTICLES

Association, P. (2012). Facts about The Shard. The Guardian. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jul/05/23-facts-about-the-shard [Accessed 21 Feb. 2019]. Disney, M. (2018). How urban vegetation can store as much carbon as rainforests. The Independent. [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/environment/urban-forest-tree-rainforest-storecarbon-environment-air-pollution-london-research-a8427566.html [Accessed 9 Mar. 2019]. Vanderbilt, T. 2008. The Smart List: Mitchell Joachim, Redesign Cities from Scratch. Wired. October, 2008, p. 178-179. 16-10.

13.5 ESSAYS

Gang, J. (2008) ‘Wanted: tall buildings less iconic, more specific’, CTBUH 8th World Congress on Tall & Green: Typology for a Sustainable Urban Future, 2008, Dubai, 3–5 March, pp.496–502 Haggard, B., Reed, B. and Mang, P. (2006) Regenerative development. Revitalization, March/April, 24–26. Littman, J. (2009). REGENERATIVE ARCHITECTURE: A PATHWAY BEYOND SUSTAINABILITY. Postgraduate. University of Massachusetts. Orr, D. (1992) Ecological Literacy: Education and the Transition to a Post-Modern World, State University of New York Press, Albany, NY.