110
Concepts of regeneration such as Whole Systems and Living Systems Thinking, the Regenerative
Development, Permaculture, and Regenesis begin with the notion that each place is dynamic with its
own entity. It further acknowledges that the whole system needs to be included in an integrated regenerative design system where humans participate as nature (Mang & Reed, 2012), contributing to the
co-evolution of the whole system.
When we consider the design and planning practice to achieve regenerative design outcomes as
part of sustainable development, the designer or planner needs to design an ecosystem that integrates
natural and human living systems as part of the regenerative process, considering the ongoing process
of generation and adaptation. In addition to eco-literacy, the participatory nature of the regenerative
process also requires psychological and cultural literacy, and the ability to tap into the creativity of the
community (Mang & Reed, 2012; Mang, 2009; Landry, 2006). Regenerative design requires a participatory approach and an understanding of human and ecological systems.
Regenerative design brings with it challenges, and one aspect to consider is the changing environment. Kibert (2008) supports the strategy of ecological design as defined by Van der Ryn, whereby
‘any form of design that minimizes environmentally destructive impacts by integrating itself with
living processes’, but states that it needs to include ‘the effective adaptation to and integration with
nature’s processes’ (Kibert, 2008, p. 34). Alexander et al. (1987) suggest that design and planning
processes need 4 main characteristics to deal with this complexity, one of which is adaptation. Such
characteristics are responsive to local conditions, they adapt to changing conditions, employ decentralized approaches, and are developed through the contribution and collaboration of many processes
of bottom-up self-organization that follow patterns and certain generative rules (Alexander et al., 1987).
8.4 Conclusion Statement
In its native form, the concept of Regenerative Design is based on a process-oriented systems theory,
including processes that restore, renew or revitalize their own sources of energy and materials, creating
sustainable systems that integrate the needs of society with the integrity of nature. Regenerative Design
matches ecosystems in that biotic and abiotic materials is not just metabolized but metamorphosed into
viable ones. The central message from the regenerative paradigm is to shift the focus away from the
concept of sustainability and sustainable development, whereby we should minimize the activities that
are degenerative to the environment, towards also maximising human activities that restore and regenerate ecological systems. Cole articulates that regenerative design ‘emphasizes a co- evolutionary, partnered relationship between humans and the natural environment, that builds, rather than diminishes,
social and natural capitals’ (Cole, 2012, p. 39). This fundamental re- conceptualization of sustainability
means that the interdependence of the system’s parts needs to create a whole that results in an outcome
that is more positive than negative in terms of both human and nature systems (Reed, 2007). From this
framework emerges the desire to have human systems improve both human and ecological system
functioning. But to achieve this goal, systems must be adaptive, in that they must be designed to have
the capacity to change and learn from experience, to self-correct through feedback (Gauthier, 2013,
p. 2). This indicates that systems need to have the ability to be regenerative- adaptive in themselves.
However, as described in this chapter, we identified that the regenerative design paradigm mostly
focuses on the input-output cycle, considering systems that restore, renew or revitalize their own
sources of energy and materials, creating sustainable systems. What is lacking is a critical consideration of adaptation. Although many argue that systems must together contribute to the co-evolution of
one holistic system (Mang & Reed, 2012), which by default include some levels of adaptation, the
ability and adaptive capacity as well as the adaptive processes of these systems are not addressed. In
the natural processes of the environment, adaptation is part of a systematic series of patterns that
comprise a web of reciprocal relationships that are directed to some end.
8 Regenerative Design, Ecology as Teacher
Concepts of regeneration such as Whole Systems and Living Systems Thinking, the Regenerative
Development, Permaculture, and Regenesis begin with the notion that each place is dynamic with its
own entity. It further acknowledges that the whole system needs to be included in an integrated regenerative design system where humans participate as nature (Mang & Reed, 2012), contributing to the
co-evolution of the whole system.
When we consider the design and planning practice to achieve regenerative design outcomes as
part of sustainable development, the designer or planner needs to design an ecosystem that integrates
natural and human living systems as part of the regenerative process, considering the ongoing process
of generation and adaptation. In addition to eco-literacy, the participatory nature of the regenerative
process also requires psychological and cultural literacy, and the ability to tap into the creativity of the
community (Mang & Reed, 2012; Mang, 2009; Landry, 2006). Regenerative design requires a participatory approach and an understanding of human and ecological systems.
Regenerative design brings with it challenges, and one aspect to consider is the changing environment. Kibert (2008) supports the strategy of ecological design as defined by Van der Ryn, whereby
‘any form of design that minimizes environmentally destructive impacts by integrating itself with
living processes’, but states that it needs to include ‘the effective adaptation to and integration with
nature’s processes’ (Kibert, 2008, p. 34). Alexander et al. (1987) suggest that design and planning
processes need 4 main characteristics to deal with this complexity, one of which is adaptation. Such
characteristics are responsive to local conditions, they adapt to changing conditions, employ decentralized approaches, and are developed through the contribution and collaboration of many processes
of bottom-up self-organization that follow patterns and certain generative rules (Alexander et al., 1987).
8.4 Conclusion Statement
In its native form, the concept of Regenerative Design is based on a process-oriented systems theory,
including processes that restore, renew or revitalize their own sources of energy and materials, creating
sustainable systems that integrate the needs of society with the integrity of nature. Regenerative Design
matches ecosystems in that biotic and abiotic materials is not just metabolized but metamorphosed into
viable ones. The central message from the regenerative paradigm is to shift the focus away from the
concept of sustainability and sustainable development, whereby we should minimize the activities that
are degenerative to the environment, towards also maximising human activities that restore and regenerate ecological systems. Cole articulates that regenerative design ‘emphasizes a co- evolutionary, partnered relationship between humans and the natural environment, that builds, rather than diminishes,
social and natural capitals’ (Cole, 2012, p. 39). This fundamental re- conceptualization of sustainability
means that the interdependence of the system’s parts needs to create a whole that results in an outcome
that is more positive than negative in terms of both human and nature systems (Reed, 2007). From this
framework emerges the desire to have human systems improve both human and ecological system
functioning. But to achieve this goal, systems must be adaptive, in that they must be designed to have
the capacity to change and learn from experience, to self-correct through feedback (Gauthier, 2013,
p. 2). This indicates that systems need to have the ability to be regenerative- adaptive in themselves.
However, as described in this chapter, we identified that the regenerative design paradigm mostly
focuses on the input-output cycle, considering systems that restore, renew or revitalize their own
sources of energy and materials, creating sustainable systems. What is lacking is a critical consideration of adaptation. Although many argue that systems must together contribute to the co-evolution of
one holistic system (Mang & Reed, 2012), which by default include some levels of adaptation, the
ability and adaptive capacity as well as the adaptive processes of these systems are not addressed. In
the natural processes of the environment, adaptation is part of a systematic series of patterns that
comprise a web of reciprocal relationships that are directed to some end.
8 Regenerative Design, Ecology as Teacher