Building and construction
Part or whole of architecture
Hisham Al-Qasim
Did you know that 40% of global carbon emissions come from the built environment? For this reason, the idea of sustainability in architecture has emerged rapidly as a way to mitigate environmental damage.
Sustainability isn't about making buildings less bad; it's about setting standards for current and future architecture. The problem with sustainable architecture is that it stops at "sustainability" and doesn't focus on innovation to address the ever-changing nature of the world.
Renewable architecture:
Regenerative architecture is the process of incorporating natural variables as a medium and generator of architecture. Living systems on-site become the building blocks of the structure, in harmony with the overall ecosystem.
Regenerative architecture requires a forward-thinking approach. Unlike sustainably designed buildings, regenerative buildings are designed and operated to reverse environmental damage and have a net positive impact on the natural environment.
Shifting from a sustainability-focused to a regenerative approach means architects must ask themselves how we can design structures that not only utilize limited resources but also restore them. Regeneration also seeks to foster a more resilient environment that can withstand natural challenges.
Renovation vs. Sustainable Design
Sustainable and regenerative design may seem like different approaches—sustainability reduces resource use, while regeneration replenishes them. However, sustainability is a subset of a larger regenerative model. Both approaches overlap and integrate similar practices, each emphasizing different green goals. Just as “reduce,” “reuse,” and “recycle” cannot operate in isolation, sustainability practices contribute to regenerative goals by forming the first step toward resource renewal—reducing consumption.
Architect and faculty member at King Saud University
@ArchHesham
