Regenerative Design 2026
A month-long programme at the Building Centre in London, exploring what regenerative design means in practice.
Week 1
The regenerative benchmark and systemic change
A ‘scene-setting’ week exploring the broad principles of regenerative design, with events focused on meaningful definitions, workable benchmarks, systemic obstacles and overarching ambitions.
Monday 5 October | 8.30–11.30am
Paradigm shift: a new mindset for a regenerative world
Panel discussion
Seminar space
The journey towards regenerative design requires us to shed old habits and embrace new ways of thinking. This session reviews recent publications that suggest a paradigm shift in our approach to the built environment, including the Systems Bookcase, published by Oliver Broadbent and James Norman to help professionals apply systems thinking to create more holistic, resilient solutions; Elliott Wood’s Regenerative Design Handbook; and Donella Meadows’ work on leverage points, which identifies places to intervene in a system for maximum impact.
Tickets £15
Tuesday 6 October | 9.30–11.30am
Regenerative design in the frame
Photography talk by Tim Soar
Glass room
Photographer Timothy Soar discusses his ongoing mission to challenge the fetishisation of the building as a standalone sculptural object devoid of habitation or social and cultural context, and to nurture a more nuanced understanding of the way we communicate, celebrate and value architecture. Key questions include: What does it mean to photograph something that is designed to evolve? How do you convey systems rather than surfaces, relationships rather than objects, duration rather than a single moment?
No charge but limited places
Wednesday 7 October | 8.30–11.30am
Systems thinking and the regenerative benchmark. What are the levers for change?
Breakfast roundtable
Board room
At the heart of regenerative design is systems thinking: understanding the complex web of relationships that make up our built and natural environments. It means moving from being solely designers to stewards of materials, buildings, communities and ecosystems. Rather than focusing on individual building performance, regenerative design asks us to consider how our interventions might strengthen rather than deplete broader ecosystems, communities and supply chains. This session looks at the systems thinking required to facilitate holistic approaches and outcomes, and effective strategies for benchmarking results.
Invitation only
Wednesday 7 October | 14.00–17.00
Ethical Renewal of Practice Forum
Workshop
Seminar space
Designed to provide a collaborative space to tackle complex moral, environmental and structural challenges, the Ethical Renewal of Practice Forum is a peer-led initiative primarily organised by the RIBA London Region. Chaired by New-works co-founder and RIBA London Chair Doug Hodgson, this session will explore issues including the climate and biodiversity emergency; sustainable and regenerative design methodologies; the circular economy; rethinking resource management and material sourcing; workplace culture and EDI; community impact; and ethical project selection.
Free to attend
Wednesday 7 October | 6.30–8.30pm
Regenerative Design Primer launch
Evening event
Seminar space
UK Architects Declare are launching the second iteration of the Regenerative Design Primer, a practical roadmap to help architects and other designers lead the transition towards regenerative design. Structured around the RIBA Workstages, the Primer is founded on three key principles: Being a good ancestor; Co-evolving with nature; and Creating a just space for people. Using examples from existing built environment design to illustrate ‘regenerative traits’, it outlines practical steps, fosters a common language and instils confidence in embracing regenerative principles. In a world inundated with greenwashing and superficial sustainability claims, the Primer emphasises the importance of metrics and targets, steering us towards net-positive outcomes across energy, water, biodiversity and community wellbeing.
Tickets £15
Week 2
Being a good ancestor
How can we ensure that the decisions we make today deliver adaptability and flexibility for generations to come, and implement a shift in mindset towards truly long-term thinking?
Wednesday 14 October | 8.30–11.30am
Circularity and intelligent specification
Breakfast roundtable
Board room
How can we employ the principles of circular design to extend the lifespan of our existing building stock? And how can we make new buildings easier to adapt, disassemble and reuse? Circularity offers the potential to extend the lifespan of buildings and their materials, and reduce the construction sector’s impact on the environment. But its wholesale adoption calls for new models of design, procurement, occupation and cross-disciplinary collaboration. This panel discussion explores the ways manufacturers, design teams, clients and the public and private sectors can work together to accelerate the transition to circular design.
Invitation only
Thursday 15 October | 8.30–11.30am
Whole life carbon and adaptive reuse
Panel discussion
Seminar space
Reusing and retrofitting existing buildings offers a clear and sustainable alternative to demolishing and rebuilding, yet the UK demolishes 500,000 buildings every year. This session explores the challenges associated with adaptive reuse; reviews current policies and barriers to change; and looks at strategies for quantifying and communicating the whole-life carbon benefits of adaptive reuse and encouraging developers and clients to understand, improve and capitalise on the latent environmental, heritage, economic and social value of their existing assets.
Tickets £15
Thursday 15 October | 6.30–8.30pm
Future Build by Will Arnold
Official industry book launch party
Ground floor gallery
Hosted by the RAI and Useful Simple Trust. Join us to celebrate the launch of Will Arnold’s new book, Future Build: How Construction Can Heal Our Planet. The first time that regenerative design has been discussed in a public-facing non-fiction book, this marks a turning point in convincing the public regenerative architecture is not just possible, it’s the only possibility. Join industry-leading speakers for an evening of networking around the theme of activating our collective voice in engaging the public on this vital topic.
Invitation only
Week 3
Co-evolving with nature
What are the implications of recognising that we are part of, rather than separate from, the natural world? How can we actively regenerate ecosystems by learning from and working with natural systems?
Tuesday 20 October | 8.30–11.30am
Specifying natural and sustainable construction materials
CPD session
Seminar space
Sourcing natural and sustainable construction materials can present various challenges, but addressing these hurdles is crucial for promoting environmentally responsible and socially conscious building practices. This session explores the issues around availability, cost considerations, certification and standards, quality and performance, education and awareness, regulatory compliance, supply-chain transparency and local sourcing.
Tickets £15
Wednesday 21 October | 8.30–11.30am
Biodiversity, circularity and closed-loop design
Breakfast roundtable
Board room
Biodiversity is vital for healthy ecosystems and wellbeing. This roundtable discussion asks how a circular economy and closed-loop design can reduce the impacts of unsustainable production and consumption systems on biodiversity and help repair ecological damage while creating places that enable human and non-human life to flourish together.
Invitation only
Wednesday 21 October | 2–5pm
Why bamboo?
Afternoon workshop
Glass room
Hosted by Atelier One, the Bamboo in the UK Group and University of Westminster, the afternoon will explain the benefits of bamboo and explore the potential role bamboo can play as a mainstream low-carbon material for construction and design in the UK. We will showcase examples of bamboo already being used in the UK, and the ongoing research and prototyping that is beginning to unlock this under-utilised material. The event is targeted at all those looking to explore sustainable regenerative materials in their research and practice, particularly emerging practitioners, in the lead-up to the UK Bamboo Summit 2026 on Friday 30 October in Birmingham.
Invitation only
Wednesday 21 October | Evening – time TBC
Tree stories (and some grass)
Evening talk
Seminar space
Neil Thomas, founder of Atelier One, known as one of the most innovative engineering practices in the world and a proud member of the RAI, will explore what nature can teach us about structure and unveil an engineering approach inspired by tree modality, which could potentially be a major breakthrough in the way tall buildings are designed.
Tickets £15
Week 4
Creating a just space for people
How can we design processes to foster social connection, economic opportunity, wellbeing and the shared sense of stewardship that allows communities to self-organise and build resilience?
Tuesday 27 October | 8.30–11.30am
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Morning seminar
Seminar space
As designers, we have agency to challenge current systems through goals, mindsets and policy. This session asks how regenerative design can reframe buildings and projects as catalysts for community prosperity.
Tickets £15
Wednesday 28 October | 8.30–11.30am
Participatory design in practice
Breakfast roundtable
Board room
To what extent can and should design be a fully democratic process, and how is this achieved in everyday practice? What are the advantages and pitfalls of different models of participatory design? Who is best placed to lead, and to resource, the process, and what are the most effective models of measuring the results?
Invitation only
Wednesday 28 October | 6.30–8.30pm
The People’s Emergency Briefing
Evening film and panel discussion
Seminar space
Screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing, a 50-minute public information film hosted by naturalist Chris Packham that presents evidence on the UK’s climate and nature crisis, drawing from a live Westminster briefing held for politicians in November 2025. The screening will be followed by a Q&A and panel discussion with experts from across the industry.
Tickets £15
Thursday 29 October | Time TBC
Designing for 2050: who is responsible?
Panel discussion
Glass room
UK Architects Declare’s Next-Gen Ambassadors host a panel discussion on the future: the challenges, and crucially the opportunities, facing students and early-career professionals, and share insights, ideas and strategies to promote regenerative design.
Tickets £15