The front-runners in this year’s Regenerative Architecture Index were announced on Thursday 1st October at the launch party for Regenerative Design 2026.
UK Architects Declare Next Gen Ambassador Rory Thomas announces the RAI front-runners at the launch party for Regenerative Design 2026.
The front-runners for the RAI2026 were announced by Mandy Franz, Tom Gibson and Rory Thomas of UK Architects Declare on Thursday October 1st at the launch party for Regenerative Design 2026 at the Building Centre in central London.
Run by Architecture Today with UK Architects Declare and delivered in partnership with Schüco, the RAI benchmarks the progress of practices moving towards regenerative design and delivery, recognising the need for a built environment that goes beyond reducing negative impacts to generate positive outcomes for both the present and future. Now in its third year, the 2026 Index comprises 119 organisations, ranging from sole practitioners to multidisciplinary global practices.
Each organisation submitted detailed responses across three interconnected pillars: Being a good ancestor, Co-evolving with nature, and Creating a just space for people. Submissions were independently assessed through UK Architects Declare, with particularly engaging or insightful responses identified as front runners alongside runners-up and ones to watch.
Responses from the front runners, together with wider thinking, projects and conversations emerging from this year’s Index, are brought together in a special Regenerative Architecture Index issue of Architecture Today (AT345).
Mandy Franz and Tom Gibson from UK Architects Declare.
Being a good ancestor
Left: Left: Designed by Cullinan Studio, Maggie’s Cancer Care Centre at Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, is an oasis within an urban medical campus (photo: Paul Raftery). Right: Three Chamberlain Square, Birmingham, by Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios. Passive systems support adaptability as climate conditions evolve (photo: Andy Stagg).
Front-runners:
Collective Architecture
Useful Simple Trust
Cullinan Studio
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios
Elliott Wood
We Made That
BIOTECKTA
SOM
Co-evolving with nature
Left: Studio Knight Stokoe undertook the technical design, delivery, and ongoing stewardship of the terraced roof gardens at Plant in Basingstoke (photo: Studio Knight Stokoe). Right: The Peter Buckley Learning Centre by Gale & Snowden Architects. Set within RHS Rosemoor, the building is designed to immerse children in nature (photo: Joakim Boren).
Front-runners:
Gale & Snowden
Exploration Architecture
Studio Knight Stokoe
Atelier One
shed km
DSDHA
Useful Simple Trust
Max Fordham
Creating a just space for people
Left: Co-authored with Key Cities, We Made That’s Who’s right, what right, and where’s that right? event was held in London last year. The discussion explored seen and unseen rights inscribed on street corners, (photo: C Dion Barrett for We Made That). Right: Collective Works’ regular weekly office days effect better collaboration and more informal learning and social opportunities (photo: Zoe Salt).
Front-runners:
Purcell
Root and Erect
Ridge and Partners
Collective Works
Jan Kattein Architects
Assemble
We Made That
Regenerative Design 2026
Launched by Architecture Today, RD26 is a month-long programme of exhibitions and events designed to communicate the principles of regenerative design to a broad audience of architects, clients, consultants, contractors, policymakers, sustainability leaders and the general public. It also serves as the first physical, albeit temporary home, of the Regenerative Architecture Index, a partnership between Architecture Today, UK Architects Declare and RAI partner Schüco.
