From Destruction to Regeneration. An Integrative Approach Creating Ecosystemic Living Spaces in Architecture and Urbanism: Fid-Bau Portal

From Destruction to Regeneration. An Integrative Approach Creating Ecosystemic Living Spaces in Architecture and Urbanism

Eble, Joachim

Abstract

Healthy living spaces in our built environment depend on the harmonious interdependence of nature within us (Building Biology) and nature surrounding us (Building Ecology). Achieving this goal requires a holistic, integrative and interdisciplinary planning approach. Not only traditional disciplines such as urban planning, architectural engineering, and landscaping must be involved, but the wisdom and knowledge of users, including future residents, also must be incorporated through participatory planning processes. In light of the present discussion and demand for sustainable, climate-neutral solutions, we recognize the necessity of moving towards climate-positive outcomes by shifting towards regenerative development and systems. Beyond goals of limiting CO2 emissions, reducing waste, and improving material flow circularity, we must increasingly view our built environment as an ecosystem in partnership with nature both within us and around us. This entails inviting nature with all its cycles, to be a guiding principle in all our planning activities and decisions. Our practice has long embraced these principles. Genious Loci: Reading the site, integrating topography/geology/morphology, experiencing history and energy of the space geomantically, healing disharmonies; Urban-rural ecosystem: Reconnecting city with region, integrating agro-urban biomass material flows in a circular manner, integrating water cycles as blue-green infrastructure, producing local food by permaculture; Bioclimatic city: Promoting outdoor comfort by blue-green infrastructures, stimulating natural ventilation and adiabatic cooling by reselection of nature in the city, designing resilient water shapes. Healthy city: Integrating the healing power of nature by means of biophilia, inviting vital elements of air, water, light and plants; City of short distances: Structuring the city as a decentralised network of sustainable neighbourhoods, promoting mixed uses in the neighbourhood (residential, commercial, working, services) for a ‘Walkable City’; Regenerative-postfossil city: Understanding the city as a smart grid of renewable energies and changing the individual mobility to a post-fossil structured mobility; Participative city: Inviting the wisdom and knowledge of users by partecipation planning processes, creating a communing feeling for We-Houses, We-Neighbourhoods, We-Cities.