Applying regenerative design to the built environment in neighbourhoods

Regenerative design[[See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP25.]] aims to actively restore, revitalise and enhance ecosystems, contributing to both human and planetary health, in line also with the ‘One Health’ approach[[Regenerative design and development: current theory and practice (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/09613218.2012.617516?needAccess=true); https://www.cdc.gov/one-health/about/index.html#:~:text=One%20Health%20is%20a%20collaborative,plants%2C%20and%20their%20shared%20environment.]]. Regenerative design thus contributes to creating sustainable[[See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP25.]], thriving environments for local communities and ecosystems. This involves principles such as circularity, waste reduction, resource and energy efficiency, promoting biodiversity, and the use of carbon-storing materials.

Regenerative design offers pathways to develop construction and renovation methods and designs that go beyond conventional approaches. However, the potential and application of regenerative design in the built environment is still under-explored due to the novelty of the solutions, the complexity of inter-related factors, the limited understanding of their impacts, and insufficient knowledge exchange and technology transfer.

Proposals are expected to address all of the following:

• Analyse in depth the success factors, challenges, and impacts of at least 10 existing examples of regenerative designs applied to constructed or renovated buildings. Measure the restoration of the environment as well as sustainability performance of the building, using existing sustainable building assessment methods such as Level(s), the Living Community Challenge and other third-party certification schemes or emerging methodologies such as the Carbon Removal and Carbon Farming (CRCF) in buildings certification. The selected buildings are expected to:
  • Be located in contexts as diverse as possible (geographical, environmental, climate, social or economic).
  • Generate renewable energy to meet the buildings’ energy demand. The buildings can also employ, but are not limited to: nature-based solutions[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP25.]]; water collection, purification and reuse; water efficiency methods; building solutions achieving cleaner air; carbon-storing architecture and design; medium and long-term energy storage (e.g. using phase-change materials).
  • Have used collaborative, inclusive approaches to engage local communities and inhabitants.
  • Have overcome legislative and regulatory barriers, if any, thanks to active collaboration with different levels of government and public authorities.
• Develop and demonstrate at least one innovative solution (tool or technology) that facilitate the application of regenerative design to the built environment. The solution(s) is (are) expected to transform the construction and renovation processes at all stages, by adopting a lifecycle perspective, encouraging the use of natural resources, materials, products, processes and by considering the impact on people and nature. Proposers should reflect on the role of local/indigenous crafts and knowledge[[ See definition in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP25.]] in the construction and renovation processes.
• Demonstrate the innovative solution(s) in at least three neighbourhoods from urban, peri-urban and rural areas located in at least three Member States or Associated Countries.

The topic includes the possibility to provide financial support to third parties to provide direct support for the development and implementation of the demonstrator. A maximum of EUR 60 000 per third party might be granted.

Proposals are expected to follow a participatory and transdisciplinary approach[[ See definition on NEB working principles in the Glossary section of the NEB part of the HE WP25]] through the integration of different actors (such as public authorities, local actors from the targeted neighbourhoods, civil society, private owners, etc.) and disciplines (such as architecture, urban design, design, arts, (civil) engineering, health, etc.).

This topic requires the effective contribution of SSH disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.

Proposals are expected to dedicate at least 0.2% of their total budget to share their intermediate and final results and findings with the Coordination and Support Action 'New European Bauhaus hub for results and impact' (HORIZON-MISS-2024-NEB-01-03).