What (on Earth) is a Regenerative Practice?
It’s a question Living Future has been asking design practitioners, construction professionals, and other leaders working throughout the built environment. Unsurprisingly, the answers vary. For some, regeneration is a design philosophy. For others, it’s a business model, a cultural commitment, or a way of seeing the relationship between people and the living world. There is no single definition, and perhaps that’s exactly the point.
One thing is for sure: a regenerative practice isn’t a destination or a designation. Rather, it’s a continual evolution toward better. In his forthcoming book Living Systems, Lasting Impact, Richard Piacentini refers to “an exploration of a particular shift in worldview—one that emerges from living systems thinking and finds expression through regenerative practice, cathedral thinking, and leadership.” I like that; it makes me think.
Organizations leading the regenerative movement share a common aspiration: to create more value than they extract. They recognize that buildings, products, and places are only part of their legacy. Equally important are the cultures they cultivate, the communities they strengthen, the ecosystems they restore, and the generations they influence through their work.
One thing is for sure: a regenerative practice isn’t a destination or a designation. Rather, it’s a continual evolution toward better.
Regeneration asks more of us than reducing harm. It challenges us to design for health instead of efficiency alone, for belonging instead of compliance, and for thriving ecosystems rather than simply sustainable outcomes. It invites curiosity, humility, and a willingness to continually learn. And it requires lasting commitment.
Exploring Regenerative Practice, One Story at a Time
So, what is a regenerative practice? Perhaps the better question is this: What might our practices become if every decision were guided by a worldview that valued each opportunity to help people, communities, and the living world flourish into the future?
What might our practices become if every decision were guided by a worldview that valued each opportunity to help people, communities, and the living world flourish into the future?
The exploration of this question has inspired our Regenerative Practice Book Series, launching in 2027. The series explores the practices and cultures of pioneering organizations transforming the built environment through the holistic pursuit of wellness, equity, resilience, restoration, and regeneration.
Much more than portfolios, these publications reveal how regenerative thinking translates into real-world solutions. Through photography, detailed project stories, and candid conversations, readers will gain insight into design strategies, practical frameworks, creative processes, and lessons learned while tackling some of today’s most complex challenges. Together, these stories offer roadmaps for creating buildings, landscapes, products, organizations, and communities that contribute positively to both people and the planet.
Future volumes will explore innovation across architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, interior design, construction, product and materials, development, urban planning, education, research, technology, and community development, showcasing diverse paths toward a more regenerative future.
Whether you’re a designer, student, client, policymaker, or simply someone who believes the built environment can be a positive force for reconciling our relationship with the planet, I hope these books spark new questions as much as they offer answers.
Our first book in the series will feature Re Architecture. We can’t wait to share one practice, one story, and one inspiring example at a time.
Interested in Sharing Your Practice?
We’re looking for organizations across the built environment that are putting regenerative principles into practice. If your work is helping people, communities, and the living world thrive, we’d love to hear from you.
Contact us to explore participating in the Regenerative Practice Book Series
