Singapore’s built environment faces a critical question: can our buildings and cities do more than just reduce harm? Can they actively heal the planet?
This afternoon, we explored exactly this transformative approach through a SGBC Webinar on Advancing Regenerative Design. Supported by SGBC Member AECOM Singapore, the session drew on insights from Mr. Dave Cheshire, challenging us to rethink the role of the built environment – from resource consumer to positive contributor.
We got to know what it takes to design within planetary boundaries and recognise our dependence on healthy natural systems, with key principles including:
- Systems thinking – seeing the whole picture, not isolated parts
- Bio-inspired design – learning from nature’s time-tested solutions
- Circular economy approaches – eliminating waste, keeping materials in use
- Designing within environmental budgets – respecting our planetary limits
The session brought these ideas to life with global case studies that demonstrate regenerative design in action, such as the Google Bay View Campus, Nanjing Eco-Island and Schoonschip, Amsterdam’s floating neighbourhood.
The Webinar also touched on emerging technologies that could redefine our approach to the built environment, including algae façades, microbial fuel cells, and green roofs, innovations that move us closer to buildings that function like living organisms.
A big thank you to AECOM Singapore for supporting this session, and to all participants who joined the conversation. The journey toward a regenerative built environment, where people and nature co-evolve, has only just begun.
