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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Floral strategies for regenerative design

and poppy). As such, flowers offer a combined biological renewable building materials such as biomass and even
and conceptual frame by which we can investigate core providing important compounds for treating diseases.
regenerative design principles. Unfurling spatial and Moreover, flowering plants sequester carbon dioxide from
experiential invitations for their pollinators, flowers are the atmosphere through photosynthesis and store it in
exemplary in maintaining a choreography of ecosystem their tissues as biomass, reducing the levels of greenhouse
exchanges between diverse agents to sustain the fertility gases in the atmosphere while also providing ecosystem
of spaces. They demonstrate an exquisite complexity services such as erosion control, water regulation,
that regenerative design practices have much to learn and carbon storage. However, many plant species are
from – not least, in highlighting the often-hidden ethical threatened with extinction, and there is an urgent need to
considerations when designing the choreography of space. better understand and conserve plant diversity to ensure
Using a design-led research approach, this paper outlines that these resources are available for future generations.
the challenge of designing flowers beyond nature, illustrated While science is playing a significant role in this challenge,
by the authors’ installation of a model ecosystem (titled and massive seed banks to conserve crop genetic diversity
XENO), comprising a carnivorous robot plant, a mosquito, such as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, or “Doomsday
and a benthic fuel cell for a major exhibition on Energy at Vault,” have been constructed, design can also make
CIVA, Brussels, Autumn 2023. Regenerative flower design important contributions, particularly when it comes to
raises important themes such as alternative (non-human) the design of our living spaces by investigating the critical
sensory apparatuses, challenges for regenerative human role that flowers play in this complex choreography of
development, regenerative choreographies for ecosystems, environmental relationships.
the evolution of flowers and pollinators, and biological
strategies that can be adapted by the regenerative architect. 2. Methods
The artistic artifact XENO provides a thought experiment 2.1. Researching regenerative choreographies for
that explores the diversity, complexity, and ethics of energy ecosystems
systems.
The blossoming of flowers each Spring is more than a
1.1. Challenges for regenerative human symbolic event, their regenerative capacity is based on
development myriad exquisite, sustained choreographies forged by
The impacts of human development have reached the interspecies codesign. These complex structures are
dimensions of a geological scale force heralding an era called composed of several different parts, each with a specific
the Anthropocene (Crutzen & Stoermer, 2000). Typified function. The female part of the flower is called the pistil,
by a toxic ecological condition produced by more than which is composed of three parts: The stigma, the style,
a century of worldwide industrialization, contaminated and the ovary. The stigma is the sticky surface that receives
environmental spaces have led to biodiversity loss with the pollen, which is then transported down the style to
rapidly declining pollinator populations and a subsequent the ovary. The ovary contains one or more ovules, which
collapse in the range of native ecosystems to sustain eventually become seeds after fertilization. The male organ
communities. The rise of urbanization and megacities of the flower is called the stamen and comprises two parts:
have destroyed prime farming land, where agricultural the anther and the filament. The anther is where the pollen
monocultures grown on massive scales in hinterlands are is produced, while the filament is a long, slender structure
causing soil degradation and loss, resulting in less space for that supports the anther. Petals are the colorful, leaf-like
people and nature to rebuild intrinsic relationships. With structures that surround the reproductive parts of the
the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, flower, while the sepals are the small, leaf-like structures
the ensuing climate emergency is causing dramatic swings that protect the developing flower bud. Together, these
in temperature, rainfall, and severe weather events that are parts enable the flower to produce seeds so that the plant
changing the conditions for survival faster than natural can reproduce (Figure 1).
adaptation can respond. Without the devoted attention of pollinators, many
A better understanding and design of how we interact angiosperms would not be able to produce seeds or fruits,
with angiosperms can play a critical role in mitigating and which would have a significant impact on the ecosystems
adapting to this cascading negative situation being vital they inhabit. Flowers therefore invent a range of strategies
to many ecosystems and supporting a diverse range of that appeal to creatures, which are very different from
other species. Conserving, restoring, and even increasing themselves including visible cues (color, form), invisible
the biodiversity of angiosperms is critical for maintaining codes (scent, ultraviolet markings), and food (nectar,
healthy ecosystems, ensuring food security, providing pollen). Depending on their needs and preferences,

Volume 5 Issue 4 (2023) 2 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1006