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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Net-zero impacts in sustainable architecture

through cutting-edge advancements in various domains, example, some view nature as a resource to be exploited
encompassing closed-loop resource systems (Kallipolitti, for human benefit (the European Enlightenment), while
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2018), biodesign (Myers & Antonelli, 2014), applications others regard it as a sacred and interconnected system
of bio-positive materials, composting, cultivation of (most traditional cultures) that should be respected
cryptogenic crusts on building surfaces, precision and protected. Shaped by our cultural values, beliefs,
gardening, and agriculture. By actively enhancing, traditions, history, economy, and level of technological
bioremediating, and revitalizing the living environment, development, adopters of the term “regenerative” are likely
these structures also facilitate the growth of tiny urban to have very different views on environmental issues such
forests, thereby aiding in the rewilding of urban settings, as conservation, resource management, and the use of
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enriching soils to support plant and wildlife habitats, and natural resources.
nurturing regenerative human cultures (Wahl, 2021).
A regenerative architectural practice aims to develop Ongoing research largely originates from industrialized
tools and strategies based on critical socio-ecological societies and effectively aims to extend established
choices that stimulate an ecosystems-sensitive building knowledge frameworks that enable decisions to be made
culture, using localized ecological design and innovative regarding the choice of materials and construction, with
engineering practices. The goal is to generate buildings a preference for context-specific low-tech solutions that
that are durable, robust, and capable of accommodating simultaneously have robust and resilient high-performance
multiple uses. By establishing a life-promoting economy outcomes. Some of the most regenerative buildings,
of material exchange at the base of human settlement, however, predate modernity and are traditionally rooted
regenerative buildings propose to restore environmental in the local culture and environment, designed and built
health, rebuild resources, and create the foundations of a to meet specific environmental and cultural contexts. One
resilient, self-sustaining, and productive built environment of the best examples of humanity’s symbiotic relationship
that gives back more to nature than it takes. with nature is the Cappadocia caves in Turkey, built by early
Christians during the Byzantine era, who were persecuted
5. Characterizing Regenerative for their faith. The city’s inhabitants used the network of
Architecture caves to protect themselves from persecution by Muslim
Arabs during the Arab-Byzantine Wars between 780 and
The term “regenerative” is increasingly adopted by 1180. Extending eight levels underground, the city has 30
architectural practices that uphold a growing awareness major water tunnels, comprehensive living quarters, stables
and concern for the environment and the impact of human for horses, and facilities for making grape juice, cooking,
activities on the planet (Arup, 2023; Gattupalli, 2022). drainage, plumbing, and linseed presses for producing
However, the indiscriminate use of the term may also be lamp oil to light the underground. These dwellings evolved
a form of greenwashing, reducing it to little more than a without any central planning and were in use during the
slogan that makes exaggerated claims about environmental 20 century for those fleeing persecution by the Ottoman
th
benefits. These indiscriminate practices mislead target Empire (Yildiz, 2015). Following the population exchange
audiences, undermining their ability to make informed
choices and harming legitimate advances that are making between Greece and Turkey in 1923, the underground
a significant impact. Presently, the concept is not limited cities were abandoned. They were rediscovered in 1963
to any distinctive building style, building technology, when construction workers were demolishing low-income
esthetics, or geographical region, and there are no homes and were granted United Nations Educational,
universally agreed-upon exemplars of existing regenerative Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage status
buildings, given the field’s position at the cutting edge of in 1985 (Pinkowski, 2015). This city can be considered a
research in the practice of the built environment. regenerative structure as it has used only naturally available
materials supported by minimally invasive utilities, which
Since the lens through which “regenerative” is examined have made the underground world inhabitable for many
applies to the living realm, it is important to recognize people for an extended duration that exceeds many
that different cultures have varying views on nature. For lifetimes.

8 Biodesign refers to a design approach that draws inspiration Regenerative design principles also apply to modern
from and mimics the processes and systems found in nature. or contemporary buildings when – beyond their
It is an interdisciplinary field that encompasses architecture, judicious use of resources – they contribute positively
engineering, biology, and other fields. to the local environment and community. This involves
9 The tiny forest method was developed by the Japanese
botanist Akira Miyawaki, drawing inspiration from nature’s embodying a novel architectural form-vocabulary
ecosystems to create dense and diverse pioneer forests that begins with existing construction methods and
within 20–30 years. materials. Such an approach investigates the relationship

Volume 6 Issue 1 (2024) 5 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1882