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Journal of Chinese
Architecture and Urbanism Exploring abduction in regenerative design

citizens within the prevailing human-centered society the regenerative design, and the integration of nature
and design paradigms is likely to encounter moral and into architecture requires the assimilation of collective
cognitive barriers and even significant bias. We argue intelligence, feedback loops, circular metabolism, and
that these ideas do not aim to diminish or marginalize morphogenetic mechanisms within ecological systems.
humans but rather seek to transcend human limitations by Through the lens of post-nature and mind ecology,
harnessing collective intelligence while acknowledging the this research identifies commonalities with the holistic
human condition. conception of nature and ecological views in ancient

6. Conclusion Chinese Daoist philosophy. The bio-cybernetic stance
and morphogenetic approach could represent a possible
Given the existence of these limitations and challenges, understanding and contemporary interpretation of
we can still conclude that the DeepGreen research design “Nature and Humans in One Unity” and “The Dao Imitates
project proposes a bio-cybernetic stance and approach the Laws of Nature.” This research, henceforth, endeavors
aimed at dissolving the dichotomy between artificial and to foster discourse between Eastern and Western trends
natural, human and non-human. This direction is toward of thought, culminating in a cohesive yet heterogeneous
a post-nature era where humans and nature merge into regenerative approach. We believe that the content of
one unified whole. This attitude resonates with the holistic regenerative architecture encompasses not only the
conception of nature and ecological views found in ancient material but also the informational and spiritual levels.
Chinese Daoist philosophy. Building on this, we propose Establishing an innovative and ecological design thinking
the inclusion of machine intelligence as a digital form of mode contributes to a thorough and comprehensive
life, further blurring the boundaries between organic and understanding of natural and life systems in design (Reed,
inorganic, material and digital, thereby expanding the 2007), embodying a more profound connotation for the
scope of holistic view. motif of regenerative architecture.
The article highlights the pivotal role of the GAN_ Acknowledgments
Physarum model within the DeepGreen protocols. The
logical structure of the design follows the innovative We express our heartfelt gratitude to all the members
abduction proposed by Peirce and formally named by who contributed to the DeepGreen Project, including
Habermas. This inference stimulates the creation of new ecoLogicStudio in London, Urban Morphogenesis Lab
rules and the realization of novel outcomes, demonstrating in UCL, and Synthetic Landscape Lab in UIBK. It is
a higher level of innovation than other design reasoning through the collective efforts of everyone involved that
modes. Consequently, the approach shifts from problem- this long-term project and research were made possible
solving sustainable design to problem-making regenerative and advanced. In addition, we extend our appreciation to
design. From a cognitive perspective, abduction establishes Dr. Marco Poletto, the senior researcher at UIBK and the
metaphorical relationships between seemingly unrelated director of ecoLogicStudio, for his valuable guidance and
entities (such as PP’s pseudopod networks and urban path proofreading of this paper. His expertise and insights have
systems) through analogical association. The DeepGreen greatly contributed to the refinement of our work. We are
protocols offer an algorithmic model as the DNA for the truly grateful for the support, dedication, and collaboration
self-organizing city, transforming urban typology into of each individual involved in this endeavor.
morphogenesis and revealing correlations within multiple
stages of the same entity. This approach aligns with Funding
Bateson’s “patterns which connect” in mind ecology and Main support funding came from The University of
resonates with Daoist philosophy’s recognition of unity Innsbruck, The Bartlett UCL, the United Nations
and interconnection. Development Program, The Venice Architectural Biennale,
According to Bateson, “the major problems in the The Center Pompidou in Paris, The City of Tallinn, and
world were the result of the difference between how nature The City of Aarhus, among others.
works and the way people think” (Borden, 2017, p. 89). Conflict of interest
Daoist philosophy asserts that individuals should uncover
the Dao of Nature and adopt it as a guiding principle The authors declare they have no competing interests.
for living. In today’s context, we perceive that the Dao
of Nature embodies the interconnection and unity of all Author contributions
things, indicating a developmental, dynamic, and adaptive Conceptualization: Xiao Wang, Claudia Pasquero
pattern. Therefore, what we propose as the post-nature, Formal analysis: Xiao Wang

Volume 6 Issue 1 (2024) 13 https://doi.org/10.36922/jcau.1084