Take a look at what events are taking place this October

A month-long programme at the Building Centre in London, exploring what regenerative design means in practice.

Week 1

The regenerative benchmark and systemic change

A ‘scene-setting’ week exploring the broad principles of regenerative design, with events focused on meaningful definitions, workable benchmarks, systemic obstacles and overarching ambitions.

Monday 5 October | 8.30–11.30am

Paradigm shift: a new mindset for a regenerative world

Panel discussion
Seminar space

The journey towards regenerative design requires us to shed old habits and embrace new ways of thinking. As designers, we have agency to challenge current systems through goals, mindsets and policy. This session asks how regenerative design can reframe buildings and projects as catalysts for community prosperity.

Details TBC

Tuesday 6 October | 9.30–11.30am

Regenerative design in the frame

Photography talk by Tim Soar
Glass room

Photographer Timothy Soar discusses his ongoing mission to challenge the fetishisation of the building as a standalone sculptural object devoid of habitation or social and cultural context, and to nurture a more nuanced understanding of the way we communicate, celebrate and value architecture. Key questions include: What does it mean to photograph something that is designed to evolve? How do you convey systems rather than surfaces, relationships rather than objects, duration rather than a single moment?

Tickets £15

Wednesday 7 October | 8.30–11.30am

Systems thinking and the regenerative benchmark. What are the levers for change?

Breakfast roundtable
Board room

At the heart of regenerative design is systems thinking: understanding the complex web of relationships that make up our built and natural environments. It means moving from being solely designers to stewards of materials, buildings, communities and ecosystems. Rather than focusing on individual building performance, regenerative design asks us to consider how our interventions might strengthen rather than deplete broader ecosystems, communities and supply chains. This session looks at the systems thinking required to facilitate holistic approaches and outcomes, and effective strategies for benchmarking results.

Invitation only

Wednesday 7 October | 14.00–17.00

RIBA London Ethical Practice Special Interest Group
FORUM 03: “How Should We Innovate?”

Workshop
Seminar space

The RIBA London Ethical Practice Special Interest Group’s third event asks: “How Should We Innovate?” Bringing together varied perspectives, it will explore ideas for creating an ethical built environment for professionals and communities. Chaired by New-works co-founder and RIBA London Chair Doug Hodgson, the group examines challenges including climate and biodiversity, regenerative design, circularity, resource management, ethical procurement, workplace culture, community impact, wellbeing, collaboration, and AI.

In collaboration with RIBA London

Tickets £15
Free for RIBA London Members

Wednesday 7 October | 6.30–8.30pm

Regenerative Design Primer launch

Evening event
Seminar space

UK Architects Declare are launching the second iteration of the Regenerative Design Primer, a practical roadmap to help architects and other designers lead the transition towards regenerative design. Structured around the RIBA Workstages, the Primer is founded on three key principles: Being a good ancestor; Co-evolving with nature; and Creating a just space for people. Using examples from existing built environment design to illustrate ‘regenerative traits’, it outlines practical steps, fosters a common language and instils confidence in embracing regenerative principles. In a world inundated with greenwashing and superficial sustainability claims, the Primer emphasises the importance of metrics and targets, steering us towards net-positive outcomes across energy, water, biodiversity and community wellbeing.

Tickets £15
Free to students and RAI entrants

Week 2

Being a good ancestor

How can we ensure that the decisions we make today deliver adaptability and flexibility for generations to come, and implement a shift in mindset towards truly long-term thinking?

Wednesday 14 October | 8.30–11.30am

Circularity and intelligent specification

Breakfast roundtable
Board room

How can we employ the principles of circular design to extend the lifespan of our existing building stock? And how can we make new buildings easier to adapt, disassemble and reuse? Circularity offers the potential to extend the lifespan of buildings and their materials, and reduce the construction sector’s impact on the environment. But its wholesale adoption calls for new models of design, procurement, occupation and cross-disciplinary collaboration. This panel discussion explores the ways manufacturers, design teams, clients and the public and private sectors can work together to accelerate the transition to circular design.

In partnership with Interface

Invitation only

Wednesday 14 October | 6.30–8.30pm

Michael Pawlyn: Pathways for a regenerative future

Evening talk
Seminar space

The regenerative design debate has been gathering significant momentum over the last few years, helped in no small part by the Regenerative Architecture Index. At the same time, there’s a strong sense in which much of the business world has been moving backwards on the environment and many practices are trying to implement regenerative ideas against almost insuperable odds. In this lecture, Michael Pawlyn will make the case that, to meaningfully address the planetary emergency, we need an epochal shift. He will present ideas for what this means for built environment professionals and why it is important that we develop a common sense of where regenerative design ultimately needs to be aiming.

In partnership with Interface

Tickets £15

Thursday 15 October | 8.30–11.30am

Whole life carbon and adaptive reuse

Panel discussion
Seminar space

Reusing and retrofitting existing buildings offers a clear and sustainable alternative to demolishing and rebuilding, yet the UK demolishes 500,000 buildings every year. This session explores the challenges associated with adaptive reuse; reviews current policies and barriers to change; and looks at strategies for quantifying and communicating the whole-life carbon benefits of adaptive reuse and encouraging developers and clients to understand, improve and capitalise on the latent environmental, heritage, economic and social value of their existing assets.

Details TBC

Thursday 15 October | 6.30–8.30pm

Future Build by Will Arnold

Official industry book launch party
Ground floor gallery

Hosted by the RAI and Useful Simple Trust. Join us to celebrate the launch of Will Arnold’s new book, Future Build: How Construction Can Heal Our Planet. The first time that regenerative design has been discussed in a public-facing non-fiction book, this marks a turning point in convincing the public regenerative architecture is not just possible, it’s the only possibility. Join industry-leading speakers for an evening of networking around the theme of activating our collective voice in engaging the public on this vital topic.

In partnership with Useful Simple Trust

Invitation only

Week 3

Co-evolving with nature

What are the implications of recognising that we are part of, rather than separate from, the natural world? How can we actively regenerate ecosystems by learning from and working with natural systems?

Tuesday 20 October | 8.30–11.30am

Specifying natural and sustainable construction materials

CPD session
Seminar space

Sourcing natural and sustainable construction materials can present various challenges, but addressing these hurdles is crucial for promoting environmentally responsible and socially conscious building practices. This session explores the issues around availability, cost considerations, certification and standards, quality and performance, education and awareness, regulatory compliance, supply-chain transparency and local sourcing.

In partnership with HG Mathews

Details TBC

Wednesday 21 October | 8.30–11.30am

Biodiversity, circularity and closed-loop design

Breakfast roundtable
Board room

Biodiversity is vital for healthy ecosystems and wellbeing. This roundtable discussion asks how a circular economy and closed-loop design can reduce the impacts of unsustainable production and consumption systems on biodiversity and help repair ecological damage while creating places that enable human and non-human life to flourish together.

Details TBC

Wednesday 21 October | 2–5pm

Why bamboo?

Afternoon workshop
Glass room

Hosted by Atelier One, the Bamboo in the UK Group and University of Westminster, the afternoon will explain the benefits of bamboo and explore the potential role bamboo can play as a mainstream low-carbon material for construction and design in the UK. We will showcase examples of bamboo already being used in the UK, and the ongoing research and prototyping that is beginning to unlock this under-utilised material. The event is targeted at all those looking to explore sustainable regenerative materials in their research and practice, particularly emerging practitioners, in the lead-up to the UK Bamboo Summit 2026 on Friday 30 October in Birmingham.

Tickets £15

Wednesday 21 October | 6.30–8.30pm

Tree stories (and some grass)

Evening talk
Seminar space

Neil Thomas, founder of Atelier One, known as one of the most innovative engineering practices in the world and a proud member of the RAI, will explore what nature can teach us about structure and unveil an engineering approach inspired by tree modality, which could potentially be a major breakthrough in the way tall buildings are designed.

In partnership with Atelier One

Tickets £15

Week 4

Creating a just space for people

How can we design processes to foster social connection, economic opportunity, wellbeing and the shared sense of stewardship that allows communities to self-organise and build resilience?

Tuesday 27 October | 8.30–11.30am

Participatory design in practice

Morning seminar
Seminar space

To what extent can and should design be a fully democratic process, and how is this achieved in everyday practice? What are the advantages and pitfalls of different models of participatory design? Who is best placed to lead, and to resource, the process, and what are the most effective models of measuring the results? How can regenerative design reframe buildings and projects as catalysts for community prosperity?

Details TBC

Wednesday 28 October | 8.30–11.30am

Mainstreaming regenerative design

Breakfast roundtable
Board room

Where are the opportunities for, and what are the barriers to, unlocking the potential and benefits of regenerative design at scale? To what extent can we square the circle of regenerating our cities to become resilient net-positive places that give back to communities and nature within our current economic model?

In partnership with HKS

Invitation only

Wednesday 28 October | 6.30–8.30pm

The People’s Emergency Briefing

Evening film and panel discussion
Seminar space

Screening of The People’s Emergency Briefing, a 50-minute public information film hosted by naturalist Chris Packham that presents evidence on the UK’s climate and nature crisis, drawing from a live Westminster briefing held for politicians in November 2025. The screening will be followed by a Q&A and panel discussion with experts from across the industry.

In partnership with UK Architects Declare and Architecture Today

Tickets £15

Thursday 29 October | 2–4pm

Designing for 2050: who is responsible?

Panel discussion
Glass room

UK Architects Declare’s Next-Gen Ambassadors host a panel discussion on the future: the challenges, and crucially the opportunities, facing students and early-career professionals, and share insights, ideas and strategies to promote regenerative design.

In partnership with UK Architects Declare

Tickets £15
Free to students and RAI entrants