The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has released Creating a Better World Together: Financing and Building Regenerative Design, a practical guide to help architects and policymakers advance regenerative projects from concept to completion.
The report explores the financing and policy tools needed to deliver regenerative projects, showcases six case studies across varied geographic and cultural contexts, and outlines actions to accelerate adoption of regenerative design.
AIA defines regenerative design as a holistic approach that integrates buildings with nature and communities to restore ecosystems and create net-positive outcomes. By moving beyond harm reduction, it draws on ancient wisdom to guide repair and renewal, says AIA.
“Regenerative design is the difference between curing symptoms and healing entire cities,” said 2026 AIA president Illya Azaroff, FAIA. “A regenerative future is one where natural and human systems work together rather than compete, where a building contributes more than it consumes, and where communities are stronger because of the investments we make today.”
The report identifies five interconnected pillars that underpin the practice of regenerative design:
- Whole Systems Thinking: Planet, ecosystems, and communities are interconnected.
- Optimize Carrying Capacity: Aligning decisions with a place’s ecological limits and opportunities.
- Spirit of Place: Design emerges from ecological and cultural context.
- Active Renewal: Design restores water cycles, enriches biodiversity, and generates more energy than consumed.
- Design Evolution: Design for adaptability so performance improves over time.
The report presents six case studies across project types, climates, and regions, showing how architects applied AIA’s Five Pillars of Regenerative Design and innovative funding strategies. The projects also highlight architects’ expanding role in bringing stakeholders together, restoring ecosystems, strengthening communities, and creating lasting value, says AIA.
