About This Project

This project aims to develop the largest evidence-based, open-access and open-source information platform focusing on ecological benefits of design strategies. The platform will link existing building design solutions to their measured benefits, represented as ecosystem services (ESs), and so empower users to take informed decisions for the development of regenerative buildings.

Project Overview

Urban areas face pressing environmental challenges, including biodiversity loss, climate change, and unsustainable resource consumption. The building sector contributes significantly, accounting for 40% of natural resources and over 30% of global energy consumption, but also holds transformative potential. When designed with nature-based solutions (NbS), buildings can actively regenerate ecosystems by delivering ESs such as temperature regulation, air and water purification, and enhanced biodiversity.

Despite growing interest in sustainable design, empirical data linking design strategies to measurable ecological outcomes remain fragmented, inaccessible, and geographically limited. Professionals lack a centralized, trusted platform to guide ecologically informed decisions. This platform addresses this gap by unifying disparate data sources into a coherent, science-driven system, linking building and urban design strategies to proven ecological outcomes. It will accelerate urban sustainability transitions and help meet international targets.

Project Phases

Platform Improvement and Scaling

Following successful pilots, the platform will expand in scope and functionality. New data layers, ESs, and design strategies will be added, increasing reach and impact. The project seeks to create a shared language between computational, ecological, building, and socio-political fields of expertise, supporting ecologically beneficial designs while addressing risks and opportunities.

Collaborations

Significant effort was devoted to building a diverse and committed consortium.