RAI | Creating a Just Space for People

The Regenerative Architecture Index 2025  – produced by Architects Declares and Architecture Today – has been announced.

The Regenerative Architecture Index benchmarks the progress of practices moving towards regenerative design and delivery – recognising the need for a built environment that not only reduces negative impacts, but also generates positive outcomes for both the present and the future. Each of the 116 practices submitted detail responses to questions in three key categories: Being a good ancestor, Co-evolving with nature, and Creating a just space for people, with a front runner being announced for each question.

Collective Works have been listed again this year in the Regenerative Architecture Index, and we are also a front runner withing the Creating a just space for people area.

Alasdair Ben Dixon spoke to Architecture Today about why it matters to us and how we are trying to practice Regenerative Architecture:

As news cycles become shorter and political actions become more theatrical, attention spans are decreasing. The key to regenerative practice is to see the bigger picture – be that environmental or social  –  and take actions that will suit the short term AND deliver positive outcomes in the long term. 

In lean times, there are often two options: Enter into the race to the bottom, or double down on your values – challenging received wisdom and the imperfect systems which are causing harm. 

Regenerative architecture is about restoring communities, embracing collaboration over competition and aligning purpose with practice. It’s about seeing design as a shared endeavour, approaching briefs from a longer perspective, and nurturing more shared values than competing interests.

Together we have more power: to resolve barriers of understanding, to bring innovative solutions to market and to lobby for ambitious and robust legislation that will move us towards a regenerative future.The more closely we and our consultant teams reflect the society we wish to serve, the more effectively we’ll be able to work with a broad range of clients and stakeholders. Xanthe, part 3 architect says “diverse minds will inevitably come up with diverse and better explored solutions. I have talked about my dyslexia and general neurodivergent-ness and have been met with support and recognition. We have genuine interest and care for each other’s differences.” 

At the early stage of any project we run two workshops: Responsible and Beautiful, where we explore and challenge the brief, considering a more regenerative approach. Having established the best ways to align with our client’s values, we embed these within our agendas throughout the project.

Collective Works is very much a live concern with no plans for succession yet. For us the idea of building a business with the intention to exit is fundamentally not regenerative. So, as in a hive, we work for the common good of the practice. As we evolve, the practice will shift to suit the collective.

We use the language of seasons to frame the rhythm of company life. We resist the idea that we should be in a constant state of productive summer, and encourage the whole company and individuals to recognise the need for wintering and rest outside traditional holidays.

Don’t stop here though. There is a lot to be learned from all of the contributors to the Regenerative Architecture Index – the front runners, the ones to watch, and those 116 successful practices who are simply working hard to become more regenerative in their practices.  This month’s Architecture Today showcases the highlights, and all the submissions are published on The Regenerative Architecture Index.