Summary Regenerative Design: Comfort, Energy
& Water (Ghent) [AM3007]
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION
MAR: Regenerative Design – Comfort, Energy & Water
1. Building services as an integral part of architecture
In this course, building services (heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, water and energy
systems) are not treated as secondary technical additions, but as fundamental
components of architectural design. They strongly influence how a building functions,
how it is experienced, and how comfortable and healthy it is for its users. Comfort is
therefore not an optional quality, but a basic requirement for well-being, health and usability.
The architect Richard Neutra already emphasized that there is no clear boundary between
utility and beauty. A building does not stop being architectural once it becomes functional,
and it cannot truly function if spatial and experiential qualities are neglected. Building
services contribute not only to performance, but also to the architectural identity of a
building.
This idea became radically visible in projects such as the Centre Pompidou, where
technical systems were deliberately exposed. In doing so, services became part of the
architectural language, rather than something to be hidden.
2. The building as a coherent whole
A building should be understood as a coherent system, rather than as a collection of
independent parts. The course compares a well-designed building to a symphony, in which
all instruments must work together harmoniously. Even if individual elements perform well on
their own, the overall result fails if one component is out of tune.
For example, an office building may have a well-designed interior and advanced furniture,
but if thermal comfort is inadequate, this deficiency will dominate the user experience.
Comfort failures are immediately noticeable and undermine the overall architectural quality.
This illustrates why comfort, energy and water systems must always be considered
together, and never in isolation.
,3. Holistic design approach
To achieve a high-performance building, a holistic design approach is required. This
means that multiple design objectives must be considered simultaneously and kept in
balance throughout the entire design process. These objectives include accessibility,
aesthetics, cost-effectiveness over the building’s life cycle, functional and operational
performance, safety, productivity and sustainability.
No single objective can be optimized independently without affecting the others. For
example, a technical system chosen purely for efficiency may negatively impact
maintenance, user comfort or architectural quality. A successful design therefore requires
continuous coordination between all building systems from the earliest design stages
through construction, operation and maintenance.
4. Integrated design
Closely related to holistic thinking is the concept of integrated design. Integrated design
recognizes that all building systems are interconnected and influence one another. Decisions
regarding mechanical systems affect indoor air quality, energy consumption, maintenance
requirements, window operability and even the aesthetic expression of the building.
At the same time, architectural choices such as spatial layout, daylight access, material
selection and operating schedules influence the size, type and performance of technical
systems. A truly integrated design process aims to identify synergies between systems,
resulting in buildings that are more efficient, more cost-effective and more comfortable than
those designed through a linear or fragmented process.
A successful building design is therefore more than the sum of its individual parts.
5. From problem-solving to systems thinking
Traditional design and engineering processes are often based on problem-solving and
analytical thinking. In this approach, complex challenges are broken down into smaller
problems, each solved separately. While this method can be effective for gaining detailed
knowledge, it often fails to address the complexity of real-world systems and tends to
reinforce existing paradigms.
Systems thinking offers an alternative approach. Instead of focusing on isolated problems,
systems thinking examines relationships, interactions and feedback loops within a larger
whole. It emphasizes long-term effects, unintended consequences and the interconnected
nature of architectural, technical and environmental systems.
A typical example discussed in the course is heating in well-insulated buildings. While
regulations often assume that all rooms must be heated equally, systems thinking suggests
a more nuanced approach, where only living spaces are heated continuously and other
, spaces are conditioned when needed. This represents a shift in perspective rather than a
purely technical optimization.
6. Systems thinking and living systems
Systems thinking is closely linked to the concept of living systems, as described by
theorists such as Fritjof Capra. Living systems are not mechanical or static; they are
dynamic networks that constantly adapt, renew themselves and respond to change.
Disturbances do not necessarily weaken these systems but can lead to adaptation, learning
and increased resilience.
Living systems operate according to fundamental laws of nature, such as interdependence,
continuous energy and material flows, dynamic equilibrium and evolution through
emergence. When applied to architecture, this perspective encourages designers to see
buildings not as fixed objects, but as evolving systems embedded within larger ecological,
social and economic contexts.
Core idea of the chapter
This introductory chapter establishes the foundation for regenerative design by arguing that
comfort, energy and water systems must be conceived as interconnected parts of a
living whole. Architecture should move beyond isolated problem-solving and embrace
systems thinking, integrated design and long-term adaptability in order to contribute
positively to both human well-being and the environment.
& Water (Ghent) [AM3007]
CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION
MAR: Regenerative Design – Comfort, Energy & Water
1. Building services as an integral part of architecture
In this course, building services (heating, cooling, ventilation, lighting, water and energy
systems) are not treated as secondary technical additions, but as fundamental
components of architectural design. They strongly influence how a building functions,
how it is experienced, and how comfortable and healthy it is for its users. Comfort is
therefore not an optional quality, but a basic requirement for well-being, health and usability.
The architect Richard Neutra already emphasized that there is no clear boundary between
utility and beauty. A building does not stop being architectural once it becomes functional,
and it cannot truly function if spatial and experiential qualities are neglected. Building
services contribute not only to performance, but also to the architectural identity of a
building.
This idea became radically visible in projects such as the Centre Pompidou, where
technical systems were deliberately exposed. In doing so, services became part of the
architectural language, rather than something to be hidden.
2. The building as a coherent whole
A building should be understood as a coherent system, rather than as a collection of
independent parts. The course compares a well-designed building to a symphony, in which
all instruments must work together harmoniously. Even if individual elements perform well on
their own, the overall result fails if one component is out of tune.
For example, an office building may have a well-designed interior and advanced furniture,
but if thermal comfort is inadequate, this deficiency will dominate the user experience.
Comfort failures are immediately noticeable and undermine the overall architectural quality.
This illustrates why comfort, energy and water systems must always be considered
together, and never in isolation.
,3. Holistic design approach
To achieve a high-performance building, a holistic design approach is required. This
means that multiple design objectives must be considered simultaneously and kept in
balance throughout the entire design process. These objectives include accessibility,
aesthetics, cost-effectiveness over the building’s life cycle, functional and operational
performance, safety, productivity and sustainability.
No single objective can be optimized independently without affecting the others. For
example, a technical system chosen purely for efficiency may negatively impact
maintenance, user comfort or architectural quality. A successful design therefore requires
continuous coordination between all building systems from the earliest design stages
through construction, operation and maintenance.
4. Integrated design
Closely related to holistic thinking is the concept of integrated design. Integrated design
recognizes that all building systems are interconnected and influence one another. Decisions
regarding mechanical systems affect indoor air quality, energy consumption, maintenance
requirements, window operability and even the aesthetic expression of the building.
At the same time, architectural choices such as spatial layout, daylight access, material
selection and operating schedules influence the size, type and performance of technical
systems. A truly integrated design process aims to identify synergies between systems,
resulting in buildings that are more efficient, more cost-effective and more comfortable than
those designed through a linear or fragmented process.
A successful building design is therefore more than the sum of its individual parts.
5. From problem-solving to systems thinking
Traditional design and engineering processes are often based on problem-solving and
analytical thinking. In this approach, complex challenges are broken down into smaller
problems, each solved separately. While this method can be effective for gaining detailed
knowledge, it often fails to address the complexity of real-world systems and tends to
reinforce existing paradigms.
Systems thinking offers an alternative approach. Instead of focusing on isolated problems,
systems thinking examines relationships, interactions and feedback loops within a larger
whole. It emphasizes long-term effects, unintended consequences and the interconnected
nature of architectural, technical and environmental systems.
A typical example discussed in the course is heating in well-insulated buildings. While
regulations often assume that all rooms must be heated equally, systems thinking suggests
a more nuanced approach, where only living spaces are heated continuously and other
, spaces are conditioned when needed. This represents a shift in perspective rather than a
purely technical optimization.
6. Systems thinking and living systems
Systems thinking is closely linked to the concept of living systems, as described by
theorists such as Fritjof Capra. Living systems are not mechanical or static; they are
dynamic networks that constantly adapt, renew themselves and respond to change.
Disturbances do not necessarily weaken these systems but can lead to adaptation, learning
and increased resilience.
Living systems operate according to fundamental laws of nature, such as interdependence,
continuous energy and material flows, dynamic equilibrium and evolution through
emergence. When applied to architecture, this perspective encourages designers to see
buildings not as fixed objects, but as evolving systems embedded within larger ecological,
social and economic contexts.
Core idea of the chapter
This introductory chapter establishes the foundation for regenerative design by arguing that
comfort, energy and water systems must be conceived as interconnected parts of a
living whole. Architecture should move beyond isolated problem-solving and embrace
systems thinking, integrated design and long-term adaptability in order to contribute
positively to both human well-being and the environment.
