Regenerative Design Theory and Practice: A Demonstration of the Integrated Framework in a Resort Development at Mountain Lake, VA

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the theory and practice of regenerative design and how the concepts apply to scales of design. Ultimately, it examines the applicability and limitations of these principles in a non-traditional resort development. The theories of John Lyle, Robert Thayer, and William McDonough are examined to assist in the establishment of a new framework for regenerative design which is can be used in the design process or evaluation. Case studies of the Center for Regenerative Studies, the Ford Rouge Plant and the Loreto Bay Resort were under taken to evaluate the success of current built works utilizing the new framework. Finally, the development of a regenerative resort community at Mountain Lake, in Giles County, Virginia, is undertaken as a vehicle to demonstrate the process of development and evaluation under the integrated regenerative framework.

Regenerative design is a form of sustainable design which incorporates the interlocking of communities with the natural ecological cycles, the larger society and environmental costs. The overall goals for regenerative developments are to design communities which exist within natural limits and are interconnected to the regional society for needs outside the given site. Regenerative design incorporates diverse ecological, cultural, social and economical systems while maintaining their integrity within a dynamic whole. The integrated framework is an effort to direct site specific design through a flexible and extensive structure. There are two parts to this regenerative design framework. The first is a conceptual model for regenerative design, utilizing the existing idea of regenerative design rooted in sustainability, and overlays it with design driven elements of culture, experience, and education. The second element of the framework defines a set of strategies for the design process and a means of evaluating a design.