Regenerative design: a new paradigm for cities

• Urban development is moving beyond a focus on minimizing environmental impact.
• Regeneration — the active restoration of ecosystems — can deliver lasting value and sustainable urban environments.
• Examples from Singapore, Sydney, and Hong Kong are leading the way.

Cities have always reflected the priorities of their time, shaped by economic growth, population needs, and infrastructure demands.

But today, that equation is shifting. Urban areas account for more than 75% of global carbon emissions, and the environmental toll is becoming harder to ignore.

For decades, sustainability was about reducing impact. But with climate data setting new records and ecological systems under stress, the industry is asking more ambitious questions: What if the built environment could actively repair what's been lost? What if the real challenge isn't just how we build, but how we regenerate?

The shift is prompting a broader rethink across the built environment. Architects, planners, and engineers are asking how cities can restore ecosystems, strengthen communities, and deliver lasting environmental value.

It's a mindset that goes beyond sustainability, and it's increasingly shaping how SJ Group (SJ), a global urban, infrastructure, and managed services consultancy, approaches urban development in a resource-constrained world.

This regenerative philosophy is also embedded in SJ's Sustainability Charter, which champions ecosystem restoration, community resilience, and long-term livability. For SJ, sustainability is not seen as a checkbox; it's a constantly evolving practice focused on creating lasting positive impact.

That philosophy is already shaping how urban projects are conceived, designed, and delivered.

"The era of 'business as usual' is behind us — sustainability alone is no longer enough!" said Sean Chiao, Group CEO of SJ. "Today's challenges demand a seismic shift: Regenerative development isn't just about reducing harm — it's about revitalizing what's been lost and enriching what remains. We must design with life at the center, not just as an afterthought."

He said, "It's time to expand our vision — beyond project boundaries and profit margins — and ask the big questions: How can we heal ecosystems? How can we empower communities? How can we co-create a future that gives more than it takes?"

Across Asia and beyond, we're seeing low-energy buildings, adaptive reuse of existing structures, circular waste systems, and biodiversity-led masterplans that reflect this regenerative approach.

What regeneration looks like in practice

In Singapore, Labrador Tower, designed by SJ, offers a working example. The Super-Low Energy office development features a centralized water-cooled chilled water system with thermal energy storage — an innovative adoption among commercial buildings in Singapore. The building also uses a combination of a hybrid air distribution system and active chilled beams, enhanced by an intelligent microclimate control system, a high-efficiency façade, and smart daylight sensors to reduce heat load and optimize energy savings by over 40%. But the building's impact goes further.

Rooftop gardens and sky terraces extend the surrounding nature vertically, providing restorative green spaces that support biodiversity. The building was designed as part of the environment, not apart from it.

Reusing the past to build the future

In dense urban centers, the most sustainable structure isn't always the newest. Adaptive reuse is gaining traction as a strategy for cutting embodied carbon, reducing waste, and preserving heritage.

In North Sydney, a 1970s commercial office block, at 41 McLaren Street, originally designed by architect Harry Seidler, was transformed by Australian-owned property developer and contractor, Built, into a school campus without demolishing the structure.

By retaining its core building structure and reconfiguring the interior, the project reduced material waste and preserved heritage value. To meet today's standards, the building was carefully upgraded with a performance-based seismic solution, a tailored approach that delivered safety without sacrificing design. Robert Bird Group, an SJ company, provided the civil and structural engineering solution for this transformation.

Turning waste into power

Regeneration isn't limited to buildings. Infrastructure projects, particularly in waste and energy, are proving equally critical.

In Hong Kong, the Integrated Waste Management Facility Phase 1 (I·PARK1) processes 3,000 tonnes of municipal waste daily, converting the heat from incineration into 480 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to power around 100,000 homes. By turning landfills into energy, I·PARK1 demonstrates how regenerative infrastructure can contribute to energy resilience and circularity at scale.

Using state-of-the-art incineration technology and stringent emission controls, I·PARK1 reduces reliance on landfills and introduces strategic conservation measures such as coral translocation and a 797-hectare marine park that prioritizes biodiversity.

As the consultant safeguarding the facility's successful delivery, SMEC, an SJ company, is integrating technical rigor with deep ecological stewardship throughout I·PARK1, recognizing that urban progress does not come at the expense of our fragile ecosystems.

The regenerative opportunity ahead

Urban development has long focused on density, access, and growth. But today's challenges — climate volatility, social resilience, ecological decline — demand a new approach.

Regeneration isn't a buzzword. It's a systems-level shift in how we design, build, and invest. It asks cities, developers, and policymakers to think long-term and to build for a net-positive impact.

"Climate action and net-zero goals remain vital — but they are no longer the finish line," Chiao said. "We see a growing shift toward regenerative design, with a deeper focus on nature, biodiversity, and social well-being."

He continues, "This demands a fundamental shift in mindset. At SJ, we are reimagining how our work can create a net-positive impact — investing in regenerative capabilities, upskilling our people, and pushing the boundaries of design and delivery."

Digital tools like climate modeling, emissions tracking, and predictive systems are making regenerative design more precise and scalable. Technology and innovation will be key enablers, allowing us to act with both greater focus and impact.

From buildings that give back to infrastructure that closes loops, the built environment is already evolving. The question is no longer whether regeneration is possible, but how quickly we can make it the norm.

"Ultimately, regeneration is not just about what we build, but how our work enables life to flourish," Chiao said. "It's a responsibility and an opportunity we cannot afford to miss."

Discover how SJ is reimagining ways to create a smart and sustainable future.

This post was created by Insider Studios with SJ Group.

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