Speculative Technologies for Regeneration

Digital Tools & Methodologies for AT6012

Exploring speculation not as prediction but possibility, regeneration not as sustainability but renewal, technology not as tools but relationships

© Copyleft 2025 - Share with Attribution

This resource is part of AT6012 Technology Transformations, CCAE : UCC /MTU. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

HEA HCI Pillar 3 Initiative: CCAE Building Change (BC) Curricula | MicroCreds Ireland

Conceptual Framework

SPECULATIVE TECHNOLOGIES FOR REGENERATION
Core Concepts
Speculation (not prediction but possibility)
Regeneration (not sustainability but renewal)
Technology (not tools but relationships)
More-than-human (not post-human but with-human)
Methodological Frameworks
Speculative Futures (Hoffman)
Radical Reconstruction (Woods)
Synergetic Design (Fuller)
Narrative Prototyping (Dunne & Raby)
Technology Categories
Living Technologies (bio-integrated systems)
Sensing Technologies (environmental awareness)
Generative Technologies (AI/computational design)
Immersive Technologies (VR/AR/XR)
Design Applications
Memory Scapes (temporal architectures)
Metabolic Buildings (living systems)
Multispecies Habitats (interspecies design)
Regenerative Landscapes (healing territories)

Core Concepts

Foundational ideas that reshape our understanding of technology and regeneration

Speculation as Possibility

Moving beyond predictive models to explore potential futures through design fiction and scenario building.

Key thinkers: Dunne & Raby, Benjamin Bratton, Anna Tsing

Regeneration as Renewal

Transcending sustainability to actively restore and renew ecological and social systems.

Key thinkers: Bill Reed, Pamela Mang, Daniel Wahl

Technology as Relationships

Understanding technology not as neutral tools but as mediators of relationships between humans and nature.

Key thinkers: Donna Haraway, Bruno Latour, Karen Barad

More-than-human Perspectives

Designing with and for multiple species, acknowledging non-human agency in our built environments.

Key thinkers: Anna Tsing, Timothy Morton, Vinciane Despret

Methodological Frameworks

Approaches for implementing speculative and regenerative design

Quick Access
Design Research Tools Climate Analysis Energy Simulations EMERGY Analysis Mapping Tools

Design Research Tools

Tools for speculative design research and futures thinking

Miro

Collaborative whiteboard for mapping complex systems

Free Tier Education License Access Tool
Kumu

Systems mapping and network visualization

Free Tier Access Tool
Gephi

Open-source network analysis and visualization

Open Source Download

Climate Analysis Tools

Software for environmental and climatic analysis

Climate Consultant

Climate data analysis with psychrometric charts

Free Download
Ladybug Tools

Environmental analysis for Grasshopper/Rhino

Open Source Access
Climate.OneBuilding

Global weather data repository

Free Access Data

Energy Simulation Tools

Software for building performance and energy modeling

EnergyPlus

Whole building energy simulation

Open Source Download
OpenStudio

Energy modeling platform with GUI

Open Source Download
Honeybee

Energy & daylighting for Grasshopper

Open Source Access

Odum's EMERGY Analysis

Environmental accounting methodology developed by Howard T. Odum

EMERGY Principles
  • Solar Transformity: Solar energy required per unit of product
  • Maximum Empower: Systems self-organize for maximum power intake
  • Energy Hierarchy: Energy transforms through hierarchical chains
EMERGY Tools & Resources
EMERGY Simulator

Web-based EMERGY calculation tool

Free Access
Systems Ecology Archive

H.T. Odum's original papers and diagrams

Open Access Browse
EMERGY Database

Global transformity values database

Research Access Request Access

Mapping & Spatial Analysis

Tools for cartographic representation and spatial analysis

QGIS

Open-source geographic information system

Open Source Download
Mapbox

Custom interactive maps and data visualization

Free Tier Access
Felt

Collaborative mapping platform

Free Tier Create Maps
Earth Engine

Planetary-scale geospatial analysis

Research Access Apply
Sentinel Hub

Satellite imagery and remote sensing

Free Tier Access
OpenStreetMap

Collaborative open-source mapping

Open Data Contribute

Technology Categories

Emerging technologies for regenerative design practice

Living Technologies

Bio-integrated systems and living materials

Tools & Platforms
BioCement Calculator Calculate bio-mineralization potential
Mycelium Design Lab Computational mycelium growth patterns
Living Systems Simulator Model bio-integrated water systems

Sensing Technologies

Environmental awareness and responsive systems

Tools & Platforms
Arduino Environmental Sensing DIY sensor networks for buildings
Citizen Sense Kit Community environmental monitoring
LoRaWAN Networks Long-range environmental sensing

Generative Technologies

AI and computational design systems

Tools & Platforms
Grasshopper + ML Machine learning for parametric design
Processing + p5.js Creative coding for generative design
Runway ML AI tools for designers

Immersive Technologies

VR/AR/XR for spatial experience

Tools & Platforms
Unity for Architecture Real-time 3D development platform
AR.js Web-based augmented reality
A-Frame Web framework for VR experiences

Design Applications

Implementing speculative technologies in regenerative practice

Memory Scapes

Temporal Architectures

Tools for designing with time, memory, and narrative

  • TimeMapper: Create interactive timelines
  • Neatline: Tell stories with maps and timelines
  • Palladio: Visualize complex historical data
  • StoryMapJS: Narrative mapping platform
Marseille Application: Mapping the palimpsest of industrial heritage and future possibilities

Metabolic Buildings

Living Systems

Tools for designing buildings as living organisms

  • Autodesk Forma: Environmental analysis
  • Speckle: Data streaming for AEC
  • Flux.io: Building data platform
  • SimScale: Cloud-based CFD simulation
Marseille Application: Designing responsive buildings for Mediterranean climate

Multispecies Habitats

Interspecies Design

Tools for designing with non-human inhabitants

  • iNaturalist: Species identification and mapping
  • eBird: Bird observation database
  • GBIF: Global biodiversity information
  • Animal-Computer Interaction tools: Design for wildlife
Marseille Application: Integrating Calanques biodiversity into urban design

Regenerative Landscapes

Healing Territories

Tools for landscape restoration and regeneration

  • Land Design: Regenerative land planning
  • Regreen: Landscape restoration toolkit
  • RUSLE: Soil erosion modeling
  • i-Tree: Urban forest assessment
Marseille Application: Restoring post-industrial sites and quarries

Tool Integration Workflow

Combining tools for comprehensive regenerative design

1

Research

Systems mapping with Kumu/Miro

2

Analysis

Climate & energy simulation

3

Design

Generative & parametric tools

4

Experience

VR/AR visualization

Additional Resources

Tutorials & Guides
Case Studies
Communities