Regenerative Urbanism

Abstract

The text addresses the profound environmental and social crises generated by the extractive urban model that emerged from the Industrial Revolution, which has produced highly unsustainable cities and exceeded the planet’s regenerative capacity. Contemporary urbanism, largely focused on productivity and technological innovation, has often neglected domestic, social and ecological dimensions, resulting in fragmented, car-dependent and socially unequal urban fabrics. In this context of global systemic crisis, existing urban planning tools are insufficient to respond to interconnected challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity and social inequality. The text proposes regenerative urbanism as a necessary paradigm shift that goes beyond sustainability, aiming not only to reduce impacts but to actively repair and revitalize urban ecosystems. Rooted in ecological thinking and traditions of cooperation and mutual aid, regenerative urbanism emphasizes symbiosis between human and non-human systems, resilience, biodiversity and adaptive capacity. It draws on historical and contemporary practices that prioritize human-scale environments, active mobility, inclusive neighborhoods, circular economies and efficient management of water, energy and materials. The call invites critical, historical and applied contributions that explore regenerative strategies across scales, from public space to territorial planning, as well as methodologies, governance models and educational experiences capable of shaping a resilient and cooperative urban future.