In yesterday’s post we looked at mindsets that might shape a brief for regenerative infrastructure.
But once we have the brief established, the next challenge is to have ideas. This where we use our Kalideascope model for idea generation.
The Kalideascope is protocol engineers (and other humans) can use to develop ideas. The concept is to gather fragments of information that will inform the process (filling the Kalideascope) and then trying different combinations of these fragments (turning the Kalideascope).
For regenerative infrastructure, I see three libraries as useful inputs to the process.
Library 1 – resilient system architectures
This first library contains examples of patterns of resilient systems. These are about how systems are structured.
In my work I draw heavily on the systems patterns described by Donella Meadows and David Fleming in their respective books, but you can build your own.
Recurring patterns include:
- Distributed networks
- Nested systems of systems
- Strong local relationships and weaker long-distance relationships
- Modularity
- Semi-closed-loop systems.
- Stacked layers of feedback loops
- System redundancy
They say nothing about how they interact with the living world — this library is about form. But they give us clues about how regenerative infrastructure would need to operate.
The job of the regenerative infrastructure designer is to fill their scrapbook with examples of these systems in order to feed them in to their idea generation process
Library 2 – systems of ecological participation
This second library contains ways for working with and enhancing ecological systems. These say little about system form.
Recurring patterns include:
- Nature corridors
- Wetland restoration
- Continuous-cover forestry
- Patchwork landscapes
- Ocean reforestation
- Re-naturalising river channels
These are ways that engineers work with living systems to improve them as nodes, networks and entire ecological systems.
Alongside Library 1, Library 2 fills our creative process with ways to intervene.
Library 3 – mindset prompts
The first two libraries help fill our Kalideascope. This third Library is a set of prompts to help us turn it — recombining patterns in different ways to create new ideas.
This library of prompts comes from the mindset shifts in yesterday’s post.
- What if the living world were the primary infrastructure?
- What if everything could emerge from the living systems here?
- What if we allowed this system to evolve?
- What if mutual thriving were the goal?
- What if 90% of resources had to stay in the bioregion?
These questions trip us out the rut of conventional thinking. The first responses to these questions are often not usable, but in the kernel of the ridiculous might be something that is possible.
Turning and testing
We can start to generate new ideas by combining patterns from Libraries 1 and 2 and using Library 3 to provoke further variations.
Of course, not every idea will be good. But that is not the point. We need to generate a wide range of options to see what is possible.
Earlier in this series, I introduced three tests for regenerative infrastructure:
- Metabolism – does the infrastructure contribute to a system that operates within ecological limits?
- Ecological participation – does it support living systems?
- Resilience – is it will structured?
We can test our ideas against these criteria, and keep on turning the Kalideascope until we find something that passes.
Designer’s Paradox
The concept of regenerative infrastructure is probably unfamiliar to most of us, which makes it hard to define a brief in the first place.
But remember the Designer’s Paradox. You don’t know what you want until you know what you can have.
Turning the Kalieascope provokes to think about what is possible so that we can start to think about what we can have.