Regenerative Communities Vision Paper
hch offers this document as a vision for transformative community that invites an upleveling from a no-longer sufficient objective of sustainability to possibilities for human communities to be restorative and regenerative. In addition to nature-based solutions for building materials and infrastructure, a critical aspect of this shift involves redefining and reconfiguring waste as resource and incorporating systems, methodologies, and technologies that are able to accomplish this transformation.
On a deeper level, regenerative communities enhance and support their residents’ lives as well as their bodily, emotional, spiritual, creative, and economic well-being.
And, on the most foundational level, regenerative communities Invite the return of Indigenous presence and are open to guidance by Indigenous knowledge and wisdom. Nothing can be truly regenerative without being integrated, and for a community to achieve such integration, it is necessary to address any past land theft and cultural destruction that might be part of the land’s history. It is essential for each community to address as least the following inquiries for itself:
• How can the presence of Indigenous people be invited to return to each land upon which a community arises in a meaningful way?
• How can their knowledge, wisdom, and culture, which allowed for harmony with the land for centuries if not in many cases millennia, be foundations for each community and be honored in ways that are impactful for both the new community and the returning ancient one?
• How can such integration serve to perpetuate Indigenous culture and traditions in transformative ways?
This vision paper is available for download by clicking on its cover image to the right.
Interim Housing for Maui Fire Survivors
hch was tasked with planning the site and customizing prefabricated modules for a proposed 88-unit temporary development to provide housing for survivors of the August 2023 fires on Maui.
Because the possibility for this project was founded on emergency declarations that would allow for the agricultural site to be used for emergency shelter only for the duration of the emergency declarations (expected to be 2 to 4 years), the entire site would be required to be remediated to be in compliance with agricultural zoning at the end of that time.
A key aspect of this remediation was to be the donation of each unit to the family that would live in it once they were ready to move to a more permanent location. While the site was planned to be connected to municipal power, the vision for this project was for each unit to be power-independent as much as possible so that, wherever each family moves to, the would have their own electrical power.
Traffic planning emphasized reducing impact to traffic on the Lahaina Bypass and to residents in the communities above the site as well as allowing for emergency egress and ease of access for emergency responders.
Because the site is a drought-prone area and future potential fires remain a concern that must be addressed, the entire site was planned to be covered with drought-resistant, native vegetation that would both help to hold water and prevent soil erosion. The site naturally slopes fairly gently down towards the ocean, and this allowed for the units to be terraced with a berm defining the base of each terrace and amplifying the land’s capacity to hold runoff.
Because there was no feasible water supply for the project, each unit was planned to have an atmospheric water generator and greywater system so that it would be able to supply sufficient water for a family of four and the garden and plants that they might want to grow.
In order to minimize the project’s impact on the land and maximize how each unit would be able to integrate into its natural setting at a future permanent location, the septic system for each unit is a nature-based solution utilizing a constructed wetland that greatly reduces its required footprint and creates a natural habitat of flora and fauna.
While the prefabricated modules were tight for a family of four, hch devised easy to install customizations to allow for each module to be as functional and flexible and to feel as spacious and uncluttered as possible.
A Community Center was planned to provide trauma-informed care and recovery, counseling and therapy, conflict resolution, childcare, holistic care for residents’ mental, spiritual, emotional, and bodily health, laundry facilities, and, together with a Community Park, to be a gathering place for the residents to be cared for and connect with each other.
Though this project was planned to be a temporary one, hch and the client team endeavored to meet the needs of its residents and to provide as safe, nourishing, and beautiful an environment for them as possible.
Temple & Retreat Center
hch created a vision for a temple and regenerative resort in Thailand with the client initially commissioning a conceptual design for 2 primary structures and an overall master plan for the entire project. Although the client expressed the desire to create a sustainable development, he was very insistent on using materials and planning operations in ways that were unsustainable and detrimental to the future health of the project, the planet, and the local community.
Thus, a critical aspect of this presentation was to address these incongruities and lead the client in a direction that would be truly healing for planet and people while envisioning spaces that would merge sacred ceremony with celebrations of this land’s glorious natural environment and scenery.
Chongming Island Ksitigharba Temple Complex
The Chongming Island Ksitigarbha Temple Complex is located on a 180m x 80m site on Chongming Island, just to the north of Shanghai. The client's brief asked for a design that would be a departure from the aesthetic of a traditional Chinese temple, and it was also requested that, as soon as each visitor steps through the gate of the complex, they will immediately be able to see the statue of Ksitigarbha that resides within the temple.
hch's vision for this temple is to create a structure that emanates the uplifting of the spirit and deep serenity of Buddhist practice.
The main temple building, 26 meters tall, is formed by four tensile membrane structures that appear as four flower petals opening to the endless sky above. As one looks upon the temple from the front gate of the complex across a long reflection pool, a 13-meter-high image the of the Bodhisattva's face looks out from the heart of the temple, his ever-serene visage gazing with infinite compassion upon the visitor.
For the devotee, the profound source of inspiration that radiates forth from the center of the temple is a reflection and a reminder of the inner light that is within each and every one. As such, it is intended that the experience of the temple serves to deepen the devotee's connection not only to the Bodhisattva but also to their own true self and, thus, their own inner radiance.
In addition to the temple itself, the complex includes dining facilities to serve up to 300 visitors at a time, accommodations for visiting devotees, living quarters for 60 nuns, and a memorial hall where prayer rituals for the deceased can be held.
A full presentation for this project can be downloaded here in EN
Aurora Corporate Pavilion at Expo 2010 Shanghai
The concept development and architectural design of the Aurora Pavilion at the World Expo 2010 Shanghai was a unique challenge. China saw its hosting of the World Expo as part of its grand stage to the world as well as the world’s stage to China.
With a relatively limited budget, the Aurora Pavilion yet needed to stand out amongst a vast field of competing structures and to serve as a standard-bearer for the Aurora Group’s brand, showcasing a cohesive and compelling visitor experience and shining as the crown jewel with which Aurora could impress its partners and clients.
The theme of "Jade" for the pavilion was inspired by the chairman’s personal collection housed in museums located in Aurora’s Taipei and Shanghai corporate offices. Jade evokes an advanced and refined culture and presents Aurora as an evolved and progressive company.
hch led a design team of yi-e Space , HWANG Concepts , AWP, and Arup, to create and develop the concept for the pavilion as well as the conceptual architectural design and brand identity.
Private Residence with Altar
This project involved the conversion of a 2-story rooftop flat in downtown Taipei from a typically cluttered warren of rooms into an open, spacious, light-filled home. The client is a devoutly practicing Buddhist who wanted the altar to be a focal space in the home and was open to a new interpretation of how that altar could be expressed.
hch's concept for the design brings the light and spaciousness of the 2-story living room area into the experience of the altar. The Buddha and Bodhisattva stand on floating masses of wood, an uplifting metaphorical reference to their power to inspire.
The choice of materials and abundance of plants bring life and warmth to this home that is a tranquil refuge from the bustle of the city.
Light Sculpture Hanging Garden
This concept takes three elements - water, light, and plants - which each deeply evoke our connection to life, and fuses them into a dramatic, verdant, living piece of installation art.
Future of Photography
For this project hch collaborated with IMO to develop a revolutionary experience for photography retail in which photographic components are expressed in the design of the space and presented as objects of cutting-edge technology to be aspired to.
In this realm, everything from the visual aesthetic of the space to information about the products is dynamic and interactive, and, as customers experience how their engagement with the products can transform the space, they feel creatively empowered and more deeply connected to the products as well as more fully attuned to and immersed in the environment.
Sanchong Residential Tower
hch collaborated with IMO to design an innovative façade concept for a 100-meter high residential tower overlooking the Danshui River. With its location at the Taipei Bridge, Taipei's first and still one of its most important cross-river thoroughfares, it was important to present the building as a sculptural element that would uplift the riverside cityscape.
Residential towers in Taiwan often have enormous energy costs due to massive use of air conditioning throughout the year. By starting from a study of temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, global horizontal illumination, sky coverage, etc., the façade design is calculated to reduce air conditioning usage throughout the year by 34%. In addition to providing energy and cost savings and raising the sustainability profile of the building, the design optimizes the comfort level of its interior spaces, further enhancing the lives of its residents.
Light Tube Table Lamp
hch was asked to create a design for a unique and compelling table lamp using the client's proprietary light tube technology. While the competitive advantages of this technology were its production cost and energy efficiency, the client wanted to show that it could be captivatingly deployed in high-end fixtures.
hch presented the client a design for a lamp that could instantly transform the atmosphere of a space in multiple ways depending on how it is orientated and rotated - a singular piece that would elevate the brand and define its image as sleek, sensuous, and daring.
creating spaces & impacting lives to transform & heal people & planet
Book a Consultation
Schedule a free exploratory call to explore how hch ‘s vision and creativity can support your project
Click here for Programs and Events that Leiven is offering and co-facilitating
Click here for 1-on-1 Personal Guidance