Architecture at the Edge: Regenerative Design from Bidi Bidi to the Moon

Amid accelerating climatic volatility, architecture can act as regenerative infrastructure for communities on the move. In the Bidi Bidi settlement, a cultural hub is designed to work hard: its roof forms collect and store rainwater, shaded courtyards support enterprise and learning, and material reuse helps kick-start tree planting and soil repair. In Tanzania, a prototype village explores 3D-printed earth, naturally cool building shells, and modular facilities made with local materials and know-how. Together these projects trial a practical form of migration-aware urbanism, where buildings do more than shelter — they restore landscapes, build skills, and strengthen livelihoods.

Research in extreme settings offers clues for home: a lunar masterplan tests habitats printed from local dust and closed-loop systems, while a 3D-printed pavilion explores lightweight, quickly deployable structures. Read together, they recast architecture as a living system that shares energy, water, and knowledge — a grounded, regenerative practice for a changed world.

Xavier De Kestelier is an architect and design innovator, and a Head of Design at Hassell. With over two decades of experience, he leads in computational design, digital fabrication, and additive manufacturing, pioneering projects across architecture and extreme environments. A trailblazer in space architecture, he has collaborated with NASA and ESA on sustainable space habitats. His expertise in parametric design and digital construction drives industry innovation and research. Formerly Director of Smartgeometry, he helped build a global network in computational design. Xavier has also taught at Syracuse University (London), the University of Ghent, and The Bartlett (London), mentoring the next generation of architects. His socially impactful work includes leading the design of the Bidi Bidi Performing Arts Centre in one of the world's largest refugee settlements.

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