Integrating Equitable Climate Adaptation into Urban Regeneration through Nature-based Solutions: A Research by design approach on infrastructural spaces as new commons

This contribution explores the intersection of equitable climate adaptation and urban regeneration through Nature-based Solutions (NbS). While cities face asymmetrical climate change impacts, they also lead adaptation efforts, using extreme heat, drought, and flooding as opportunities for innovative, equity-driven design strategies. Urban regeneration is reframed as an integrative, holistic approach to address urban inequalities and global challenges. However, gaps exist in operationalizing equitable climate adaptation within green regeneration through NbS. Using a research by design methodology—integrating knowledge from various disciplines, case study analysis, and experimental design—the study identifies principles for equitable, climate-adaptive nature-based regeneration. Selected case studies illustrate how underused spaces in vulnerable neighborhoods can be transformed into urban commons, distributing social, ecological, and economic benefits. The findings inform a research-driven design framework that fosters a circular relationship between principles, procedures, and outcomes.