Planetarily-conscious Construction, with Matti Kuittinen

In this episode, we speak with Matti Kuittinen, Professor of Sustainable Construction at Aalto University in Finland. We begin with an exploration of the role of construction industries as well as the planning of construction and land-use in the breaching of several planetary boundaries - taking the opportunity to dive a little deeper into what those boundaries are, as well. Matti reveals how construction is one of the biggest contributors to many of the problems caused by humans for the environment and non-humans (and humans themselves, too), including for biodiversity. He also highlights this with recourse to the interconnection between areas related to land-use, including the role of future food-practices around the world.

But this also leads us to discuss ways that construction could be a key for more planetary thinking and acting, or what could be called “planetary aware construction”. Matti discusses several already-existing examples of such forms of construction, including finding solutions where the need for built space is solved without the need for new construction.

Matti then highlights that construction that is mindful of other species should take them into account as if they were our neighbours. Construction will perhaps necessarily include some kind of destruction, but perhaps it could be less intensive, and more considerate of others. Especially given our responsibility as human beings towards species that are much less able to defend their own needs.

As we explore this and more, it becomes clear that - be it in the area of construction or any other - a return to more respect and care for the more-than-human is key for a planetary approach. And, Matti points out, perhaps a way to reach this would be to find joy in the responsibility that humans have for the wonder of life on the planet as a whole.

Take-aways for planners, by Matti Kuittinen:

* Prioritize regeneration, so that anything done in planning or construction improves living conditions and wellbeing of all life.

* Place more emphasis on resilience. We don’t know what the future will look like exactly, but we know we will need to be resilient to face the challenges that will already inevitably occur.

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