Design Horizons trend 4: human centric becomes life centric

Design is shifting from human-centric comfort to embrace all forms of life, transforming buildings and places into active contributors that enhance ecosystems and biodiversity.

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Our Human-centric becomes life-centric macro trend, which forms the fourth chapter of the debut report for Hassell’s Design Horizons foresight platform, explores the radical shift from anthropocentric design to life-centred approaches. This emerging philosophy seeks to create spaces that serve not just human inhabitants but support biodiversity, ecological health, and the intricate web of life that sustains our planet. As environmental challenges intensify, designers are beginning to view their projects as parts of larger living systems, recognising that every intervention affects natural, social, economic and cultural relationships.

Design Horizons trend four uncovers: 

• The transformation from designing solely for human needs to considering all forms of life and ecosystem integration.
• How projects can move beyond minimising harm to actively regenerating natural systems and supporting biodiversity.
• New strategies for creating continuous habitat corridors, multi-species mobility, and buildings that respond to natural cycles.
• The alignment with Indigenous wisdom that understands buildings as integral parts of the landscape, contributing to ecosystem health.

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