For most of human history, ‘construction’ meant low-energy, low-carbon built environments that supported healthy occupants and communities over a vast range of climates. With industrialisation, that changed radically: local earth, stone and timber were replaced with high-energy proprietary materials such as concrete and glass; vernacular design gave way to internationalism and standard solutions; and (most seriously) hands-on knowledge honed over millennia of observation and experience was lost, and replaced with codes based on ‘market solutions’ supporting enterprises rather than people. The result? Construction has become not just increasingly energy-intensive, but shorter-lived and more climate-susceptible. Despite progress in critical fields such as sanitation, health problems associated with building are increasing. 

How do we go about combining the best of the forgotten past with the best of the present to create the built environment we really need? This co-creation workshop – led by experts in cultural heritage, social sustainability, and community-led design  – encourages radical new conversations around sustainability.

This session highlights the role of culture and social sustainability in delivering climate-responsive, community-accepted built environments. It explores participatory planning, place-based design, inclusive knowledge systems, and grassroots industries, with particular attention to local agency and lived experience. The discussion emphasizes how cultural integrity, social cohesion, and community ownership strengthen long-term sustainability outcomes.

Leading question: How can culturally grounded and socially inclusive approaches rooted in local agency and dignity strengthen sustainability outcomes in construction?