On October 15, 2024, the University of Ljubljana's Faculty of Civil and Geodetic Engineering hosted the CROSS-REIS Info Day, a key event designed to engage experts, policymakers, and academics in discussions on transitioning from circular to regenerative principles in the built environment. The event sought to deepen understanding of the regenerative economy while showcasing the CROSS-REIS project’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainable practices across various sectors.
The Info Day began with an opening address by Prof. Dr. Violeta Bokan Bosilkov, Dean of the Faculty, who underscored the urgency of addressing environmental challenges in the built environment. She highlighted the responsibility of researchers in finding innovative, environmentally friendly solutions, while also criticizing the state’s lack of focus on leveraging advanced recycling technologies, such as cement recycling, to address sustainability issues in construction.
Following this, Matjaž Hribar, a CROSS-REIS researcher, presented the project’s objectives and activities. He emphasized the importance of international collaboration, particularly with leading universities, to explore and implement regenerative solutions. Hribar also outlined the upcoming initiatives planned under the project, including a three-day online workshop on Green Public Procurement for municipal employees in November 2024 and a conference on circular and regenerative economies in March 2025, aimed at engaging a wider audience.
The central segment of the event featured a roundtable discussion titled “From Circular to Regenerative: Tackling Challenges in the Built Environment,” moderated by Prof. Dr. Žiga Turk. The panel brought together prominent experts from various fields related to the built environment. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alma Zavodnik Lamovšek addressed the implications of rapid urbanization on Slovenia’s polycentric spatial development model, warning of risks such as urban heat islands, flooding, and pollution exacerbated by non-compliance with strategic guidelines. M.Sc. Dejan Jurkovič detailed the efforts to modernize Slovenia’s railway infrastructure, emphasizing the use of spatial scenarios to minimize environmental impact despite persistent challenges in achieving broader social consensus. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mitja Košir shared insights on contemporary residential design trends, emphasizing energy efficiency, smart design, and the importance of understanding evolving client needs in the face of climate change.
Univ. dipl. ing. arh. Janko Rožič reflected on his experiences in spatial design, advocating for greater interdisciplinary collaboration to develop solutions that respect the environment’s carrying capacity. Meanwhile, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Peter Lipar recounted lessons learned from planning Slovenia’s highway network, highlighting the value of integrating advanced technical solutions such as green overpasses and providing multiple environmentally sensitive options to decision-makers.
The discussion illuminated the critical role of cross-disciplinary collaboration in embedding circular and regenerative principles within urban planning and infrastructure development. The panelists also explored examples of successful and unsuccessful practices, providing valuable insights for future projects. The event concluded with a strong message about the need for continued collaboration among academia, industry, and policymakers. The CROSS-REIS Info Day not only strengthened the foundation for this collaboration but also showcased the project’s potential to drive innovative solutions for the built environment.