More Than Human Manifesto

The More Than Human Collective was a collaborative research initiative developed by eight students within the Extinction Rebellion Architecture (ERA) Unit at Birmingham City University. Splitting into two sub-groups, mine explored how architectural practice could move beyond sustainability towards genuinely regenerative design, resulting in a shared 10-point manifesto that advocates for more inclusive, ecological, and accountable approaches to the built environment.

The project brought together diverse interests and experiences, allowing each contributor to shape principles that reflected their own research while contributing to a unified vision. My contribution focused on sensory inclusivity and accessibility, arguing that regenerative architecture must support both environmental systems and human diversity. This perspective informed several principles within the manifesto, including Accessibility = Inclusivity, All Kith, No Compromise, and No Monocultures.

Alongside the manifesto, we developed a practical assessment framework that enables designers to evaluate projects against regenerative principles across themes including ecology, social value, governance, and circularity. Rather than acting as a prescriptive checklist, the framework encourages reflection throughout the design process, helping practitioners identify opportunities to create architecture that benefits both people and the wider ecosystem.

The collective was launched through exhibitions and presentations at Birmingham City University and Spike Island, Bristol, where it formed part of wider discussions on the future of regenerative architectural practice.