The world of architecture, landscape, and ecological design faces a significant loss with the passing of Professor Kongjian Yu, a visionary Chinese landscape architect who introduced the groundbreaking “sponge city” concept. His impact is evident not only in the resilient cities and lush green corridors he designed but also in the transformative way we now approach water, nature, and sustainability within urban spaces. Yu’s innovative ideas challenged the traditional mindset of managing water through concrete barriers and drainage systems. He advocated for a harmonious relationship with water, viewing it as an essential element that, when embraced and integrated, can enhance our urban environments and safeguard us against climate-related threats. As we confront more frequent floods, rising sea levels, and urban heat stress, his pioneering vision is more crucial than ever. Let us honor his legacy by adopting sustainable practices that put nature back at the heart of our cities.
“Floods are not enemies,” explains Professor Kongjian Yu in the World Economic Forum. "We can make friends with floods. We can make friends with water.”
(Source: weforum.org 2019, see citations below for link).
OBJECTIVE:
This blog stands as my heartfelt tribute to the esteemed landscape architect Kongjian Yu and his remarkable impact on sustainable urban planning. While I have not had the privilege of meeting him personally, the loss of a fellow advocate for sustainable architecture resonates deeply with me. The principles Professor Kongjian Yu has pioneered have profoundly shaped my understanding, even though I have yet to implement them in my own projects. One of my primary goals in writing is to enhance environmental awareness, and I hope this piece inspires your future endeavors. Should it influence your work or decisions, please ensure to attribute your insights to Architect Kongjian Yu, the visionary behind the “Sponge City Concept.” Your acknowledgment can help further his legacy and promote a sustainable future for all.
THE SAD NEWS
According to ArchDaily, Kongjian Yu, the pioneering Chinese landscape architect and urban planner credited with coining the "sponge city" concept, has passed away at 62. According to Reuters, he was killed in a plane crash on Tuesday, September 23, 2025 in the wetlands of Mato Grosso do Sul state, in Brazil, while reportedly filming a documentary about his work, after being featured in the opening program of the São Paulo International Architecture Biennale last week.
“We've misunderstood what it means to be developed. We need to develop a new system, a new vernacular to express the changing relationship between land and people.” - Kongjian Yu, in an interview for ArchDaily
What is the Sponge City Concept?
According to Wikipedia, “Sponge city is an urban planning model that originated in China, first proposed by Kongjian Yu, that emphasizes the implementation of hydro-ecological infrastructure. Sponge cities focus on flood prevention and stormwater management via green infrastructure instead of purely relying on drainage systems. Urban flooding, water shortages, and the heat island effect can be alleviated by having more urban parks, gardens, green spaces, wetlands, nature strips, and permeable paving, which will both improve ecological biodiversity for urban wildlife and reduce flash floods by serving as reservoirs for capturing, retaining, and absorbing excess stormwater.”
PERSONAL INSIGHT:
The sponge city concept is an innovative, nature-based solution for managing urban water. Rather than treating rainfall as a nuisance to be swiftly drained away, a sponge city intelligently absorbs, stores, filters, and reuses this vital resource, mimicking the natural behavior of a sponge. This transformative principle invites us to rethink urban design: let our cities thrive and function like the ecosystems they are part of.
Principles Behind the Sponge City Concept
Absorb Rainwater Where It Falls
Instead of relying only on underground pipes, sponge cities use permeable pavements, green roofs, and rain gardens to soak up stormwater. This reduces flooding and replenishes groundwater.
Store Water Naturally
Parks, wetlands, ponds, and restored rivers act as natural reservoirs. These green-blue infrastructures not only hold excess rain but also provide habitats for biodiversity and spaces for people to enjoy.
Filter and Cleanse
Vegetation and soil naturally filter pollutants from runoff, improving water quality before it re-enters rivers or aquifers. This reduces reliance on expensive treatment plants and creates healthier ecosystems.
Reuse and Recycle
Collected rainwater can be used for irrigation, cooling, or even non-potable household use. In doing so, cities reduce dependence on freshwater sources, making them more resilient in times of drought.
Adapt to Local Ecology
Sponge city design is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It respects local geography, climate, and culture. Yu emphasized that solutions should draw from nature itself, designing with the land rather than against it.
Why Sponge Cities Matter Today
Climate Resilience: As floods become more frequent, sponge cities protect communities by slowing and absorbing water rather than letting it overwhelm infrastructure.
Urban Cooling: By increasing vegetation and open water, sponge cities help mitigate the urban heat island effect, improving public health.
Biodiversity: Restored wetlands and green corridors support wildlife, reconnecting cities with nature.
Quality of Life: These designs create healthier, greener, and more enjoyable spaces for people to live, work, and relax in.
In essence, sponge cities turn gray infrastructure into green infrastructure, blending function with beauty.
.jpg) |
| Tianjin Qiaoyuan Park (Tianjin City, built 2008) |
Case Examples of Sponge City Projects
China / Projects by Kongjian Yu & Turenscape
Sanya Dong’an Wetland Park, Hainan Province
In 2016, Turenscape transformed a polluted and degraded wetland corridor into a multifunctional sponge system. The design includes wetlands, ponds, rice paddies, greenways, and coastal habitat restoration. It helps with water retention, filtration, and aquifer recharge, while also providing paths and recreation areas.Sanya Mangrove Park
Also in Sanya, Hainan. What was once a trash-strewn landfill with concrete flood walls was reworked into a biodiverse mangrove park with finger-like landforms, skywalks, pathways, elevated pavilions, etc. Its functions are ecological, hydrological (flood control, water filtering) and social (public use).Nanchang Fish Tail Park, Jiangxi Province
A more recent project (2022). This was a reclaimed, polluted site (former fish farm + coal ash dump) turned into a “floating forest” park with many small planted islands, water features, paths. It moderates stormwater, improves biodiversity, and serves as public amenity.Jinan, Shandong Province
As part of the pilot sponge city program, Jinan aimed to reduce water pollution and revive springs (e.g. Baotu Spring). The projects have included increasing green infrastructure, improving drainage, improving runoff controls to reach high proportions of rainfall retention, etc. These have helped groundwater levels, among other things.Tianjin Qiaoyuan Wetland Park
According to Turenscape’s project statement: “Through Regenerative Design and by changing landforms, the natural process of plant adaptation and community evolution is introduced to transform a former deserted shooting range used as a garbage dump, into a low maintenance urban park; providing diverse nature’s services for the city including containing and purifying storm water; improving the saline-alkali soil, providing opportunities for environmental education and creating a cherished aesthetic experience.” (Source: Turrenscape Website. See citations for complete link).
Early Projects / Heritage + Cultural Landscape Retention
Zhongshan Shipyard Park, Guangdong Province (2001) — reuse of an old shipyard, preserving industrial structures and integrating landscape to retain cultural memory while also allowing water to permeate and be managed naturally.
Red Ribbon Park, Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province (2007) — more minimal but with features like boardwalks, native vegetation, and restoration of natural riverside landscape.
Source: Turenscape website (See citations below for links).
Projects / Adaptations in Southeast Asia & the Philippines (Not all are Turenscape Project)
Benjakitti Forest Park, Bangkok, Thailand
A great example in Southeast Asia. This park (52.7 ha) used to be a brownfield (former industrial / tobacco factory site), with problems of subsidence and flooding. The design by Turenscape created sponge features: stormwater storage capacity (a large volume), sponge wetlands, recreational boardwalks, etc. It has been resilient: during heavy rainfall events, much of Bangkok flooded but the park and its surroundings largely held up. (Source: Turenscape website - See citations below for links)Metro Manila, Philippines – Sponge City Principles Eyed
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is planning to integrate sponge city principles into Manila’s flood management framework. Proposed interventions include:permeable pavements
underground reservoirs
wetlands and parks
green roofs
riverside esplanades / walkways that capture run-off / nature-based solutions
Chennai, India – Sponge Parks, Ponds, Underground Rainwater Harvesting
Though not by Kongjian Yu, Chennai is doing large scale efforts: restoring ponds, creating “sponge parks”, installing underground rainwater harvesting tanks in parks and public spaces. This reduces waterlogging, improves groundwater recharge, and creates usable public space.(Source: downtoearth.org.in - See citations below for exact links)
Lessons from These Examples
Multifunctionality is key: Parks and wetlands are not just for flood control; they also offer recreation, habitat, cooling, social gathering, culture. Many projects combine ecological, social, aesthetic, and hydrological functions.
Working with existing landscapes/legacy sites: Reclaiming degraded land (old industrial, polluted wetlands, landfills) often offers more impactful gains than starting from scratch. Also, retaining cultural or heritage elements makes the projects more meaningful to the community.
Scale & Incremental approach: Some sponge city projects are huge, others are micro (individual parks, streets). Both matter. Smaller projects often serve as demonstrations or pilots, which build public awareness. Over time, scaling up.
Local adaptation: Designs reflect the local climate (monsoon vs. temperate), soil, hydrology, ecology, culture, and also the financial & governance context. What works in Sanya may need modification in Metro Manila or Chennai. Some areas already have wetlands or mangroves; others need rain gardens or underground reservoirs.
Monitoring & maintenance: It’s not enough to build sponge infrastructure; feedback, data, maintenance, and behavioral change (e.g., reducing solid waste so storm drains aren’t blocked) are all necessary. Several Chinese pilot cities report challenges around upkeep, public awareness, and coordinating jurisdictions.
Kongjian Yu’s Enduring Legacy
Kongjian Yu's vision merges modern science with ancient wisdom in a profound way. Drawing from traditional Chinese water systems, rice paddies, and terraced landscapes, he crafts innovative urban solutions that resonate globally. His influence extends beyond China, inspiring cities across Asia, Europe, and beyond to adopt sponge city principles as a framework for sustainable living. As architects, planners, and engaged citizens, we have the opportunity to honor his legacy by recognizing the essential connection between human settlements and nature. By designing our cities to work with water, rather than against it, we can build resilient urban environments that flourish amid the challenges of climate change.
FINAL REFLECTION
The passing of Kongjian Yu is a significant loss, yet his teachings will continue to inspire architects, designers, and urban thinkers for generations to come. The sponge city concept transcends mere engineering; it embodies a philosophy of humility—serving as an invitation to honor the natural rhythms of our environment and to embrace water as a valuable ally rather than a foe. In remembering his legacy, we must acknowledge a vital truth: the sustainability of future cities relies on our commitment to coexist harmoniously with the natural world, rather than isolating ourselves from it.
“In honoring Kongjian Yu, we remember not only a visionary architect, but a gentle teacher who showed us that by listening to water, we learn how to live in harmony with the earth.”
Ar J CASTANEDA
Architect, Sustainable Architecture
Link in account for architectural works.
CITATIONS
https://www.weforum.org/stories/2019/08/sponge-cities-china-flood-protection-nature-wwf/
https://www.turenscape.com/en/project/index/4.html
https://www.turenscape.com/en/project/detail/4751.html
https://www.turenscape.com/en/project/detail/339.html
https://www.philstar.com/nation/2025/09/07/2471018/sponge-city-principle-eyed-metro-manila
PHOTO ATTRIBUTIONS
By GSAPPstudent - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74560631
By Mydogistiaotiaohu - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=112853252
No comments:
Post a Comment