"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 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."
"A globally-recognized advocate for ecological urbanism, Yu gained international relevance after his "sponge city" philosophy was adopted as a national policy in China in 2013. The approach prioritizes nature-based solutions, such as wetlands, parks, and permeable pavements, to absorb and retain water. This novel method stood in stark contrast to traditional concrete infrastructure, offering cities a way to combat urban flooding and accelerate climate change by working with nature rather than against it. His ideas have since been implemented in hundreds of cities worldwide."
Kongjian Yu, aged 62, died in a plane crash in the wetlands of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, while reportedly filming a documentary after appearing at the São Paulo International Architecture Biennale. He pioneered the 'sponge city' concept, which became national policy in China in 2013 and emphasizes nature-based solutions—wetlands, parks, and permeable pavements—to absorb and retain water. The approach contrasts with concrete infrastructure by working with natural processes to reduce urban flooding and address climate impacts. Yu founded Turenscape in 1998, led over 600 projects with more than 500 specialists, taught at Peking University, and promoted productive, low-maintenance landscapes.
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