{"id":774641,"date":"2025-03-10T09:09:32","date_gmt":"2025-03-10T09:09:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/?p=774641"},"modified":"2025-03-10T09:09:32","modified_gmt":"2025-03-10T09:09:32","slug":"in-practice-soak-it-up-flood-prevention-natures-way","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/specification\/in-practice-soak-it-up-flood-prevention-natures-way","title":{"rendered":"In practice: Soak it up \u2013 flood prevention nature\u2019s way"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kongjian Yu is a professor at Beijing University and founder of landscape architecture practice Turenscape. He recently received the Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize in recognition of his work developing the Sponge City concept for mitigating urban flooding and augmenting urban climate resilience. (see also the AJ\u2019s Climate Resilience issue, 24 October 2024). He talks here about his practice\u2019s key projects, but also about the importance of his childhood in shaping his approach, the need to stop relying on grey infrastructure and why water is all-important in the fight against climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n

You have pointed to the importance of spending your childhood on a farm to your practice. Can you explain?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Growing up on a farm in rural China deeply shaped my understanding of the relationship between people and the land. On the farm, survival depended on working with nature\u2019s rhythms. Life was frugal and circular; nothing was wasted; resources were respected, which gave me an early appreciation of the idea that landscapes are not just decorative but productive and life-sustaining.<\/span><\/p>\n

I believe two incidents shaped your understanding in particular about the fragile balance between human development and the natural environment.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, the first was in 1972, when my village used the insecticide DDT for the first time. The next morning, the nearby creek was full of dead fish. It shocked me, showing how human actions \u2013 even those meant to solve a problem \u2013 could cause catastrophic harm to natural systems. The second happened during a monsoon, when I fell into a swollen river. I thought I was going to die, but the vegetation growing along the creek slowed the current and gave me something to hold onto, saving me. It taught me how intact ecosystems can protect us during disasters and how our survival is directly tied to its health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I believe you initially studied garden design but realised you were more interested in designing productive\/low-maintenance environments than ornamental\/high-maintenance ones?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

I studied first at Beijing Forestry University, where my initial focus was landscape gardening and ornamental horticulture. At the time, I was captivated by the art of designing beautiful spaces. But the ornamental, high-maintenance gardens I was being trained to design felt disconnected from the realities of land serving a purpose in sustaining people and nature.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

So I shifted my focus to landscape architecture, later going on to graduate studies at Harvard, where I focused on landscape ecological planning: how landscape architecture could be a tool for both ecological preservation and smart development. There I developed the concept of landscape security patterns: a framework to identify and protect critical landscape assets \u2013 water systems, biodiversity hotspots or cultural landmarks \u2013 while still allowing for sustainable, strategic development.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

When did you realise the role landscape architecture could play in mitigating climate change and, in particular, urban flooding?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

A key moment was the catastrophic flooding in 1998 along the Yangtze River and several other rivers across China, which displaced millions and claimed thousands of lives. It exposed the vulnerability of our cities and rural areas to extreme weather events. It became clear to me that our reliance on grey infrastructure \u2013 dams, levees and concrete flood channels \u2013 had failed to protect us. We needed to move from controlling water with brute force to working with it through nature-based solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n

At about the same time, I had revisited the creek from my childhood. Once a place of beauty it had become a lifeless concrete channel. This was typical of what was happening across China and inspired my first two books, which called attention to the destruction of natural water systems, leading to several TV shows and laying the foundation for my concept of ecological infrastructure. I sent my 2003 book Talk to Mayors<\/i> to more than 1,200 mayors across China advocating for a new approach to urban planning that treats rivers, wetlands and green spaces as essential infrastructure. I argued that these natural systems are the \u2018green sponges\u2019 that cities need to absorb, store, and release water in harmony with natural processes. This philosophy became
\na cornerstone of the Sponge City concept. The further turning point was the Indian Ocean tsunami of December 2004, which claimed over 230,000 lives across 14 countries. It laid bare the fragile illusion of safety created by industrial development, how those living in urbanised, industrialised areas have been left defenceless after natural buffers \u2013 such as mangrove forests and coral reefs \u2013 were removed in the name of progress. The very industrial tools of concrete walls and engineering feats supposed to make us invincible had instead stripped the land of its ability to safeguard us.<\/span><\/p>\n

How did the Sponge City concept develop from this?\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

As a response to all these experiences and observations: the fundamental shift that was needed from grey infrastructure to nature-based solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is built on three key principles: retain water at the source, capturing rainwater where it falls to reduce surface runoff, prevent flooding and replenish groundwater; slow water down, as rapid water flow erodes soils, damages ecosystems and increases flood risk downstream. And finally, embrace water at the sink \u2013 those low-lying areas where it naturally accumulates. Rather resisting this with pumps and barriers, sponge cities turn these areas into an asset, exploring their potential for creating parks and leisure activities. Integrating these principles builds resilience against climate change and reduces flooding and droughts.<\/span><\/p>\n

You have always taught, and you have used the media to spread word of the Sponge City concept. Could you talk about the importance to you of teaching?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Teaching and sharing knowledge are central to my mission as a landscape architect. Addressing global challenges such as urban flooding, climate change and ecological degradation requires more than technical solutions \u2013 it demands a shift in mindsets. Teaching, whether through universities, books, projects, or public engagements, is the foundation of my mission.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Sponge City concept was adopted as national policy by the Chinese government in 2013. How did that come about? How did you make the leap from being a practitioner and academic to influencing government policy?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

It required perseverance. One of the biggest obstacles I faced was the resistance from traditional professionals, particularly civil engineers, armed with technocratic codes and a mentality rooted in grey infrastructure. They were trained to view concrete, steel and large-scale engineering as the ultimate solutions to water management. Breaking through this entrenched mindset required not just evidence of failure but also a compelling alternative.<\/span><\/p>\n

But I realised that in China\u2019s top-down system technical arguments alone would not suffice. Structural change could only be achieved by reaching decision-makers at the highest levels. So I embarked on an intensive advocacy campaign to educate and influence leaders. I delivered more than 300 lectures to decision-makers at every level of government, from city mayors to provincial governors, ministers and national policymakers. To complement these lectures, my books, too, were specifically aimed at decision-makers and mayors. As well as sending my book Talk to Mayors<\/i> to over 1,200 mayors across China, I wrote numerous letters directly to China\u2019s top leaders, including the premier and president.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most effective ways to influence policy though was to demonstrate the success of Sponge City principles through real-world examples: combining theory with practice. So, in the same year \u2013 2012 \u2013 that a devastating flood in Beijing claimed 79 lives and exposed the limitations of grey infrastructure in managing extreme weather events and protecting urban residents, my Qunli Stormwater Park project in Harbin, which embodies the principles of sponge cities, combining wetland restoration, stormwater retention and public green spaces, received the ASLA Excellence Award. It\u2019s a project which gave credibility and visibility to the Sponge City approach, showing that it was more than a theory but a proven, implementable solution.<\/span><\/p>\n

The National Urban Planning Conference in 2013, attended by president Xi Jinping, saw the Sponge City idea officially embraced as part of the national strategy to combat urban flooding, water scarcity and ecological degradation. A key advocate was Chen Zhenggao, then-Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, who, years earlier, had attended one of my lectures. He went on to launch the national Sponge City Campaign in 2014 and invited me to plan and design the first officially designated Sponge City projects in Sanya City. This has transformed a coastal city that faced acute flooding by integrating Sponge City strategies such as mangrove restoration.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Soon after, the government launched a national initiative to implement Sponge City principles in 30 pilot cities, with a focus on retaining 70-85 per cent of rainwater within urban areas. It showed how ideas gain credibility through demonstration.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What other key projects have further developed your thinking around Sponge City?\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

While the Qunli Stormwater Park in Harbin and the Sponge City transformation of Sanya City showcased the value of nature-based solutions to policymakers and the public, other projects like the Haikou Breathing Seawall demonstrated how Sponge City principles could be effective in addressing the challenges of sea level rise and storm surges as well. This project blended ecological and engineered solutions incorporating mangroves, tidal wetlands and reef structures to absorb wave energy.<\/span><\/p>\n

More recently, in 2020 the Benjakitti Forest Park project in Thailand has demonstrated how Sponge City principles can be adapted to address monsoon flooding while enhancing urban liveability. The park integrates wetland systems, green infrastructure and recreational facilities, serving as a scalable model for implementing Sponge City solutions internationally.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Could you outline the thinking behind the two papers you have just released and explain why you see water as a more crucial issue \u2013 as both threat and solution \u2013 than carbon to the global environment.\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Well, the Sponge City philosophy has been expanded into a Sponge Planet Campaign, which looks to integrate Sponge City principles into global climate policies. In my new papers I argue that water, not carbon, should take centre stage in this. The water cycle regulates temperature, supports biodiversity and sustains life but has been destabilised by decades of deforestation, wetland drainage, urban sprawl and exacerbated by grey infrastructure. To address the climate emergency, we must restore and protect natural water systems. This vision is not just a technical but an ethical one: and the need to restore harmony between humanity and the planet\u2019s natural systems.<\/span><\/p>\n

To Solve Climate Change, We Need To Restore Our Sponge Planet<\/a>, co-authored with Erica Gies, was published in Nature Water in January 2025<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Qian\u2019an River Corridor\u00a0<\/span><\/span>(2010)\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"

Qian\u2019an River Corridor before<\/p>\n\t

<\/p><\/p><\/div>\n

This project restored a river that had been turned into a lifeless concrete drainage channel during decades of urbanisation and industrialisation back into a dynamic, living system. Concrete barriers were removed, existing trees saved and native vegetation, water grasses and wildflowers restored to riverbanks, which were transformed into a series of tree-planted islands connected by boardwalks.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Qian\u2019an River Corridor after<\/p>\n\t

<\/p><\/p><\/div>\n

Qunli Stormwater Park, Harbin (2011)<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"

Qunli Stormwater Park, Harbin before<\/p>\n\t

<\/p><\/p><\/div>\n

This 34ha park sits, surrounded by roads in the middle of Qunli New Town on the outskirts of Harbin. Listed as a protected regional wetland, the central part was left as natural habitat, while an outer ring of mounds and ponds was created that acts as a stormwater filtration and cleansing zone, with a network of paths and \u2018skywalks\u2019 linking through.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Qunli Stormwater Park, Harbin after<\/p>\n\t

<\/p><\/p><\/div>\n

Sanya City Sponge Projects\u00a0<\/span>(2015)<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"

Sanya City Sponge Projects before<\/p>\n\t

<\/p><\/p><\/div>\n

Built on a former fish farm and coal ash dump, this 51ha park in Nanchang is designed as a \u2018floating forest\u2019. A series of islets and lakes adapt to the fluctuating water levels, turning potential flood risk into an ecological asset. The park is not just a flood buffer, but also a lush, immersive environment for people to reconnect with water and nature.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Sanya City Sponge Projects after<\/p>\n\t

<\/p><\/p><\/div>\n

Nanchang Fish tail Park (2018-2020)<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"

Nanchang Fish tail Park before<\/p>\n\t

<\/p><\/p><\/div>\n

Built on a former fish farm and coal ash dump, this 51ha park in Nanchang is designed as a \u2018floating forest\u2019. A series of islets and lakes adapt to the fluctuating water levels, turning potential flood risk into an ecological asset. The park is not just a flood buffer, but also a lush, immersive environment for people to reconnect with water and nature.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Nanchang Fish tail Park after<\/p>\n\t

<\/p><\/p><\/div>\n

Benjakitti Forest Park, <\/span>Thailand (2019-21)<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"

Benjakitti Forest Park, Thailand during construction<\/p>\n\t

Source:Turenscape\/arsomslip Landscape studio<\/p><\/div>\n

The project transformed a former tobacco factory in the heart of Bangkok into a 42ha green lung. The design retained existing trees and industrial remains, while constructing wetlands and island systems that managed stormwater and created habitat, turning a post-industrial site into an ecological sanctuary.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Benjakitti Forest Park, Thailand after<\/p>\n\t

Source:Turenscape\/arsomslip Landscape studio<\/p><\/div>\n

Fuxi Cultural Park (2021-2022)\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"

Fuxi Cultural Park in winter<\/p>\n\t

<\/p><\/p><\/div>\n

This 43ha park in Huaiyang, Henan, bridges ecological restoration with cultural symbolism. Inspired by ancient cosmology, crater-shaped islands manage stormwater while referencing the myth of Fuxi, the first mythical emperor of China. This project was designed to both heal the land but also create a landscape designed to provide meaningful, enduring spaces for people to enjoy.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"

Fuxi Cultural Park<\/p>\n\t

<\/p><\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kongjian Yu is a professor at Beijing University and founder of landscape architecture practice Turenscape. He recently received the Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize in recognition of his work developing the Sponge City concept for mitigating urban flooding and augmenting urban climate resilience. (see also the AJ\u2019s Climate Resilience issue, 24 October 2024). …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32845,"featured_media":774659,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"categories":[721],"tags":[1626,90304,101502,3709],"yoast_head":"\nIn practice: Soak it up \u2013 flood prevention nature\u2019s way<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Celebrated landscape architect Kongjian Yu tells Rob Wilson how he developed the Sponge City concept and about water\u2019s importance in fighting climate change\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.architectsjournal.co.uk\/specification\/in-practice-soak-it-up-flood-prevention-natures-way\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta 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