Kongjian Yu’s 27-year-old Beijing-based practice Turenscape has been named this year’s winner of the RAIC International Prize by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC).

Reimagining the Flow of Nature: Sponge Cities and a Resilient Planet

Conventional wisdom regarding stormwater mitigation dictates that developers prioritize so-called gray infrastructure – concrete and steel construction that works to reroute flooding in order to minimize loss of life and property. But what renowned landscape architect Kongjian Yu has insisted for years now is that nature itself actually has many of the answers we seek in regard to flood preparedness.

Sponge City and Sponge Planet

The Dongyuegu Music and Performance Valley in Shangrao City stands as a prime example of architecture and nature harmoniously fused, embracing the dynamic processes of the natural world rather than resisting them. Located within the Xingjian Ecological Corridor, this cultural performance space is more than just a venue—it is a living, breathing landscape that responds to its surroundings, adapting to the seasonal rhythms of flowing water, flourishing vegetation, and monsoon floods. ...

中国模式下的基于自然的途径

We can’t forget the central role of water in climate action, argues landscape architect Kongjian Yu, FASLA, founder of Turenscape, in a new research paper published in Nature Water. “Climate action must prioritize water—restoring the natural water cycle is just as critical as reducing carbon.”