From Concrete to Sponge City: Why Cities Should No Longer Repel Water | NZZ Documentary

Climate change has already brought extreme rains, deadly floods, and long droughts. As the planet warms, these contrasts intensify. Chinese landscape architect Kongjian Yu, father of the Sponge City concept, proposes that cities should absorb rather than repel water by restoring permeable soils, parks, and open spaces. His work—over 500 sponge parks in 200+ Chinese cities—has inspired global adaptation efforts such as Copenhagen’s Cloudburst Plan. Researchers are now exploring whether the concept can also help rural regions like Germany’s Ahr Valley. This film shows how cities and landscapes worldwide are learning to live with water as a new survival strategy.

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=_nAQRyfCJv4