Renowned Chinese landscape architect Kongjian Yu tragically died in a plane crash on Tuesday evening in the vast wetlands of Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul state, Brazilian authorities confirmed on Wednesday. The 62-year-old architect, who gained international recognition for revolutionizing urban planning through nature-based solutions, was among four people killed when their aircraft crashed in a rural area near the town of Aquidauana in the Pantanal wetlands.
Yu achieved global prominence as a landscape architect and urban planner after the Chinese government adopted his groundbreaking concept of "sponge cities." This innovative approach uses nature-based solutions to absorb and retain water rather than relying on traditional concrete infrastructure to channel it away. The revolutionary concept has since been implemented in hundreds of locations across China and has spread to urban areas from the United States to Russia, fundamentally changing how cities approach water management and flood control.
Brazilian authorities reported that Yu was traveling with three other individuals when the fatal crash occurred: the pilot and two local filmmakers. All four people aboard the aircraft were killed in the accident. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva expressed his condolences in an official statement, saying, "It was with sadness and dismay that I received the news of the plane crash." The president praised Yu's environmental contributions, adding, "In times of climate change, Kongjian Yu became a global reference with the sponge cities which combine quality of life and environmental protection."
Yu had recently participated in the opening program of the São Paulo International Architecture Biennale last week, where his work was featured prominently. According to reports from the Brazilian newspaper Estadão, after his appearance at the biennale, Yu joined a trip with filmmakers who were shooting a documentary about his innovative work and contributions to sustainable urban planning.
The acclaimed architect founded and led Peking University's College of Architecture and Landscape as both a professor and dean. He also established Turenscape, a Beijing-based design firm, in 1998, which he grew from a small startup into a major international company. Under Yu's leadership as principal designer, Turenscape expanded into a team of more than 500 specialists, according to the company's official website. Both institutions did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside normal working hours following news of Yu's death.
Yu's death represents a significant loss to the global architecture and urban planning community, as his "sponge cities" concept has become increasingly relevant in addressing climate change challenges and urban flooding issues worldwide. His innovative approach to integrating natural systems into urban environments has influenced city planning policies and practices across multiple continents, leaving a lasting legacy in sustainable urban development.
