The CORE Academy mourns the untimely passing of Professor Kongjian Yu, a distinguished scholar of unparalleled distinction in the field of landscape architecture and ecological design, who tragically lost his life in an airplane accident in Brazil on 24 September 2025.

Professor Yu was born in Zhejiang, China, in 1963. Trained at Beijing Forestry University and later at Harvard University, he returned to China to establish the College of Architecture and Landscape at Peking University, where he nurtured a generation of designers and scholars. He also founded Turenscape, an award-winning practice that redefined the relationship between urban life and ecological sustainability.

Internationally recognized as a pioneer of the “Sponge City” concept, Professor Yu advanced a transformative vision: that cities should live in harmony with water, absorbing and releasing it as naturally as sponges do. His work integrated ancient wisdom with modern science, offering solutions to floods, droughts, and climate challenges across China and the world. His philosophy—often expressed as “making friends with water”—has profoundly influenced both scholarly research and public policy.

Professor Yu’s scholarly contributions extend far beyond design. He was a tireless advocate for ecological civilization, reminding us that landscape is not merely an aesthetic pursuit but the very “art of survival.” His built projects, research, and publications have reshaped the global discourse on sustainable urbanism, earning him recognition from leading academic and professional societies around the world.

The passing of Professor Yu is not only a profound loss to China, but also to the international community of science, design, and sustainability. His ideas will continue to inspire scholars, architects, and policymakers for generations to come.

On behalf of the Council and the entire academic community of the CORE Academy, we extend our deepest condolences to Professor Yu’s family, colleagues, and students. His vision of a world where humanity lives in harmony with nature remains a guiding light for our shared mission of advancing knowledge for humanity.

May his legacy endure as rivers flow and landscapes thrive.