Water world mourns Kongjian Yu, sponge city creator

The water sector is paying tribute to the creator of the sponge city concept, Professor Kongjian Yu of Peking University, after he was reportedly killed in a plane crash tragedy in Brazil.

The 62-year-old Chinese landscape architect died alongside the small plane's pilot and two others while making a film about his work.

Yu pioneered the use of nature-based solutions, reimagining modern architecture to soak up rainwater for reuse. The concept has spread and is in use globally, helping urban communities manage increasingly extreme weather.