One of the world’s most distinguished landscape architects, Yu Konjian, tragically died at the age of 62.
According to CNN, the Brazilian authorities on Wednesday, September 24, said that the Chinese architect was also among the four killed in a small plane crash in southwestern Brazil.
The urban planner died in the accident that took place late on Tuesday while attempting to land the aircraft at a large farm about 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Aquidauana in Mato Grosso do Sul state.
Yu was the pioneer of the “sponge city” concept that says that the infrastructure of the cities should be built in a way that it can absorb rainwater to avoid flood risks.
As per authorities, Yu was travelling with two Brazilian documentary makers, Luiz Fernando Feres da Cunha Ferraz and Rubens Crispim Jr, who were working on a film about the Pantanal wetlands when the incident happened.
All three of them and the pilot, Marcelo Pereira de Barros, lost their lives in the crash.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva wrote on social media, “In times of climate change. Yu became a global reference with his sponge cities, which unite quality of life and environmental protection.”
Moreover, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, in a post on X, said that the architecture will be remembered for his “notable contributions to sustainable urbanism, the preservation of biodiversity, and the protection of the planet,” adding that his legacy will continue to inspire generations.
Yu also founded one of the most prestigious universities in China, the College of Architecture and Landscape at Peking University.
