FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OTTAWA, September 25, 2025 - It is with profound sadness that the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) acknowledges the tragic loss of Dr. Kongjian Yu, founder and principal designer of Turenscape, who passed away in a plane crash in Brazil, as reported by international media. (Reuters)
Dr. Yu was the 2025 recipient of the RAIC International Prize, awarded to Turenscape in recognition of its transformative contributions to landscape architecture, ecological urbanism, and climate-resilient design. His passing marks a heartbreaking loss not only for RAIC and the international architectural community, but for all those committed to forging a more sustainable, regenerative future.
"We were saddened to hear of the tragic passing of Dr. Kongjian Yu. His vision of working with nature to shape resilient, livable cities was recently recognized with the RAIC International Prize and has left a lasting impact on the global design community. His loss is deeply felt, and our thoughts are with his family, friends, and colleagues," said Jason Robbins, RAIC Immediate Past President and Co-Chair of the RAIC International Prize Selection Committee.
A Legacy of Vision and Innovation
Under Dr. Yu’s leadership, Turenscape became a global force, designing in over 250 cities and executing more than 1,000 projects. The RAIC International Prize selection committee heralded Turenscape’s work for “celebrating beauty and ecology, drawing lessons from natural systems to develop holistic responses that regenerate degraded urban ecosystems, increase resilience to flooding and sea level rise, cultivate natural habitats in urban areas, and create inspiring spaces that foster human reconnection to our natural world.”
One of Dr. Yu’s signature contributions is the advancement of the Sponge City concept: a nature-based approach to urban water management that seeks to reorient cities from impermeable infrastructure toward systems that absorb, retain, and reuse rainwater in harmony with ecological cycles. Under his guidance, the Sponge City philosophy became adopted in national policies across China and found resonance in cities around the world.
His design philosophy — grounded in the notion of “Nature, Man, and Spirits as One” — underscored his belief in harmonizing land (Tu) with humanity (Ren), and his conviction that landscapes must not only function ecologically, but nourish meaning, culture, and human flourishing.
Remembering Dr. Kongjian Yu
The circumstances of Dr. Yu’s death remain the subject of ongoing investigation. Brazilian authorities have confirmed that the aircraft in which he traveled crashed in a rural region near Aquidauana, in the Pantanal wetlands, resulting in the deaths of Dr. Yu and three others, including the pilot and two filmmakers. (Reuters)
This news has stunned academic institutions, professional peers, and communities across the globe. Peking University’s College of Architecture and Landscape — which Dr. Yu founded and led — mourned that his passing is “a profound loss … for the field of ecological landscape design in China and around the world.” (Reuters)
The RAIC extends our deepest condolences to Dr. Yu’s family, his collaborators at Turenscape, his students, and all those in the architectural and landscape communities whose lives he touched. His ideas, spirit, and legacy will continue to inspire and challenge us to design with humility, imagination, and respect for natural systems.
Continuing the Vision
In honoring Dr. Yu’s memory, RAIC reaffirms its commitment to the principles for which he stood: ecological resilience, social equity, and regenerative design. The 2025 International Prize recognition of Turenscape highlighted work that responds to critical challenges of climate change, flooding, ecological degradation, and urban expansion.
We will continue to share Turenscape’s pioneering projects and legacy, and to provide a platform for international discourse about sustainable and regenerative architectural and landscape practices.
About the RAIC International Prize
The RAIC International Prize is awarded to annually to an architect, practice, or other architecturally focused group located outside of Canada, who, in the opinion of the selection committee, best exemplify one or more of the RAIC’s values of Design Excellence, Integrity, Climate Action, Reconciliation, Social Justice, and Innovation.
For more on the 2025 award and Turenscape’s body of work, see: RAIC International Prize — 2025 Winner.
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Royal Architectural Institute of Canada