The Cultural Landscape Foundation (TCLF) has announced that the upcoming conference on urban flooding and water management in Los Angeles will be dedicated to the memory of the late Kongjian Yu, recipient of the 2023 Cornelia Hahn Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize.

Yu, globally recognised for advancing the “sponge cities” concept, passed away just weeks before the event. His work—pioneering nature-based water infrastructure strategies in the face of climate-induced urban flooding—has shaped global discourse on ecological urbanism. A video documenting his life and ideas was recently produced as part of TCLF’s two-year public engagement programme following the Oberlander Prize award.

The December 5th conference, co-hosted by TCLF, the University of Southern California (USC), and SWA Group, will be held at USC’s Bovard Auditorium. It will examine how landscape architecture can lead adaptive water strategies in light of worsening climate events. The event coincides with rising interest in water resilience infrastructure in Southern California, bolstered by “Measure W,” which allocates $300 million annually for stormwater capture and water quality improvement.

Panels will include local and international speakers addressing the Los Angeles River, climate-driven water crises, and global best practices. The conference will be bookended by a keynote by Lauren Bon (Metabolic Studio) on December 4 and mobile workshops on December 6.

Among panel speakers are:

– Alison B. Hirsch, University of Southern California, School of Architecture
– William Deverell, Co-Director, Huntington–USC Institute on California and the West
– Alexander Robinson, Associate Professor, Inclusive Infrastructure Design Lab
– Gerdo Aquino, Co-CEO, SWA
– Jessica M. Henson, Partner OLIN
– Julia Prince, Associate, Design Workshop
– Kush Parekh, Associate Principal Studio-MLA
– Mario Schjetnan, Managing Director, Grupo de Diseño Urbano
– Adriaan Geuze, Founding Partner, Principal, West 8
– Maura Rockcastle, Principal and Co-founder, TEN x TEN

Kongjian Yu’s passing marks a profound loss for the discipline. His legacy—rooted in ecological performance and civic responsibility—continues to influence cities facing water uncertainty around the world.