As their namesake suggests, these urban landscapes are masters of absorption and release. Through an intricate network of rain gardens, bioswales, and retention ponds, they’re turning our cities into giant sponges that can soak up excess water when it rains and save it for when we need it most.
China has boldly embraced this vision, with over 30 cities leading the charge. The results? Nothing short of remarkable. These pioneering projects have slashed flooding, while breathing new life into depleted groundwater reserves.
Yanweizhou Park in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province (China) successfully protected the city from severe flooding during the 2015 monsoon.
Source: Turenscape
Copenhagen’s response to water challenges reads like a masterclass in urban adaptation. Their Cloudburst Management Plan has reimagined the city’s relationship with water. In Sankt Kjelds Plads, what could have been just another urban square has become a magnificent water plaza. This space doesn’t just manage floods, but celebrates them.
Copenhagen’s Sankt Kjelds Plads uses a network of green rainwater beds to protect the surrounding neighbourhood from flooding.
Source: SLA
Southeast Asian cities are following suit with their own projects. Notable examples include Jakarta’s Tebet Eco Park and Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn University Centenary Park, which combine effective flood management with engaging public spaces.
Completed in 2022, Tebet Eco Park renaturalised a 700-metre stretch of open drainage into a meandering river.
Source: SIURA Studio
Sponge cities are proving to be powerful climate solutions beyond their water management capabilities. They’re cooling our concrete jungles by up to 5 ºC, turning the tide on urban heat islands. And for the number-crunchers? The economic benefits are as clear as day — savings in disaster recovery and soaring property values dwarf initial investments.