Welcome back to The Upsiders! When the rain falls, our cities—mostly covered in concrete and asphalt—have one goal: to get the water away as fast as possible. But what if the very thing we see as a problem, the rainwater, is actually a valuable resource?

This week, we dive into the brilliant, global concept of Sponge Cities: an urban planning model that uses nature-based solutions to absorb, store, and slowly release rainwater. Instead of fighting floods with expensive concrete dams, we are learning to let cities act like a sponge.

We spotlight the visionary work of Chinese urban planner Professor Kongjian Yu, the architect of the movement, and explore the "Slow Water" philosophy—which argues that when water stalls on the land, the magic happens.

In this episode, we explore the multi-layered Upside of Sponge Cities:

• Dual-Action Resilience: How green infrastructure like permeable pavements, rain gardens, and green roofs prevents flooding during storms and provides essential cooling during extreme heat events.
• From Problem to Resource: How decentralized systems recharge groundwater and improve water quality, boosting drought resilience.
• The Global Snapshot: We look at how cities from New York to Shanghai are implementing this "low-tech toolbox" to manage water sustainably.

Show Notes:

Youtube: Flood-Proof Cities Concept | Professor Kongjian Yu's

Youtube: What are sponge cities? | Business Standard

Making cities 'spongy' could help fight flooding — by steering the water underground | NPR

What Are ‘Sponge Cities’ and How Can They Prevent Floods? | Engineering For Change

Youtube: A solarpunk future by 2030 | Future Explored

Urbanism 101: What is a Sponge City? | The Urbanist

Youtube: How China is designing flood-resistant cities | Vox

Book Review: Helping Water Find Its Own Level | Undark

Global Sponge Cities Snapshot | Arup

Youtube: Global Sponge Cities Snapshot | Arup

Youtube: The Shocking Corruption Behind LA's Water Supply | The B1M