Dear Dihua,

The reality of the news from Brazil is still hitting me : ( And you too I expect. My sincere condolences. We have lost a great man and a great friend.)

We thought Kongjian was surely as strong as air, fire, water or earth; and we are reminded that we are all “but a moment’s sunlight, fading in the grass”

I’m glad I knew him ! & glad I still know you, even if we may not ever meet again …

I have retired from Harvard GSD a year ago, but try to keep up my international and digital landscape architecture connections.

Please extend my best wishes to Ping and the rest of Kongjian’s family.

I imagine the next months will be very difficult— I wish you all the best, and if you see any way I can help in any way , please let me know.

Stephen Ervin

来自巴西的消息，至今仍让我难以置信。想必你也是如此。请接受我最诚挚的哀悼。我们失去了一位伟人，也失去了一位挚友。

我们曾以为，孔坚的生命力定如风、火、水、土般坚实而永恒；然而，这也提醒了我们，世人皆如“草丛中的一缕阳光，转瞬即逝”。

能与他相识，我深感庆幸！同样庆幸的是，我依然认识你，即便我们可能无法再见……

我已于一年前从哈佛大学设计研究生院退休，但仍在努力维系着我在国际和数字景观设计领域的联系。

请代我向庆萍及孔坚的其他家人转达我的问候。

可以想见，接下来的几个月会非常艰难——祝你们一切安好。如果有任何我能帮得上忙的地方，请随时告诉我。

祝好，

Stephen Ervin

又及：

I found the attached picture of Kongjian at dinner, after a day on a boat in Boston Harbor, one year ago. He was talking about “Sponge Planet”, and using the gourd he picked up from the table decorations as a model of the Earth. (I told him we know a traditional African-American spiritual song with the words “He’s got the whole world in his hands…”) He was smiling, but serious. And dreaming, but planning. It's the image of him that I will hold as long as I live.

Kongjian at dinner, after a day on a boat in Boston Harbor

The photo below it is from the Cooper Hewitt Museum National Design Award in 2023

Warmly,

Stephen E

我找到了一张照片，是孔坚去年在波士顿港乘船游览一天后，在晚餐时拍的。

席间，他谈论着“海绵星球”的宏大构想，并随手拿起餐桌上用作装饰的一个葫芦（原文如此），将其比作地球模型来阐释他的理念。我当时告诉他，这个场景让我想起一首传统的非裔美国灵歌，歌中唱道：“He’s got the whole world in his hands…” / “他将整个世界掌握在手中……”他当时面带微笑，但神情严肃。他在畅谈梦想，也在脚踏实地。

另一张照片拍摄于2023年，他荣获库珀·休伊特国家设计奖（Cooper Hewitt Museum National Design Award）之时，这是我一生都会记住的样子。

亲切问候

Stephen Ervin

Kongjian: earth, water, fire and air conspired against you , you who had the hands, brain and heart to bring them together. I will miss you ！ Stephen E. 斯蒂芬教授

尽管大地、水流、火焰和空气似乎都与你为敌，但你却凭借双手、智慧和勇气将它们融为一体。我会深深怀念你，斯蒂芬教授。