I wish Kongjian's family, friends, and colleagues solace in this difficult time.

Kongjian Yu was a dear friend for more than 15 years. I miss his kindness, sense of humor, and optimism. He inspired much of my work. And it feels like a great loss.

Kongjian and I would visit parks in the cities where we met for conferences of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). He would take many photographs and point out details I would miss. He would share his latest projects and advocacy work. In recent years, we spent time strategizing about his Sponge City concept and how to best advance these ideas globally.

Since I first met Kongjian in 2008, he was a great supporter of ASLA and my work. He saw the value of building an international community of practitioners and academics that transcend national differences. He understood that communities face unique climate, biodiversity, water management, and public health challenges but that local solutions can inspire innovations elsewhere.

At ASLA, we greatly valued Kongjian. He hosted many educational sessions at our conferences over the years and was a keynote speaker one year. He won numerous ASLA professional awards. He played an important role in helping us to focus and hone our messages about climate change, water, and the role of landscape architects in addressing current challenges. He was a major supporter of our communications and advocacy efforts.

Through his creativity and passion, he helped the world envision a more harmonious relationship between people and nature. He inspired so many landscape architects worldwide. He was a friend and mentor to so many here in the U.S.

He will hope that we not forget about the importance of water and move forward in a determined way to design better solutions. He will ask us to waste no time in addressing our current challenges.

Kongjian set a great example for us all -- of how to be a global leader who leads with creativity and heart.

- Jared Green is senior manager of climate action at the American Society of Landscape Architects in Washington, D.C.

Photos attached: Kongjian Yu with Chinese American architect Billie Tsien, October 2023, New York City; Kongjian Yu winning Cooper Hewitt National Design Award, October 2023, New York City

译文：

在这艰难时刻，谨向俞孔坚的家人、朋友和同事致以深切慰问。

俞孔坚是我相交15年的挚友。我无比怀念他的善良、幽默与乐观精神。他对我工作影响深远，他的离去令人痛彻心扉。

我们常在美国景观设计师协会(ASLA)会议举办城市的公园漫步。他总是用镜头捕捉我容易忽略的细节，分享最新项目与倡导工作。近年我们常共同探讨"海绵城市"理念的全球推广策略。

自2008年初识以来，俞孔坚始终是ASLA和我工作的坚定支持者。他深知构建跨越国界的实践者与学者共同体的价值，明白各地社区虽面临独特的气候、生物多样性、水资源管理和公共卫生挑战，但本土解决方案能激发全球创新。

ASLA高度重视俞孔坚的贡献。他多年主持会议教育板块并担任过主旨演讲人，屡获专业奖项。他帮助我们聚焦气候变化、水资源等核心议题，强化景观设计师应对当代挑战的使命。他始终支持我们的传播与倡导工作。

他以创造力与热情，为世人描绘人与自然和谐共生的愿景，激励着全球景观设计师群体，更是美国同行的良师益友。

他定会希望我们铭记水资源的重要性，以坚定态度设计更优解决方案，敦促我们争分夺秒应对当前挑战。

俞孔坚树立了全球领袖的典范——用创意与心灵引领世界。

- Jared Green美国景观设计师协会气候行动高级经理，位于华盛顿特区

附照片：2023年10月，纽约市，孔剑与美籍华裔建筑师毕力夫；2023年10月，纽约市，孔剑获得库珀·休伊特国家设计奖