As we put together our tenth issue of the African Journal of Landscape (AJLA), I’m reminded of Kongjian Yu. We featured his work on Sponge Cities, in our second edition.  

Kongjian Yu took landscape architecture and the scale of landscape projects to new heights, first in his homeland of China, and then to the world. Starting with his critical concepts of Little Foot (conventional aesthetic design approach) vs Big Foot (ecological function and resilience), to his conception of the Sponge City approach. He truly was a pioneer in a profession that at times had lost its way through conventional approaches to design. He also showed how the inherent wisdom in ancient, vernacular ecological practices, could be applied to modern day infrastructural projects.

We will miss his vision and leadership.

Graham A. Young, Landscape Architect South Africa: Immediate Past President, IFLA Africa and IFLA EXCO member, and Senior Lecturer (Retired), University of Pretoria, South Africa.

译文：

在为《非洲景观杂志》（AJLA）第十期组稿之际，我不禁想起了俞孔坚教授。我们在第二期曾专题报道过他的"海绵城市"理念。

俞孔坚教授将景观设计学及其项目尺度提升到了新高度，首先在中国，继而推向全球。从他提出的"小脚美学"（传统审美设计方法）与"大脚革命"（生态功能与韧性）的批判性概念，到"海绵城市"理念的构想，他确实是这个有时因循守旧而迷失方向的行业中的先驱者。他还展示了古代乡土生态智慧中蕴含的智慧如何应用于现代基础设施项目。

我们将永远怀念他的远见卓识与领导力。

Graham A. Young

南非景观设计师

国际景观设计师联合会非洲区前主席

国际景观设计师联合会执行委员会成员

南非比勒陀利亚大学（退休）高级讲师