Published October 15, 2025 | Version v1
Book chapter Open

From Concept to Context: Evaluating International Sponge City Practices for Türkiye's Urban Future

Authors/Creators

  • 1. Ankara University, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Real Estate Development and Management, Ankara/Türkiye

Description

This study aims to assess the potential of the sponge city approach within Türkiye’s urban water management policies by examining the concept’s theoretical foundations and international implementation practices. The chapter first outlines the core principles and evolution of the sponge city model, followed by a comparative analysis of practices in China, Europe, and other regions. It concludes with a context-specific model proposal for adapting sponge city strategies to Türkiye’s urban planning landscape.

Files

1.pdf

Files (23.8 MB)

Name Size Download all
md5:d33a65b0305f6fc245b9ae44fe79f990
23.8 MB Preview Download

Additional details

References

  • AFAD. (2018). Türkiye'de Afet Yönetimi ve Doğa Kaynaklı Afet İstatistikleri. Access Address (03.06.2025): https://www.afad.gov.
  • Atar, E. (2023). Kent ve Çevre Politikaları Ekseninde Yerel Yönetimler. Nobel Publications.
  • Bayramoğlu, E. & Seyhan, S. (2022). Peyzaj mimarlığı öğrenci projelerinde iklim değişimi kavram
  • Chan, F. K. S., Griffiths, J. A., Higgitt, D., Xu, S., Zhu, F., Tang, Y. T., Xu, Yuyao & Thorne, C. R. (2018). "Sponge City" in China—a breakthrough of planning and flood risk management in the urban context. Land use policy, 76, 772-778.
  • Chan, F. K. S., Lu, L., Zhu, Y., Balzan, M. V., Pezzoli, A., Johnson, M., Zhu, F., Ruan, T., Luo, G., Li, G. & Xu, Y. (2023). Exploring community perceptions and engagement of nature-based solutions: The case of Ningbo, a Chinese coastal sponge city. Nature-Based Solutions, 4, 100093.
  • Chester, M. V. & Allenby, B. (2019). Toward adaptive infrastructure: Flexibility and agility in a non-stationarity age. Sustainable and Resilient Infrastructure, 4(4), 173-191.
  • Cosier, M. & Shen, D. (2013). Urban Water Management in China. In Water Resources Management in the People's Republic of China (pp. 61-80). Routledge.
  • Esbah, H. (2021). Suya duyarlı şehirler. Turkish Water Institute, Istanbul. ISBN: 978-605-7599-59-9.
  • Fang, T. (2020). Research on the application of the concept of sponge cities in urban landscape planning. Urban Transportation & Construction, 6(3), 45.
  • General Directorate of Water Management, Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. (2022). Rainwater Harvesting Guide Document. Access Address (05.06.2025): https://www.tarimorman.gov.tr/SYGM/Belgeler/Su%20Kaynaklar 33 %C4%B1%20%C4%B0klim%20Proje/Ya%C4%9Fmur%20Suyu %20Hasad%C4%B1%20Rehber%20Dok%C3%BCman%C4%B1. pdf.
  • Green Blue Urban. (2025). Are Sponge Cities the Future of Urban Resilience? Access Address (01.06.2025): https://greenblue.com/gb/are-sponge-cities-the-future-of-urban- resilience/.
  • Greening Solution. (2024). Sponge Cities: Terminology, Applications, Development History, and Future Prospects in Different Countries. Global Sponge Cities: Terminology, Applications, Development, and Future Prospects.
  • Guan, X., Wang, J. & Xiao, F. (2021). Sponge city strategy and application of pavement materials in sponge city. Journal of Cleaner Production, 303, 127022.
  • Guo, X. (2023). Building resilient sponge communities through government interventions: exploring the role of community and stakeholder participation in sustainable economic and environmental development. AgBioForum, 25(1), 107-117.
  • Hou, X., Guo, H., Wang, F., Li, M., Xue, X., Liu, X. & Zeng, S. (2020). Is the sponge city construction sufficiently adaptable for the future stormwater management under climate change?. Journal of Hydrology, 588, 125055.
  • Jia, H., Wang, Z., Zhen, X., Clar, M. & Yu, S. L. (2017). China's sponge city construction: A discussion on technical approaches. Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering, 11, 1-11.
  • Jiang, D., Hua, R. & Shao, J. (2022). Ecological evaluation of sponge city landscape design based on aquatic plants application. Land, 11(11), 2081.
  • Kabisch, N., Qureshi, S. & Haase, D. (2015). Human–environment interactions in urban green spaces - A systematic review of contemporary issues and prospects for future research. Environmental Impact assessment review, 50, 25-34.
  • Kırmızıbayrak, E., Demircan, N. & Irmak, M. A. (2024, December). Sponge Cities in The Fight Against Climate. In SETSCI-Conference 34 Proceedings (Vol. 20, pp. 153-158). SETSCI-Conference Proceedings.
  • Li, X., Zhang, C. & Xie, H. (2019). Evaluation of ecological benefits of sponge city construction: A case study in Shanghai. Ecological Indicators, 107, 105585.
  • Liang, X. (2018). Integrated economic and financial analysis of China's sponge city program for water-resilient urban development. Sustainability, 10(3), 669.
  • Liao, K. H. (2012). A theory on urban resilience to floods—a basis for alternative planning practices. Ecology and Society, 17(4), 48.
  • Limoncu, S. & Bayülgen, C. (2005). Türkiye'de afet sonrası yaşanan barınma sorunları. Megaron, 1(1), 18.
  • Liu, J. & Fan, B. (2023). What contributes to local-level institutional adaptation under climate change? A configurational approach based on evidence from China's Sponge City Program. Journal of Environmental Management, 342, 118292.
  • Luan, B., Yin, R., Xu, P., Wang, X., Yang, X., Zhang, L. & Tang, X. (2019). Evaluating Green Stormwater Infrastructure strategies' efficiencies in a rapidly urbanizing catchment using SWMM-based TOPSIS. Journal of Cleaner Production, 223, 680-691.
  • Ma, J., Liu, D. & Wang, Z. (2023). Sponge city construction and urban economic sustainable development: An ecological philosophical perspective. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(3), 1694.
  • Meral, İ. (2025). İklim Değişikliğine Uyum ve Azaltıma Yönelik Stratejik Yaklaşımlar: Kavramsal ve Uygulamalı Değerlendirmeler. Karatay Journal of Art and Design, 2(1), 34-53.
  • Mol, A. P. & Sonnenfeld, D. A. (2014). Ecological modernisation around the world: Perspectives and critical debates. Routledge.
  • Nguyen, T. T., Ngo, H. H., Guo, W. & Wang, X. C. (2020). A new model framework for sponge city implementation: Emerging challenges and future developments. Journal of environmental management, 253, 109689.
  • Nguyen, T. T., Ngo, H. H., Guo, W., Wang, X. C., Ren, N., Li, G., Ding, J. & Liang, H. (2019). Implementation of a specific urban water management-Sponge City. Science of the Total Environment, 652, 147-162.
  • Pickett, S. T., Cadenasso, M. L. & Grove, J. M. (2004). Resilient cities: meaning, models, and metaphor for integrating the ecological, socio-economic, and planning realms. Landscape and urban planning, 69(4), 369-384.
  • Presidency of Strategy and Budget, Republic of Türkiye. (2023). 12th Development Plan (2024–2028). Access Address (07.05.2025): https://www.sbb.gov.tr/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/On-Ikinci-Kalkinma-Plani_2024-2028_11122023.pdf
  • Qiao, X. J., Liao, K. H. & Randrup, T. B. (2020). Sustainable stormwater management: A qualitative case study of the Sponge Cities initiative in China. Sustainable Cities and Society, 53, 101963.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change. (2022). Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan (2023–2027). Access Address (08.05.2025): https://iklim.gov.tr/db/turkce/icerikler/files/%C4%B0klim%20De%C4%9Fi%C5%9Fikli%C4%9Fine%20Uyum%20Stratejisi%20ve%20Eylem%20Plan_%202024-2030.pdf.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change. (2023). Türkiye Spatial Strategy Plan – Preliminary Reports.
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, Directorate of Climate Change. (2023). Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Access Address (10.05.2025): https://www.iklim.gov.tr/db/turkce/haberler/files/T%C3%BCrkiye%20Cumhuriyeti%20G%C3%BCncellenmi%C5%9F%20Birinci%20Ulusal%20Katk%C4%B1%20Beyan%C4%B1(1).pdf
  • Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Interior, Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD). (2022). Türkiye Disaster Risk Reduction Plan (TARAP). Access Address (02.04.2025): https://www.afad.gov.tr/turkiye-afet-risk-azaltma-plani-tarap
  • Shi, Y., Li, J., Shi, T., Xiu, D. & Chu, Y. (2021, August). Research of Sponge City Landscape Planning Based on Landscape Security Pattern. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 2002, No. 1, p. 012076). IOP Publishing.
  • Sun, Y., Deng, L., Pan, S. Y., Chiang, P. C., Sable, S. S. & Shah, K. J. (2020). Integration of green and grey infrastructures for sponge city: Water and energy nexus. Water-Energy Nexus, 3, 29-40.
  • Tu, X. & Tian, T. (2015). Six questions towards a Sponge City--report on power of public policy: Sponge City and the trend of landscape architecture. Landscape Architecture Frontiers, 3(2), 22-32.
  • Tuğaç, Ç. (2022). İklim değişikliği krizi ve şehirler. Journal of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate, 1(1), 38-60.
  • Tunçay, H. (2022). Sünger şehirler. Environment, Climate, and Sustainability, 23(2), 99-108.
  • Walker, L., Ashley, R., Nowell, R., Gersonius, B. & Evans, T. (2012, January). Surface water management and urban green infrastructure in the UK: A review of benefits and challenges. In International Conference on Water Sensitive Urban Design (7th: 2012: Melbourne, Vic.) (pp. 703-710). Barton, ACT: Engineers Australia.
  • Wang, Y., Cai, J., Zuo, J., Bartsch, K. & Huang, M. (2021). Conflict or consensus? Stakeholders' willingness to participate in China's Sponge City program. Science of the Total Environment, 769, 145250.
  • Wei, Z., Jiazhuo, W., Han, C., Chen, W., Chunyang, Z., Lian, S. & Jin, F. (2017). Experience of Sponge City Master Plan: A Case Study of Nanning City. China City Planning Review, 26(3).
  • Wong, T. H. & Brown, R. R. (2009). The water sensitive city: principles for practice. Water science and technology, 60(3), 673-682.
  • Xia, J., Zhang, Y., Xiong, L., He, S., Wang, L. & Yu, Z. (2017). Opportunities and challenges of the Sponge City construction related to urban water issues in China. Science China Earth Sciences, 60, 652-658.
  • Xiang, C., Liu, J., Shao, W., Mei, C. & Zhou, J. (2019). Sponge city construction in China: Policy and implementation experiences. Water Policy, 21(1), 19-37.
  • Yang, B., Xu, T. & Shi, L. (2017). Analysis on sustainable urban development levels and trends in China's cities. Journal of Cleaner Production, 141, 868-880.
  • Yin, D., Xu, C., Jia, H., Yang, Y., Sun, C., Wang, Q. & Liu, S. (2022). Sponge city practices in China: From pilot exploration to systemic demonstration. Water, 14(10), 1531.
  • Yörüklü, N. (2021). İklim Değişikliği ve Küresel Isınma İçin Peyzaj Mimarlığı Stratejileri: İklim Değişikliği Politikaları Peyzaj Beyanı. Peyzaj, 3(1), 43-55.
  • Yu, K., (2012), Designed Ecologies. The Landscape Architecture of Kongjian Yu. William S. Saunders.
  • Zevenbergen, C., Fu, D. & Pathirana, A. (2018). Transitioning to Sponge Cities: Challenges and opportunities to address urban water problems in China. Water, 10(9), 1230.
  • Zha, X., Luo, P., Zhu, W., Wang, S., Lyu, J., Zhou, M., ... & Wang, Z. (2021). A bibliometric analysis of the research on Sponge City: Current situation and future development direction. Ecohydrology, 14(7), e2328.
  • Zhang, Y. S. (2017). Sponge City theory and its application in landscape. World construction, 6(1), 29-33.
  • Zhao, Z. Y., Gao, L. & Zuo, J. (2019). How national policies facilitate low carbon city development: A China study. Journal of Cleaner Production, 234, 743-754.
  • Zhou, Q. (2014). A review of sustainable urban drainage systems considering the climate change and urbanization impacts. Water, 6(4), 976-992.
  • Zhu, Y., Xu, C., Yin, D., Xu, J., Wu, Y. & Jia, H. (2022). Environmental and economic cost-benefit comparison of sponge city construction in different urban functional regions. Journal of Environmental Management, 304, 114230