Sponge Cities: When Nature Teaches Us How to Design the Future

Not long ago, while walking through Cumbayá during a heavy rain, I ended up soaked to the knees because of a collapsed storm drain. It’s ironic: we live in a city of mountains and ravines, yet we’ve made it impermeable. Concrete everywhere, rivers channeled or buried, and every winter catches us off guard as if we didn’t know what was coming.

That day, I stumbled upon a fascinating idea: “sponge cities.” It sounds almost like science fiction, but it's a real proposal that’s transforming how we design urban spaces. Instead of resisting water, these cities absorb it, filter it, and reuse it—mimicking natural ecosystems like wetlands and forests.

In China, the concept gained momentum after the devastating floods of 2012. In 2015, the government launched a program to transform 30 cities—including Wuhan—into sponge cities, aiming to absorb up to 70% of rainfall. They used green roofs, floodable parks, permeable pavement, and urban wetlands (World Resources Institute, 2022).

And it’s not just happening in Asia. In Rotterdam, a European city used to battling water, they built Benthemplein Square, which works as a public space on dry days and becomes a temporary pond during heavy rain, gradually releasing the water afterward.

What draws me most to this approach is its philosophy: it’s not just about infrastructure, but about reconnecting with nature within cities. Quito doesn’t need more concrete; it needs to breathe. Imagine restored ravines, parks that collect water instead of closing due to “flood risk,” and green rooftops cooling down the asphalt heat.

Sponge cities remind us that development doesn’t have to be a constant battle against the environment. We can design with it, learn from it. Maybe we can’t change everything overnight, but we can start rethinking how we build the future. And if we’re going to imagine possible futures, I choose this one: a future where Quito flows like its hidden rivers—quiet, but alive.