Viviana Espulsi is a translator for Global Voices in Italian. Her translation of the story “The legacy of ‘sponge cities’ left by Chinese landscape architect Yu Kongjian” from English to Italian has been nominated for the Lingua Translation Spotlight.
Once a quarter, Lingua Translation Managers select one or two outstanding translations that deserve a special round of applause. Marisa Petricca, the Italian Lingua Translation Manager at Global Voices, called the translation a “celebration” of Yu's work:
Yu Kongjian added environmentalism into architecture. He wanted to see water as a resource for cities and not only an enemy, like during floods. This idea was disruptive and innovative, and it will be seen in action in the future.
This is more than an obituary: an informative piece for our readers. Thanks Viviana for doing this translation!
Excellent job, Viviana! Take a look at her translation on the Global Voices in Italian website:
L'eredità delle “città spugna” lasciata dall'architetto paesaggista cinese Yu Kongjian
Un incidente aereo in Brasile ha causato la morte di Yu e di altre tre persone il 23 settembre 2025
