International Sponge City Days
The International Sponge City Days 2026 will bring together leading experts from around the world on March 19 and 20 at the ZHAW Grüental campus in Wädenswil. The aim of the two-day event is to exchange ideas on sustainable, climate-adapted urban development - with a focus on sponge city principles. Global best-practice examples from Australia, Asia and Europe will meet local implementation experiences in Switzerland. The conference program is aimed at experts from planning, science, politics and administration as well as anyone interested in resilient cities and innovative water strategies.
- Date: Thursday 19 and Friday 20 March 2026 (registration deadline: 9 March 2026)
- Venue: Hybrid, ZHAW Wädenswil, Building GA, Grüentalstrasse 14, 8820 Wädenswil
- Language: English (on-site with German translation)
- Getting there: We recommend arriving by public transport, as there are no free parking spaces available on the Grüental campus. Conference participants may park at the the “Gerenau” car park (Schönenbergstrasse 189, Wädenswil). From there, free shuttle buses run to the ZHAW-Campus.
- Fees: Conference rate CHF 240.00 per day | Online conference rate CHF 150.00 per day | Students or apprentices CHF 190.00 per day
- Included: Catering and campus tours (on-site only)
- Cancellation: Cancellations are possible up to 14 calendar days before the event without incurring any cancellation fees. If you cancel after this date or fail to attend, the conference fee will be charged in full or will not be refunded.
- Payment methods: PostFinance Card, TWINT, Visa, Mastercard
- Conference program flyer (PDF 1.27 MB)
- Contact: fachtagung.lsfm@zhaw.ch
Transforming Existing Cities
Across Europe, sponge-city principles are increasingly integrated into urban adaptation strategies. Many European cities face the dual challenge of extreme rainfall events and densely built environments, which require innovative retrofitting of public spaces, streets and neighbourhoods. Projects in Scandinavia, Germany and Switzerland demonstrate how rainwater can be managed through multifunctional landscapes, green roofs, urban wetlands and decentralised drainage systems that increase both resilience and urban quality of life.
At the International Sponge City Days 2026, European experts will present case studies that show how existing cities can be transformed step by step, even under tight space constraints and complex regulatory settings. Participants will gain insights into planning instruments, nature-based solutions and cross-sector collaboration models shaping Europe’s transition toward climate-adaptive cities.
Join us to explore the lessons learned from Europe’s pioneering approaches and discover how adaptable these strategies are to your own urban context.
Scaling Up Sponge Cities
China has launched one of the most ambitious sponge-city programmes worldwide. Since 2015, national pilot cities have tested strategies that combine hydrology, engineering, landscape architecture and urban planning into coordinated systems. From permeable pavements to large-scale wetland restoration and distributed stormwater infrastructure, Chinese cities demonstrate how sponge-city concepts can be implemented quickly and at metropolitan scale.
During the International Sponge City Days 2026, speakers from China will share key findings from these large-scale initiatives: What has worked? What challenges remain? And which innovations can inspire cities in other parts of the world? Their experience offers invaluable perspectives on governance, monitoring, financing and integrated design processes.
If you want to understand what is possible when policy, research and practice align toward climate resilience, China’s sponge-city journey is a must-see.
Water-Sensitive Cities
Australia has developed some of the most influential approaches to water-sensitive urban design, shaped by decades of drought, heat and highly variable rainfall. Melbourne, in particular, has built a strong framework for managing stormwater in ways that protect and enhance rivers, wetlands and urban ecosystems. The city’s long-term vision for healthy waterways shows how ecological goals, community involvement and urban planning can be successfully aligned.
At the International Sponge City Days 2026, Australian experts will share experiences from pioneering stormwater initiatives and explore new, data-informed ways of managing stormwater across urban catchments. These examples illustrate how water-sensitive practices can support both urban resilience and ecological health, even in challenging climatic conditions.
Participants will gain valuable insights into Australia’s holistic approach, offering inspiration for cities seeking to strengthen blue-green infrastructure and integrate water management into long-term urban development.
