Abstract
In the context of accelerating climate change, rapid urbanisation, and the increasing frequency of hydrometeorological hazards, the Sponge City concept has emerged as a promising framework for sustainable and nature-based urban development. The present study seeks to reconsider conventional technocratic approaches to stormwater management through the integration of natural hydrological processes into the structure of urban infrastructure. The methodological framework combines comparative and systems-based analysis of international practices with the examination of the principles of Low Impact Development (LID) and Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD). The research employs Sentinel-2 satellite imagery, ArcGIS Pro spatial analysis tools, and quantitative runoff assessment methods based on land-use structure and hydrological coefficients. The projects Harbin Qunli Stormwater Park, Yanweizhou Park, and Bishan – Ang Mo Kio Park was selected as representative case studies. The findings demonstrate that the integration of permeable surfaces, bioretention systems, water-retention landscapes, and green infrastructure contribute to runoff reduction, microclimatic improvement, and enhanced ecological performance of the urban environment. The study confirms that the Sponge City concept establishes a new paradigm of sustainable urbanism in which water is interpreted as a strategic resource for spatial development. Nature-based solutions increase urban resilience to climatic and infrastructural risks and may be effectively applied within environmentally and seismically vulnerable territories.