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On Sept. 13, 2007, he assembled a rogue’s gallery of ex-cons to confront memorabilia dealers Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley, whom an intermediary had lured to a room at the Palace Station Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

John Beardsley, the curator of the Oberlander International Landscape Architecture Prize, which was awarded to Yu last year, echoed Kirkwood, saying Yu’s impact on policy in China, a country that has been more likely to imprison environmental activists than take their messages to heart, has been astonishing.

Beardsley attributes this to Yu’s adroit political skills and infectious enthusiasm, as well as the Chinese government’s powerful incentive to appear to be addressing the problem of urban flooding, which has grown alarmingly in recent years.

“Sponge cities isn’t a total solution, but it makes a significant impact,” Beardsley said.

You look at Beardsley drawings or all these different crazy elements that got us here, things from the '30s and what that got you to that place.