This project involves urban redevelopment around a heavily polluted, and frequently flooding river that runs through the historic heart of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's largest city. Over the years, the river had been engineered into concrete channels in an attempt to resolve the flooding issue and it had lost its appeal. Buildings turned their back on it and pedestrian access was limited and fragmentary. The focus of new development was elsewhere in the city.

A new plan that balances landscape, engineering, and transportation improvements with redevelopment of property was created to address the problems, create a new amenity for the city, and promote economic development. The strategy uses value capture tools on the expected growth in new development and increase in property values to help offset the cost to the public of the various improvements being made. 

This is not just a river beautification landscape project. It is an economic development, open space, flood management, and transit strategy, and the planning extends into adjacent neighborhoods, advocating for redesign of key streets and open spaces throughout the downtown. 

The project recognizes that the central, historic core of the city is the heart and soul of the local community, and a showcase for culture that can generate tourism, spending, and investment. The plan has subsequently been partially implemented and images of progress to date are found below.

Role: Brian Jennett led the economic, land use programming, real estate, and implementation strategy components of the plan while serving as a Director of Economics and Planning at AECOM. Landscape and Urban Design strategy was by other members of the team.