This exercise was completed in 1998, early in the master planning process for Bandar Nusajaya, a new city slowly being created on the Southern Coast of Malaysia, facing Singapore. A larger, gridded masterplan for the region was developed by others, and the client asked us to begin studying the area that was at that time slated to become the first phase of the larger development. The site was a large, 250 ha piece of land set within the rolling hills of oil palm plantations that had already been significantly graded. It was the first in a series of developments expected to make up a 2 km wide Central Planning Area that progressed towards the waterfront.

Taking the remaining hills at either end of the site as focal points, and emphasizing this through the positioning of cultural institutions such as a school and mosque, a North-South axes was established. From this axis a grid was woven into the fabric of the CPA which divides the land into flexible, efficient blocks and parcels. Along the East‑West road, which crosses the highway, runs the length of the city, and terminates at the waterfront, a central park is established and density is concentrated to confirm that this is indeed the center of the development and the first phase of something much larger. Growth would continue over time down this road into the city, aided by some form of transit system. At the periphery, where existing hills have been maintained, the grid breaks down and more park‑like, less intense development occurs along curvilinear roads which respond to topography. Recreational open space is threaded into the grid in a way that treats the drainage provisions as a water feature amenity. A green buffer zone lines the edges of the site.

A subsequent, more detailed planning effort was undertaken for the eastern half of the property, which was adjusted to accommodate a low rise, moderate density form of commercial and residential development, with an industrial zone, a corporate office park, major educational institution, and various other cultural elements (eg. mosques). A grid form was used, adjusted for topography; this was meant to match the overall master plan. A network of open space preserved the remaining topography and existing drainage patterns.

Delayed by the Asian Economic Crisis of the late 90s, the project was ultimately never built according to this plan. Subsequent plans have brought new development to this area, but the idea of large scale grid was ultimately dropped.

Brian Jennett was involved in this effort while employed at HOK Hong Kong.