OUR WORK

Laneway 

Improvement

Laneways Improvement Programme Laneways, often overlooked, serve vital functions but are neglected in Malaysia. Historically absent in shophouse design, they emerged organically to address urban density challenges. Initiated in George Town, it targets underutilised laneways, aiming to enhance utility and promote informal activities like social interactions and urban greening.

Lessons from early successes revealed the necessity of community involvement for sustainability. The programme expanded to Butterworth, Kuala Lumpur, and Johor Bahru, championed by city councils, fostering diverse laneway use across Malaysia. Recognising their importance, Think City initiated the Laneways Improvement Programme. The laneways improvement programme is adopting a placemaking approach to transform underutilised laneway in cities to a third place for community, connectors between major thoroughfares and activate with community activities. 
The programme aims to create safer cities, provide quality public spaces and connect spaces.
Our Approach
The laneways improvement programme is adopting a placemaking approach to transform underutilised laneways in cities into vibrant third places for the community, connectors between major thoroughfares, and hubs for community activities. The programme aims to create safer cities by enhancing public spaces and connecting spaces for all with our approach of Continuous Reiteration, Feedback, Codifcation & Community Engagement.

1: discover

Identifying the site

Sites are identified based on findings from the Downtown KL baseline study, spatial analysis, cultural mapping, site assessments, and stakeholder engagement.

Observing and investigating the site

Each site is thoroughly observed to document current space usage, including thoroughfares, utilities, storage areas, food stalls, and activities. The condition and usage of each component are recorded.

Understanding the Site

Issues are documented through observation and informal discussions, highlighting problems such as broken amenities, poor waste management, loitering, and unsavoury behaviours. All stakeholders, including businesses above ground level, are engaged in this process.

2: Design

Analysing the Problem

Based on observed issues, we translate the data into a comprehensive project brief by synthesising and categorising the site challenges.

Adopting a Participatory Design Process

We brainstorm proposed interventions with stakeholders to ensure alignment with regulations and optimal site utilisation.

Developing the Design

Proposed improvements are developed based on stakeholder input and incorporate innovative urban regeneration strategies. These include strengthening climate resilience, promoting active mobility, celebrating local cultural heritage, and more.

3: Demonstrate

Demonstrating the intervention

Pilot projects are developed based on the proposed improvement and then implemented to test the solutions.

Documenting success and failures

Throughout the demonstration phase, feedback was collected from the community and other users, and incorporated into the final design for implementation.

4: Document & Disseminate

Executing the intervention

Design are finalised based on learnings and feedback received from Demonstrative Projects. 

Ensuring quality delivery

The improvement works are monitored by subject matter expert to ensure quality implementation on site.

Documenting learnings

Processes and lessons learned were documented in reports, photographs and videos. Key learnings were written as articles, case studies or presentations.

The Implementation

Think City first embarked on laneways improvement efforts in George Town, Penang, in 2012. This programme has since evolved, learning from implementation experiences in Johor Bahru and Butterworth, and pilot projects in Kuala Lumpur. Support of the local authorities as implementing partners in each city was vital for effective implementation.
  • Pilot
  • Demonstrate & Scale Up
  • Disseminate
  • Pilot

    Little India Improvement District, George Town

    Pioneer project to address unsanitary and anti-social behaviour in laneways. Discovered that relying on local community alone for maintenance was not sufficient —the local authority’s active involvement was critical.

    Butterworth Art Walk, Butterworth

    Activated a 400m-long alleyway with artworks, sculptures, public seating and greening. The artworks reflect the evolution of Butterworth in a fun and interesting way, attracting locals and visitors alike.

    Lorong Bandar 13, Lorong Yap Ah Loy, Kuala Lumpur

    Facing hygiene and broken amenities issues, pilot project was implemented to engage communities and test out solutions to improve the laneways as connectors, share local history and enhance wayfinding to support local businesses.

  • Demonstrate & Scale Up

    Lorong Belakang Jalan Pahang, Johor Bahru

    Our laneways improvement in Johor Bahru began with a demonstration at Lorong Belakang Jalan Pahang. One of the learnings include using planter boxes to prevent illegal parking, however, it got vandalised and have to replace with bollards. These insights were incorporated into the full scale improvement design (2016-2017).

    Coronation Avenue, Johor Bahru

    The demonstration project at laneway is then expanded to city-wide streetscape improvement programme, Coronation Avenue that connect cultural assets, shape community behaviour through urban design and enhance walkability in the city. (2018 – 2020)

    Lorong Bandar 11 & Lorong Hang Lekiu, Kuala Lumpur

    The laneways improvement programme in Kuala Lumpur expanded to Lorong Bandar 11 in 2021 and is currently being implemented at Lorong Hang Lekiu (2023-present), addressing hygiene and enhancing street hawking environment and reimagining laneway for double frontage.

  • Disseminate

    Muar

    Ideated with Think City's learnings, the "Back to Back Lane" programme By Muar Town Council aims to revitalise old towns by transforming back alleys into safe, healthy, and walkable spaces, enhancing urban vibrancy and cleanliness. The project includes phased upgrades with murals and augmented reality storytelling, in collaboration with UTHM, across various locations in Maharani Royal Town.

    George Town

    Following up from the learning at Little India, MBPP expanded the laneways improvement efforts to other laneways, to bring life to the underutilised back lanes by converting it into a landscaped pedestrian walkway with lights, street furniture, and trees for shade., with plans to upgrade 9km of lanes for sustainable living, tourism, and economic development.

    Butterworth

    Starting with the Butterworth Art Walk, the initiative has expanded into the Levelling Up Seberang Perai Programme. Launched by Think City and the Ministry of Finance, Think City works with partners to improve quality of life, heritage, community, environment, and livelihoods, aiming to transform Seberang Perai sustainably in line with national goals.

The Outcome

The Laneways Improvement Programme has enhanced the safety, attractiveness, and vitality of cities and towns. The key takeaways from the programme includes:

1
Reimagining laneways from underutilised spaces to comfortable and vibrant places.
2
Celebrating laneways as a third space to engage and socialise.
3
Harnessing the power of small to transform pocket spaces, leading to the revitalisation of the entire city.

4
Additional greenery for visual appeal and cooling

In the long term, the Laneways Improvement Programme is a catalyst towards safer, greener, and more walkable cities—a place that welcomes people from all walks of life, generates economic value and provides good jobs. These ideals are reflected in the seven elements below, which build upon each other:

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