From designing with water to designing as water

Leveraging the potential of water can enable the creation of multi-functional spaces that enhance environmental sustainability while also providing social and recreational opportunities and boosting local economies.

As many parts of Southeast Asia face increasing pressure from climate change, from sea-level rise, coastal flooding to extreme weather events, working with water as an integral part of urban development is key to addressing the climate change challenges. However, the opportunity of seamlessly integrating water in urban development extends beyond risk mitigation. The social, environmental and economic benefits are evident in pioneering projects like the Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park in Singapore.

In this piece, Jacky Pan and Katie Tan from Henning Larsen, Singapore, and Jingyang Liu and Ratna Delia Octaviana from Ramboll’s water team discuss how planners, designers and engineers can collectively achieve to accentuate water as an asset to creating liveable and resilient cities.

Shaping identities, lives, and masterplans

Water is more than just a resource, it is memory, identity, and movement. It flows not only through the terrain of a city but through its culture, its stories, and its people.

From riverside temples in Bangkok to canal-side kampongs in Jakarta and floating markets in Ho Chi Minh City, water has long been intertwined with daily life in Southeast Asia. But as cities modernized, many of these intimate relationships with water were lost, replaced by concrete, highways, and a growing disconnect between urban residents and their natural environments. Today, planners, engineers and designers are rediscovering its power, not only to manage floods or cool the city, but to reconnect people to place.

“Water plays a profound role in defining the identity of a city,” says Ratna Delia Octaviana, Associate Director, Urban Planning. “Rivers, lakes, and coastlines shape local traditions while festivals and community practices take place near water.”

Ratna points out that in many Southeast Asian cities, the historical connection to waterways remains deeply embedded in the collective memory of residents. “In Singapore, Bangkok, Jakarta, and Ho Chi Minh, there is a strong historical connection to waterways, which remain central to the lives of residents,” she explains. “So, integrating water into urban design reinforces connections, reflecting the historical and cultural significance of water while creating the public space that fosters social interaction and community pride.”

This humanistic approach is increasingly informing large-scale developments, where water serves as a guiding element in the layout and character of entire townships. “In some projects,” Ratna adds, “water acts as an anchor to the design of a township, shaping the whole masterplan. Canals can form an integral part of communities that people are immensely proud of. Water features act as a symbol of resilience, and the restoration of rivers and waterfronts can have a powerful impact.”

A remarkable example of this is our recent Cloudburst Masterplan for Sibu City in Malaysia, recognized as Asia’s first city-wide cloudburst masterplan. Sibu, located at the confluence of the Rajang and Igan rivers, has long been defined by its relationship with water, both as a lifeline and as a threat. Seasonal flooding, worsened by climate change and land subsidence, has damaged homes, disrupted livelihoods, and slowed the city’s development. Yet rather than seeing water only as a hazard, the Cloudburst Masterplan reimagines it as a catalyst for resilience, identity, and renewal.

The plan introduces a blue-green infrastructure network anchored by three new wetlands, designed to absorb and store floodwaters while doubling as vibrant public parks and ecological sanctuaries. Streets are reshaped into cloudburst corridors with bioswales, rain gardens, and permeable surfaces that channel water safely into the wetlands. Pocket parks, plazas, and sports fields are re-designed as multifunctional spaces - places for recreation on dry days, but ready to detain stormwater during extreme rainfall.

But the project is more than flood management. It redefines the city’s future by creating compact, walkable neighborhoods where 40,000 residents can live closer to jobs, schools, and amenities. Cultural heritage is preserved and celebrated, while new housing offers safe, resilient options for communities previously living in the most flood-prone areas. By weaving water back into the daily rhythm of life, the plan also restores Sibu’s identity as a true river city.

The impact is transformative: reduced flood risks, greener and healthier public spaces, restored ecosystems, and new economic opportunities for the community. Most importantly, the people of Sibu can come back to perceiving water not as a threat but as a life-giving source and a renewed pride in their city.

This idea - coexisting with water instead of controlling it - is reshaping the way we plan. In a time of climate uncertainty, water becomes a guide, a design partner. It reminds us of who we are, where we came from, and how we can adapt together.

Designing with water is not only about resilience - it’s about reimagining our cities with empathy and pride. And sometimes, all it takes is following the flow.

A multifunctional asset

Singapore has a history of flooding, typically caused by heavy monsoon rains. With its rapid urbanisation and low-lying terrain, managing surface water is not just a technical requirement; it is fundamental to the city’s resilience.

Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park stands as a pioneering example of how water-sensitive design can reshape urban life. Designed by Henning Larsen and Ramboll in collaboration with PUB under the ABC Waters Programme, the park transformed a hard concrete canal into a thriving, meandering river set within a vibrant green corridor. This move was not merely aesthetic; it marked a fundamental shift in the way cities approach water as an asset rather than a liability. The project addressed the dual needs of water supply and flood management while promoting biodiversity and providing a public space for all to enjoy.

The design team employed bioengineering techniques that were test-bedded during construction to ensure contextual suitability for Singapore’s tropical climate. Sloped riverbanks, native planting, and soil bioengineering replaced traditional hard infrastructure, resulting in a system that is ecologically functional, visually rich, and socially inclusive.

While Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park has garnered international recognition and is widely referenced in other cities as a case study in blue-green infrastructure, it is the public response that gives the project its deepest meaning. Today, the park is not just a piece of infrastructure or urban green space; it is a beloved common ground. Residents walk, play, cycle, and gather along its riverbanks, taking pride and ownership in a space that belongs to everyone.

This kind of transformation demonstrates what is possible when technical innovation is guided by human-centric design. Rainwater is no longer channelled out of sight; it becomes the central feature that supports biodiversity, strengthens community identity, and provides daily joy.

Another example is the Marina Barrage in the heart of Singapore, built across the mouth of the Marina Channel to create a freshwater reservoir. As well as being a major water supply, it serves to support flood control and is a lifestyle venue.

Similarly, waterfront developments in cities like Singapore, Hong Kong, and Sydney, demonstrate the value of integrating water as an asset by enhancing property values, tourism, and public engagement while mitigating climate risk.

Water adds to the value of open spaces. People enjoy being by water and it enhances the sense of place in urban environments. Making the best use of existing water adds to the creation of value and cultural identity.

The experiential effect of water

The type and scale of the water is an important aspect of identity formation. Large bodies play a more significant role in the formation of identity and creating a sense of place. Equally important is how people interact with water - how it feels to walk alongside it, rest near it, or play in and around it.

The transformation of Bidadari cemetery into a vibrant public park has created a community space for residents and a sanctuary for migratory birds. An innovative nature-based design and water management strategy including the new Alkaff Lake mitigates flooding, and safeguards local ecosystems while honoring the site’s heritage.

The lake also functions as part of a multi-functional drainage infrastructure, acting as a stormwater retention pond during heavy rainfall and slowing runoff to downstream drains. While most developments rely on detention tanks or large retention ponds to protect built assets, the modified Alkaff Lake collects, holds, and filters stormwater from surrounding estates, anchoring a key corner of Bidadari Park.

The park has a uniquely contoured landscape that enhances flood protection and biodiversity. Swales and marshes showcase water at various areas before channelling into twin Ficus Streams and cascading into Alkaff Lake. The design integrates place-making and active mobility strategies to support a vibrant population creating a natural, inclusive recreational space right at the doorstep of the community.

Adding value at all levels

Water adds value in many ways, providing transportation, recreation, and biodiversity. But what about the water that we can’t see? Groundwater, for example, still has an important part to play.

Many projects in Southeast Asia feature water from the mountains running to a river within or near to a city, which then goes to a flood plain and out to sea. This poses issues that must be addressed.

Senior Design Engineer, Jingyang Liu explains:

“The bigger catchment from the river and causal effects such as sea level rises must be considered. For example, the Sibu City master plan encompasses the Rajang River which originates in the mountains 500 km away from the city, giving a catchment of 40,000 sq. Kilometers – so the catchment and the river are much bigger than the city itself."

“We need to consider all aspects of water and causal effects. The South China Sea is not far away from Sibu City, and it also has a backwater effect on the Rajang River. In Southeast Asia, a lot of cities have the upstream river issue and the downstream coastal issue."

“Water engineers advise on holistic measures like flood mitigation, and coastal effect, especially with climate change risks increasing. We must consider the bigger picture to ensure we are future-proofing our cities to be more resilient.”

Flood mitigation beyond technical solutions

A number of projects in Asia Pacific require the retention of water at the source and slowing down surface runoff. Rising water levels due to climate change are at the fore.

The possibility of rising water levels requires the design of a master plan that future-proofs the entire area if water levels do rise. This involves mitigation measures so that people can still access the water while creating a space that is visually and aesthetically appealing and a comfortable public space.

Katie Tan added:

“In master planning, we have to think beyond flat lines on a plan. Cities are not two-dimensional; they are living, three-dimensional systems shaped by landform, water, and the people who inhabit them. In Singapore, for instance, regulations require that all rainwater is retained within the site; it must not spill over and burden neighbouring parcels. But when we understand how water flows through terrain, across ownership boundaries, and through communities, we begin to see opportunities to design upstream solutions that alleviate downstream pressure."

"To do this well, we need to understand the macro picture, respecting property lines while also inviting in the right partners to address shared challenges. Like water, design interventions placed at the right moment, in the right location, can ripple outwards and bring broader benefits. It is why collaboration between planners, engineers, architects, and the wider community is not just helpful; it is essential.”

Early collaboration - systems thinking to address complexities

Projects are often multi-faceted and complex. In the Philippines, the Lio project involved the design of a master plan factoring in a water and transportation network on a huge site that floods during heavy rain. The team had to resolve how water discharged from the site could be addressed by adding diversions to current flood areas while also considering landscape requirements to retain and enhance certain areas, ensuring the protection of nature.

These types of complex, large master planning projects require the involvement of all consultants and collaboration from day one. Engineers, landscape architects, urban planners, and transport consultants all have different visions and requirements but ultimately work together to find the best solution.

Design Director, Jacky Pan explains the extensive stakeholder engagement that is required early on in a project:

“When we design with water, we are not just shaping physical space; we are shaping systems of connection and care. Water reminds us that everything is linked - ecology, infrastructure, people, and policy. That is why early engagement is essential. It creates the trust needed to shift perspectives and see constraints not as limits, but as starting points for creativity."

"Designing with water asks us to be responsive to place, transparent in process, and ever evolving in mindset. It means bringing together more than just the technical team; it means including clients, agencies, and communities as collaborators. When we align across disciplines and across interests, we move beyond solving problems. We begin to create places that are resilient, generous, and full of possibility.”

Ratna Delia Octaviana added:

“In urban planning, our role is to ensure that water is considered early in the design phase and that it isn’t an afterthought. We plan everything from stormwater management to designing green spaces that integrate water seamlessly.”

“This collaborative process ensures that water solutions are more than technical fixes. They are also embedded in the aesthetic, social spaces, and long-term sustainability of the project.”

Early collaboration and thinking beyond the site to broader considerations is key to delivering a successful project that is future-proofed, supporting the development of sustainable and resilient cities.

From Design with Water to Design as Water – embracing yourself as a body of water

Designing with water, rather than against it, already introduces new ways of working – following waters flow, respecting water’s needs for space and conditions to rise and fall, ebb and flow, percolate, evaporate. Moving from controlling water, in canals, in pipes, in basins, to letting water flow, where it wants to, overflow when it needs to. It provokes conversations about where we, humans, live, and how. It provokes conversations of retreat and adapt, and about designing with water as a connector across systems and sectors. With water as a life-giving and dynamic entity fundamental for both human and more-than-human health and resilience.

But is that sufficient to proactively address our planetary crises of mental health, biodiversity loss, and accelerating climate change to name a few? Probably not. Instead we need to go deeper and challenge our dominating narratives, and reconnect ourselves to our natural environment. What happens if we reconsider ourselves as a body of water, as an inherent part of the very water systems we intervene in instead of seeing ourselves as an external designer separate from the aquatic environment?

As a body of water, we enter into conversations and projects as stewards of our watery connections and ecosystems. Just like water, we evolve and learn, we adapt and flow, and we embrace our purpose as designers to sustain life itself and design conditions for ecosystem health. Through our watery self, we activate our empathy, create the space for the collective intelligence to unfold. We give water a voice and let water guide our designs and our decision-making. We challenge the spatial boundaries that water flows across, and we challenge the purpose of the design brief, if it destroys rather than restores our watery world.

Design as water is a radical proposal to question the dominating narratives of what is human and what is the purpose of design. It questions the need for growth, development, and infrastructure. It connects our water crisis to that in mental health, inequity, and biodiversity. Water is ever-present and ever-relevant – in designing as water, water becomes our client, our guide, and our teacher.

Are you ready to let go of control, and flow with the natural, unforeseen currents with water as your guide?

Dive more into our thinking in Designing as water: a new paradigm | Henning Larsen or reach out to us to take you and your team on a water journey. You will not regret it!