"Jesselton Docklands is a tropical masterplan in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, designed by Snøhetta to revitalize the city's historic port area on the island of Borneo. The development introduces a new ferry and cruise terminal near Kota Kinabalu International Airport, establishing the district as both a transportation hub and a civic destination. The project will be a gateway to Sabah, enforcing the city's role within the Southeast Asian archipelago and strengthening its connection to local culture and ecology."
"The transformation of the waterfront redefines Kota Kinabalu's urban edge. Once an industrial zone, the area will now serve as a civic and cultural anchor, merging resilient infrastructure with the island's environmental identity. Richard Wood, Managing Director Asia of Snøhetta, describes the design as ' a reconnection of this once industrial part of the city back to its locality, its people and its heritage,' aligning the project with the city's natural and cultural richness."
"With the Jesselton Docklands masterplan, the team at Snøhetta establishes a framework for tropical urban living that may influence future development across Malaysia. It incorporates layered environmental strategies shaped by collaborative discourse, with careful attention to climate resilience. Located in a region vulnerable to typhoons, the master plan integrates hydrological systems - bioswales, rain gardens, and retention landscapes - that channel stormwater and mitigate flooding."
Jesselton Docklands reconfigures Kota Kinabalu's historic port into a mixed-use civic district and transport gateway near the international airport. The masterplan by Snøhetta repurposes an industrial waterfront into a cultural anchor that strengthens ties to Sabah's islands and local communities. Infrastructure strategies prioritize climate resilience through bioswales, rain gardens, and retention landscapes to manage stormwater and flooding risks in a typhoon-prone region. Spatial organization draws from nearby fishing villages, using organic planning to enhance shading, airflow, and adaptability. Architectural language relies on deep facades and local materials to respond to the tropical context.
Read at designboom | architecture & design magazine
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