Batu Kawa Riverbank Park
This project designed by Landscape Design Associates with JRC Architects showcases the successful transformation of a 15.6-acre abandoned and previously inaccessible river floodplain into a vibrant public riverfront park featuring a continuous 1-kilometre water edge.
The park embraces nature’s elements operating in equilibrium, providing a resilient ecological framework for social, economic and environmental health of the surroundings. Consideration for natural hydrology; river dynamics, soil fragility, biodiversity and riparian habitats of the land were made in the project provisions.
Design concepts were developed for the park to operate in dual function - as a dry park and as a flood plain, retaining its original flood plain function to accommodate any increased river water volume to enter the site, minimising erosion to other stretches of the riverbanks upriver and downriver. The natural river edge in the wider landscape environment is preserved. New layers of higher grounds allow uninterrupted active and passive activities during raised water levels. The proposed multi-benefit solutions had served as a catalyst for a fresh form of green infrastructure where the potentials of nature and ecology were maximised to regenerate an urban ground which was abandon for its communities.
A Sky Window Structure lights up like a beacon in the night which can be seen from afar. It was originally intended draw attention to the a park some 7 meters below the road bridge crossing the river. This Sky Window has since become a land mark for Batu Kawa. The concept of ‘sky landscape’ was introduced with the building structure simulating a picture frame that frames the ever-changing sky landscape viewed through it. The Sky Window was prepared together with JRC Architects. JRC Architects also designed the intricate steel bridge viewing deck, as the picture’s top frame.
This Sarawak Riverfront park won a National Award for professional landscape architectural design and another country’s top award for Nature Based Solutions (NBS) Award in April 2025. At the ASEAN NBS Summit in October 2025, this park was named as amongst Malaysia’s 20 leading executed projects with nature-based solutions in Landscape Architecture.
Good reviews, photos and videos are abundant in the social media and in the print and electronic media. All these raise the profile of the area, two years after its opening in year 2022, this park was identified as a tourist destination by the Sarawak Tourism Board.
Text by the architect
PROJECT GALLERY
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Architect : JRC Architect
Landscape Architect : Landscape Design Associates
Client : Majlis Perbandaran Padawan
Area : 15.6 acres
Project Location : Kuching | Sarawak
Year of Completion : 2024 -
C&S Engineer : Jurutera Jasa (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd
Structural Engineer : Jurutera Jasa (Sarawak) Sdn Bhd
M&E Engineer : Jurutera JSW Sdn Bhd
Contractor : Akobest Sdn Bhd (Phase 1) | Fung Hup Construction Sdn Bhd (Phase 2, 3 & 4) | My City Landscapeing Sdn Bhd (Planting)
Design Team : Catherine Lau | Jih Ren Chang | Archiles Bambang | Tchee Kong Leong
Photography : Ricco Soh | Clarissa Sze -
Floor | Floor Finishes
• Tile : Porcelain
Roofing Systems : Metal
Waterproofing | Coating Systems : MAPEI -
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