Building the Urban Spaces of Tomorrow
Global architecture and masterplanning play a crucial role in shaping the built environment, influencing how cities, communities and landscapes evolve to accommodate growing populations, technological advancements and environmental challenges. Over the pages that follow, RLI will highlight a collection of projects from around the globe that do exactly this as they begin to shape the urban spaces of tomorrow.
Architectural masterplanning involves comprehensive, long-term strategies for urban development, encompassing a wide range of factors such as land use, infrastructure, transportation, sustainability and community engagement. Its focus is on creating resilient, inclusive and efficient urban spaces that improve quality of life while addressing global challenges like climate change and rapid urbanisation.
Architectural master planning is a critical first step in the design process, requiring extensive experience to fulfil a client’s needs, taking the whole picture into consideration, the surrounding buildings, environment and infrastructure. The masterplan should include present and future goals and the probability of long term changes. Meanwhile, a masterplan is an economical investment that ensures both accurate and functional decisions are made in each stage of the project development.
Examples of Global Architecture & Masterplanning
Serving as a bespoke and captivating cultural destination for Vancouver, Oakridge Park is designed to seamlessly encompass every aspect of people’s lives – where living, working and playing converge harmoniously, offering a space for inspiration, personal growth and relaxation.
Spanning over five million square feet and strategically designed around a sprawling nine-acre park, Oakridge Park creates a distinctive enclave within the expansive 28-acre footprint. Comprising residential, retail, office, public realm, civic and cultural components, Oakridge Park is a world-class, masterplanned community. Once fully completed, it will offer a top-tier retail experience totalling 850,000sq ft with over 140 leading global brands, including flagship and boutiques stores, accommodations for over 6,000 residents through more than 3,000 residences, 700,000sq ft of meticulously designed office space for over 3,000 creative economy professionals, one of Vancouver’s largest community centres and busiest libraries, six dynamic indoor and outdoor live-music venues, the renowned Goh Ballet and will be home to the second Time Out Market in Canada. Under development by Quadreal Property Group and Westbank and with design and masterplanning work by Henriquez Partners Architects, the scheme is set to begin opening this year.
Back in June, Allston Yards held an official ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the openings of the new, flagship Stop & Shop and the Alder residential community. Allston Yards, a project of New England Development, Stop & Shop, Bozzuto and Southside Investment Partners, is Boston’s newest mixed-use development. Alder is a 165-unit residential community located directly above the new 52,000sq ft Stop & Shop within the 10.6-acre Allston Yards. Alder is managed and developed by Bozzuto. Located at 301 Guest Street, Alder is the first building in the transformative mixed-use Allston Yards development. The multi-phase Allston Yards project includes 117,000sq ft of retail with a vibrant mix of new stores and restaurants, including the new Stop & Shop. With nearly 900 residences, 350,000sq ft of office and lab space and a one-acre community green, Allston Yards has been designed as a walkable community with open space and an ideal location for retailers, restaurants, office and life-science tenants, fitness and services. Architectural work was undertaken by Stantec.
Joint venture partners North American Properties (NAP), Nuveen Real Estate and Taconic Partners acquired Ridge Hill in May 2022 with plans to redevelop and reposition the outdoor lifestyle centre as a human-centric, mixed-use destination. Through architecture and masterplanning work by Beyer Blinder Belle, the first phase of construction included the Park Plaza, a 17,000sq ft family-friendly activity zone, situated on the north end of the property, which opened in October 2024. Highlights include the addition of 18ft trees and other greenery, a turfed play area for children and café-style seating, offering an inviting outdoor extension for nearby restaurants. Phase one also included the Town Square, a 25,000sq ft community hub, situated at the heart of the property along Market Street, which debuted in November 2024. The area received a 10,000sq ft expansion, seamlessly blending it with surrounding retailers and restaurants through pedestrian-friendly crosswalks. The revamped area features a turfed event plaza, covered performance stage, an 18’ x 11’ LED screen, added seating and the beloved sculptural playground, Big Girl. The next phase of the redevelopment – the reconfiguration of the former Lord & Taylor department store – is expected to begin this year.
Set in the thriving neighbourhood of Bangalore, India and being developed by Sai Lakshmi Industries Private Limited with architectural work by mayaPRAXIS, Essensai067 is more than a retail development – it is a reimagined social space where food, fashion, art and music come together to foster human connection. Spanning 5.16 acres and set to open on 20 April, this dynamic indoor-outdoor interactive development offers over 155,355sq ft of thoughtfully designed spaces. Key features of the site include retail & culinary delights across 23 premium retail units and 12 diverse F&B outlets. There will be unique experiences on site through an adventure park, a pet-friendly plaza and an amphitheatre for curated performances, highlighting how Essensai067 offers more than just shopping. In addition, sustainability will be at its core and drives every aspect of Essensai067, from climate responsive design and net-zero energy initiatives to plastic-free zones and organic waste management. Finally, the development features a community-centric design. From yoga and wellness programs to vibrant social events, Essensai067 is designed to become a cultural hub for the neighbourhood’s 26,000 apartments and growing population.
The new social heart of Kuala Lumpur, The Exchange TRX is a dynamic retail and lifestyle destination seamlessly integrated within a 10-acre public park. Launched in November 2023 by developers Lendlease and TRX City Sdn Bhd and with architectural work by Leonard Design Architects, it represents the future of experiential retail, sustainable urban living and vibrant cultural expression. Part of the 17-acre lifestyle quarter of TRX, The Exchange TRX brings international placemaking and sustainability standards to Malaysia, strategically located in the nation’s first dedicated international financial district. The large-scale experience-led destination encompasses retail, Malaysia’s first Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants that is connected to the TRX City Park, six premier residential towers, a low-rise large floor plate campus-style office and a dedicated Marr Rapid Transport station. The entire development is expected to be completed in stages up until 2027.
Cloud 11, the forthcoming 10.6-acre creator hub on Sukhumvit, developed by leading developer MQDC, has secured project financing and is on track to open in 2025. In addition, the architects Snøhetta in collaboration with A49 Architects, has designed their most extensive project in Asia for the property developers. The project is a 250,000sq m mixed-use building in the upcoming CyberTech district of South Sukhumvit in Bangkok. The Cloud 11 project aims to create a new lifestyle environment and surroundings within the area. Designed to cater to people’s daily needs and requirements, several restaurants will operate from a centralised kitchen, a gym, a wide selection of retail stores and two hotels. The project also includes a variety of cultural offerings such as a library, educational venues and creative workspaces fit for the modern, hybrid way of working from home or outside the office.
Set to open on 8 April 2025, Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier has been designed as an integrated district and central part of the HafenCity in Hamburg, Germany. It connects places to live and work with stunning cultural offers and leisure facilities as well as innovative retail, entertainment concepts, including a 10-screen cinema, international and local restaurants, bars and cafés, medical and well-being centres as well as a state-of-the-art cruise terminal. With this mixed-use development, the developers Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield and architects ATP Asymetria are showcasing its vision to play an active part in the sustainable transformation of cities, connecting future-oriented models for urban living with the historically developed Hamburg identity. In line with their sustainability strategy, Better Places 2030, Westfield Hamburg-Überseequartier will foster new modes of sustainable mobility, including e-vehicle platforms, smart shuttles and the implementation of intelligent logistics and traffic control systems. All buildings are certified according to the international BREEAM Excellent Standard and the office buildings according to the DGNB Gold Standard. This mixed-use urban district will feature flexible offices with 360° views over HafenCity and the harbour, modern apartments with direct access to the waterfront, three hotels and a 200-store shopping centre offering the best local and international brands together with a wide range of services and digital innovations, for an enhanced customer journey.
The Ellinikon Mall, designed by Aedas is the new state-of-the-art commercial, leisure and business destination will extend over more than 125,500sq m on Vouliagmenis Avenue. This project will consist of the largest mall in Greece and a next generation retail park with big-box stores. Right next to it, one of the largest coastal parks in Europe, The Ellinikon Park, will be developed. This is a pioneering ecosystem introducing a new lifestyle philosophy in shopping, entertainment and leisure. The project takes full advantage of its adjacency to infrastructure where subways and roads intersect to provide ease of transport to this new urban hub. There are excellent multi-level pedestrian connections to the surrounding mixed commercial and residential buildings, which have an immediate high-density population within walking distance. Due to open in 2026, the project is under development by Lamda Development and the overall masterplan designed by Foster + Partners.
Blending heritage and innovation, Entrecampos is undergoing a major transformation to become ‘Lisbon’s new original’ in Portugal. This mixed-use project by developer Fosun Hive Iberia and design architect KPF covers public spaces of 17,000sq m, residential (three buildings), offices (seven buildings) and retail (75 stores) over a total GLA of 180,000sq m. Due to open in 2027, it follows a holistic ESG approach designed to exceed high environmental standards like LEED Platinum and WELL, with geothermal and solar energy, energy-saving glazing and efficient chillers among other strategies. Driven by the local community, it is intended as a hub where life, commerce and work converge around an architectural, urban and technological landmark.
Currently under construction, The Island by developer Wasl with architectural work being undertaken by Brewer Smith Brewer Group, is a luxury beachfront development that will include over 1,400 hotel rooms, suites and apartments featuring the popular Las Vegas hotel brands MGM, Bellagio and Aria; retail and multiple dining options; and a number of entertainment destinations. The Island will also include an extended beachfront with cafés, restaurants, retail stores and family entertainment. Three of the most well-known hotels in Las Vegas – the MGM, Bellagio and Aria – will be part of the project, which was expected at one point to be home to the first casino in the UAE. There is currently no opening date scheduled for the project.
Opening in Q2 this year by developer Al Marwan Real Estate Development and architect HWKN Architecture, District 11 in Sharjah, UAE will feature 11 buildings and 200 commercial units. The project boasts a prime location on Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Street (311), just five minutes from Sharjah International Airport and Sharjah University City. This proximity makes it an ideal hub for attracting talent and professionals from universities. The development is also within walking distance of Al Zahia City Centre, the Al Zahia residential community, and other prominent areas. Additionally, it is only 25 minutes away from Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai. Future phases will include shuttle bus services and helicopter transportation to ensure seamless connectivity across emirates. The project spans three million square feet and features retail spaces, business and family-oriented amenities such as nurseries, specialised institutes and healthcare centres. The project stands to shape the concepts of smart offices and future businesses and has been designed to adapt with the future architecture in business.
