BY NG PAU LING
pauline@thestar.com.my

KUALA Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and Think City recently held the pilot groundbreaking ceremony of its Laneway Improvement Programme at Lorong Bandar 13. It is a collaboration between the two parties to upgrade back alleys, aiming to create safe, clean, functional and attractive laneways to benefit local stakeholders.

Nine laneways within the historic core of Kuala Lumpur have been identified. The selected laneways are Lorong Bandar 13, Lorong Lebuh Ampang, Lorong Hang Lekiu, Lorong Tun HS Lee South, Lorong Yap Ah Loy, Lorong Pudu, Lorong Tun Tan Cheng Lock and Lorong Hang Kasturi South.

DBKL and Think City to Pilot Laneway Improvement Programme In Kuala Lumpur ground-breaking ceremony.

“The laneways were selected based on the current condition of the space, connectivity and potential to improve existing uses by local stakeholders,” said Think City programme director for Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru Neil Khor.

He added that the project is ultimately to enhance the vibrancy of KL through functional and creative spaces. The result of an environmentally friendly back-lane will not only facilitate pedestrian traffic but also deter indecent behaviour through design.

The blackboard wall in Lorong Bandar 13.

Every back-lane will have its unique design theme. DBKL and Think City is working closely with the local community to understand the space, define the identity and design direction of the particular place.

The pilot laneway improvements for Lorong Bandar 13 are expected to cost around RM300,000 and will be completed in Oct 2018.

The upgrading works of all of the nine selected back lanes are scheduled to be finished in 2020.