Tropicana taps global design giant SOM to lead Johor's Lido Waterfront masterplan
This strategic partnership marks a major milestone for the development, which is set to transform LIDO into a world-class, future-ready coastal metropolis and smart city in the southern region of Malaysia. The masterplan will integrate seven key components—residential, commercial, wellness, education, hospitality, recreational, and lifestyle—into a unified, sustainable waterfront destination.
Tropicana's founder and group executive vice chairman Tan Sri Danny Tan Chee Sing said LIDO is poised to become the new heartbeat of Johor Bahru City Centre, leveraging its proximity to the upcoming RTS Link and the Johor–Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ).
"LIDO is one of our most innovative projects in Johor, and this impressive masterplan will be the new pulse of Johor Bahru City Centre," he said in a statement.
Tan said that the LIDO masterplan design was awarded to SOM with the collective aim to set new standards for sustainability and innovation in the continually growing Johor Bahru city.
"This is our second collaboration with SOM. Our first was the successful and iconic W Kuala Lumpur & The Residences, located within the Kuala Lumpur City Centre. With their impressive track record and global talents, the LIDO masterplan design was awarded to SOM with our collective aim to set new standards for sustainability and innovation in the continually growing Johor Bahru city."
SOM's recent work on the Bandar Malaysia master plan, a major transit-oriented, mixed-use project in Kuala Lumpur, demonstrated its capacity to envision future-ready cities. These successful track records captured Tropicana's interest, making SOM the preferred choice to bring the ambitious LIDO development vision to life.
SOM, famed for iconic projects such as the Burj Khalifa, One World Trade Centre, and master plans across major global cities, will bring visionary urban planning and international expertise to the project.
Douglas Voigt, Partner at SOM, said the project presents an opportunity to create a vibrant, inclusive urban hub.
LIDO has the potential to be one of Malaysia's most engaging civic spaces, celebrating culture, enhancing liveability, and strengthening Johor Bahru's social fabric, he said.
As the first residential phase of the development, Skypark Kepler will comprise two 54-storey towers on a 4-acre freehold site. It will feature 1,596 fully and semi-furnished designer units, with layouts ranging from 1+1 to 3 bedrooms (463 to 807 sq ft), starting from RM790,000.
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