Everything, Everywhere, Close to You
June 19, 2026
Key Takeaways
- Imagine a city where your home, workplace, school and favorite leisure spots are all just minutes away. Life is seamless, sustainable and connected.
- As one of the world’s pioneers of the 15-minute city model, Sunway is proving that urban living can be greener, smarter and designed entirely around people.
It’s 6 am on a Monday morning, but you hit the snooze button for another 10 minutes of slumber. What is the rush? Your workplace is just a short 15-minute walk from home. Even after a quick jog at the neighborhood park, you’ll still make it to work on time! Your children, too, are free from the hassle of long commutes, safely making their way to school on foot or by public transport. And when it’s time to restock your pantry, dropping by the grocers on the way home is effortless.
For residents of Sunway City Kuala Lumpur (SCKL), this level of convenience is a reality. The 15-minute city concept is transforming urban living, and Sunway is leading the way by demonstrating how this model can thrive in a bustling metropolis.
A City Within Reach
The 15-minute city is an urban planning model that prioritises accessibility and proximity. It creates mixed-use neighborhoods where residents can meet most of their daily needs and access all essential services like healthcare and education within a short walk or bicycle ride. Pioneered by French-Colombian scientist and urban theorist, Carlos Monero in 2015, the idea is a simple but radical solution to decarbonisation. When cities prioritise people over cars, everything changes.
The air is cleaner, the streets quieter. The hours once lost in gridlock are reclaimed for evening walks, impromptu chats with neighbors, or a detour through the park just because. With fewer cars on the road, pollution drops, health improves and local businesses find a second wind as foot traffic breathes life into their storefronts.
Urban planners have long known that connected, walkable neighborhoods do more than just improve infrastructure – they shape how people feel. Studies show that when life happens at a human pace, stress levels dip, social bonds strengthen and a city becomes more than just a place to live, but a place to belong.
The 15-minute city, at its core, is a return to something deeply natural: a way of living where the essentials are close, the pace is manageable and the world outside your doorstep feels like an extension of home.
Global Successes and Challenges
Cities such as Paris and Melbourne have already adopted the 15-minute city concept with notable success.
In Paris, Mayor Anne Hidalgo championed the idea during her reelection campaign and began implementing the 15-minute city during the COVID-19 pandemic. The city introduced extensive bike lanes, pedestrian-friendly zones and mixed-use developments to bring essential services closer to residents.
Melbourne, Australia has also integrated the concept into its planning framework, emphasising walkability and local business and community support. However, not all attempts have been without hurdles.
Some cities faced resistance from car-centric cultures and even conspiracy theorists claiming that the concept aims to confine people to their neighborhoods. While others struggled with zoning regulations that hindered mixed-use development. Yet, in Malaysia, the evidence tells a different story.
Sunway: Malaysia’s 15-Minute City Pioneer
Unlike many cities that are struggling to retrofit this concept into existing infrastructure, SCKL was designed with the 15-minute city model in mind. Through its Build-Own-Operate (BOO) approach, Sunway has seamlessly integrated smart urban solutions, green infrastructure and efficient mobility systems to create a self-sustaining, connected township.
As Malaysia’s first fully integrated green township certified by the Green Building Index (GBI), it has also been recognised as a low-carbon city by the Malaysian Institute of Planners.
At the heart of Sunway’s 15-minute city model is its network of key urban nodes, all interconnected for effortless movement within the township. Bored and need retail therapy? Residents and visitors can head to Sunway Pyramid, an all-in-one shopping and entertainment destination. The mall sits within walking distance of Sunway Geo, which integrates office spaces, retail outlets, and residences.
If you need to attend any medical and health emergencies, Sunway Medical Centre, one of the country’s top private hospitals, serves both local patients and medical tourists, who benefit from the area’s accessibility.
For quality education, Sunway University and Monash University Malaysia provide world-class education just minutes away from student accommodations and commercial areas. Choose to relax and unwind at Sunway Lagoon, which offers over 90 attractions across seven distinct adventure experiences! It was voted Asia’s Best Attraction by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA).
These key destinations are linked by the Canopy Walk – a 360m long elevated walkway fitted with close-circuit TV cameras and auxiliary personnel and the Sunway Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, Malaysia’s first and only elevated electric bus network, which runs on renewable energy and offers seamless connections.
In fact, walking has become one of the three most preferred modes of sustainable transportation in SCKL according to a study by Monash University Malaysia and the Institute for Global Strategy and Competitiveness at Sunway University.
Beyond Sunway’s internal connectivity, the township is well-linked to major transportation networks, ensuring accessibility beyond the township. The BRT system connects directly to the Kelana Jaya LRT line, providing direct access to Kuala Lumpur city centre. The township is also linked to major highways and key transit points, offering easy access to Kuala Lumpur International Airports and other parts of the Klang Valley.
Sunway’s 15-minute city is built on a foundation of sustainability. Green initiatives, from water conservation to urban forestry, have seamlessly woven into the township’s infrastructure. The township has rehabilitated two lakes located in Sunway South Quay and Sunway Lagoon using an advanced water treatment system which enables the reuse of water in commercial buildings. Renewable energy initiatives further enhance its sustainability, with solar panels retrofitted across the Canopy Walk roofs and most buildings to reduce reliance on non-renewable power sources.
Moving south, Sunway City Iskandar Puteri in Johor follows the same build-own-operate principles, blending urban living and nature to create a low-density eco township.
Strategically located near major highways, this township dedicates 40 percent of its surroundings to green spaces. Its seamless connectivity makes it a prime location for business and living, with access to key economic hubs in Medini, Johor Bahru, and Singapore.
In the northern region, Sunway City Ipoh stands as the largest integrated township in Perak. It pioneers a unique approach to urban sustainability, capitalises on eco-tourism, geothermal energy and biodiversity conservation as part of its development strategy. Home to attractions such as The Banjaran Hotsprings Retreat, Sunway Lost World of Tambun and an X Park with a driving range, futsal and badminton courts, the township draws both thrill seekers and serenity enthusiasts.
Enhancing its offerings further, the township has launched Sunway Medical Centre Ipoh—the region’s first private hospital equipped with a comprehensive cancer centre, cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic technologies and more than 200 beds to serve communities across the northern region.
Soon, the highly anticipated Sunway Ipoh Mall will open its doors. Spanning over one million square feet across four storeys, the mall will feature 350 retail outlets, Perak’s first ice-skating rink, an expansive exhibition centre, a 36-lane bowling alley, a multipurpose sports complex, a gourmet garden and a state-of-the-art 10-hall cinema.
The township has positioned itself as a premier destination that harmonises urban living with nature. As Ipoh experiences a tourism boom, this township plays a crucial role in driving economic and environmental sustainability for the region.
The Future of Sunway’s 15-Minute Cities
As Sunway expands and builds its 15-minute townships across Malaysia, future developments will integrate AI-driven climate resilience strategies, ensuring adaptability to environmental changes.
Upcoming projects will further enhance Sunway’s role as a leader in intelligent, hyper-connected cities. As urban challenges continue to grow worldwide, Sunway’s model provides a blueprint for other cities seeking to create climate-resilient, people-centric urban spaces.
Sunway’s 15-minute city is more than just an urban planning concept—it’s a vision for a smarter, greener and more livable future. As cities worldwide grapple with sustainability challenges, Sunway’s model offers a glimpse into the future of resilient, people-centric urban development. Through strategic planning, green infrastructure and technological innovation, Sunway is proving that cities can be both sustainable and highly functional, shaping the urban landscapes of tomorrow.
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