Water is (re)conquering the contemporary agenda of urbanism. The risk of devastating flooding related to climate change and inappropriate urbanisation increases awareness and efforts to improve water management and invest in research, yet the integration of design, engineering and management is often lacking. Mapmaking and the discipline of landscape urbanism have the capacity to bring experts and stakeholders in innovative regional development. Case study projects in Asia reveal the potential of water-driven landscape urbanism projects in urban design and spatial planning as a structuring element. Kelly Shannon is an associate professor of urbanism at KU Leuven, Belgium. Her research is at the nexus of urban/landscape analysis (interpretative cartography), urban design and landscape urbanism.