The Rwandan city of Gisenyi, located near the northern shoreline of Lake Kivu within the Rubavu District, represents a crucial geographical location with strong strategic value. Gisenyi has a border position with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), making it a great trade interface between the two countries. Gisenyi has numerous potential, both natural and economic, whereas the town has been bogged down by poor urban planning, poor infrastructure, and exposure to environmental hazards. This research work addresses issues related to the underutilized lakeside architecture of Gisenyi, such as unused buffer zones, limited pedestrian access to the site, and insufficient places to gather in a small-scale economy. The research aims to make recommendations for long-term sustainability policies in architecture that will revamp the lakeside region by improving its ecological guardianship, supporting tourism, and reinforcing its urban character. It employs a mixed-methods approach to compare case studies of waterfront developments in Toronto, Manhattan, and Zurich; observed through mixed-methods analysis, spatial observations, and GIS mapping, as well as interviews with stakeholders. The research concluded that evidence-based, locally sensitive architectural interventions that the community participates in and policy synchronization are key to transforming the lakeside of Gisenyi into a lively, robust, and economically resplendent city.