At the groundbreaking ceremony on the site of the former Funan DigitaLife Mall, CapitaLand Mall Trust announced the new development will simply be called Funan.
This is a tribute to the legacy of the site, which will continue in the spirit of its redevelopment into a centre for technology-savvy consumers. Building on the mall’s legacy as the definitive IT hub in Singapore for three decades, Funan will go beyond selling IT products to incorporating the tech experience throughout the integrated development.
Concept plans for the development were unveiled at the event to show how Funan will connect the online world to the offline world (and vice versa) for its on-the-go mobilefirst customers.
“We are entering an exciting phase of real-estate development driven by technology breakthroughs that are altering the fabric of our lives, and the coming-of-age of a whole generation of consumers who grew up with the internet,” says CapitaLand president/group CEO Lim Ming Yan.
“Funan is our response to these trends. As a new paradigm for living, working and playing in Singapore’s city centre, Funan offers a synergistic combination of retail, office and apartment components designed to appeal to tech- and socially savvy consumers pursuing quality of life in a socially conscious and creative environment.
“Mall of the future”
“The integrated development will house a mall of the future, serving as a platform to inspire retail innovation; co-working spaces for the mobile workforce, freelancers and start-ups; and co-living apartments for hip, young professionals.
“With community, connectivity and convenience at its core, Funan will cater to the new breed of consumers who favour a collaborative environment and authentic experiences that reflect their passions and tastes.”
As Funan’s centrepiece, with a net lettable area of 324,000 sqft (30,000 sqm), the retail component is positioned as a platform to inspire retail innovation, with a strong focus on enabling shoppers to enjoy experiences in line with their interests. Its offerings are organised around “passion clusters”, such as “tech”, “fit” and “taste”.
Under the tech cluster, cinema chain Golden Village plans to offer the first multi-dimensional feature films experience in Singapore, while foodcourt company Kopitiam aims to introduce a new-generation high-tech food court, KopiTech with such innovations as self-ordering kiosks, food-collection conveyor belts, and tray and crockery return robots.
Smart shopping
As well as dedicating a whole floor to the latest digital gadgets and technology products, the retail component will feature the latest in smart shopping technologies. As part of the integration of O2O shopping experiences, Funan’s shoppers can look forward to the CBD’s first drive-through click-and-collect and hands-free shopping service. Shoppers will be able to choose to either pick up their purchases at Funan’s concierge when they are done, or have their shopping bags delivered to their homes.
Sporting culture will feature prominently in Funan. Indoor climbing gym company Climb Central will offer a 50-climb attraction with the highest wall extending from Funan’s Basement 2 to level 2 – 15 metres high.
With a laser projection onto the floor for night matches, the atrium will be able to host street basketball. A futsal court will also feature, on the sixth-floor roof next to a food garden. There will also be a gym with an adjacent 25 metre swimming pool.
And true to its raison d’être of charting new territory, Funan will become Singapore’s first commercial premises to allow cycling through the building.
Urban farm
In line with Funan’s experiential focus, dining will become an educational and fun process.
In support of the “from farm to table” movement, Funan will feature a 4000 sqft urban farm where the public can learn more about the origins of their food and “adopt a plot” to grow their own produce. Coupled with the 12,000 sqft food garden will be the largest area set aside for urban agriculture in the CBD. Food trucks will also be brought into the development.
Funan will feature a 4,000 sq ft urban farm, where the public can learn more about the origins of their food and “adopt a plot” to grow their own produce. Coupled with the 12,000 sq ft food garden, Funan will boast the largest area set aside for urban agriculture in the CBD.
“We have reimagined Funan to offer a new live-work-play paradigm,” says CapitaLand Mall Trust Management CEO Wilson Tan.
“We also believe Funan can be a new home for local designers, makers and creatives. This will make Funan a unique retail destination that complements the offerings in Raffles City Singapore and other developments in the district.”
To support Singapore’s move toward a car-light society and to promote healthy living, Funan will offer full end-of-trip services for cycling enthusiasts, including bike shops and cafes, lockers and showers. Funan’s ground floor will have multiple access points and gentle slopes to make it easy for both cyclists and pedestrians to enter the building.
Motorists are not forgotten, however, with smart parking as part of the building’s technology.
Photo credit:CapitaLand
