CapitaLand set to develop experiential ‘mall of the future’ at upsized Funan DigitaLife Mall
Invites public to go #BeyondIT to submit ideas to redevelop the Singapore landmark into an 870,000 square feet integrated development
Singapore, 15 April 2016 – CapitaLand is calling for ideas from the public to shape the ‘mall of the future’ as its Singapore retail real estate investment trust CapitaLand Mall Trust (CMT) prepares to redevelop Funan DigitaLife Mall into an integrated development of the future to serve the coming generations of real estate users. Titled #BeyondIT, the campaign celebrates Funan’s iconic status and embraces its exciting future beyond an IT mall.
Funan will close on 1 July 2016 for redevelopment works spanning three years. About 388,000 square feet (sq ft) will be added to the mall’s current Gross Floor Area of 482,000 sq ft, creating a sizeable integrated development measuring 870,000 sq ft – about the size of ION Orchard.
Mr Lim Ming Yan, President & Group CEO of CapitaLand Limited, said: “CapitaLand is continually pushing the boundaries and exploring ways to future-proof our real estate products and services. As a pioneer in integrated developments, it is incumbent on CapitaLand to constantly assess opportunities that will allow us to stay ahead of the curve and seize first-mover advantages. The redevelopment of the Funan site provides us with an opportunity to lead the way in building integrated developments of the future. We envision a new-generation integrated development where communities can work, play and live in a collaborative and interactive space, including a ‘mall of the future’ that will set a new benchmark for experiential retail in Singapore, and beyond. It will respond to Singaporeans’ growing desire to engage in more enriching and interactive experiences, beyond just consuming goods and services.”
“Known originally as Funan Centre when it opened in 1985, the mall has grown to become an icon of Singapore's IT retail history. Hence we wanted to involve the public in the redevelopment of this Singapore landmark; by inviting them to share with us their aspirations for the new integrated development and journey with us as the mall embarks on the future. Through #BeyondIT, we hope to hear from the public – the eventual users of the building – what they would like to see in the new integrated development. By tapping collective wisdom, we believe we can pioneer new possibilities for the real estate of the future. CapitaLand is confident that the new place will be an even more compelling lifestyle destination in a revitalised Civic and Cultural District – one that will serve this and future generations well, just like how Funan has served the generations before.”
Jointly organised by CapitaLand and The Straits Times, #BeyondIT is a digital platform that invites Singaporeans to imagine what it would be like to Play.Create.Live in an integrated space right in the heart of the bustling Civic and Cultural District. The public can share their ideas under three broad categories of Play, Create and Live via www.straitstimes.com/BeyondIT from today until 31 May 2016.
Submissions can be in the form of original images, videos and/or text. Participants stand to win attractive weekly and grand prizes in the form of STAR$® , which can be exchanged for CapitaVouchers for spending at over 2,000 participating stores in 18 operational CapitaLand malls throughout Singapore. Please refer to Annex A for more details about the campaign themes and prizes.
In addition, participants whose entries are selected could experience the thrill of seeing their ideas translated into large-scale graffiti artwork that will adorn the hoarding of the new integrated development.
Singapore graffiti artist Ceno2, best known for his fine art spraying style inspired by classical painters such as Michelangelo and Rembrandt, will be helming the design and creation of the hoarding’s graffiti art. Ceno2, who has more than 105,000 followers on Instagram, is well-known in the international circuit and has completed hundreds of graffiti artworks in cities such as Chicago and New York.
Ceno2 will be headlining two graffiti art events at Funan over two Saturdays. On 16 April, he will lead a group of graffiti art workshop participants to brainstorm ideas for #BeyondIT. On 25 June, he will hold a special demonstration and complete a graffiti art wall mural that illustrates some of the ideas contributed to #BeyondIT. These events will be part of the lineup of shopper engagement activities leading to the mall’s closure on 1 July.
Mr Wilson Tan, CEO of CapitaLand Mall Trust Management Limited, the manager of CMT which owns Funan, said: “Over its 31 years of history, Funan DigitaLife Mall has won the hearts and trust of shoppers as the go-to place for the widest variety of IT, digital and mobile products under one roof. Many generations of Singaporeans also have fond memories of Funan as the birthplace of several well-loved food and beverage brands, as well as a meeting place for music aficionados who used to visit the record stores there. To express our appreciation to our shoppers for their support over the years, we have lined up a bumper crop of community events, mega sales and special promotions over the next couple of months for our shoppers to enjoy. We invite all old and new friends of Funan to visit the mall and join us in bidding it a fond farewell.”
Funan will be organising a series of activities in the run-up to its last day of operations.