Putting the Fun in Funan!

Photo by:  W!ld Rice

Cycling fans rejoice as English premium folding bike brand Brompton Bicycle has chosen Funan to be the location of its first flagship store in Singapore. With Funan set to be Singapore’s first commercial development to allow cycling through the building at Level 1, you can even take the bikes out for a spin before deciding on your purchase.

Get up close and personal as W!ld Rice theatre serves up the drama. If the theater isn't your cup of tea, Golden Vllage cineplex will also offer the latest from Hollywood and beyond. Fashionistas can look forward to the flagship of local designer Carrie K. and Keepers, a multi-label store featuring the best of Singapore’s fashion.

For foodies, ABC Cooking studios will launch a new concept which allows members to conduct their own classes and collaborate with others. There will also be farm-to-table dining experiences provided by Spa Esprit Group and the Edible Garden City will operate Funan’s rooftop urban farm – the largest in the CBD.

Funan will also be a destination for play. You can have a kick around at the only futsal court in the CBD operated by Ark Futsal. Well-established homegrown gaming store GamePro will also be hosting eSports tournaments in a dedicated eSports zone at Funan.

If you're missing the tech, don't fret, local consumer electronics and camera stores like AddOn Systems and TK Foto will also set up shop. 

The Nuts & Bolts of Chye Seng Huat Hardware Coffee

Mr Leon Foo, Owner of Chye Seng Huat Hardware Coffee gets into the nuts & bolts (literally!) of what goes into the cup of coffee.
 

INSIDE: In 3 words, describe your design philosophy towards coffee
Leon: Sharing The Source.

INSIDE: The house blend at CSHH is named “Nuts & Bolts”. Can you share a bit more the name?
Leon: Similar to how we designed the space - we wanted to pay tribute to the hardware heritage of the Jalan Besar neighborhood.

Further, there’s many components that go into a blend which eventually synergize when blended together, hence the name Nuts & Bolts.

INSIDE: What is the flavour profile and what was the creative process for you and the team at CSHH when designing this specific blend? 
Leon: Nuts & Bolts work great with milk or without. In the cup, you will taste notes of pecans, cherry sweetness and a smooth body.

INSIDE: What can coffee fans look forward when you open in Funan next year?
Leon: Expect a unique coffee retail experience that’s more than just having a cup of your daily fix.

Getting High with Climb Central

The new Climb Central at Funan will have 50 climbing lanes in its 15m high facility in Funan. We speak to Christopher Xie, Operations Manager and Head Route Setter to get the hard facts. Climb on!

INSIDE: In 3 words, describe your design philosophy towards designing a rock climbing gym.
Christopher: Everyone Can Climb

What we want to do is to create a common space for every individual because we strongly believe that climbing is for everyone. The most important feature – our climbing wall – is designed with that in mind. It is designed for everyone. Visually, the walls should have have an intricate attractiveness so that it would appeal to all in their own ways. We want to keep climbers interested with varying angles and profiles in the wall design. At the same time, it is important to keep the design simple so that we can all focus on understanding climbing. The wall is designed to empower, to provide a canvas for all climbers to move freely. Climbing is a lifestyle as much as it is a sport. We want to provide climbers with a different experience on each and every one of their visits.

INSIDE: What are some of the considerations that go into designing and planning a climbing route?

Christopher: Climbing routes are vertical challenges. All our routes are set with a purpose, and to do that well we need to first have the empathy to understand the people we are setting for and their purpose of climbing. Some people are looking for tough route, a route that motivates through providing a challenge. Some people are looking to succeed, a route that gets them to the top. Some people simply want to sweat it out, with no expectations in mind. But one thing for sure, every climber appreciates a fun and enjoyable route.

Route setting can be considered a functional design. Using climbing holds and features, we create different landscapes and movements which a climber would execute. Having a good understanding of our climbers’ physical ability and emotional struggles, we are able to challenge them appropriately, to test and teach at the same time. It is crucial to set the pace and tempo of a climbing route well to bring out its distinct flavour and we use holds and moves to create this balance.

INSIDE: Any advice for first-time climbers looking to try their hands (and feet) at rock climbing?
Christopher: Use your feet because contrary to popular belief, you don't need to be buff and have huge stores of upper body strength. When climbing, do try to use your feet to step up and not just pull up with your arms. Leg muscles are much stronger than your arm muscles and will get you a lot further on the wall. Also, learn to identify the difficulty of the climbs, which are graded and colour coded, so that you can start on something easy and then work your way to more challenging routes as you improve.

INSIDE: What can rock climbing and bouldering fans look forward to when you open in Funan next year? 
Christopher: We are really excited to open in Funan! Climbers can look forward to the same awesome climbing experience, at a another accessible location! There will be brand new walls, exciting new routes and lots and lots of climbing for everyone. Stay tuned to find out!