One of Singapore’s best-known IT retail icons reopens its doors to shoppers on 28 June 2019, after three years of redevelopment.
With a total gross floor area of about 889,000 square feet, the Funan integrated development comprises a retail component, two office blocks and lyf Funan Singapore, a co-living serviced residence that is slated to open in October 2019. It is located right in the heart of the Civic District, with a direct underpass link to City Hall MRT interchange station.
Positioned as a social retail platform that leverages on technology, Funan features several firsts: it is home to Singapore’s first urban farm in a mall that is open to the public; Singapore’s first fully unmanned futsal facility; and Singapore’s first theatre venue in a mall. Serving as an incubator for new retail concepts, Funan also features a one-of-a-kind Tree of Life centrepiece with plug-and-play retail pods that host pop-up stores. It is also the first commercial development in Singapore to allow cycling through its building, complemented by a dedicated Bicycle Hub with end-of-trip amenities.
Tech features are incorporated throughout the entire development, such as the smart directories that maps shortest routes and makes product recommendations, apps for booking of carparks and access to shower rooms, and the facial recognition turnstile access in the office blocks. By end-2019, shoppers can expect a robot-enabled hands-free shopping and 24/7 click-and-collect drive-through service.
Retailers are also incorporating digital innovations to enrich their in-store experience. For instance, COURTS’ first IoT-themed store, which retails the latest smart home, AI and voice-control technologies, incorporates interactive in-store experiential concepts and robotics. Fashion retailer Love, Bonito offers an electronic queueing system for its fitting rooms, and an augmented reality walkway photo spot. The food court allows fuss-free ordering via Facebook Messenger or self-service kiosks, which accept various e-payments including cryptocurrencies. Movie buffs get to experience virtual reality pods showcasing popular games and cinematic content.
“From Funan Centre in 1985 to Funan The IT Mall in 1997, and from Funan DigitaLife Mall in 2005 to Funan today—each change represents an evolution of the mall’s positioning to serve the needs of different generations of consumers,” said Chris Chong, Managing Director, Retail, CapitaLand Singapore. — Construction+ Online
This project is the Winner of the Retailing Category in BCI Asia Interior Design Award 2019
