Singapore – Mapletree Investments Pte Ltd today unveiled its plans for VivoCity, Singapore’s largest retail, leisure and entertainment destination. Located within the HarbourFront precinct, VivoCity will offer a diverse mix of up to 450 retail, food and beverage and entertainment outlets, filling up over 1 million square feet of lettable floor space when it is completed in the 4th quarter of 2006.
Known previously as HarbourFront Mall – its working name since the project was announced – the new name, “VivoCity”, perfectly encapsulates Mapletree’s vision for the development.
“We wanted to create an iconic destination that will constantly surprise and stimulate visitors with its vibrant mix of unique retail and entertainment concepts and ever-changing activities” said Mr Edmund Cheng, Chairman of Mapletree. “The name, VivoCity, which is derived from the word ‘vivacity’, evokes a lifestyle experience that is modern, stimulating and accessible to everyone, a place bubbling with energy and flowing with vitality. It captures our approach to creating a new urban lifestyle.”
Iconic Design
Just as the name is a departure from the norm, so too is the architecture. Designed by internationally acclaimed Japanese architect, Toyo Ito, VivoCity’s iconic architecture will set it apart from the traditional box format of many existing and upcoming retail developments in the region.
Mr Ito based his design for VivoCity on a “Surfing” theme. It was inspired by the harbour front location of the development, which evokes images of waves on the sea. “I wanted to create a fluid shopping enjoyment where one space leads intuitively into another,” explained Mr Ito. “This structure does not separate the space by floor, but is connected as one continuous experience.”
Key Anchor Tenants to Introduce Fresh New Concepts
In line with its positioning, Mapletree also announced that it has signed on multiplex giant, Golden Village (GV), and retail leader Dairy Farm, as anchor tenants of VivoCity, both of which will be introducing fresh new concepts to Singapore. Combined, they will be taking up approximately 210,000 sq ft of space, which will constitute close to 20% of the total lettable space.
GV will not only open the largest multiplex in Singapore with 15 screens and about 2, 500 seats, but it will also introduce new features and concepts to Singapore for the first time. Among these are VMAX, the widest 35mm indoor cinema screen in Asia; the introduction of Cinema Europa, its Business Class Cinema which will not only feature more sophisticated seats, but also screen specialized art house and film festival programmes throughout the year; as well as a cluster of Gold Class Cinemas.
On his company’s new operations at VivoCity, the Managing Director of Golden Village, Mr Kenneth Tan said, “We are very excited to be part of Mapletree’s exciting vision for VivoCity. This is an ideal location for our flagship multiplex and we firmly subscribe to VivoCity’s positioning to push the boundaries whether it is in retail or entertainment.”
Similarly, Dairy Farm Group, which will be taking up approximately 120,000 sq ft of space, will operate a trailblazing approach to hypermarket shopping, under a new brand name to be announced in due course. The new hypermarket will comprise two levels of space connected by a travelator. The 40,000 sq ft Basement 2 will include the most extensive range of groceries sourced from across the world. The approximately 80,000 sq ft space at Level 1 will include Lifestyle general merchandise and a brand new Food for Life concept, based on the new successful ‘natural foods’ concepts now developing rapidly in the USA.
Dairy Farm Singapore Country Manager Gary Dunwell said, “We are excited to be part of VivoCity, which has the potential to become a major retail destination. As Singapore’s leading retailer, we hope to add to the excitement by introducing an innovative new hypermarket concept. This store will be our biggest here and will become our flagship hypermarket in Singapore. We will fuse the strengths of our various banners and leverage off the international resources of Dairy Farm to create fresh concepts for this hypermarket.”
VivoCity – A multi-experiential destination
VivoCity will attract a host of first-to-market local and international brands, as well as firmly established names. It will also boast year-round events and activities. This includes cultural or music performances in a 1000-seat amphitheatre, themed festivals, international bazaars, and many other stimulating programs. Jack Rouse Associates, who has developed theme park attractions and interactive entertainment areas for Six Flags in the US and Ocean Park in Hong Kong, will develop original and engaging concepts to provide VivoCity goers with stimulating new entertainment experiences.
The first level leads out onto the 300-metre harbour front promenade, while the second level is home to an open-air courtyard featuring engaging and interactive water features. Designed with alfresco dining, entertainment and relaxation in mind, the third level will see a combination of indoor and outdoor F&B outlets, the amphitheater, a body of water 4 times the size of an Olympic swimming pool, and of course, the spectacular view of Singapore Harbour and Sentosa Island.
Work, Live and Play at HarbourFront!
VivoCity is the centerpiece of the entire HarbourFront precinct, an area that spans 24 hectares and encompasses offices at the HarbourFront Towers, exclusive residential developments at Caribbean and Sentosa Cove, retail and cruise amenities at the HarbourFront Centre, as well as a unique lifestyle/entertainment centre at St James Power Station. With all these components located within a single location, the HarbourFront precinct will epitomize the true Work, Live and Play concept of the modern urban lifestyle.
