The new Funan Mall is a completely different animal
Here's what you can expect from the new Funan Mall.
It's been three long years, but Funan Mall is finally open again to the public. The mall threw its doors open at 11.30AM earlier today, and it's already thronging with crowds. The revamped mall now features an entire floor dedicated to electronics and gadgets, in addition to a wide range of mouth-watering dining options.
One you step in though, the mall is completely unrecognizable. It's undergone a complete facelift, and it now features sprawling walkways and modern shopfronts encased in glass on all sides. Some sort of neon lighting lines each floor as well, which helps the whole place feel even more vibrant.
Funan also features a dedicated bike path and a Bicycle Hub for you to stock up on amenities. Of course, cyclists won't be able to use it during the mall's opening hours, and you can cycle on it only from 7AM to 10AM. This is the first commercial development in Singapore to allow cycling in the building, and it's mainly intended to serve office folks in and around Funan who cycle to work by allowing them to pass through the building.
The entire place has a distinctly hipster vibe to it, with the soft lighting and brick walls. You can see here also the Tree of Life, a central structure that forms the centerpiece of the mall and boasts plug-and-play retail pods that can host pop-up stores.
There's no shortage of big screens and bright lights to dazzle your senses. This central portion rises up to form the Tree of Life.
The main stairway on the first floor forms a pretty communal space where you can just hang out and relax.
Another highlight is the three-storey climbing wall operated by Climb Central. This is the largest rock-climbing facility in the Central Business District area.
There's even an indoor bouldering area if you prefer that to rock-climbing. To the left, you can see a digital wall of sorts where select hand and footholds will light up to illuminate your path.
There's a Golden Village cinema here as well on Level 5. The new theater halls offer more luxurious Gemini, Deluxe Plus, and Gold Class Express seats for all you movie fans out there.
The cinema has a pretty nice selection of movie memorabilia, including Thanos' glove. Some of the items have prices listed, so it looks like you'll be able to buy them. Unfortunately, Detective Pikachu is not for sale.
There are also VR booths where you can try your hand at games or watch movies powered by the Oculus Rift. From 28 June to 31 July, you'll be able to play Beat Saber, watch the movie Invasion!, or check out the NextVR and Cirque du Soleil experiences.
Each 15 minute session will cost you S$8 on weekdays and S$12 on weekends.
The Deluxe Plus (Duo) hall is designed for couples, featuring armrests that can be raised so nothing gets between the two of you. Each Deluxe Plus (Duo) hall has 54 seats, while the Deluxe Plus (Single) has 40.
The new Funan is all about technology, and it will offer a hands-free shopping experience by allowing you to collect your items from B2 after you're done shopping. The 24-hour click-and-collect service will roll out in Q4 2019. The robotic arm will grab your item from the shelf and deposit it at the collection point, and it was pretty cool to watch.
You'll find around 40 smart directories in Funan, which you can use to browse and search for trending merchandise before mapping the shortest route possible to reach a store. These directories are also equipped with sensors, and they can help make product recommendations based on your demographic profile.
Courts' first ever smart home-themed store is on Level 3. 80 per cent of the products stocked here are smart home-compatible, and it also hosts a large Samsung experience zone. You can view more pictures of the store in our separate gallery article here.
Funan hosts the largest Mi Store in Singapore as well. It has a total floor area of nearly 188 square meters and will double as a service center for Xiaomi products.
This is the first authorized DJI retail store in Singapore, featuring a drone demonstration area, a customer service center, and an event space. It's designed to offer more than just retail sales, and it's intended to serve as a central hub for a community of both DJI fans and new customers.
Dell's latest store houses a selection of small business and gaming solutions. You'll find the latest Dell products here, including XPS devices, Inspirons, and Alienware and G-series gaming laptops.
Audio Technica's flagship store features a spread of high-end headphones that you can audition in the store. It'll also host turntable workshops for those who want to learn more.
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