CapitaLand unveils attractions and gardens at Jewel Changi Airport

SINGAPORE (June 8): CapitaLand is pushing the boundaries of reinventing space when it comes to indoor attractions and air-conditioned parks.

Today, Jewel Changi Airport — 49%-owned by CapitaLand and 51% held by Changi Airport Group — unveiled Canopy Park, located at the topmost level of Jewel.

At 14,000 sq m or equivalent to 11 Olympic-sized swimming pools, Canopy Park will feature play attractions, gardens, walking trails and dining outlets.

Among the attractions is the 50m long Canopy Bridge where visitors will be able to enjoy a 40m high Rain Vortex.

The Canopy Bridge which is suspended 23m above ground, will have glass-panel flooring in the centre portion of the bridge for visitors to look right through to level 1 of Jewel.

Jewel will also house one of the largest indoor collections of plants in Singapore. About half of the total landscaping and greenery with its more than 1,400 trees and palms will be at Canopy Park. Part of the lush offerings will also comprise two gardens — the Topiary Walk and Petal Garden.

To be sure, CapitaLand Mall Trust, 29.3% owned by CapitaLand, has been experimenting with different concepts for its malls.

In April, the real estate investment trust introduced cutting-edge technology at the new Funan, including use of CCTV cameras powered by artificial intelligence (AI) software.

When completed in 2019, Funan will be an “experiential” mall, where members of the public can experiment with — among other things — drone photography and farming. Yet another CMT mall, IMM, has successfully transformed into an outlet mall. 

Globally, the idea of a shopping mall is being reinvented in the face of advancing technology and shifting consumer behaviour. People go there not just to shop, but for the experience. In Singapore, the CapitaLand group appears to be at the forefront of that change.

Funan will eventually be an integrated development, encompassing a couple of office towers and a serviced residence block.

Jewel, designed by Moshe Safdie of Marina Bay Sands fame, will also offer airport services and a hotel.

Shares of CapitaLand closed 1 Singaporean cent lower yesterday at S$3.58. — theedgemarkets.com.sg

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