VivoCity
 | |
 Main facade of VivoCity | |
 | |
| Location | 1HarbourFrontWalk, Singapore 098585 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 1°15′50″N103°49′20″E/ 1.26389°N 103.82222°E |
| Opening date | 7 October 2006(Soft opening) 1 December 2006(Official opening) |
| Developer | Mapletree InvestmentsPte Ltd |
| Management | Mapletree Commercial Property Management Pte Ltd |
| Owner | DBS Trustee Limited as Trustee of Mapletree Commercial Trust |
| Architect | Toyo Ito |
| No. of stores and services | 340 |
| No. ofanchor tenants | 8 FairPrice Xtra Best Denki library@harbourfront Tangs Uniqlo Zara Golden Village Toys R Us |
| Total retail floor area | 99,987 m2(1,076,250 sq ft) (Net lettable area) 142,854 m2(1,537,670 sq ft) (Gross floor area)[1] |
| No. of floors | 5 |
| Public transit access | NE1CC29HarbourFront VivoCity station(Sentosa Express)  HarbourFront |
| Website | vivocity |
VivoCityis ashopping malllocated in theHarbourFrontprecinct ofBukit Merah,Singapore. It is the largest shopping mall in Singapore, with 99,987 square metres (1,076,250 square feet) of net lettable area and 142,854 square metres (1,537,670 square feet) of gross floor area spread over a three-storey shopping complex and two basement levels.[1]
It was designed by the Japanese architectToyo Ito,and its name is derived from the wordvivacity.In December 2016, VivoCity was recognized by Forbes as one of the top shopping malls in Singapore.[2]
History[edit]
VivoCity was built on the site of the Expo Gateway and Harbour Pavilionexhibition hallsof the former World Trade Centre (now theHarbourFront Centre) in June 2003. Since its opening in 2006, it is currently the largest shopping mall inSingapore,spanning 1,500,000 square feet (140,000 m2) of gross floor area and 1,077,000 square feet (100,100 m2) of retail space, larger thanSuntec CityandNgee Ann City(the former of which was the largest before VivoCity's opening). It was designed by the renowned Japanese architectToyo Ito.Mapletree Investments, a subsidiary ofTemasek Holdings,is the developer of theS$417 million complex.
Official opening[edit]
The shopping mall opened officially on 1 December 2006 after atopping-outceremony on 18 April and a soft launch on 7 October that year. The official opening included a six-minutefireworksdisplay, a concert by American bandString Theoryfor the general public, and aStefanie Sunconcert at the mall'samphitheatreat the Sky Park on the third floor. The guest of honour of the event was chairman ofTemasek Holdingsand formercabinetministerS Dhanabalan.During its first month of opening, it attracted 4.2 million visitors, equivalent to the population of Singapore, and attracted 7.28 million visitors in total before the grand opening. The String Theory concert included a giantharpwith strings stretching to the third floor of the mall. The concert was held at The Promenade and lasted ten days, from 1 to 10 December.Barricadeswere put at the boardwalk blocking the front portion of the boardwalk which is facing theKeppel Harbour.CISCOauxiliary policewere deployed for the opening, with the food court on the third floor and the whole Sky Park (roof garden) closed to the public for the day. Parts of thecar parkwere closed for the invited guests as well. A giantprojection screenwas put at the main entrance of the mall; this screen was to show the concert of Stefanie Sun.[3]
Countdown and tenancy changes[edit]
VivoCity served as the official venue for the live televised countdown to the new year, instead ofSentosaas in previous years.
The 2007 Countdown, held from 31 December 2006 to 1 January 2007, was held at the rooftop amphitheatre and included performances by well-known homegrown artists fromMediacorpChannel 5and8,as well as the Top 11 finalists of the second season ofSingapore Idol.
The 2008 Countdown, held from 31 December 2007 to 1 January 2008, which showcasedTaufik Batisah,Daren TanSze Wei and theDeal Or No Dealgirls in addition to artists from Channel 5 and 8. Before the actual countdown party, fans were treated to a 50-minute showcase for the solo and group winners of the Channel 5 talent competition "Live The Dream", as well as performances by the other finalists of that competition.
The 2009 Countdown, from 31 December 2008 to 1 January 2009 was held. This time it was for the artists from Channel 8 andUinstead of those from Channel 5. Since then, Channel 5 will hold its Countdown fromThe Float at Marina Bay.It also held the following countdowns from 2010 to 2013, but since 2013 it was stopped.
In July 2018, VivoCity launched a new Basement 1 extension mall spanning 3,000 square metres, which houses ten brands across fashion,athleisureand lifestyle categories. Notable brands includesFILA,adidas(andadidas Originals),New Era,Weston Corp andXiaomi.The new B1 extension is accessible via a new escalator lobby, Lobby R, situated right next to the Kopitiam food court.[4][5]
Giant, Cold Storage and Guardian previously leased a space under Vivomart brand before moving out on 17 February 2019. The space is now occupied by FairPrice Xtra on 16 July 2019.
In January 2019, thelibrary@harbourfront,was also opened, permanently replacing TEMT and briefly replacing Daiso and The Pet Safari, out of which they were closed down by March 2018. library@harbourfront replaces the Bukit Merah Public Library, and it is located at level 3. It is the biggest library to be located within the mall. The name keeps in line with the tourist libraries such asChinatown,OrchardandEsplanade.[6]Daiso eventually reopened in the mall on 15 January 2020 but as a smaller outlet located at level 2, while The Pet Safari occupies a location adjacent to the library.[7]
Facilities[edit]
As one of the venues of the inauguralSingapore Biennalein 2006, several commissioned art pieces from established designers around the world were unveiled in VivoCity. It is the only venue of the Singapore Biennale where the exhibits are permanent. An international student design contest was recently held to find a design for incorporation into the architecture of VivoCity; it received 365 submissions.[8]
There is acar parkwith a total of 2,179 lots and a loading and unloading bay. The car parks are located in basements 1 and 2 as well as from levels 2 to 7. There is also a Rooftop carpark on top of level 7. Also, there is acoachandtour busesbay in the mall.
An outdoor pedestrian bridge on level 2 (near the Golden Village Cinema) linking toSt James Power Station.Additionally air-con walkways also connects to theHarbourFront Centre.
Transportation[edit]
The VivoCity terminal station of theSentosa Expressmonorail is located on level 3 (next to theFood Republicfood court). It was officially opened on 15 January 2007 as Sentosa Station @ VivoCity, and renamed to its current name in April 2019. There is a bus stop in front of VivoCity, connecting it toResorts World Sentosa.The linkway at basement 2 and level 1 connects toHarbourFront MRT stationandHarbourFront Bus Interchange.
References[edit]
- ^ab"Mapletree – VivoCity".mapletree.sg.Archivedfrom the original on 4 August 2020.Retrieved11 September2020.
- ^"The 5 Best Shopping Malls In Singapore".Archivedfrom the original on 31 December 2017.Retrieved11 January2017.
- ^"Viva City",The Straits Times,2 December 2006
- ^"VivoCity | VIVOCITY LAUNCHES NEW B1 EXTENSION".Archivedfrom the original on 14 July 2018.Retrieved14 July2018.
- ^"VivoCity launches 10 stores at new B1 extension – Yahoo TV".Archivedfrom the original on 14 July 2018.Retrieved14 July2018.
- ^"Biggest shopping mall library offering views of Sentosa to open in VivoCity on Jan 12".The Straits Times.3 January 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 2 July 2019.Retrieved25 August2019.
- ^"Daiso reopens in VivoCity on Jan. 15, 2020 after a near 2-year hiatus".mothership.sg.Archivedfrom the original on 13 August 2020.Retrieved21 March2022.
- ^Bao Ying, Ng (28 March 2006)."New retail space VivoCity to combine art, commerce".Channel NewsAsia.Archived fromthe originalon 31 March 2006.Retrieved28 March2006.
External links[edit]
