ILLUMA

An independent property developer has unveiled plans to change the face of the Bugis heartland with an art-inspired retail-entertainment mall scheduled to open by the end of next year.

Called Iluma (picture), a play on the theme of light and illumination, the mall looks set to become an icon for the Bugis area. It aims to be different with its unconventional architecture of a curved frontage against a rectilinear block. A light-media wall will envelop the convex part of the façade while brightly-lit billboards not unlike those at New York's Times Square will scatter across its flatter sides.

To be built at a cost of $160 million, the mall is owned and managed by Jack Investment, which won the URA (Urban Redevelopment Authority) tender to develop the 8921-sq-m site. Construction has started on the plot beside Bugis Village, at the junction of Middle Road and Queen Street.

Iluma has a net-lettable area of 191,580 sq ft, with space for more than 150 shops and 325 car park lots. Its proximity to arts venues and tertiary institutions has inspired the mall's concept — which is an arts and cultural meeting place targeting "yuppies" and "sophisticates", said Jack Investment's project director Lim Swee Teck.

The seven-level mall will accommodate a mix of retail and entertainment outlets, with an emphasis on performing and exhibition space.Ms Sherene Sng, retail head of Knight Frank, which is responsible for sourcing tenants, said names of anchor tenants will be revealed at a later date. She said rental for the space will average between $10 to $30 psf.

Yeah another hang out for us youth(mayb not me). Bugis is oredi so packed every weekend, can't imagine the huge crowd aft tis is built. From the look at the renders it looks quite stylo milo hopefully it wont disappoint us when the construction is done