SINGAPORE. Changi Airport Group today previewed the spectacular lifestyle destination Jewel Changi Airport (Jewel) to selected members of the public, and revealed details of many first-to-Singapore shopping and dining options. The development opens fully on 17 April.
The 135,700sq m complex, built on the site of the former Terminal 1 open air carpark, is designed by leading architect Moshe Safdie and features a distinctive dome-shaped façade. It will offer local residents and international visitors “a multi-faceted experience” that includes attractions, one-off shopping and dining concepts, as well as airport and accommodation facilities.
Jewel Changi Airport Devt CEO Ms Hung Jean said: “The vision for Jewel Changi Airport is to be a destination where ‘The World meets Singapore, and Singapore meets the World’. The unique proposition of world-class shopping and dining, seamlessly integrated with lush greenery, fulfils the needs of increasingly discerning travellers for a meaningful and experiential journey, even for brief layovers.
“By providing innovative and fresh experiences for Singapore residents and working professionals in its vicinity, Jewel will invigorate Singapore’s eastern precincts and provide more opportunities for the public to enjoy time with family and friends.”
Visitors will encounter a range of new-to-Singapore brands including Emack & Bolio’s, JW360˚, Lavender, OYSHO and Pokémon Center Singapore. These will open their first stores alongside local names such as In Good Company, Supermama and Tiger Street Lab.
Jewel Changi Airport Devt said that these local retailers, designers and craftsmen are “given the opportunity to craft a retail theatre to share the nation’s story with the world”.
Jewel also has a dedicated retail cluster of homegrown brands on Level 1 intended as a “one-stop shop for travellers looking to bring home a piece of Singapore”. Multiple retailing formats are present at Jewel, including duplexes, outdoor terraces and spaces within the Canopy Park on the top level.
Several established brands such as Bengawan Solo, Nike and Tiger Street Lab will also offer new concepts and exclusive to-Jewel merchandise.
The 40m HSBC Rain Vortex, the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, will greet visitors upon entry. Surrounding it are the grounds of the Shiseido Forest Valley (a major partnership announced at TFWA World Exhibition last year).
Play attractions such as the Manulife Sky Nets, Hedge Maze, Mirror Maze and Discovery Slides were designed to blend into the indoor garden environment and will open on 10 June. From May, the Changi Experience Studio on Level 4 will introduce a journey through the virtual world of Changi Airport with interactive games, projection experiences, immersive shows and gallery exhibits.
Airport facilities have also been added in Jewel. These include early check-in counters and kiosks, a baggage storage service and the Changi Lounge, a 150-seat lounge with shower facilities, offering transfers for passengers connecting to and from cruise and ferry services.
Jewel will also house the first YOTELAIR property in Asia. With 130 cabins (including Premium, Accessible and Family), these rooms can be booked for a minimum of four hours, and used for short daytime layovers or overnight stays. YOTELAIR also features time-saving airline style self-check-in kiosks that will facilitate a hassle-free check-in process, said the airport company.
In conjunction with the development of Jewel, Changi Airport Terminal 1 has also been expanded to increase capacity by another three million passengers per year. This brings the airport’s total capacity to 85 million.
Lee Seow Hiang, Chairman of Jewel Changi Airport Devt. Pte. Ltd., and CEO of Changi Airport Group, said: “We are delighted to see the completion of Changi Airport’s new jewel, which we hope will contribute to many more memorable Changi experiences for our passengers. Jewel Changi Airport is a valuable addition to Singapore’s world-class tourism attractions and aviation facilities. We look forward to welcoming the world to Jewel, whether they are travelling to or through Singapore.”
CapitaLand Group President & Group CEO Mr Lee Chee Koon said: “The opening of Jewel marks another milestone in CapitaLand’s track record of building world-class architectural icons. With its unique combination of top-notch retail offerings, attractions and facilities amidst a garden setting, Jewel demonstrates our multi-faceted capabilities in real estate development and illuminates the limitless possibilities we will have to enliven an airport precinct with retail at its core. CapitaLand is proud to present in Jewel, a category-defying icon that will be enjoyed by all Singapore residents and international tourists who pass through its doors.”
[A bird’s-eye view: This video offers a preview of the “wondrous world” of Jewel Changi Airport.]
Footnote: Jewel Changi Airport (www.jewelchangiairport.com) is the venue for The Moodie Davitt Report Duty Calls Charity Dinner, which will be hosted by Changi Airport Group on Saturday 11 May.
