You can’t separate a Millennial’s fond memories of youth from *Scape, the low-rise mall steps away from Somerset MRT station. While the cool kids of that era have since grown up, *Scape is determined to uphold its reputation as Singapore’s top youth hangout – starting with an ongoing refresh that’s been in the works since 2022. Three years on, we can now anticipate the grand unveiling of its brand new era in November.
Swapping out its past pre-loved flea sales for curated pop-up markets, underground concerts for live music by local talent, and cutesy purikura Neoprints for trendy Korean-style photo booths, *Scape will continue to serve as a hub for Singapore’s youth, but tweaked to the tastes of today’s crowd. And dance enthusiasts no longer have to park themselves at a random corner of the mall or its rooftop anymore, because there are now dedicated open spaces – with full-length mirrors, no less – where you can practise choreography with your crew.
Speaking of music and dance? Renowned K-pop agency SM Entertainment will be setting up shop here with its first talent academy in Southeast Asia, with opportunities for further training in Seoul. But if dreams of stardom don’t excite you, look forward to watching larger-scale concerts within the five-storey complex, with The Ground Theatre almost doubling its capacity as part of *Scape’s whole spruce-up.
Photograph: Access Singapore
Along with the revamp comes all-new youth community space The Trampoline. An initiative by charity organisation Access Singapore, this inclusive centre aims to level the playing field for underprivileged young people through career guidance, creative workshops, and mentorship programmes for personal growth.
New F&B outlets are also in store, but more information will be revealed in due time. For now, check out *Scape’s upcoming programmes including thrift markets, a wellness-focused art exhibition, and sober coffee raves with DJ sets – things are already buzzing and we can’t wait for more.