By FARA AISYAH / Pic By TMR

EcoWorld Development Group Bhd (EcoWorld) will still proceed with the development of the Labs series — its new retail concept property project — despite the glut facing such properties, growing vacant lots and decreasing public spending.

Eco Ardence GM Liew Tian Xiong said the company remains unfazed by the situation as its Lab series has its own distinctive factors compared to the other conventional retail projects.

“The Labs series is different because we are not talking about the conventional shopping malls or shops. We are talking about a specially curated unique experience.

“For example, the concept of Ardence Labs — part of Eco Ardence’s commercial component — is exciting as we are revolutionising the idea of space by using refurbished containers,” he told reporters at the introduction of tenants for the company’s Ardence Labs project in Setia Alam, Selangor, yesterday.

Liew said the new retail space concept would enable EcoWorld to offer customised spaces for growing retail and food and beverages (F&B) brands or as co-working spaces.

He added that turning these containers into retail components cost approximately the same as conventional ones, but the construction process for the former is faster.

The 18 tenants that are expected to be housed at Ardence Labs include Jaya Grocer, Cocomomo Pets Hotel, a football academy named Ardence Arena, as well as an education and enrichment centre called Plant Cartridge.

F&B outlets that would take up space include Tealive, Llao Llao, Gindako, Croissant Taiyaki, Big Blind, Hinata Café, Let’s Joy Café, Haraju Cube, Aroi Mak Mak, Laughing Monkey, U-Mai, Bamboo Biryani, Ottimo Dessert and Chaiwalla & Co.

Ardence Labs is expected to be completed in January 2018. A maximum of 30 tenants are anticipated to be located there after the 18 complete their move to the complex in the first quarter of the same year.

EcoWorld president and CEO Datuk Chang Khim Wah said all Labs series projects will share a unique DNA, making it easy to replicate the distinctive experience throughout all EcoWorld developments in the country.

“Unlike traditional commercial developments where each unit has its own title, the Labs series is managed by Team EcoWorld, so we are able to control its tenant mix.

“The tenant mix will focus more on local and boutique retailers and home-grown brands, setting apart the tenants we have at our Labs developments from traditional shopping malls,” Chang added.

He said the company aims to break the mould, and create new grounds for learning and collaborations that are expected to spur unique experiences, while setting new benchmarks for chillout spots and commercial opportunities.

Ardence Labs is the first of the series being developed and the others are Grandeur Labs in Eco Grandeur, Puncak Alam; Majestic Labs in Eco Majestic, Semenyih, and Spring Labs in Eco Spring & Summer, Iskandar Malaysia.