The iconic Starhill Gallery in Bukit Bintang is undergoing a transformation and will be fully revealed as The Starhill come 2021. Repositioned as the Home of the Tastemakers, the mall will infuse hospitality into the retail experience – where patrons shop and stay in a refined home-like environment. The Starhill will feature four floors of experiential retail space and three more floors of hotel rooms converted from former retail space in the upper levels of the mall. The 162 additional rooms – managed by JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur, will be seamlessly integrated with the lower retail space in one vertical seven-floor development – a first in Asia that truly breaks down the boundary between retail and hospitality. In total, the JW Marriott Kuala Lumpur and The Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur will offer over 1,100 rooms connected to The Starhill by 2021.
“The transformation to become The Starhill is in line with the need for retail malls to constantly evolve and differentiate to stay at the forefront of the changing retail landscape. The concept of The Starhill reinforces our positioning as the place to be in Bukit Bintang – an exclusive urban oasis focused on experiences in a refined and polished retail environment. With The Starhill, we have chosen to go boutique-size at 300,000 square feet of retail space to cultivate a more personalised retail ambience. Today – more than ever, discerning shoppers spend on brands with experiences that reinforce their presence and identity. They want meaning, authenticity and connection – and this is what we set out to achieve in The Starhill,” said Mr Joseph Yeoh, Vice President of YTL Land & Development Bhd.
In its new iteration, The Starhill is centred on three pillars of the Home of the Tastemakers – The Living Room, The Tastemakers and The Social Circle. The Living Room reflects the warm welcome of a home that extends to a garden greenhouse. The botanical interiors and thoughtful touches, including a library cum reading room environment showcasing books, design galleries and wellness experiences will be complemented with stylish F&B outlets including a row of greenhouse-inspired cafés, lounges and restaurants in glass conservatories lining the Bintang Steps along The Starhill’s revamped façade facing Jalan Gading.
The Starhill will host Tastemakers, a network of taste ambassadors from around the world who are at the forefront of trends in their industries, to shape the retail experiences and offerings in the mall. Designer boutiques, bespoke men’s tailoring, couture jewellery and timepieces will stand alongside bistros and restaurants featuring renowned chefs and baristas. To enhance the holistic experience, The Starhill will host iconic events celebrating fashion, culinary excellence and street culture, as well as a more intimate line-up featuring musicians, artists, literary personalities, celebrities and even social influencers.
The Social Circle is central to The Starhill’s strategy to build an inclusive community of new affluent target segments – the who’s who of society, the millennials and Gen Z customers, the modern global travellers, the city dwellers and the urban professionals. The Starhill will offer social space and programmes that charm and enchant customers. Regular dialogue sessions with Tastemakers on subjects across music, art, literature, design, culinary, gentlemen hobbies, wellness and start-up entrepreneurship to creative hands-on workshops with designers and innovators will be hosted across the various retail and hospitality spaces including the all-new Starhill Piazza – the largest outdoor event space on Jalan Bukit Bintang.
For The Starhill, YTL has partnered with a stellar ensemble of top retail, design and branding consultants from the region, comprising Cistri (Singapore), Husband Retail Consultant (Hong Kong), Kokai Studio (Shanghai) and Eight Partnership (Hong Kong).
From October 2019, the mall will be partially closed for renovation with some brands continuing to operate. The completion of phase one renovation is scheduled for Q2 2020 in tandem with the relaunch of Shook!, Luk Yu Tea House and Jogoya. The soft opening of new stores and other F&B outlets is scheduled for Q4 2020. As a whole, the official launch of The Starhill with the new hotel rooms is scheduled for 2021.