Cover Greenbelt 1 facade (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
Greenbelt 1 facade (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
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With Ayala Malls’ exciting redevelopment underway, anticipation mounts as we unpack an exclusive preview of what’s to come
There’s a breath of nostalgia whenever one walks the halls of Ayala’s iconic shopping malls in the country. Constructed gradually from the late Seventies and formally opening in the Eighties, Greenbelt has long served the community as a distinguished hub of retail stores, restaurants, bars and spaces for leisure. Glorietta (formerly known as Quad) followed suit in the early Nineties. Conveniently located a stone’s throw away from each other, they’ve both etched their fundamental marks on the Makati City blueprint, reflecting their dynamic energy and people as well as their fine tastes.
It didn’t take long before the renowned conglomerate brought this experience beyond the borders of its crown jewel. Ayala Center Cebu opened to the public in 1994; TriNoma, situated north of the metropolis, was inaugurated in the aughts. Since then, all four have become quintessential shopping districts and lifestyle centres. They are places where many of us have reliably built and cultivated special memories—a reminiscence, almost, of simpler times and all the changes we have witnessed over the years.
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With a steady pulse on its patronage, and as originators themselves of key trends and preferences, Ayala Malls has announced an exhilarating, new chapter for its flagship properties. Greenbelt 1 and 2, Glorietta, TriNoma and Ayala Center Cebu are slated for simultaneous redevelopment, which will refresh their exteriors and interiors as well as bring in an exciting mix of local and global retail brands. Artist’s renders reveal a fresh and modern aesthetic, uncompromising on lush greeneries, open spaces and seamless connectivity. This, after all, is a signature Ayala Mall feature.
Above Greenbelt 2 facade (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
Greenbelt 2 facade (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
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Despite a touch of sentimentality—parting with the brutalist facade of Greenbelt 1 once designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro Locsin, among others—the news continues to spark eager anticipation for the habitués of each time-honoured establishment.
In seeking to create retail landmarks that resonate with present and future generations, Ayala worked with global design experts to, according to an official statement, “rethink the sense of place that customers can encounter in its malls”. There is a bold ambition to redefine third spaces, a term that popularly refers to locations outside of the home and workplace where one chooses to spend time and socialise. What with the pandemic’s brunt of lost time and the rise of virtual “places” such as social media and online marketplaces, the redevelopment plans mark a significant move in the fierce competition for patrons’ time and attention.
Thus, beyond the refreshing change in aesthetics, there is a focus on intuitive wayfinding and circulation with the ultimate goal of providing a more cohesive, and more memorable, customer experience. Patrons can expect the addition of thoughtfully curated retail spaces, enhanced areas for convergence and sustainable facets in the new design, allowing the retail giant to serve them better while achieving a lower environmental impact.
Above Greenbelt 1 facade (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
Above Greenbelt 1 interiors (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
Greenbelt 1 facade (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
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American architecture firm Gensler is tasked with reinventing Greenbelt 1 with a contemporary, inherently “greener” look, scheduled to debut in 2028. Distinguished by a wooden facade and foliage flecked throughout it, Greenbelt 1 will run on 100 per cent renewable energy. It will also house a direct cooling system as an alternative to individual air conditioning units, skylights to harness natural sunlight and illuminate the expansive interiors, as well as a rainwater collection system for garden irrigation.
These energy-efficient features will also extend to Greenbelt 2, which adopts a more familiar update to its relaxing, palm-fringed allure. J Antonio Mendoza Design Consultants heads the redesign of this section, which will be open to the public come 2026.
Above Greenbelt 2 corner facade (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
Above Renovated main lobby of Greenbelt 2 (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
Greenbelt 2 corner facade (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
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Ayala has then enlisted the transformation of Glorietta and Ayala Center Cebu to Australian design firm Buchan. The two malls, which both opened in the Nineties and notably play host to their own soaring atriums, will feature bright interior enhancements with new architectural treatments, parks and landscaping. Ayala’s first mall outside Metro Manila and Luzon is also set to incorporate Cebuano craft and culture into its redesign, while offering a stronger merchant mix with flagship stores and more “first-in-Cebu” concepts. It is targeted to reopen in 2026, while Glorietta, by the tail end of that year.
Above Glorietta 4 at night (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
Glorietta 4 at night (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
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Above Ayala Center Cebu Activity Center (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
Above Ayala Center Cebu interiors (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
Ayala Center Cebu Activity Center (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
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Finally, Hong Kong’s CAN Design Ltd takes charge of TriNoma’s revamp. The entrances will be upgraded for a “grand sense of arrival” and, like Ayala Center Cebu, its main activity centre will have a giant LED wall spanning four floors in height. TriNoma will also be home to an expanded and elevated dining portfolio, multi-purpose event spaces and multi-level gardens, as well as a three-level expansion on its North Avenue side slated for 2026.
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Above TriNoma's L3 garden (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
TriNoma's L3 garden (Artist's perspective; Photo: Courtesy of Ayala Malls)
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With a nod to cherished memories of the past and to the electrifying promise of what’s to come, Ayala Malls enters a truly invigorating era as a trusted retail leader at the forefront of sparking unique and memorable lifestyle experiences. Its future is bright, and one thing’s for sure: all will certainly be worth the wait.
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Erratum: We initially published this article on our May 2024 Issue where an error was made in attributing the redesign of Greenbelt 2 to the firm, Gensler. Its rightful designer is J Antonio Mendoza Design Consultants. We sincerely apologise for this mistake. This error has been corrected in the present version of the article above.
Trained as a student journalist, Mac’s knack for writing was a serendipitous discovery. Years later and she can’t imagine doing anything else. When she isn’t typing away on a story, she revels in being lost in a new city, revisiting a cosy film or sitcom, and idling away with her dogs.
