Ampang Park

Ampang Park Shopping Centre was a shopping centre located on Jalan Ampang in Kuala Lumpur, also was called as Ampang Park. It was the first shopping centre to be built in Malaysia.[2] It is designed by the architect of Singapore's People's Park Complex, the Design Partnership, in conjunction with Kuala Lumpur-based architect Thomas A.S. Tiang. The developers were the Low Keng Huat Brothers Realty Sdn Bhd.[3] Ampang Park was closed on 31 December 2017 and demolished in 2018 to make way for the construction of MRT Ampang Park Station which opened on 16 March 2023. Further redevelopment of the former site is yet to begun and the site currently serve as a temporary recreational park along with connecting walkway path to Ampang Park LRT station.

Ampang Park Shopping Centre
Ampang Park as seen on 27 December 2017; 4 days prior to its closure
LocationJalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur
AddressAmpang Park Shopping Centre, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Opening date15 March 1973[1]
Closing date31 December 2017
DeveloperLow Keng Huat Brothers Realty Sdn Bhd
ManagementAmpang Park Management Corporation (1836)
ArchitectDP Architects and Thomas A.S. Tiang
No. of stores and services250+
Total retail floor area340,000 sq ft (32,000 m2) [1]
No. of floors5 floors, including basement and rooftop.
ParkingGround floor and basement.
Websitewww.ampangpark.com.my

Features

The mall opened in 1973. It was planned for a 4.5 acres (18,000 m2) site, at the junction of Jalan Ampang and Jalan Pekeliling, in the fashionable Ampang residential district. In contrast to the tradition of shop lots which are oriented towards the street, the modern architecture faced inwards to an internal street, or atrium. It was initially planned to be fully air-conditioned, but as built, the atrium was cooled via natural cross-ventilation.

It was features include a carpark for 450 vehicles, a children's playground, an entertainment deck, an exhibition gallery, a "theatrette", and escalators and lifts.[4] It was the opening volley in a series of shopping centers that would make Kuala Lumpur renown for its stores.

Transit
Ampang Park station (Kelana Jaya Line) (secondary exit)

The mall is connected to the Kelana Jaya Line by the  KJ9  Ampang Park LRT station. Ampang Park is also a bus hub for Ampang-bound buses, namely routes 300 and 303 which connect Ampang Park to  KJ10  KLCC and  AG18  Ampang LRT station. It will also be integrated with MRT SSP's Ampang Park MRT station.

Demolition plans

In October 2015, news broke out that the iconic mall will be demolished to make way for MRT2 project.[5] The tenants and shop owners of the mall is suggesting that the proposed MRT station be built underneath a field, behind the shopping centre. Subsequently, "Save Ampang Park" campaign was set up to urge the government to reconsider the demolition.[6]

MRT Corp has given two options for the strata owners; land acquisition or mutual agreement whereby the MRT Corp would demolish Ampang Park Shopping Centre and build a new shopping centre for the owners once the Ampang Park MRT project is completed in seven years.[3] On 6 November 2015, MRT Corp announced that the mall is spared from demolition, following a new design option for its Ampang Park station.[7] However, with the new design, a full physical integration between the MRT Ampang Park station and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Ampang Park station could not be constructed.[7]

On 18 January 2017, Court of Appeal dismissed a judicial review application by 39 strata owners of the shopping centre against the land acquisition for the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Ampang Park station project.[8]

Closure and demolition

As a result of following the review dismissal, demolition or potential land acquisition for Ampang Park proceeded. On 29 November 2017, all tenants were notified that Ampang Park will cease operations on 31 December, as the power and water supplies will be cut off at midnight.[9] By Christmas, 70% of tenants have moved out, while others opted to remain until the last day of operations.

In the final days leading up to its closure, Ampang Park was well crowded, with visitors taking their last pictures while some others were taking their advantages of clearance sales.[10][11]

Ampang Park was closed for good after almost 45 years of operation on 31 December 2017; dismantling works began immediately soon after.[12] In January 2018, ceiling, fixtures and electrical wiring were being removed in the mall's interior, which was raising public safety concerns. On 23 January 2018, MRT Corp released a statement disassociating itself from any dismantling works in the mall, as the land acquisition for Ampang Park was still ongoing. A police report was made before the statement released.[13][14] After the land acquisition completed, Ampang Park was surrounded by fences before the demolition begin in May 2018 and demolition completed in September 2018.

Skate park

As of August 2023 a skate park has been constructed on the site.

The shopping complex was featured in the third season of The Amazing Race as a location that contestants must reach (specifically, a photography shop known as "Citifoto") to develop photographs of the Petronas Twin Towers. Teams had a hard time finding this shopping mall, so they asked local Malaysians to help them to get there.

Esok Masih Ada

The shopping complex was also featured in Esok Masih Ada (1980) for a bank robbery

See also

References
  1. Chan, Richard (28 August 2004). "Knowing the retailer's mind". New Straits Times. Retrieved 9 March 2008.
  2. "Ampang Park relives its glorious past". The Star. 27 March 2013. Archived from the original on 10 December 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  3. Achariam, Noel (16 October 2015). "Ampang Park owners get another option to land acquisition". The Malaysian Insider. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2015.
  4. "Ampang Park Shopping Centre: for the most distinguished clientele". The Straits Times: 20. 5 September 1971.
  5. M, Bavani (14 October 2015). "Ampang park to make way for MRT project". The Star. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  6. Lim, Jarod (20 October 2015). "In bid to save Ampang Park". The Star. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  7. "MRT new station design avoids Ampang Park demolition". Bernama. The Sun. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  8. KARIM, KHAIRAH N. (18 January 2017). "Owners of iconic Ampang Park lose appeal over MRT's land acquisition". New Straits Times. New Straits Times. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  9. "Resignation as Ampang Park ambles towards its end". Malaysiakini.
  10. "Last few hours for Ampang Park Shopping Mall". New Straits Times.
  11. "On closing day, patrons descend on Ampang Park for nostalgia and clearance sale | Malay Mail". Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  12. "Tearing down of Ampang Park shopping centre under way".
  13. "MRT Corp: Dismantling activities at Ampang Park shopping complex not done by us". The Malay Mail. Archived from the original on 31 March 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  14. "MRT Corp lodges police report over missing fittings in Ampang Park".

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