Ayala Malls Arca South opens as the first in a new generation of Ayala Malls, bringing a more integrated, community-centered retail experience to one of Taguig‘s emerging growth districts. It reflects Ayala Land‘s evolving understanding of public space: that malls work best when they are woven into daily life, giving residents, workers, and visitors places to gather, dine, pause, and connect throughout the day.
[L-R] Jaime Zobel Urquijo, Ayala Land Inc’s Head of Urban Estates; Mariana Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Land Inc’s SVP & Head of Leasing & Hospitality Group; Meean Dy, Ayala Land Inc’s President & CEO; Lani Cayetano, Taguig City Mayor; Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Ayala Land Inc’s Chairman; Paul Birkett, Ayala Malls COO
“At Ayala Malls, we have learned that retail works best when it becomes part of people‘s everyday routines,“ says Paul Birkett, Ayala Malls Chief Operating Officer. “Ayala Malls Arca South was designed around that belief. By giving people more reasons to come often, stay longer, and move naturally through the space, we create stronger conditions for our merchants to be discovered, visited, and woven into the life of the community.“
This thinking is built into the mall‘s architecture and interior design. Moving away from the traditional enclosed mall format, Ayala Malls Arca South is designed as an open, layered environment that makes shops more visible, circulation more intuitive, and transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces feel more natural. Industrial materials are softened by natural finishes and ambient lighting, creating spaces that feel contemporary, legible, and warm. The mall unfolds as a series of connected places that people can move through easily throughout the day.
Designed for Everyday Use: Key Spaces for Connection
Standing (L to R): Johnny Thai (Primer), Miguel Celdran (Nike), Jaime Urquijo (Ayala Land Inc), Anton Zafra and Dave Sexton (Adidas), Quito Lopez (Starbucks), BJ Mantuano (Wildflour), Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala (Ayala Corporation), Paul Birkett (Ayala Malls), Nathan Clark (Ayala Land Malls Inc), Alo Malapitan (MAP Active)
Seated (L to R): Bryan Lim (Suyen), Mariana Zobel de Ayala (Ayala Land Inc), Meean Dy (Ayala Land Inc), Lani Cayetano (Taguig City Mayor), Ana Lorenzana (Wildflour), Jamille Thai (Primer), Marisol Marcelo (Primer)
Central to this vision is the mall’s layout, organized around distinct zones for regular, informal gatherings:
Specialty zones such as The Crates and The Souk are designed as flexible, open-format spaces that can adapt as Arca South grows and its community becomes more established. Over time, these areas allow the mall to refresh its mix of concepts, services, and price points, ensuring it remains useful to the community it serves today while staying relevant to a broader mix of residents, workers, and visitors the district is expected to attract.
Beyond its physical spaces, Ayala Malls Arca South is designed to support the growth of the local economy. Through employment, merchant partnerships, and access to a new and growing market, the mall helps establish the commercial foundations of the district. As Arca South matures, businesses within the mall have the opportunity to grow with the community, building familiarity, trust, and relevance over time.
As Ayala Malls‘ first new-generation estate mall, Ayala Malls Arca South reflects a broader ambition: to create places that are not only visited, but woven into the everyday life of the communities around them. In one of Taguig‘s next growth districts, it opens as a shared public space, a platform for enterprise, and a community anchor built to evolve with the city around it.
