Yet it is also a lifestyle
hub teeming with entertainment complexes and restaurants
that merge seamlessly with the area’s rich heritage,
and where fashion icons co-exist side by side with art
pieces that dot the walkways of Orchard Road.
Orchard Road started out as an agricultural district
of nutmeg plantations, pepper farms and fruit orchards.
It was from the latter it received its name.
It slowly developed into a residential district with
beautiful bungalows, of which only a handful still stand
in the Scotts Road and Tanglin Road areas; and later
a commercial area as Singapore’s main centre of
commerce rapidly grew outwards from the Singapore River.
Orchard Road began to bustle as restaurants and entertainment
places such as Lido Cinema, Orchard Theatre, Raffles
Village, Jackie’s Bowl, Cairnhill Steak House,
Pavilion Steak House, and Mont’dor Café
added to the popularity of the area. Soon hotels such
as Forum Inter-Continental, Ming Court (today’s
Orchard Parade Hotel) and Mandarin and Hilton Hotels
were built to cater to the number of tourists who came
to Orchard Road to shop.
High-rise residential developments began sprouting up
as more Singaporeans and expatriates relished living
the lifestyle afforded only by Orchard Road. The vibrancy
of the area, the proximity of the location to Singapore’s
major business and commercial districts, the many amenities
and facilities found here made the Orchard Road area
one of the most sought-after addresses in Singapore.
Having a residential address here that once only wealthy
Straits Chinese and European families could claim, became,
and still is, a badge of social and material success.
Orchard Road continues to evolve in tune with changes
and to meet the challenges of today.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority and Singapore Tourism
Board have come up with exciting plans to make Orchard
Road “More Happening”.
The plans include new infrastructures, new flagship
stores or retail concepts and branding to boost shopping
along Orchard Road.
More will be done to make Orchard Road more pedestrian-friendly.
Underground linkways and urban verandahs on the second
levels of buildings will encourage movement between
buildings and allow pedestrians to move with ease and
comfort in all weathers. The urban verandahs will also
create a distinct character for Orchard Road.
Certain roads will be closed so that pedestrians need
not compete with vehicles for space. Boulevards could
be created from these spaces made available by the closed
roads.
And Orchard Road’s identity as a lush boulevard
will be strengthened with more flowering plants and
light canopy trees that will create a pretty backdrop
for shoppers as they have their meals alfresco. Outdoor
kiosks and open-air refreshment areas will add vibrancy
to the ground-floor frontages, making outdoor dining
an attractive lifestyle among many people as well as
create a more diverse and exciting streetscape.
Street lives at Orchard Road with its seasonal and
daily events of parades, product launches, roadshows,
and marathons in public open spaces, together with new
busking and seating niches complete with amenities,
will suffuse the area with a carnival atmosphere.
With these plans, Orchard Road will emerge with a fresh
vitality and vibrancy. And with the government’s
efforts to promote city living, Orchard Road will not
only be a great place to shop, but to live and play
in.
For more information on Far
East Organization’s city apartments such as Vida,
Icon and Strata, please check out our website www.fareast.com.sg
or call 6839 3668. |
