Orchard Road reinvigorated by the new Design Orchard showcasing local talents
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and National Parks Board (NParks) announced plans to strengthened Orchard Road‘s position as a lifestyle destination. The early phase of this initiative has seen the launch of Design Orchard and 1 year trial to curate pop-ip experiences along the street.
The Design Orchard is an initiative which brings over 60 local brands, including retailer Naiise, sportswear outfit Kydra and social enterprise The Animal Project to collectively showcase local made products near Somerset MRT.
Against the backdrop of increasing competition from other cities and the evolving retail landscape, Orchard Road has remained at the forefront of consumer trends to stay relevant to local and international visitors. This was made possible with the public and private sectors working together to bring in innovative concepts and exclusive retail offerings. We will continue our partnership with the private sector to develop Orchard Road as a vibrant lifestyle destination that offers an exceptional experience beyond retail.
Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Trade and Industry
After extensive consultations with private sector stakeholders and property consultants and a study on international cities, these plans were brainstormed several key agencies such as STB, URA and NParks and Land Transport Authority to review of the future plans for Orchard Road.
The Thomson-East Coast Line Phase II is expected to complete by 2021 and Orchard MRT Station will serve as an Interchange to the North-South Line. With the ease of transportation, residents from Woodlands could get to Orchard Road in as little as 30 minutes. The new train connectivity is expected to increase footfall to this popular shopping belt.
The plans have two main thrusts: to make Orchard Road The Lifestyle Destination and to Bring Back the Orchard.
Design Orchard: The Early Transformation & Integration of Orchard Road and It’s Surrounding
As a lifestyle destination, Orchard Road will offer differentiated experiences to bring out the unique identity of each sub-precinct: Tanglin, Orchard, Somerset and Dhoby Ghaut. The respective sub-precinct will have innovative retail concepts, attractions, entertainment and events based on the varied interests of the targeted visitors.
Side streets such as Killiney Road and Orchard Turn could be enhanced with better connectivity to encourage visitors to discover these lesser known parts of the precinct and better integrate Orchard Road with its immediate surrounding neighbourhoods.
Tanglin
Nearest to Orchard Boulevard MRT Station (TE13) , ready by 2021
New lifestyle experiences can be introduced at Tanglin to strengthen its identity as a mixed-use neighbourhood with a strong arts and artisanal flavour. For instance, the conserved Tudor Court can be used to house more arts, cultural and lifestyle offerings. The upcoming opening of the Orchard Boulevard MRT station on the Thomson-East Coast Line will bring added convenience to visitors in this sub-precinct.
Orchard
Nearest to Orchard MRT Station (NS22/TE14), ready by 2021
At the centre of Orchard Road is the main shopping belt around Orchard Road MRT and Somerset MRT stations, which will remain the retail heart of Singapore. The shopping experience can be enhanced through more street activities and better pedestrian connectivity.
Come April 2019, the Orchard Road Business Association (ORBA) will start a one-year trial to bring in experiential activities to enliven event spaces along the pedestrian mall in Orchard Road. These activities could range from retail and food and beverage pop-ups to arts and entertainment events.
Future mixed-use developments will be built at the upcoming Thomson-East Coast Line Orchard Interchange MRT station. These will be well connected to Orchard Road through side streets to bring more people and add buzz and vibrancy to the precinct.
Elevated link bridges can make it easier for visitors to cross the junction of Orchard-Paterson Roads, as well as provide opportunities for a picturesque shot of Orchard Road. The Government is trying to promote Orchard Road as a must visit destination and this is surely good news for many of the 5 star hotels in Orchard Road Singapore. Some of the older hotels may look ahead and start renovating their premise to get ahead of the curve.
Somerset
Nearest to Somerset MRT Station (NS23)
Somerset, already known as a youth hub, can be further enhanced with new lifestyle offerings catering to youths. For instance, the Grange Road car park can be transformed into a dynamic event space, where activities are regularly refreshed.
The newly-opened Design Orchard is a significant milestone in making Orchard Road a Lifestyle Destination. Through its retail showcase of home-grown brands, incubation spaces and rooftop amphitheatre, Design Orchard will inject greater retail diversity to Orchard Road, as well as offer promising brands an unparalleled opportunity to present themselves in a world-class location.
These new developments can be better connected via sculptural canopies, providing shelter and seamless connectivity at this busy intersection, while creating another signature node on Orchard Road Map.
Dhoby Ghaut
Nearest to Dhoby Ghaut MRT (NS22)
Nestle in lush greenery and landscaping, the Dhoby Ghaut is highly suitable to serve as a family-friendly lifestyle zone. The existing Istana Park, Dhoby Ghaut Green and the open space at Plaza Singapura can seamlessly linked by pedestrianising a section of the road to enhance user experience. The increased space can be suitable to create play areas for children and provide flexible event venues for festivals, films and arts exhibitions.
Midpoint Orchard & Older Buildings set to Benefit from Transformation of Orchard Road
With the reaffirmation from Government that Orchard Road and Somerset Road will continue to be the retail heart of Orchard, some of these older buildings such as Midpoint Orchard, Lucky Plaza, OG Orchard, Faber House and others could benefit greatly from the transformation.
The immediate neighbours beside Design Orchard could attract redevelopment plans from its existing owners or developers who wish to increase their stakes in Orchard Road.
Faber House
230 Orchard Road
Singapore 238854
Faber House is owned by United Overseas Land (UOL) houses some of its United Overseas Bank operation for its retail and high priority clients in this building. UOL is one of Singapore’s leading public-listed property companies with an extensive portfolio of development and investment properties, hotels and serviced suites.
Orchard OG
228 Orchard Road
Singapore 238853
Orchard OG is owned by OG Private Limited and was previously used for its retail operations. The late Mr Tay Tee Peng, who lived in Singapore, opened the first OG store in Chinatown in 1971. He also founded Ocean Garments that made and sold women’s fashion items at department stores in Singapore.
At the point of this writing, the premise is currently occupied by Courts Singapore which specialises in consumer electronics, household appliances, bedding and living room furniture. As there is no parking facilities within the building, the business is heavily dependent on customers that are working or shopping in the nearby locations.
Midpoint Orchard
220 Orchard Road
Singapore 238852
Midpoint Orchard is a strata-titled owned commercial building made up of multiple owners. The building offers a variety of personal services from beauty care, hair salons, foot massages to dental care. At the basement level, there is a good size food court offering local food and the popular Indonesian cuisine by J-Town.
The international brand MD Dermatics which has a strong following in Asean can be found at Midpoint Orchard. It is distributed by Bretlands Beauty MD Dermatics which is managed by Madam Doreen Gay who has more than 25 year of deep expertise in facial treatments for oily skin, acne skin or dry skin.
These 3 buildings could collectively be redeveloped into a new shopping mall and take advantage of its strategic location to Somerset MRT station. As there are limited freehold retail and commercial along the the main Orchard Road, any sale of these buildings will be an interesting opportunity for any developer.
When redeveloped, the site could better integrate with the future plans laid for Orchard. The superior location will attract strong footfall to benefit from initiatives such as Design Orchard.
Bring Back the Orchard Road
Over the years, Singapore has acquired an international reputation as a City in a Garden. Coupled with Orchard Road’s origins as a nutmeg, clove and fruit orchard, there is an unprecedented opportunity for the precinct to be distinguished from other international shopping streets by Bringing Back the Orchard.
Orchard Road is envisaged as a lush green urban corridor connecting the historical green spaces: Singapore Botanic Gardens and Fort Canning Park. The streets can be enhanced through a curated showcase of vibrant trees and shrubs that depict the colours of the tropics. Nutmeg and cloves can also be incorporated in strategic locations, to draw back to Orchard Road’s origins. Additionally, Istana Park can also be rejuvenated with themed gardens inspired by the botanical and horticultural traditions and practices seen throughout Singapore’s history.
All cities have their own popular shopping streets and neighbourhoods. In Singapore, Orchard Road is our premier shopping district. But it is facing stiff competition from other cities, and has to adapt to rapidly changing retail trends. That’s why government agencies have been working with private sector stakeholders on the rejuvenation plans for Orchard Road.
We have put together these ideas to illustrate the possibilities of making Orchard a place for all to experience and enjoy. Orchard Road is not a greenfield site. It is a 2 km long major thoroughfare in our central area, highly built up on both sides of the road. So any changes will take time and will require actions from both the government and private sector.
Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development)
The Co-Chair of Ministerial Steering Committee for Orchard Road also said that they will continue to take in feedback and suggestions, and work with all stakeholders to refine and progressively implement the plans to make Orchard Road a great street in our City in a Garden.
The upcoming plan to transform Orchard Road must be underpinned by collaboration at many levels between the private and public sectors. Retail is detail, and Orchard Road’s transformation into a bustling lifestyle destination will require a robust partnership. We must all do our part.
Mr Philip Ng, Chief Executive Officer, Far East Organization
My first impressions of Orchard Road started with the Mont D’or cake shop and the first Herbie Volkswagen on display in the 1970s. Since then, I am always pleasantly surprised by the constant evolution of this street. The proposed plans for Orchard Road are something I look forward to, and will serve to position Orchard Road as one of the premier lifestyle destinations in the world.
Mr Ho Sing, Chief Executive Officer, YTL Starhill Global REIT
Public Exhibition at Orchard Fountain Park, Somerset 313
A public exhibition on the future plans for Orchard Road will be held at Orchard Fountain Corner beside 313@Somerset from 30 January to 13 February, where the public is welcome to visit and share their feedback. Public can also learn about the Orchard Road plans and share their feedback at https://ura.sg/orchardrd till 31 May 2019.