Orchard Road Redevelopment

[huaiwei]

The URA plans for Orchard Road 3 years ago!



Exhibition: From 6 April 01 - 15 April 01

Hip Orchard Road is all geared up for an exciting face-lift, as revealed in STB’s and URA’s joint exhibition which aims to make the popular haunt even more attractive, more connected and more vibrant.

Picture this: you are sipping a cuppa in an airy, spacious verandah. Bright, colourful flowers are around you. Sit back, overlook the malls, the tree-lined boulevard, the trendsetters sashaying below. Some distance away, a hi-tech looking media structure buzzes excitedly with fancy, neon-lit media signs. A street market comes alive with bargains, shoppers and buskers. You are on Orchard Road.

Verandahs, media attractions, greenery, street furniture, fashion showcases, events – these are some of the ideas presented at the exhibition, which was launched by Mr Mah Bow Tan, Minister for National Development on 6 April at Paragon. So, what’s your verdict? Do you think STB’s and URA’s plans add up to make Orchard Road a better, more enjoyable place for you?

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m o r e a t t r a c t i ve

junctions that stand out

To add visual impact, junctions at Orchard Road will no longer be just mere crossroads for traffic. Junctions could make a statement with striking hues and attention-grabbing media structures such as the Multi-media Tower and Media Ring. The Media Ring with electronic, illuminated media signs, could have a brightly painted road underneath to add visual impact, and possibly, even a pedestrian bridge linking pedestrians between walkways of nearby buildings.

Recently, the road junction at the Heeren and Mandarin Hotel has been transformed into a giant canvas of art. Such artistically painted junctions could very well be the next big hit on Orchard Road, if there is positive public feedback from the exhibition.


Multi-media Tower at Scotts Junction


Media Ring at Orchard/Grange Road iunctions


Vibrant junction at Scotts Junction

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distinctive streetscape

In line with Orchard Road’s lush boulevard image, more will be done to strengthen its tropical appeal. Plans are underway to enhance the distinct charm of the north and south sides. The north side, spanning from Tangs to the Heeren, will see more colourful flowering plants and trees with light canopy. The cool, shady south will, on the contrary, see more shade-loving shrubs.

Besides this, pedestrians in Orchard Road will be treated to a brand new set of street furniture. The exhibition presented some possible ideas. Essentially, the design will address existing problems like difficulty in housing festive lighting, uncoordinated looking furniture pieces and unsightly utility boxes. The design may also adopt a distinctive design theme to celebrate Orchard Road’s identity as a tropical urban garden.


(Left) colourful shrubs on the north stretch of Orchard Road and (Right) roof gardens will add to the tropical look of Orchard Road


(Left) festive lighting and (Right) street furniture with a distinctive theme


A new Orchard Road logo was also unveiled at the exhibition to be used in signages and banners along Orchard Road.

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urban verandahs

To make Orchard Road more attractive, plans are in the pipeline to build 2nd-storey verandahs with outdoor refreshments. Along the stretch from Marriott Hotel to the Heeren, for example, verandahs could stretch out to the bus stops if developers take up this idea. Adjacent verandahs could also be joined to form a continuous upper tier, so people can stroll from one building to another, then down to bus stops. And for those walking at street level, the verandah also doubles up as a covered walkway.


alfresco cafe on a verandah at Heeren

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[RafflesCity]

wow! so cool!

I think these are very good ideas especially the 1 storey pedestrian link connecting CK Tang with Lucky Plaza and those urban verendahs look funky!

The Media Ring looks challenging though, but they will really make Orchard Rd more fascinating even if you are not keen on shopping I guess. And yay for more trees

[huaiwei]

Yeap...but I feel the Media Ring is a litte over the top thou....some ideas are basicaly quite ok...others are...hm....questionable?

[huaiwei]

m o r e c o n n e c t e d

walk under cover

On ground, above or underground, seamless and sheltered links will make walking around Orchard Road more enjoyable. In future, you can expect more 1st storey and upper storey links, as well as underground links from MRT stations to the surrounding developments. Walkways will allow uninterrupted movement, so you can move from one place to another without having to leave a building or changing from one storey to another.


possible 1st storey link across Bideford Road


underground link with shops

[huaiwei]

[RafflesCity]

Excellent..hopefully those walkways will help ease congestion

[Sexas]

Wheelock Place!! I sure if Wheelock didn't buy out Land Crawford, you guys may have a Land Crawford Story in Singapore already...I like Land Crawford, they just like the Neiman Marcus here really cool

[RafflesCity]

Originally posted by Sexas

Wheelock Place!! I sure if Wheelock didn't buy out Land Crawford, you guys may have a Land Crawford Story in Singapore already...I like Land Crawford, they just like the Neiman Marcus here really cool

You been to Singapore? I remember the Galleries Lafayatte store in Lane Crawford Place. They also had a Planet Hollywood there but it closed down.

[huaiwei]

I realised I forgot to finish my earlier posts

[huaiwei]

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walk with ease

Whether you are in heels or sports trainers, you will be able to stroll comfortably along the Orchard Road mall
because selected roads, where feasible, pedestrianised. For instance, a part of Claymore Hill Road situated
between Pacific Plaza and Shaw Centre is currently very well-used by both pedestrians and traffic. This part
will be pedestrianised so you can stroll at ease without having to compete with busy traffic.


proposed part pedestrianisation of Claymore Hill

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The slip road leading to Mandarin Hotel from Orchard Road can be pedestrianised to enhance connectivity
between Ngee Ann City and Mandarin Hotel.


proposed pedestrianisation of slip road in front of Mandarin Hotel

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In addition, the front service roads of Hilton Hotel and Far East Shopping Centre can be converted into
areas for pedestrian activities and outdoor refreshment joints when the new landscaped local access
road is put in place. On top of that, vehicles will enter buildings from the rear and more space will be
given to pedestrian malls fronting Orchard Road.


new landscaped local access behind Hilton Hotel


alfresco cafes can replace front service road

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m o r e v i b r a n t

discovery walk

What’s even more exciting is the birth of a brand new street or mall, possibly called Discovery Walk.
Situated above the canal in the Somerset area which connects the Media Ring to the Somerset MRT
Station, the Discovery Walk will encompass media elements extended from the Media Ring, outdoor
refreshment areas and spaces for other activities. It’s not hard to imagine this whole area becoming a
haunt for trendsetters seeking new thrills and spills.


entrance to Discovery Walk from the Orchard/Grange Road junction

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showcasing fashion

If there is one thing that’s ubiquitous on Orchard Road, it must be fashion. Hence, STB’s concept of having a ‘Fashion Incubator’ to promote the works of young, budding designers is quite a scene-stealer in this exhibition. Envisioned as a two-storey building, the Fashion Incubator could come complete with hip boutiques/studios for budding fashion designers, beauty salon, fashion bookstore and cybercafe. Special incentives will be in place to encourage fashion businesses to set up here. Opportunities will abound for fashion shows, promotions, launches and fashion flea markets during weekends.



To encourage even more creative and eye-catching shopfronts and window displays, STB has offered grants to help defray some of the costs for improving the window displays and shopfronts.