When it comes to finding space where there’s seemingly none to be found, we can always count on our small but mighty Garden City to come through. Orchard Road’s ongoing revamp has been proving just that, with new monthly street bazaars, a Live Nation music entertainment venue, and hotels like Mama Shelter and upcoming NoMad by Hilton springing up.
But the shopping belt’s latest announced update isn’t related to consumerism. Instead, it’s all about the green, with vibrant new nature spaces to be created along the Dhoby Ghaut end of the stretch. This is all part of the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s mission to “bring back the Orchard” – the flourishing vegetation that first gave Orchard Road its name.
The existing Istana Heritage Gallery will be transformed into a temperature-controlled glasshouse. At the same time, an elevated link will connect Dhoby Ghaut Green to Fort Canning Park for more seamless nature exploration in the middle of the concrete jungle. Kiddos will be able to enjoy a garden playground, and an open lawn and promenade will serve as the setting for community events. An earlier version of the plan, circa 2019, mentions water play features too, so fingers crossed that that’s still in the pipeline.
These will sit right across the road from the freshly renovated Temasek Shophouse, which houses Violet Oon’s casual new concept and a social enterprise coffee house – no excuse not to walk off the calories right after.
Find out more about plans for Orchard Road’s ongoing rejuvenation via the URA Draft Master Plan website.
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