Reimagined vision Multifunctionality key to rejuvenation success by Kelvin Chow ities are constantly evolving, and so are and enhancing a community’s quality and way of the communities composing them. Home, life. In land-scarce Singapore, multifunctionality Cwork and recreational spaces are no lon- operates as a concept that is not confined to a ger seen as separate spaces, but as an integrated single space, but an integrated network of several centre supported by great amenities. public spaces that work seamlessly to increase A reimagined vision for the Singapore city the efficient use of a specific precinct and the centre will see seamless interplay of the live-work- communities in the surrounding areas. play phenomenon. More corporates are moving Against the current backdrop, Singapore’s away from offices in the heart of the city to decen- Urban Redevelopment Authority has outlined in tralised spaces in suburban areas. These offices are its Draft Master Plan several initiatives to revitalise attractive to an increasingly mobile workforce that the central business district. Guided by a vision wants to bring work closer to home to save on to create a dynamic city centre — with residen- travel time and improve productivity. The desire tial areas closer to offices as well as lifestyle and for quality workspaces helps conceive the con- recreational spaces, where options such as bars, cept of a 15-minute city, where interconnected- restaurants and gyms run abundantly — the gov- ness becomes increasingly important. At the same ernment hopes to inject new life into key areas to time, the Singaporean government is accelerating enhance their appeal, not only to their end users, its decentralisation plans, incentivising developers but also to the wider investor pool. to turn older offices into mixed-use buildings and The creation of these new spaces must releasing more land parcels in decentralised areas. also consider how amenities and services are Multifunctional urban spaces play an integral connected. Upcoming train lines, cycling net- role in accommodating a city’s changing needs works and green corridors linking various green ASIA PACIFIC | MARCH 2021 and open spaces across the Singapore Botanic In line with its vision to revitalise the Central Gardens, Fort Canning Park and Marina Bay are Area, the government has drawn up ambitious plans helping to shape the central business district into to restore the 2.4-kilometre shopping strip to its one that is highly connected and accessible to former glory. It announced its strategies to rejuve- the public. Existing cultural and historical districts nate Orchard Road, beginning with each of its four along the city fringe, such as Chinatown, Kam- subprecincts — Tanglin, Orchard, Dhoby Ghaut pong Glam and Little India, are largely being pre- and Somerset — taking on a unique identity to served to uphold their rich heritage. Part of this strengthen Orchard Road’s position as a vibrant life- plan also involves looking at distinct areas and style destination that remains relevant and current. actively introducing more diverse uses and offer- Tanglin will be branded as a mixed-use neigh- ings to enhance their appeal and relevance. At bourhood with an arts and artisanal identity. Lever- the heart of this plan sits Singapore’s grand retail aging its rich heritage and stunning colonial-era dame: Orchard Road. architecture, the conserved Tudor Court has been earmarked to host a variety of lifestyle, arts and Restoring Orchard Road to its former glory cultural offerings. The upcoming opening of the It is undeniable Orchard Road has always been Orchard Boulevard MRT station will also increase considered one of Asia’s top shopping destinations the accessibility of the subprecinct. and a pinnacle of the Singapore retail scene, despite Meanwhile, the Orchard subprecinct will being impacted by recent events. But even before preserve its identity as a shopping paradise, with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, stores lin- luxury stores and core retail offerings. Beyond the ing Singapore’s famed shopping belt were seeing a malls itself, the shopping experience will also be steady decline in foot traffic and sales. expanded through the introduction of more out- door activities and improved connectivity across Urban regeneration, at its core, is about the buildings. Vacant land parcels along Orchard Boulevard will be developed into mixed-use creating the best places for communities projects, providing more retail offerings, a wider to thrive. range of activities for consumers and a space that fully serves the eat-work-play paradigm. Dhoby Ghaut, on the other hand, will main- Integrated developments around the CBD, tain its lush green spaces and will be developed such as Funan and The Shoppes at Marina Bay into a family-friendly lifestyle zone with play areas Sands, drew consumers in with their new lifestyle for children. There are also plans to connect exist- offerings and away from Singapore’s traditional ing green spaces at Istana Park and Dhoby Ghaut shopping belt. Meanwhile, cost-conscious shop- Green, as well as the open space outside Plaza pers are increasingly favouring suburban malls, Singapura, with the additional option of making which now carry popular brands, such as Uniqlo it a car-free zone. Pedestrianising a section of the and H&M, that used to be exclusively available area will open up more space for event venues and along Orchard Road. potentially create play areas for children, thereby More recently, the impact of COVID-19 on increasing the appeal of the subprecinct as a vibrant the tourism sector, which accounted for 4 per- family destination. cent of Singapore’s S$507.6 billion (US$383.2 bil- Last, Somerset will continue to strengthen its lion) GDP in 2019, according to the Singapore position as a youth hub, and new lifestyle offerings Tourism Board, also adds to the challenging retail catering to millennials and Gen Z would boost the landscape. With tourism spending drastically precinct’s appeal. The opening of Design Orchard, reduced and the rise in ecommerce due to the with its showcase of home-grown brands, flex- virus outbreak, Singapore’s total retail sales saw ible spaces, and rooftop garden overlooking the a sharp decline of 40.5 percent, year-on-year, in famous Somerset Road intersection, has provided April 2020, the highest drop on record, according a greater retail mix in the area. to the Singapore Department of Statistics. Despite the focus on Orchard Road’s main With the advent of vaccines, however, Singapore streets, there are also smaller streets that branch maintains a positive outlook on the recovery of the away from the main road, providing visitors with tourism industry, looking at launching travel bubbles a sense of adventure, exploring off beaten paths with other countries in the region, such as Hong in the heart of the city. Emerald Hill, located just Kong, to boost tourism numbers again. Government across the ultra-modern Orchard Central, is a care- authorities are working together to develop new fully restored conservation area lined with colour- attractions and product offerings for tourists through ful Chinese Baroque–style shophouses, lending its the rejuvenation of major precincts in Singapore. quiet charm to the street’s hustle and bustle. ASIA PACIFIC | MARCH 2021 Across all four subprecincts, a core feature of the rejuvenation plan focuses on multifunctionality. Each space is created to serve multiple purposes aimed at different consumer segments, which con- tributes to the area’s vitality and profitability. It is the smart use of spaces to concurrently satisfy multiple needs and support multiple concepts easily that truly makes the difference in the entire experience. Rooftop gardens, for example, can serve as a green space and double as an alternative event venue, while empty pavements can be used for connectiv- ity and for pop-up stores and performances. Dedicated event spaces necessary to attract younger crowd The transformation of the Grange Road carpark will be one of the first major changes to Orchard Road’s physical landscape under the govern- 313@somerset, a retail mall along Orchard Road, boasts brands that appeal to ment’s rejuvenation plans. younger generations. In June 2020, Lendlease Global Commercial REIT (LREIT) won the tender to redevelop the event, which saw more than 8,500 visitors over a Grange Road carpark, in line with the government’s span of two nights. In addition to live performances, vision of creating enticing outdoor spaces for the about 30 pop-up stores were present along the public and to bring foot traffic back to Orchard Orchard strip, selling a range of items from fashion Road. Designed by home-grown firm DP Archi- to food. The success of this pilot programme could tects, also known for its work on the Esplanade, spell a new beginning for Orchard Road, where Golden Mile Complex and Our Tampines Hub, the malls no longer function only as physical spaces, but 4,482-square-metre carpark will be transformed into also offer full experiences for shoppers and visitors. a permanent event venue, and its prime location between the junction of Grange and Somerset roads Multifunctionality underpins a seamless will make it the centrepiece of the Somerset sub- interplay of live-work-play precinct, home to international events, local pop-up These revitalised spaces strengthen Singapore’s stores, food stalls and various other entertainment presence as an attractive business, commercial and experiences. On days with no planned activities, the residential hub, and make it more attractive to for- multipurpose space can function as a public space eign investors. This plays well into the government’s for the community to converge at and interact. master plan for Singapore’s future, through better Beyond providing a physical space for optimisation of land to meet the current and future events, the multipurpose space also allows for needs of citizens.