Singapore shopping malls: Is it time for a rethink?

“Orchard Road, in the meanwhile, did little to reinvent itself, resulting in the loss of its customer base to other more exciting, similar-style retail offerings in the country,” Lim said. 

There is hope yet, though it will require the cooperation of retailers, mall owners, the authorities and the street’s business associations. Lim envisions car-free days and festivals tied to national holidays to anchor the tourism event calendar. Capitalising on its plantation origins could reinforce its identity, such as through landscaping with special plants and outdoor furniture to enhance the overall environment of the street.

He is especially adamant about humanising the boulevard. This could mean breaking up various sections of the road with distinctive placemaking elements. Each mall can then extend past its own plot boundaryto let the spaces flow more seamlessly from inside to out. For instance, retail, F&B and entertainment activities could spill over onto the sidewalks.