Peeking out from Orchard Road, Orchard Central rises. It is Singapore’s first vertical mall. Today, we will uncover the story of this architectural marvel.
Orchard Central officially opened on July 2, 2009. It stands on land that was once an open-air carpark. The mall boasts a 160m frontage along Orchard Road.
But what makes Orchard Central so unique? Let’s start with its design. DP Architects designed Orchard Central as Singapore’s first vertical mall. Traditional malls have a central atrium. Orchard Central omits this feature. Instead, it uses a “super escalator”. This takes pedestrians from the street directly to Level 4. The mall has 52 escalators. Six of these are super escalators. There are also 12 glass elevators.
Orchard Central is not just about getting around easily. It is about the shopping experience. The mall has space for 400 stores. You can find flagship stores for Uniqlo, Don Don Donki, and Tokyu Hands here. Uniqlo’s Orchard Central store is the largest in Singapore. Also, the Don Don Donki store is open 24 hours.
But there’s more to Orchard Central than just shopping. It is a place for tourists too. Orchard Central provides a tourist bus terminal. There is also a tourist information center. You can even find currency exchange and duty exemption services.
The mall also has a 140m shopping street discovery walk. A green roof is open 24 hours. Japanese design house Super Potato designed the green roof. It features three large living walls on the 11th floor. On the 12th-floor roof terrace, you will discover two lower green walls. A biological pond is located on the 12th storey.
Orchard Central is also an art destination. The mall features permanently displayed artworks. These are clustered around the mall. The display is worth over SGD$9 million. The National Arts Council curated these artworks. Artists from the U.S., Japan, Australia, and Denmark created these pieces. The total development cost of Orchard Central exceeded SGD$650 million.
Different areas of Orchard Central have different themes. Architectural tricks draw attention to the stores. There is even a giant wall inside that you can climb.
In December 2016, Forbes recognized Orchard Central. It was named one of the top five shopping malls in Singapore. It is connected to 313@Somerset and Orchard Gateway.
Orchard Central is more than a mall. It is a destination. It blends architecture, art, and retail into a unique experience. From its super escalators to its green roof. Orchard Central offers something for everyone. Take some time to explore its unique spaces and offerings. You will discover why it is a gem on Orchard Road.