Experts’ Favourites

Three retail and property experts name their top five mall facades along Orchard Road.

Peter See-Toh, managing director, retail services, Knight Frank:

1. Ion Orchard

2. Paragon

3. Mandarin Gallery

4. Orchard Central

5. Ngee Ann City

‘The first four have new and refreshing shop fronts that have distinctively attractive and eye-catching window facades and displays.

‘For Takashimaya at Ngee Ann City, the facade designs are classic, with an evergreen appeal.’

Ngee Ann Polytechnic real estate lecturer Nicholas Mak:

1. Ngee Ann City

2. Paragon

3. 313@Somerset

4. Orchard Central

5. Mandarin Gallery

‘Ngee Ann City’s facade is grand and large but not too ‘in your face’. 313@Somerset also has an interesting facade even though the tenants are not so high-end.

‘Paragon’s facade is expensive looking but this may turn away lower-budget shoppers.’

Dr Lynda Wee, from business consultancy Bootstrap:

1. Ion Orchard

2. Paragon

3. Orchard Central

4. 313@Somerset

5. Ngee Ann City

‘Paragon and Orchard Central are very creative in their use of space. Orchard Central, in particular, looks very different, all the more given its small space.

‘Ngee Ann City is classic and iconic.’

Source: Sunday Times, 18 Apr 2010