MAIN STREET OF THE NATION : A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE EVOLUTION AND STRUCTURE OF ORCHARD ROAD

Abstract

Main Streets form a special type of physical environment. Often, they are portrayed in western literature and media as modern, complex thoroughfares possessing unique qualities which give them prominence in people 7 s perceptions of their environment. This Acadamic Exercise examines closely the idea of Main Street in the local context. It identifies Orchard Road as the Main Street of Singapore, In the exegesis of the topic, the study provides a socio-historical analysis to the evolution of Orchard Road from the early 1800s right up to its present structure. The cumulative texture of its Main Street character results in the popular image of Orchard Road as the "Shopper 7 s Paradise" – a definitive feature of a commercial main street. Equally important, the study explores how the contemporary Orchard Road environment enters into the consciousness of people. It deals essentially with people's perceptions of and reaction to such a unique urban milieu. It shows how the public image of the street is influenced by the physical characteristics of its street environment, and the social characteristics of the lifestyles and culture of people who use it. Some issues related to the pejorative notion of city life are also discussed. The research implications for the micro aspects of street planning are presented in the concluding section of this Academic Exercise.