[SINGAPORE] Holland Village was a favourite destination of mine as a young working adult. It had a charm that differentiated it from the typical shopping areas. It was pleasant strolling about the shophouses without being cooped up in an air-conditioned environment, and there was a casual vibe about the place.
When the weather turned too warm, there was the chance to duck into the air-conditioned comfort of the Holland Road Shopping Centre. There was Lim’s, the homeware store on the second floor, which was an inviting sort of place and offered the prospect of finding a bargain or an unusual item. The old-style shopping centre did not have the curation of tenants that is the case nowadays – a store selling antiques could be next to a barber shop or a shoe shop with a bookstore for a neighbour. In short, it was a browser’s haven.
Holland Village remains a manageable space to wander about on foot, but it has lost that quirky mix of shops. There was Thambi, with its international magazines and newspapers, as well as a toy store with fluorescent lights that screamed retro nostalgia.
As day turned into night, Holland Village remained busy, with restaurants welcoming customers to their alfresco dining areas. With the road closed to traffic, patrons could nurse a drink on the balmy nights and people-watch.
But Holland Village has evolved. It is full of buzz and is pet-friendly, thanks mainly to Far East Organization’s new One Holland Village development. If I have a beef with the changes, it is that there are hardly any shops and the area is mostly a dining hot spot now.
Indeed, if I had dinner at Holland Village every night for a month, I would be eating at a different outlet every single time. And I would still not run out of places to eat. And that is only taking into account the small enclave around Holland Village. What about The Star Vista Mall nearby, which has many dining outlets, plus those at Rochester Park?
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Several of my favourite hangout spots from bygone days have changed. Holland Village is one of them. Boat Quay, from my early working life in Raffles Place, is now a shadow of its former self. Even Orchard Road has lost some allure.
One of the reasons is the number of dining outlets that have sprung up over the years, all over Singapore.
What is the attraction of Holland Village if a similar restaurant or eatery is available in several other locations? Ditto that for Orchard Road with its restaurants and cafes that are replicated in suburban malls everywhere.
Another reason is competition. Down the road from Holland Village is Dempsey, which has fancier and more unusual dining options. There are still some charming furniture shops, plus sports and fitness facilities, which attract families and bring in all-day traffic.
Boat Quay and its nightlife must seem as dull as ditch water compared with the towers of Marina Bay Sands gleaming on the horizon, continuing to attract the young and old, tourist and locals alike.
Orchard Road may still draw tourists, but those in the know will see shades of the former Holland Village clientele at the Great World City area. The number of condos there, with a mix of families and well-heeled expatriates, make it an achingly hip area, especially with the rise of the New Bahru enclave at the former Nan Chiau High School.
Placemaking benefits from a sensible vision from the authorities, but success cannot be guaranteed. Ultimately, places evolve as the inhabitants and communities – and their needs – change over time.
