A Proposal for a New Urban Node: Developing the Ophir-Rochor Corridor as a Central Urban Connector

Abstract

With its central location and large empty plots, the Ophir-Rochor Corridor is a key location for future developments in central Singapore. The current vision for the area consists of extending the CBD, with its large-scale, high-rise volumes, to the edges of the small-scale, low-rise volumes of Little India, at the heart of Rochor+. With typical high-ended skyscrapers, made of large floor plates, this current vision would generate a division that is not only morphological but also social, separating the adjacent historically important and culturally vibrant, urban neighbourhoods. The urban design strategies presented in this article show an approach where pedestrian accessibility, public space networks, and adaptable building types come together with small urban block sizes, to produce an urban vision that both satisfies the density requirements of rapidly growing Singapore and also enhances urban qualities.