Ngee Ann City
Encyclopedia
Ngee Ann City is a shopping
Shopping
Shopping is the examining of goods or services from retailers with the intent to purchase at that time. Shopping is an activity of selection and/or purchase. In some contexts it is considered a leisure activity as well as an economic one....

 and commercial
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...

 centre located on Orchard Road
Orchard Road
Orchard Road is a road in Singapore that is the retail and entertainment hub of the city-state. It is regularly frequented by the local population as well as being a major tourist attraction...

, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...

. The S$
Singapore dollar
The Singapore dollar or Dollar is the official currency of Singapore. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively S$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...

520 million building was officially opened on 21 September 1993 by then Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Singapore
The Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore is the head of the government of the Republic of Singapore. The President of Singapore appoints as Prime Minister a Member of Parliament who, in his opinion, is most likely to command the confidence of a majority of MPs.The office of Prime Minister...

, Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...

. Many Singaporeans refer to Ngee Ann City as "Taka", a slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...

-abbreviation
Abbreviation
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase...

 of the anchor tenant's name, Takashimaya
Takashimaya
is a large Japanese department store chain.Founded in 1829 in Kyoto by Iida Shinkichi as a retailer of used clothing and cotton cloth, the store now has outlets throughout Japan and also in Taipei, Paris and Singapore....

. In fact, this name is now probably more commonly-used in everyday conversation than the building's original name.

History

In the 1950s, the land that Ngee Ann City sits on was a burial ground
Burial Ground
Burial Ground is the ninth studio album by Swedish death metal band Grave, released in June 2010.-Track listing:# "Liberation" - 3:40# "Semblance In Black" - 7:50# "Dismembered Mind" - 6:10# "Ridden With Belief" - 7:57# "Conquerer" - 4:44...

, owned and managed by Ngee Ann Kongsi
Ngee Ann Kongsi
The Ngee Ann Kongsi is a foundation governed by the Ngee Ann Kongsi Ordinance , that is actively involved in educational, cultural and welfare activities in Singapore. The Ordinance has undergone corrections in Parliament in 2007, adjusting many clauses to keep the Kongsi up to date...

. It was part of a parcel of land known as Tai Shan Ting, which was bounded by Orchard Road, Paterson Road and Grange Road. A ten-storey Ngee Ann Building was then built on the site, and was demolished to make way for Ngee Ann City.

Redevelopment
Redevelopment
Redevelopment is any new construction on a site that has pre-existing uses.-Description:Variations on redevelopment include:* Urban infill on vacant parcels that have no existing activity but were previously developed, especially on Brownfield land, such as the redevelopment of an industrial site...

 of the site was first considered as early as 1967. Ngee Ann City was planned by Ngee Ann Development and the Orchard Square Development Corporation in the late 1980s. Raymond Woo, the architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...

 who designed the complex, drew inspiration
Artistic inspiration
Inspiration refers to an unconscious burst of creativity in a literary, musical, or other artistic endeavour. Literally, the word means "breathed upon," and it has its origins in both Hellenism and Hebraism. The Greeks believed that inspiration came from the muses, as well as the gods Apollo and...

 from the Great Wall of China
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built originally to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire against intrusions by various nomadic groups...

. The intent was to reflect the dignity
Dignity
Dignity is a term used in moral, ethical, and political discussions to signify that a being has an innate right to respect and ethical treatment. It is an extension of the Enlightenment-era concepts of inherent, inalienable rights...

, solidity and strength of the Ngee Ann Kongsi. Wong spent five years designing and overseeing the project.

The land belonging to Ngee Ann Kongsi was a much sought-after piece of real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...

 in Singapore. Ng Teng Fong of Far East Organisation was unsuccessful in his bid to buy the land, even after upping his offer
Ask price
Ask price, also called offer price, offer, asking price, or simply ask, is the price a seller states she or he will accept for a good....

 to S$175 million from S$140 million. The land was also sought by the owners of Hilton International Hotel
Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels & Resorts is an international chain of full-service hotels and resorts founded by Conrad Hilton and now owned by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton hotels are either owned by, managed by, or franchised to independent operators by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Hotels became the first coast-to-coast...

.

There were also a series of disputes between Ngee Ann Kongsi and the Metro Group which had subsequently acquired the redevelopment right
Right
Rights are legal, social, or ethical principles of freedom or entitlement; that is, rights are the fundamental normative rules about what is allowed of people or owed to people, according to some legal system, social convention, or ethical theory...

s. These were only resolved in 1981, resulting in the setting up of a joint venture
Joint venture
A joint venture is a business agreement in which parties agree to develop, for a finite time, a new entity and new assets by contributing equity. They exercise control over the enterprise and consequently share revenues, expenses and assets...

 in which Ngee Ann had a 73% stake
Partnership
A partnership is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests.Since humans are social beings, partnerships between individuals, businesses, interest-based organizations, schools, governments, and varied combinations thereof, have always been and remain commonplace...

, and Metro the balance 27%. The partner
Partnership
A partnership is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests.Since humans are social beings, partnerships between individuals, businesses, interest-based organizations, schools, governments, and varied combinations thereof, have always been and remain commonplace...

s paid heavily for the dispute, as the Singapore Government acquired half the site in 1983. This left them only 28,322 square metres for development.

Work on Ngee Ann City began 22 years after the project was first proposed. The construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...

 of the S$520 million complex took four years. Ngee Ann City was officially opened by Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on September 21, 1993.

Facilities

Ngee Ann City has two office towers, Tower A and B which are both 26 storeys high. Among its many shops are the Takashimaya
Takashimaya
is a large Japanese department store chain.Founded in 1829 in Kyoto by Iida Shinkichi as a retailer of used clothing and cotton cloth, the store now has outlets throughout Japan and also in Taipei, Paris and Singapore....

 department store and Kinokuniya
Books Kinokuniya
is a Japanese bookstore chain operated by , founded in 1927, with its first store located in Shinjuku, Tokyo.It means "Store of Kii Province". The company has its headquarters in Meguro, Tokyo.-History:...

, the largest bookstore in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...

. Till 2007, it housed the library@orchard
Library@orchard
library@orchard is a closed public library under the National Library Board of Singapore. It was first located on Level 5 of Ngee Ann City on Orchard Road, in the Central Area of Singapore....

, part of the National Library Board
National Library Board
The National Library Board is a statutory board of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts, Singapore...

 on the 5th floor. Ngee Ann City is also home to the largest Best Denki
Best Denki
is a Japanese electronics retailer with outlets across Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Kuwait. Best Denki headquarters is located in Fukuoka. Previously, in Singapore, it was known as "Yaohan Best", when it started operations there in 1985. After Yaohan's bankruptcy,...

 in Singapore, known as Big Best. In 2005, the shopping mall opened an art and creativity section on the 4th floor called iFORUM, the first of its kind in Singapore.

When Ngee Ann City opened in 1993, Tangs Studio (a division of Tangs
Tangs
Tangs is a company that specialises in the retail market, selling goods to customers. It is based in Singapore, and owns Singapore's oldest store which has become an icon of the Singapore retail market...

) occupied three floors of the building at the Tower B section of the building. A few years later, the Level 2 of the department store was closed, and it eventually closed down in 1999 due to poor business. This part of the mall became part of the speciality shop section (mainly branded boutique
Boutique
A boutique is a small shopping outlet, especially one that specializes in elite and fashionable items such as clothing and jewelry. The word is French for "shop", via Latin from Greek ἀποθήκη , "storehouse"....

s) on the mall on Level 2, Books Kinokuniya on Level 3, and a shop section mainly children's boutiques and shops on Level 4 that was converted to iForum in 2005. The top floor of the mall, Level 5, was part of the upper level carpark. In 1997, the 5th floor was converted to retail space.

The Civic Plaza is where roadshows, concerts, functions, performances are held. There is a fountain at the front of the Civic Plaza facing Orchard Road. The building is connected by underpasses to Wisma Atria
Wisma Atria
Wisma Atria is an established shopping mall on Orchard Road in Singapore with retail businesses on 5 levels. The centre which opened in 1986, is directly linked underground to Orchard MRT station and neighbouring centres...

 and Lucky Plaza
Lucky Plaza
Lucky Plaza is a shopping centre located at Orchard Road in Singapore.Built by owner and developer Far East Organization, Lucky Plaza was completed in 1981...

.

The two towers of Ngee Ann City were intended by the designer to symbolise Chinese door gods, representing strength, generosity and unity. Tenants in the office tower include Takashimaya Singapore, Books Kinokuniya, Metro department store, Ngee Ann Development, and a medical floor on Level 8 of Tower B.

Notable tenants

This is a list of notable tenants in Ngee Ann City. Takashimaya
Takashimaya
is a large Japanese department store chain.Founded in 1829 in Kyoto by Iida Shinkichi as a retailer of used clothing and cotton cloth, the store now has outlets throughout Japan and also in Taipei, Paris and Singapore....

 is not listed and occupies Basement 2 to Level 4.

Basement 2

  • Bossini
    Bossini
    Bossini International Holdings Limited , or Bossini , is a worldwide garment distributor and retailer headquartered in Hong Kong. It offers a range of casual wear apparel products, including ladies', men's, and kids' wear under its Bossini brand name...

  • Crystal Jade Kitchen and Cakery
  • Giordano
    Giordano (Hong Kong)
    Giordano, International Limited is a Hong Kong retailer of men's, women's and children's quality apparel founded in 1981 by Jimmy Lai. Giordano, as of January 2008, employs more than 11,000 people and operates 1800 stores worldwide in 40 countries and online through .As of 1996, Jimmy Lai no...

  • MOS Burger
    MOS Burger
    , doing business as , is a fast-food restaurant chain that originated in Japan. It is now the second-largest fast-food franchise in Japan after McDonald's, and owns numerous overseas outlets over East Asia, including Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, and until 2005, Hawaii...

  • Puma
    PUMA AG
    Puma SE, officially branded as PUMA, is a major German multinational company that produces high-end athletic shoes, lifestyle footwear and other sportswear. Formed in 1924 as Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik by Adolf and Rudolf Dassler, relationships between the two brothers deteriorated until the two...

  • Pepper Lunch
    Pepper Lunch
    is a "fast-steak" restaurant franchise popular in the Tokyo area. There are over 200 restaurants in Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Macau, and the Philippines, as well as one branch in the United States.Pepper Lunch is a subsidiary...

  • Royal Sporting House as Stadium
  • U2
    U2 Clothing
    U2 Clothing is a casual-wear clothing brand founded by Michael Tien in 1980 in Hong Kong. Tien founded G2000 at the same time, with both operating under the G2000 Apparel Limited brand.- Locations :...

  • Watsons
  • Yoshinoya
    Yoshinoya
    Yoshinoya is the largest chain of beef bowl restaurants and one of the Japanese chains of fast food, which was established in Japan in 1899. Its motto is "Tasty, low-priced, and quick"...

  • Fox
    Fox
    Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...


Basement 1

  • A/X Armani Exchange
  • KFC
    KFC
    KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...

     (inside Takashimaya
    Takashimaya
    is a large Japanese department store chain.Founded in 1829 in Kyoto by Iida Shinkichi as a retailer of used clothing and cotton cloth, the store now has outlets throughout Japan and also in Taipei, Paris and Singapore....

    )
  • Mango
    Mango (clothing)
    Mango, stylized MANGO, is a clothing design and manufacturing company. Isak Andic is the president.Its goal is "to be present in every city" in the world...

  •  (inside Takashimaya
    Takashimaya
    is a large Japanese department store chain.Founded in 1829 in Kyoto by Iida Shinkichi as a retailer of used clothing and cotton cloth, the store now has outlets throughout Japan and also in Taipei, Paris and Singapore....

    )
  • Timberland
    The Timberland Company
    The Timberland Company is an American manufacturer and retailer of outdoors wear with a focus on footwear. Its three key locations are in Stratham, New Hampshire; Danville, Kentucky; and Ontario, California....

  • Zara
    Zara (clothing)
    Zara is a Spanish clothing and accessories retailer based in Arteixo, Galicia, and founded in 1975 by Amancio Ortega and Rosalía Mera. It is the flagship chain store of the Inditex group; the fashion group also owns brands such as Massimo Dutti, Pull and Bear, Oysho, Uterqüe, Stradivarius and...

  • Guess
  • Ted Baker
    Ted Baker
    Ted Baker is a British clothing retail company, known for applying twists to its products, and has become a UK designer label through word of mouth rather than advertising.-History:...

  • Calvin Klein
    Calvin Klein
    Calvin Richard Klein is an American fashion designer who launched the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. In addition to clothing, Klein has also given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry....

  • Levi's
  • British India

Level 1

  • Bvlgari (inside Takashimaya
    Takashimaya
    is a large Japanese department store chain.Founded in 1829 in Kyoto by Iida Shinkichi as a retailer of used clothing and cotton cloth, the store now has outlets throughout Japan and also in Taipei, Paris and Singapore....

    )
  • Celine
    Celine (brand)
    Céline is a French luxury house founded in 1945 by Céline Vipiana. Today, it is an international luxury goods brand owned by LVMH, purchased in 1996 for 2.7 billion French francs ....

  • Cartier
    Cartier SA
    Cartier S.A., commonly known as Cartier , is a French luxury jeweler and watch manufacturer. The corporation carries the name of the Cartier family of jewellers whose control ended in 1964 and who were known for numerous pieces including the "Bestiary" , the diamond necklace created for Bhupinder...

  • Chanel
    Chanel
    Chanel S.A. is a French fashion house founded by the couturier Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, well established in haute couture, specializing in luxury goods . She gained the name "Coco" while maintaining a career as a singer at a café in France...

  • Christian Dior
    Christian Dior
    Christian Dior , was a French fashion designer, best known as the founder of one of the world's top fashion houses, also called Christian Dior.-Life:...

  • Dunhill
  • Fendi
    Fendi
    Fendi is an Italian high fashion house best known for its "baguette" handbags. It was launched in 1925 as a fur and leather shop in Rome, but today is a multinational luxury goods brand owned by LVMH...

  • TAG Heuer
    TAG Heuer
    TAG Heuer is a Swiss luxury watchmaker known for its sports watches and chronographs. It is a division of luxury goods company LVMH Moët Hennessy • Louis Vuitton. The company motto is "Swiss Avant-Garde Since 1860"...

  • Hugo Boss
    Hugo Boss
    Hugo Ferdinand Boss was the founder of clothing company Hugo Boss.-Early life:Boss was born in Metzingen, Germany. After completing his apprenticeship and one year of employment, he founded his own company in Metzingen in 1923.-Support of Nazism:Boss joined the Nazi Party in 1931, two years before...

  • Loewe
    Loewe (brand)
    Loewe is a Spanish luxury clothing and accessories brand based in Madrid and is owned by the LVMH Group. Loewe is known around the world as being one of the very best when it comes to luxury leather goods.- History :...

  • Louis Vuitton
    Louis Vuitton
    Louis Vuitton Malletier – commonly referred to as Louis Vuitton , or shortened to LV – is a French fashion house founded in 1854 by Louis Vuitton. The label is well known for its LV monogram, which is featured on most products, ranging from luxury trunks and leather goods to ready-to-wear, shoes,...

  • Tiffany & Co.
    Tiffany & Co.
    Tiffany & Co. is an American jewelry and silverware company. As part of its branding, the company is strongly associated with its Tiffany Blue , which is a registered trademark.- History :...

  • Burberry
    Burberry
    Burberry Group plc is a British luxury fashion house, manufacturing clothing, fragrance, and fashion accessories. Its distinctive tartan pattern has become one of its most widely copied trademarks. Burberry is most famous for its iconic trench coat, which was invented by founder Thomas Burberry...

  • Coach (inside Takashimaya
    Takashimaya
    is a large Japanese department store chain.Founded in 1829 in Kyoto by Iida Shinkichi as a retailer of used clothing and cotton cloth, the store now has outlets throughout Japan and also in Taipei, Paris and Singapore....

    )
  • Polo Ralph Lauren
    Polo Ralph Lauren
    Ralph Lauren Corporation is a luxury clothing and goods company of the American fashion designer Ralph Lauren. Ralph Lauren specializes in high-end casual/semi-formal wear for men and women, as well as accessories, fragrances, home and housewares...

     (inside Takashimaya
    Takashimaya
    is a large Japanese department store chain.Founded in 1829 in Kyoto by Iida Shinkichi as a retailer of used clothing and cotton cloth, the store now has outlets throughout Japan and also in Taipei, Paris and Singapore....

    )

  • The Hour Glass
    The Hour Glass
    The Hour Glass were a 1960s rhythm and blues band based in Los Angeles, California between 1967 and 1968. Among their members were two future members of the Allman Brothers Band and three future studio musicians at the world-renowned Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama .-History:Formed from the...


Level 2

  • Armani Collezioni (inside Takashimaya
    Takashimaya
    is a large Japanese department store chain.Founded in 1829 in Kyoto by Iida Shinkichi as a retailer of used clothing and cotton cloth, the store now has outlets throughout Japan and also in Taipei, Paris and Singapore....

    )
  • Bvlgari (inside Takashimaya
    Takashimaya
    is a large Japanese department store chain.Founded in 1829 in Kyoto by Iida Shinkichi as a retailer of used clothing and cotton cloth, the store now has outlets throughout Japan and also in Taipei, Paris and Singapore....

    )
  • Cartier
    Cartier SA
    Cartier S.A., commonly known as Cartier , is a French luxury jeweler and watch manufacturer. The corporation carries the name of the Cartier family of jewellers whose control ended in 1964 and who were known for numerous pieces including the "Bestiary" , the diamond necklace created for Bhupinder...

  • Chloé
    Chloé
    Chloé is a French fashion house founded in 1952 by Gaby Aghion. Its headquarters is in Paris.-History:Gaby Aghion was born in Alexandria, Egypt in the year 1921...

     (inside Takashimaya
    Takashimaya
    is a large Japanese department store chain.Founded in 1829 in Kyoto by Iida Shinkichi as a retailer of used clothing and cotton cloth, the store now has outlets throughout Japan and also in Taipei, Paris and Singapore....

    )
  • Crystal Jade
    Crystal Jade
    Crystal Jade Culinary Concept Holdings is a restaurant-chain serving Chinese cuisine based in Singapore. The group has restaurants in Asian countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China, Japan, Vietnam and South Korea...

     Shanghai Cuisine Hu Cui
  • Ermenegildo Zegna
    Ermenegildo Zegna
    Ermenegildo Zegna is a leading Italian fashion house, specialing in men's clothing. Founded in 1910, it is now managed by the fourth generation of the Zegna family and remains in family ownership. As well as producing suits for its own labels, it manufactures suits for labels such as Gucci, Yves...

  • Tiffany & Co.
    Tiffany & Co.
    Tiffany & Co. is an American jewelry and silverware company. As part of its branding, the company is strongly associated with its Tiffany Blue , which is a registered trademark.- History :...

  • Opera Gallery
    Opera gallery
    Opera Gallery is a leading network of 11 contemporary art gallery world-wide that first opened in 1994 by founder Gilles Dyan.Today, Opera Gallery is present in most of the world's major art capitals: Paris , Singapore , New York , Miami , Hong Kong , London , Venice , Seoul , Dubai , and Monaco...

  • Gucci
    Gucci
    The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...

     (inside Takashimaya
    Takashimaya
    is a large Japanese department store chain.Founded in 1829 in Kyoto by Iida Shinkichi as a retailer of used clothing and cotton cloth, the store now has outlets throughout Japan and also in Taipei, Paris and Singapore....

    )
  • Hermès
    Hermès
    Hermès International S.A., or simply Hermès is a French high fashion house established in 1837, today specializing in leather, lifestyle accessories, perfumery, luxury goods, and ready-to-wear...

     (inside Takashimaya
    Takashimaya
    is a large Japanese department store chain.Founded in 1829 in Kyoto by Iida Shinkichi as a retailer of used clothing and cotton cloth, the store now has outlets throughout Japan and also in Taipei, Paris and Singapore....

    )

Level 4

  • Art-Friend
  • The BetterToy Store
  • Crystal Jade
    Crystal Jade
    Crystal Jade Culinary Concept Holdings is a restaurant-chain serving Chinese cuisine based in Singapore. The group has restaurants in Asian countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China, Japan, Vietnam and South Korea...

     Palace Restaurant
  • Imperial Treasure Teochew Cuisine
  • Coca Steamboat
    Coca Steamboat
    Coca is a Thai hot pot restaurant chain established in 1957. It began as a 20 seats restaurant in Soi Dejo, Thailand. The successful business expanded to a 800 seat restaurant in nine years.-History:...

  • chukiyotei
  • Sabai Thai Cuisine
  • Tonkichi

External links

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