Located at the junction of Orchard Road and Claymore Road, Orchard Towers is a residential, office and shopping complex built in 1975. Designed by architectural firm Chng Heng Tat and Associates, the complex comprised of two tower blocks on separate podiums that were linked together by a bridge. The project was commissioned by Golden Bay Reality, which was acquired by Sime Darby Holdings in 1973 as part of the latter’s plans to venture into property development. Facilities initially planned to be housed in the complex included luxury apartments, offices, shops, restaurants, a supermarket and a 450-seat theatrette for concerts, theatrical performances and film screenings. The complex subsequently gained a notorious reputation for its “four floors of whores”, which housed nightclubs and pubs frequented mainly by Caucasian men and illegal sex workers soliciting for customers.
