With a stunning design that includes lush greenery and multiple terraced gardens, Singapore's Pan Pacific Orchard has won the accolade.
Designed by Singapore-based WOHA around a “hotel in nature” concept, the open-air design's fresh approach to urbanism won it the title of Best Tall Building Worldwide by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
Rather than a traditional tower on a podium design, the 23 storey hotel is centered around four terraced sky gardens with individual motifs - forest, beach, garden, and cloud. Not only does this allow hotel guests to enjoy distinct amenities, but it also creates space for individual landscapes across the levels.
Each of the four levels is visually connected by huge living green columns with creepers, which look stunning both day and night.
The ground-level “forest” terrace, which is the only one visible to the public, is filled with dense foliage and an impressive cascading water feature. Unsurprisingly, the “beach” terrace features a tranquil lagoon surrounded by palm trees. Guests are also invited to stroll the paths of the “garden” terrace and enjoy special events with a view of the city on the “cloud” terrace.
The terraces also function to mitigate the tropical heat of Singapore by improving ventilation and cutting down on the need for mechanical cooling systems. By incorporating greenery into its design, Pan Pacific Orchard has aligned itself with the city's sustainability goals.
“We believe in creating living buildings that are integrated with nature, as well as the urban fabric of the cities they inhabit, and Pan Pacific Orchard represents our commitment to building for both people and the planet,” shares Mun Summ Wong, Founding Director of WOHA. “This project demonstrates that sustainability and hospitality can go hand-in-hand, and that skyscrapers can serve as green lungs within dense urban environments.”