The Parkroyal Hotel on Pickering, designed by WOHA, is a 367-room hotel located on the periphery of Singapore's Central Business District. This remarkable hotel showcases expansive balconies and terraces adorned with 15,000 square meters of lush tropical vegetation. If you want to indulge in a green hotel from wherever and whenever you see it, this is the one to choose for your next staycation!
A Building That Breathes Plants and Nature
The Parkroyal Hotel in Singapore stands as a shining example of a green paradise, seamlessly blending nature with modern hospitality. With its extensive array of plants and botanical wonders, this eco-friendly and luxurious hotel offers a unique experience that benefits both guests and the environment.
Taking inspiration from the park, the building incorporates landscaped valleys, gullies, and waterfalls, seamlessly blending greenery with the architecture. These elements not only enhance the aesthetics but also cleverly conceal openings to the aboveground car park while promoting natural cooling and ventilation throughout the space.
Atop the sculptural podium, which mimics natural landscape formations such as rocky headlands and terraced gardens, lies a lushly landscaped terrace housing the hotel's recreational facilities. Here, guests can enjoy infinity-edge pools and uninterrupted city views, surrounded by abundant greenery.
Sky gardens, inserted into courtyards every three floors, bring nature directly to the rooms, providing shaded areas and well-ventilated spaces for relaxation. These gardens break up the scale of the building and offer protection from inclement weather and direct sunlight, thanks to tall overhangs and leafy foliage.
Architecture and Nature Blending Harmoniously at Parkroyal Hotel
Parkroyal on Pickering showcases how architecture can harmoniously coexist with green spaces, demonstrating that even in a high-rise, built-up city center, nature can thrive. By integrating extensive greenery and promoting sustainable design principles, the hotel stands as an embodiment of Singapore's commitment to preserving its garden city image and serves as an inspiration for urban developments around the world.
The elevated gardens not only bring the beauty of nature closer to the occupants, a luxury previously limited to those living in landed homes, but also foster opportunities for social interaction and the formation of communities within the hotel. This innovative design promotes a sense of connection to the natural environment while offering a tranquil retreat amidst the bustling cityscape.
Parkroyal - A Botanical Oasis
Parkroyal Hotel is renowned for its impressive collection of plants, transforming the entire property into a captivating botanical oasis. Covered in a world of lush greenery, the hotel boasts an awe-inspiring vertical garden that covers its exterior walls, creating a stunning visual spectacle.
The interior spaces are adorned with numerous plant displays, featuring diverse species of trees, shrubs, flowers, and cascading vines. These living walls, rooftop gardens, and indoor plant installations not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of the hotel but also promote a sense of tranquility and connection with nature.
The hotel's commitment to being a green paradise extends beyond its aesthetics. The abundance of plants within the hotel offers numerous environmental benefits. Firstly, the extensive green infrastructure helps to mitigate the urban heat island effect, reducing energy consumption by naturally cooling the building and its surroundings. The plants act as natural air purifiers, filtering pollutants and improving air quality for both guests and the local community.
Moreover, the greenery provides habitat and sustenance for birds, insects, and other small wildlife, contributing to urban biodiversity. By creating a haven for flora and fauna, the Parkroyal Hotel fosters a balanced ecosystem within the bustling cityscape of Singapore.
Wellness in a Garden
Did you know the hotel has its own natural garden where some of the top chefs in the world get their ingredients?
In addition to its aesthetic appeal, the wellness garden plays a practical role in the hotel's culinary offerings. The hotel's chefs have the unique opportunity to handpick fresh herbs, vegetables, and fruits directly from the garden. This ensures that the dishes served in the hotel's restaurants and cafes are prepared using the finest and freshest ingredients, resulting in a delightful culinary experience for guests.
The process of selecting plants and food from the wellness garden involves careful consideration of seasonality, quality, and flavor. Chefs collaborate with horticulturists and garden experts to determine the ideal plants to cultivate and harvest. The focus is on incorporating locally sourced ingredients and promoting sustainable farming practices.
The chefs' close connection to the wellness garden enables them to create menus that reflect the seasonality of the produce, resulting in dishes that are not only flavorful but also in harmony with nature. This farm-to-table approach enhances the dining experience for guests, providing them with a taste of the freshest and most wholesome ingredients.
The use of ingredients from the wellness garden also highlights the hotel's commitment to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. By growing their own produce onsite, the hotel minimizes the need for long-distance transportation and reduces the environmental impact associated with traditional food supply chains.
Health and Well-Being Benefits of Staying at the Parkroyal Hotel
Staying in a hotel adorned with an abundance of plants offers various benefits for guests' health and well-being. Research has shown that exposure to nature and green spaces can reduce stress levels, improve mental health, and enhance overall well-being. The presence of plants has a calming effect, creating a serene atmosphere that promotes relaxation and rejuvenation.
The Parkroyal Hotel recognizes the importance of biophilia—the innate human affinity for nature—and leverages it to provide a unique guest experience. The lush greenery not only enhances the visual aesthetics but also promotes a sense of tranquility and harmony, offering a welcome respite from the fast-paced urban lifestyle.
Furthermore, plants contribute to cleaner and fresher indoor air by reducing the concentration of harmful pollutants. This natural air purification system helps guests breathe easier, promoting a healthier environment during their stay.
If you're on the South-East Asian side of the world, you might want to consider staying at this marvelous heavenly green paradise hotel on Earth!
Photos by Parkroyal Hotel.
