Vertical Park Hotel Singapure

Source: e-architect
Architect: WOHA-Architects
Schedule: undergoing construction (completion in 2012)

Designed as a top tier business hotel and office in a garden, the Vertical Park Hotel at Upper Pickering Street demonstrates how we can not only conserve greenery in a built-up high-rise city centre but multiply it vertically in a manner that is architecturally striking, integrated and sustainable.

Located in central Singapore, the site is at a junction between the CBD and the colorful districts of Chinatown and Clark Quay, and faces Hong Lim Park. A contoured podium responds to the street scale, drawing inspiration from landscape formations. These contours are precast concrete elements of modular radii, allowing the complex, sculptural podium to be put together from a basic ‘kit of parts’.

On the ground the contours create dramatic outdoor plazas and gardens which flow seamlessly into the interiors. Greenery from the park is visually extended up into the building in the form of planted valleys, gullies and waterfalls. The landscaping also conceals openings to the above ground carparking while allowing in air and natural light. The top of the podium is a lush landscaped terrace housing the development’s recreational facilities, with infinity edge pools opening up unobstructed views of the city. Birdcage cabanas perched over the waters add interest and delight.

The high-rise blocks housing the hotel rooms and offices are arranged into an open-sided courtyard configuration, breaking up the mass and maximizing views and daylighting into the building. Blue and green glass recalls the water of the nearby Singapore River. The courtyards have contoured sky gardens every four storeys, which bring lush greenery directly to the rooms and continues the landscaping up the entire height of the building. Corridors, lobbies and common washrooms are designed as garden spaces with stepping stones, planting and water features which create an alluring resort ambiance with natural light and fresh air, instead of being 24-hour energy guzzling air conditioned spaces. Tall overhangs work together with leafy foliage to screen these spaces from the weather and direct sun.

A total of 15,000m2 of skygardens, reflecting pools, waterfalls, planter terraces and green walls were designed; this is double the site area or equivalent to the footprint of the adjacent Hong Lim Park. A diverse variety of species ranging from shade trees, tall palms, flowering plants, leafy shrubs and overhanging creepers come together to create a lush tropical setting that is attractive not only to the people but also to insects and birds, extending the green areas from Hong Lim Park and encouraging bio-diversity in the city.

These landscapes are designed to be self-sustaining and rely minimally on precious resources. Rainwater collected from upper floors irrigate planters on the lower floors by gravity supplemented by non-potable recycled Newater, which will also be used for all water features. Photovoltaic cell arrays on the roof will power reticulation systems and softscape lighting.

This project has achieved Singapore’s Green Mark Platinum score, the nation’s highest environmental certification.