World’s ‘Best Tall Building’ Of 2024 Is A Futuristic Hotel Oasis In Singapore
Images via The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (left) and Pan Pacific Orchard, photographed by Darren Soh (right)
The Pan Pacific Orchard in Singapore has just been crowned the 2024 Best Tall Building Worldwide by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) thanks to its towering proof of how green thinking can blossom in a bustling, urban setting.
Designed by Singaporean architecture studio WOHA, Pan Pacific Orchard, which opened its doors in June 2023, brings nature into the heart of Singapore’s iconic Orchard Road district, transforming what it means to build green in a high-density city.
Image via Pan Pacific Orchard, photographed by Darren Soh
With its “hotel in nature” ethos, the hotel encapsulates four lush, planted terraces, each with a distinct theme: Forest, Beach, Garden, and Cloud.
Image via Pan Pacific Orchard, photographed by Darren Soh
Image via Pan Pacific Orchard, photographed by Darren Soh
These terraces do more than just add to the building’s aesthetic—they improve air quality, boost biodiversity, and help with natural ventilation, all while blending into the city-state’s tropical landscape.
Image via Pan Pacific Orchard, photographed by Darren Soh
The judges were particularly impressed by this holistic approach to integrating nature, noting how it both honors Singapore’s heritage and thrives beyond the boundaries of sustainable urban development.
Image via Pan Pacific Orchard, photographed by Darren Soh
]Greenery makes a mighty presence all over the structure. Towering columns draped in plants and open-air terraces bring life to the building, while the addition of sustainable technologies, such as rainwater collection systems, solar panels, and a bio-digester, further elevate its eco credentials.
Image via Pan Pacific Orchard, photographed by Darren Soh
Image via Pan Pacific Orchard, photographed by Darren Soh
With more than 14,000 square meters (more than three acres) of foliage, the hotel’s green spaces occupy 200% of its land area, creating a visually stunning yet functional “green lung” within the urban jungle.
Image via Pan Pacific Orchard, photographed by Darren Soh
Image via Pan Pacific Orchard, photographed by Darren Soh
WOHA envisaged Pan Pacific Orchard as a new model for high-rise, tropical hospitality, where nature meets luxury. From the high-ceilinged open-air lobby to the mirrored ceilings reflecting the verdant landscapes of the terraces, the hotel offers guests an immersive biophilic experience. Each terrace creates a unique environment, whether it’s the tranquil Beach Terrace with its sparkling pools or the manicured lawns of the Garden Terrace. Together, they provide a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Image via Pan Pacific Orchard, photographed by Darren Soh
Image via Pan Pacific Orchard, photographed by Studio Periphery
Mun Summ Wong, Founding Director of WOHA, expressed pride in receiving the award, stating: “At WOHA, we believe in creating living buildings that are integrated with nature, as well as the urban fabric of the cities they inhabi. Pan Pacific Orchard represents our commitment to building for both people and the planet.”
Image via Pan Pacific Orchard, photographed by Darren Soh
Image via Pan Pacific Orchard, photographed by Darren Soh
Image via Pan Pacific Orchard, photographed by Darren Soh
Image via Pan Pacific Orchard, photographed by Darren Soh
[via Dezeen and The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, images via various sources]
