Pan Pacific Hotels Group has completed a major SG$45 million refurbishment at Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay in Singapore, unveiling what it describes as the city’s first ‘garden in a hotel’ concept.
Now operating under the Parkroyal Collection sub-brand, the new-look Marina Bay property features Southeast Asia’s largest indoor skylit atrium at 21 storeys in height – a concept from futuristic architect, John Portman.
The nine-month project was a highly sustainable exercise in itself, with green and sustainable building protocols preventing more than 50,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being produced during construction.
One of the standout features of the hotel is a 13-metre green wall behind the Concierge desk, flanked by planters to project a 180-degree view of a forest. More than 2,400 plants, trees, shrubs and ground cover from 60 varieties of flora has been installed throughout the hotel, with the plants designed to blend into the hotel’s interior.
The lobby features two sandalwood sculptures reflecting ancient Chinese philosophers. Guests can also access a new Skybridge to experience a walk above the forest canopy, with pavilions reflecting bird nests positioned along the walk. On the hotel’s rooftop, guests can find a rooftop garden growing vegetables, herbs and flowers for a farm-to-table dining experience. A mineral water swimming pool also features nearly 1,400 fibre-optic lights which shine at night.
Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay General Manager, Melvin Lim, said the sustainable transformation positioned the hotel as one of the country’s most innovative and ecologically focused hotels.
“The Parkroyal Collection brand was created to champion sustainability and living responsibly, promote iconic architecture and design, as well as embrace wellness and lifestyle. We have certainly taken these up many notches as we reflect upon our multiple initiatives and achievements.”
Further green features that have been installed include a filtered water system for guests to access clean drinking water and removing the need for single-use plastic bottles. Solar panels have been installed on the roof and will be operational in the next month, while in the kitchen, food waste will be decomposed via a digester and converted into environmentally friendly fertiliser for the hotel’s new gardens.