PARKROYAL on Pickering, Singapore

Designed as a hotel and office in a garden, the project at Upper Pickering Street is a study of how we can increase the green replacement in a highrise development in the city center and multiply it 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 a combination of landscaped bonsai arrangements that are modelled, chiselled and spliced to mimic natural landscapes and mountain rock formations as well as that of the contoured padi fields of Asia. 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 drawn up in the form of planted valleys, gullies and waterfalls. The landscaping also conceal 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 crisp and streamlined tower blocks harmonize with surrounding high-rise office buildings. They are attenuated into an open-sided courtyard configuration, breaking down the ‘wall of buildings’ effect and maximizing views and daylighting into the building. Blue and green glass create a patina that recall the waters of Singapore River adjacent. Lofty 4 storey sky gardens which bring lush greenery directly to the rooms and breaks down the scale 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 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 grow lamps and softscape lighting, making these Singapore’s and perhaps the world’s first Zero Energy Skygardens!

This project is awarded Singapore’s Green Mark Platinum, the nation’s highest environmental certification. The hotel officially opened in January 2013.

KI Consultant Pte Ltd has been incorporated in Singapore since April 1974, it has been in business until now for more than 40 years with high quality standard and dedicated in the same services as Kitchen and Laundry Equipment Facility Design Consultancy services for many well known international hotels, convention centres, central food production kitchens, restaurants, cafeterias, hospitals and etc in Asia Pacific Region.

KI Consultant was appointed as the Specialized Professional Foodservice Facilities Consultant for the PARKROYAL on Pickering Singapore to design the Kitchens & Bars for their Food and Beverage Outlets in the hotel. We deliver an innovative, efficient, modernized designed kitchens and bars with enhance content creation of value and sustainability. All our designs are based on the latest codes and standards, always up-to-date. Being a member of the leading consultancy association (Foodservice Consultants International Society) with the complex and comprehensive responsibility at different levels in foodservice business and foodservice industry therefore our designs need to be very high standard and efficient.

Kitchen exhaust which is very important in the kitchen therefore latest Exhaust Ventilator with auto water-wash system are being used, exhaust ventilator comes with automatic self cleaning, energy saving and fire suppression system for fire safety.

A project that embodies Singapore’s vision of ‘City in a Garden’, Park Royal on Pickering shows how greenery can be conserved in a space starved dense urban area while being both sustainable and unique, not only catering to the users of the building but to the neighbouring community.

Located within the Central Business District and Chinatown areas, adjacent to Singapore’s first privately owned garden – Hong Lim Park, Park Royal on Pickering is an example of how 200% Green (as defined by Building and Construction Authority, Singapore) can be achieved in a city that is very conscious of its space usage. The primary concept was to demonstrate how greenery can be conserved in a way that integrates harmoniously with the form and function of a business hotel and office development while seamlessly combining different aspects of design including architecture, landscape and interior design.

The visitor’s experience begins at the street level, where tropical greenery complemented by architectural elements blur the lines between the public realm and the hotel. Reflecting pools and sculptural flora at the entrance make for a gentle and cool transition from the warm urban environment. The integration of the sidewalk and the building setback into the design, bringing greenery into the hotel lobby and the restaurant, creates a spatial quality of being in a garden.

A visually striking contoured podium is sculpted with softscape to create outdoor plazas, walkways and gardens which flow seamlessly into dramatic interior spaces. The cascading verdant contours conceal the raised car parking, melding into lush openings, crevasses, gullies and waterfalls thus creating an attractive urban element. The lofty sky gardens bring greenery to the rooms and internal spaces; corridors, lobbies and common areas are treated with landscaping, stepping stones and water features creating a cool tropical experience with natural light and fresh air. Tall overhangs work together with leafy foliage to screen the outdoor spaces from the weather and direct sun. The green cover of the property is not only visually attractive but also has a positive environmental impact on its urban surroundings.

The general palette of plants and trees are chosen to create a tropical garden with hints of the exotic. In addition, the planting strategy focuses on engaging with the surroundings as much as possible. The greenery of the Hong Lim Park is drawn up the building in the lush planting of the podium and sky gardens. These four storey high sky gardens are the city’s first zero energy sky terraces, carefully planted with low maintenace flora that are not only aesthetically important but also functionally critical in mitigating thermal gain on the west-facing wall and improving indoor air quality. In a city that is very conscious of its water usage and resources, the external areas of the hotel including the hardscape and the softscape become surfaces for rainwater collection. Calculations based on average rainfall indicate sufficient collection for irrigation of the entire podium area.

A striking and refreshing addition to the Central Business District of Singapore; Park Royal on Pickering demonstrates a successful implementation of an integrative design approach to architecture, landscape and interior design.