The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat has chosen the Pan Pacific Orchard, located in Singapore, as the world’s best new skyscraper. Developed by architecture studio WOHA, the building is described as a “hotel in nature”.
Designing ways of living that combine our need for high-density cities with with an urge for greenery isn’t a simple task. Yet according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, WOHA succeeded in the effort with their design of the Pan Pacific Orchard, which was finalised in 2024.
“Amidst Orchard’s renowned shopping malls, tree-lined boulevards and mixed-use towers, Pan Pacific Orchard stands out as a beacon of Singapore’s environmental vision,” the council said. “The project’s ‘hotel-in-nature’ concept transforms the traditional high-rise into a vertical green space, with multiple terraced gardens and water features integrated into the building, achieving a green plot ratio of more than 300 per cent. By holistically incorporating greenery into its design, Pan Pacific Orchard honors Singapore’s heritage while pushing the envelope of sustainable urban development in a dense, urban setting.”
The the 350-room hotel features four different six-storey sections, which are all overlooking a terrace with a different theme: forest, beach, garden and cloud. The terraces aren’t just a way for guests to enjoy some outdoor space but also help to cross-ventilate the interiors.
The building doesn’t just add to the experience of the guests enjoying a stay at the hotel. The ground-level terrace, also known as the forest, is accessible to passersby which can thus enjoy a little extra greenery as well. Moreover, the columns supporting the structure are covered in greenery, adding to Singapore’s overall biodiversity.
“At WOHA, we believe in creating living buildings that are integrated with nature, as well as the urban fabric of the cities they inhabit, and Pan Pacific Orchard represents our commitment to building for both people and the planet,” said WOHA founding director Mun Summ Wong. “This project demonstrates that sustainability and hospitality can go hand-in-hand, and that skyscrapers can serve as green lungs within dense urban environments.”
The Pan Pacific Orchard is owned by Singaporean real estate UOL Group. Aside from the 350 rooms, it also features a 400-seat ballroom, two restaurants and a canopy covered with rooftop solar panels. The building received both the award for “Best Tall Building Worldwide” and “Best Tall Building 100-199 Meters”.
