Singapore’s Jenga-like Pan Pacific Orchard is now open
The Garden City’s second Pan Pacific Hotel is enveloped by lush foliage, bringing the outside world in.
Singapore is no stranger to bold architectural statements and luxury hotels, with Marina Bay Sands and Raffles just two of its many icons on the global stage. Pan Pacific Orchard is the latest to join the list, boasting a distinctive, Jenga-like exterior dubbed a ‘high rise tropical oasis’.
Designed by WOHA Architects, the team behind the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport and cliffside Alila Villas Uluwatu in Bali, the fresh hotel has been designed with environment in mind, even though the finished product doesn’t quite match the artist’s impression yet.
The sparse, almost brutalist look from afar will no doubt soften once the gardens become more established over time.
However, there’s still a lot to love right now, with its four open-air terraces – Forest, Beach, Garden and Cloud – home to 120-metre high green walls, gardens filled with tropical plants, and even a sand-edged swimming pool under a mirrored ceiling.
It’s not the first time the Pan Pacific Group has dabbled with bringing the outside world in either. The Parkroyal Collection, Pickering – over on the edge of Chinatown – is similarly adorned in greenery, which gently cascades down its glass-encased façade.
Orchard’s interiors are no less impressive, with each of the 347 rooms and suites including the vast Cloud Terrace Suite, Pacific Club Balcony King and Beach Club Loft – the latter enjoying direct pool access – filled with natural fishes of timber and stone.
Guests are encouraged to side-step single use plastics too, as each room includes a filtered water dispenser and reusable water bottle for use during their stay.
Beyond the rooms, the hotel houses two dining venues: the Mediterranean-meets-Peru Mosella, plating up buffet breakfasts before switching gears into charcoal-grilled meats and ceviches, in addition to the edgy Florette bar, named after the Roman goddess of flowers.
Check-in takes place amid cascading water features on the Forest terrace, while Club-level guests enjoy a dedicated lobby up on the Garden terrace, which has a manicured lawn lined with private cabanas.
The Pacific Club Lounge is found on the same level. Lounge-worthy travellers can enjoy breakfast daily in the exclusive hangout, which boasts both indoor and outdoor dining areas, along with afternoon tea and evening cocktails.
More than just a destination to relax in nature, the hotel makes a fine sightseeing base too. It’s located on the doorstep of Orchard station, and within easy reach of malls including Palais Renaissance, ION Orchard, and Isetan Scotts.
Orchard Road’s hotel landscape has seen significant growth and change in recent years, with new additions including Vibe Hotel Singapore Orchard and Pullman Orchard Singapore, not to mention the Hilton Orchard Singapore mega-hotel.
There are more on the way too, including The Standard Singaporeand revamped Grand Hyatt Singapore, which is now earmarked to reopen in late 2023.
Pan Pacific is a member of the GHA Discovery loyalty program, along with 35 hotel brands including Anantara, Parkroyal, Elewana, Avani and Kempinski.
Ashton, C. (2023, June 1). Singapore’s Jenga-like Pan Pacific Orchard hotel is now open. Executive Traveller. https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/pan-pacific-orchard-singapore-hotel