Pan Pacific Orchard in Singapore Crowned World’s Best New Skyscraper for its “Hotel in Nature” Design

Singapore’s Pan Pacific Orchard has been named the world’s best new tall building by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), lauded for its innovative, biophilic design that blends nature with high-density urbanism. The 461-foot tower, designed by WOHA, a Singapore-based architectural firm, stands out as a “hotel in nature,” featuring cascading greenery, lush terraces, and open-air spaces.

The unique architecture is composed of L-shaped volumes that divide the building into four distinct sections, each terrace inspired by aspects of Singapore’s tropical environment: forests, beaches, gardens, and clouds. This design creates open, sun-shaded spaces, allowing natural elements to flourish while providing a tranquil escape for hotel guests and passersby alike.

At ground level, the Forest Terrace invites visitors into a lush, public green space featuring cascading water and native plant species. Above it, the Beach Terrace contains a lagoon-like swimming pool, while the Garden Terrace offers walking paths surrounded by greenery. At the top, the Cloud Terrace serves as an event space with panoramic views of the city.

This hotel exemplifies Singapore’s commitment to biophilic architecture, an approach that integrates natural elements into the urban landscape. Pan Pacific Orchard exceeds even the country’s stringent green space regulations, offering three times the legally required amount of greenery.