Parkroyal on Pickering

Parkroyal on Pickering
Name	Parkroyal on Pickering
Location	Singapore
Opened	2013
Architect	WOHA
Operator	PARKROYAL Hotels & Resorts
Owner	UOL Group Limited
Floors	16
Rooms	367

Parkroyal on Pickering Parkroyal on Pickering is a hotel in Singapore noted for its integrated landscape architecture and urban greening, located near Chinatown, Singapore and Bugis, Singapore. The property sits along Pickering Street adjacent to Hong Lim Park and the Singapore River corridor, linking to the Central Business District, Singapore and the Marina Bay Sands precinct. The development exemplifies contemporary Southeast Asian hospitality projects tied to transit nodes such as Tanjong Pagar MRT station and urban renewal initiatives by agencies like the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

Overview

Parkroyal on Pickering occupies a city block bounded by Pickering Street and Tras Street near the Telok Ayer conservation area and the Chinatown MRT station. The hotel is operated by PARKROYAL Hotels & Resorts and owned by UOL Group Limited, with design by the Singapore firm WOHA and engineering support from firms linked to projects like Marina Bay Financial Centre and Raffles City Singapore. It is positioned within walking distance of landmarks including Raffles Place, Clarke Quay, Fort Canning Hill, and cultural sites such as the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Sri Mariamman Temple. The property contributes to the Downtown Core, Singapore urban fabric and interacts with transport nodes such as Outram Park MRT station and Changi Airport connections.

Architecture and Design

The architectural concept by WOHA draws on precedents from projects like Parkroyal on Pickering (1990s)—reinterpreted through vertical landscaping and sky gardens similar to Gardens by the Bay and precedents seen in works by Ken Yeang and Moshe Safdie. The façade uses cantilevered balconies and extensive planter beds referencing tropical modernism found at National Library of Singapore redevelopment and residential towers in Marina Bay. Structural engineering collaborations invoked practices used at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and office towers in Raffles Place. Interior programming aligns with hospitality standards established by brands such as Pan Pacific Hotels Group and Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, while landscape detailing resonates with botanical research at the Singapore Botanic Gardens and conservation themes from the City in a Garden vision championed by the National Parks Board.

Sustainability Features

Sustainability strategies reflect green building approaches paralleling certification schemes like those used by Building and Construction Authority and projects such as CapitaGreen and The Metropolis Tower. The hotel employs rainwater harvesting, solar shading, and passive cooling methods also seen at Marina Barrage and Suntec City retrofits. Native and adaptive plant palettes echo species inventories from the Singapore Botanic Gardens and restoration programs run by the National Parks Board. Energy efficiency measures mirror standards promoted in the Green Mark framework, while integrated stormwater management and biodiversity corridors recall ecological design in projects like Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park.

Facilities and Amenities

Amenities include multiple dining venues inspired by regional culinary hubs such as Maxwell Food Centre and Tiong Bahru Market, meeting rooms akin to conference spaces at Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre, and a rooftop infinity pool overlooking precincts like Marina Bay and Telok Ayer Green. Guestroom layouts and hospitality services follow protocols similar to Mandarin Oriental, Singapore and The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, with wellness offerings comparable to spas at Raffles Hotel Singapore and fitness facilities paralleling those at Capella Singapore. The hotel’s retail and event spaces host programs tied to festivals including Chinese New Year celebrations in Chinatown, Singapore and arts events linked to Singapore Art Week.

History and Development

The project was commissioned in the early 2010s during a wave of urban redevelopment influenced by policies from the Urban Redevelopment Authority and investment patterns of conglomerates such as UOL Group Limited and Frasers Property. Design and construction phases involved consultants that had worked on landmark projects like ION Orchard and The Heeren, while contractors coordinated logistics typical of dense-city builds near Outram Park and Tanjong Pagar. The opening added to a series of hospitality investments in Marina Bay and the Downtown Core, following precedents set by hotels including Marina Bay Sands and restorations like The Fullerton Bay Hotel.

Reception and Awards

Critical reception compared the hotel to internationally recognized developments like Marina Bay Sands and praised its urban greening similar to Gardens by the Bay, with commentary in publications profiling WOHA and practitioners such as Benjamin Wood and Richard Hassell. The project received accolades in forums associated with organizations like the World Architecture Festival and recognition through local awards administered by the Building and Construction Authority and industry bodies akin to Singapore Institute of Architects. Reviews referenced sustainability case studies alongside other emblematic buildings like CapitaSpring and Parkview Square.

Category:Hotels in Singapore Category:Buildings and structures completed in 2013