Singapore’s Pan Pacific Orchard Hotel has been crowned the world’s best new skyscraper, as recognized by The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). Located in the heart of Singapore’s iconic shopping district, the 23-storey, 140-metre-high structure opened in June 2023 and has quickly gained global recognition.
The hotel, designed by Voha Architects, also won three other prestigious awards including “Best Tall Building” in the 100m-199m category. CTBUH, a prestigious global authority on skyscrapers, announced the awards during its recent conference held in London and Paris on 23-27 September.
According to the Straits Times, CTBUH’s CEO, Javier Quintana de Una, praised Pan Pacific Orchard, saying that the hotel “represents the best of responsible vertical urbanization nowadays”. Vertical urbanization is a concept that promotes sustainable use of urban spaces by building upwards, maximizing land use while incorporating greenery into the design.
Pan Pacific Orchard is celebrated for integrating eco-friendly elements into its designs. It features solar panels, rainwater harvesting for irrigation and an on-site biodigester to manage food waste. The hotel’s lush greenery reflects Singapore’s focus on sustainable development, with tall trees, gardens and pools enhancing the guest experience. It achieved a green plot ratio of more than 300 percent, meaning it has more than three times the landscaped surface area of its footprint.
The hotel is divided into four different environments: Forest Terrace, Beach Terrace, Garden Terrace and Cloud Terrace. Each zone offers unique experiences, from a high-ceilinged lobby with tall trees to sandy beaches and serpentine ponds. The Cloud Terrace hosts a pillarless ballroom, one of the tallest ballrooms in Singapore, ideal for special events.
Following previous accolades for projects such as Kampung Admiralty and Oceania Hotel Downtown, this recognition further strengthens Woha Architects’ position. Pan Pacific Orchard Hotel also earned Singapore’s Green Mark Platinum Award – the country’s highest environmental certification – in 2020.
At the same CTBUH event, other Asian skyscrapers also received recognition. Malaysia’s Petronas Towers won the Global Icon award, while China’s Greenland Hangzhou Century Center was named Asia’s tallest building.
