Opening its doors was an unusual boutique hotel tucked away in Gardens by the Bay’s lush greenery

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SORA ebrochure

The year was 2022 when a unique boutique hotel located in the lush green areas in Gardens by the Bay opened its doors. Constructed from recycled shipping container, the low-rise structure is simple but impressive, adding a contemporary design for Gardens by the Bay’s Serene Garden, a 2ha open-air park situated in Gardens by the Bay. The design is based on Japanese Zen gardens, the park is home to plants like podocarpus, bamboo and junipers. It also has the tropical trees and rock gardens.

SORA ebrochure by an esteemed consortium comprised of Chip Eng Seng, SingHaiyi and KSH Holdings to guarantee top-of-the-line quality and design.

Gardens Pod at Gardens by the Bay is an eco-friendly hotel pop-up which was designed using principles of sustainability to create guests with an unforgettable stay. The hotel is an initiative created by Tiny Pod, a Singapore-based company that is specialized in moving and sustainable hotels.

This hotel was the only hotel situated within Gardens by the Bay. The hotel was designed by President’s Design Award-winning Laud Architects, it comprises four shipping containers measuring 40 feet that cantilever onto steel structures. This allows the bedrooms, located on the upper level with stunning views across the Serene Garden. The arrangement of containers were made in a unique pinwheel arrangement which maximizes views while preserving the privacy.

The hotel’s structure is mostly made of glass and steel which gives it a modern style. Its minimalist style was a deliberate choice that allowed the hotel to blend into the surroundings rather than separating guests from the beautiful surrounding.

Based on Laud architects, Garden Pod incorporates a range of environmentally friendly attributes. This includes the addition of insulation, and double-glazed glass, as well as an exterior with a white finish to reduce heat. The roofs of each container are fitted with photovoltaic panels which harvest solar energy, which accounts for 80% of its energy use. In addition, the lift system that is located in the hotel was recycled from an old show unit which has reduced the cost of fabrication.

The hotel’s unique design along with its well-thought-out design, has earned numerous awards for its development including an award from the Singapore Institute of Architects Design Award for Special Categories (Innovation Materials as well as Construction Details) for 2023. It also was one of the finalists at the World Architecture Festival 2023.

Garden Pod has also garnered recognition at the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards (EPEA) 2023, in which it was awarded the inaugural award for the most sustainable hotel Development.

Tranquil retreat
Garden Pod comprises just four suites. Every suite is a two-plex with 753 square feet of space which includes bathrooms with en suites equipped kitchen, as well as free WiFi. The dining, kitchen and living spaces are on the upper level and have an outdoor patio that is private. A spiral staircase within the suite leads to the bedroom with a king-sized bed, as well as an queen-sized Murphy bed. Additionally, there is an extra sofa bed in the upper level. Thus, each suite can take up to five people.

The constraints in a shipping container comes with its own difficulties. As per Tiny Pod the process of creating a functional layout was a challenge due to the small 2.4m length of the container. It also determined the width of the structure made of metal that was on its first level. To overcome this, larger containers with 3m height were employed, which allowed for higher ceilings in the rooms which give a sense of spaciousness and a sense of space, particularly in conjunction with the windows that were full height and windows.

Additionally, the suite includes subtle eco-friendly design features made by local artisans to will provide a truly immersive experience. Each room is scented an aroma that includes tea and floral notes by the perfume Maison of L’Asie. The glassware manufacturer Soda Lemon provides drinking glasses made of recycled glass, as well as containers that house display terrariums. The unique coasters made from recycled plastic were made available through The Plastic Project Singapore.

The hotel is not equipped with reception or a front desk as of yet, and instead uses Tiny Pod opting instead for digital locks and an app that creates an encrypted password for guests. It’s also located near the open-air car park in The Meadow at Gardens by the Park which gives guests easy parking.

Setting the stage for sustainable hotels
Garden Pod is the latest hotel development created by Tiny Pod and its first venture into the world of sustainable luxury hotels. The company also runs container hotels at one-north and Pasir Panjang Road in close proximity to Haw Par Villa MRT Station.

According to Tiny Pod Garden Pod will be dismantled and relocated to another site in Singapore in the next few years, after the lease for Gardens by the Bay expires. Shipping containers along with the hotel’s steel lightweight structures, are easily removed and moved to a new site to be put together there. The ultimate goal for the establishment is to create little footprint on the landscape and to keep waste to the minimal level.

The EPEA judges were impressed with the hotel’s innovative idea of reusing containers to create an unique boutique hotel experience in addition to providing an illustration of how sustainability can be integrated into the industry of hotels.

“It’s the kind of idea which can spark a discussion about sustainability, which will impact the future generations,” says Sky Seah academic director, master in Science in Real Estate, at the National University of Singapore and the judge at the upcoming EPEA. She adds that projects like Garden Pod play an important role in creating the conditions for the future, more efficient versions of sustainable structures in Singapore.