A TROPICAL SKYSCRAPER BY
WOHA AND PATRICIA URQUIOLA:
SUSTAINABILITY AND DELIGHT
The Oasia Hotel in the central business district Singapore is by
all means and standards a unique project, redefining what a
high-rise can be in humid tropical climates. In contrast with the
conventional, completely sealed-off, air-conditioned tower, this
hotel, designed by local office WOHA, merges architecture and
nature, and combines indoor and outdoor spaces in a striking
fashion. According to the architects, the aim was ‘to create an
alternative imagery for commercial high-rise developments. It
combines innovative ways to intensify land use with a tropical
approach that showcases a perforated, permeable, furry, verdant
tower.’
The tower, which has a height of 190 metres, contains four large
outdoor spaces: three enormous verandas on the 6th, 12th,
and 21st floor, as well as a roof terrace on 27th floor. This roof
terrace is surrounded and protected by a 10-storey-high screen,
covered in the same red aluminium mesh cladding as the rest of
the tower. This facade will gradually be overgrown by 21 species
of creepers and vines, creating a lively contrast between vibrant
reds and lush greens.
The Oasia is, like the majority of WOHA’s work, located in
Singapore. WOHA was founded in 1994 by Singaporean Wong
Mun Summ in partnership with Richard Hassell, who hails from
Australia and moved to Singapore in 1989.