Garden Pod At
Gardens By The Bay 

Singapore Institute of Architects Architectural Design Awards 2023 - Merit

The Shipping Container Hotel commissioned us to design a boutique hotel befitting the world status of Gardens by the Bay, made of upcycled shipping containers.

The design was inspired by the incredible views of Serene Gardens, an art piece contextualized as one of many sculptures in the garden. The distinctive pinwheel layout maximises views of the Gardens while maintaining privacy between the four rooms. The central tower housing the lift also serves as a visual marker for guests and park visitors.

As the Gardens was to remain open throughout the construction of the hotel, we designed for offsite fabrication. The use of shipping containers and lightweight steel structures enabled the bespoke design to be easily deployed, disassembled, and relocated, proving the concept of this pop-up hotel.

Garden Pod was designed to support the sustainability objectives of Gardens by the Bay e.g., integrating insulation and double-glazed glass to reduce solar heat gain, selecting the white exterior finish to reflect heat. As a prototype for future off-grid installations, we worked with local start-up Photovoltaic Foundry to cover each container with High-Power-Density-Modules that supplies approximately 80% of daily energy consumption. The lift system was repurposed from a decommissioned Show Unit, reducing fabrication costs, and giving discarded materials a second life.

Interior finishes were selected in response to the natural setting. The island kitchen counter rises from the ground as if carved from a marble block. Upstairs, the warmth of wood permeates the bedrooms, inviting nature into the living spaces.