Slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2023, Artyzen Singapore is the latest and first hospitality offering in Singapore by the Hong Kong-based Artyzen Hospitality Group, bringing culture, colours and greenery to the Orchard Road neighbourhood. Renowned architecture firm ONG&ONG and award-winning interior design studio Nic Graham & Assoc. were commissioned to materialise this luxury vertical oasis.

With its design inspired by the local Peranakan culture, the Artyzen Singapore offers a unique take on a contemporary sky villa typology, defined by and imbued with the heritage and history of its site and context. For design inspiration, ONG&ONG took a trip down memory lane to when the hotel site was once a sprawling tropical garden mansion named Villa Marie by the great-grandson of Singapore’s well-known philanthropist, the late Mr. Tan Tock Seng.

“We wanted to preserve the heritage of this uniquely Singaporean tropical mansion, juxtaposing it against today’s modern skyline,” says Pey Haw Tong, director at ONG&ONG. “Through its architecture, we wanted to create a hotel experience which is deeply ingrained in tropical elements, the interconnecting spaces from indoor to outdoor, the in-between spaces in the form of verandas, balconies and terraces, all reflecting intimacy with tropical lushness.”

Reaching 20 storeys high when completed, the Artyzen Singapore will prominently feature lush tropical greenery as one of the signature elements of its design. This will be a welcome addition to the busy Orchard Road district. Tong calls this conscious decision to infuse greenery in multiple tiers of green sky terraces and balconies a ‘major architectural statement’ that also reflects the identity of Singapore as a tropical garden city known for its green spaces and botanical gardens.

The sense of tropical lushness will also be expressed with an outdoor spiral staircase connecting spaces between the bar and restaurant with the wellness and workout floors. As the hotel’s crowning glory, the roof garden will sit on the top floor and include a 25-metre cantilevered infinity pool with a partially transparent base section and an outdoor deck with a sunken lounge. This guarantees panoramic views of Nassim Hill on one side and the urban skyline of Singapore’s CBD on the other.

The extensive integration of greenery into the very heart of Artyzen Singapore’s design extends beyond just the aesthetic choice on the part of the architectural team. “A sustainable and green approach to the hotel architecture is always a preoccupation in our design. This approach is implemented in this project in both the spatial design and landscaping elements, to mitigate the hot and humid tropical weather,” explains Tong.

Multiple levels of green sky terraces will channel air flow from the prevailing winds into the building, while the building’s porosity will enable the heat within the building space to be dissipated with the aid of natural ventilation and greenery. High ceilings throughout the hotel will allow the heat to dissipate at height while maintaining the lower spaces at a comfortable ambient temperature.

Designed with building fenestration orientated to avoid the East and West directions, heat and solar glare are effectively minimised. A double skin in the building is also designed to provide a heat buffer between the external façade and the actual wall enclosure of the guest rooms. In addition, vertical perforated screens at balconies will provide shade and protect the interior space from heat and glare from the sun.

“Perhaps most importantly, lush foliage planted throughout the building provides ample shade,” adds Tong. “The presence of greenery helps to lower the ambient temperature and ensures thermal comfort throughout the hotel spaces.”

Images courtesy of Artyzen Hospitality Group

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