The new Holiday Inn Express hotel projects a distinct, geometrical facade that is engaging, generating a new buzz in the vibrant Clarke Quay neighbourhood within the city centre. Completed in February 2014, within a site area of 11,555 m2, the design approach for this seven-storey hotel has been largely driven by the urban design requirements and technical conditions for the site. Its striking facade comprising of hotel room windows tilted and inclined at an angle, creates an identity of its own along Clemenceau Avenue.The design is firmly rooted in keeping the rooms shaded as much as possible from the direct and harsh afternoon sun as a large part of the Clemenceau Avenue elevation is west facing. The resultant facade is expressive, providing rooms across this elevation about 95% shade for more than half the year.

Because of the hotel’s location in a prime neighbourhood, conscious efforts were made for free flowing interaction between the hotel and the public realm. The main massing of the hotel was specially lifted 9 metres above the ground to create a large, open feel. Lush landscaping, rustling greens and bubbling fountains were used in both the public walkways and hotel interiors for a lively backdrop, blurring the delineation between the inside and outside.

Going beyond the site brief, the architects saw the potential to focus on the environmental aspects. Three intimate courtyard spaces with views to the sky were carved out, bringing light deeply into the hotel’s internal spaces, opening up the hotel for maximum ventilation. In an unusual move for a hotel, the carpark and corridors were also designed to be naturally ventilated. These various features together with other energy and water efficient features provide a potential energy savings of about 30% each year or 2,140,000 kWh and potable water savings of 11,900 m3.