RSP design a hotel with an expressive facade

RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd have designed the Holiday Inn Express Clarke Quay in Singapore, featuring an expressive facade that gives it a distinctive look. The geometrical glass facade came as a solution to the hotel’s location, and mainly because a large part of its exterior is facing the harsh western sun. Rigorous sunshade studies were carried out to derive the kind of articulated oblique window system that could be created to block out the strong afternoon sun rays.

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In order to keep the glazing perfectly rectilinear, the walls framing the windows on the west facade had to be tilted and inclined in two directions. The outcome of the shading geometry is a subtle projected articulated façade that inches forwards by 170 mm on every floor from the one below, with a total projection of 878 mm. This gives the rooms along Clemenceau Avenue about 95% shade more than half the year.

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The architects were also faced with the challenge of creating larger spaces in spite of the room size being only 18m². The solution came from the subtle incline of the windows in combination with the extremely high ceilings of 3.5m. Besides a more spacious feel, guests also enjoy a larger view of the streetscape outside.

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The Magazine road façade takes on a similar but simpler profile by turning its windows away from the carpark to prevent the shining of headlights into the rooms from the carpark annex.

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The entrance and ground floor of the hotel was designed to open up the space and become more inviting to visitors. The main massing of the hotel was specially lifted 9 metres above the ground to create a large and open feel.

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Lush landscaping, rustling greens and bubbling fountains were used in both the public walkways and hotel interiors for a lively backdrop against the lofty transparent ground floor reception and lounge, blurring the delineation between the inside and outside.

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Being located above an expressway tunnel, bringing natural light deep into the hotel was proven to be challenging. To overcome this, three intimate courtyard spaces with views to the sky were carved out. At different corners of the corridors and courtyards you can catch glimpses from the ground up or top down, of the outdoor spaces or views of the sky.

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The carpark and corridors were also designed to be naturally ventilated. The hotel incorporates roof terraces and gardens to help mitigate the heat island effect, and create spaces for relaxations. The roof opens up to a view of the city skyline, featuring an elevated transparent 50 metre pool surrounded by a garden. A true oasis for the hotel’s guests.

Image Courtesy of RSP Architects Planners & Engineers

Image Courtesy of RSP Architects Planners & Engineers

Image Courtesy of RSP Architects Planners & Engineers

Image Courtesy of RSP Architects Planners & Engineers

Image Courtesy of RSP Architects Planners & Engineers

Image Courtesy of RSP Architects Planners & Engineers

Image Courtesy of RSP Architects Planners & Engineers

Image Courtesy of RSP Architects Planners & Engineers

Facts:
Architects: RSP Architects Planners & Engineers (Pte) Ltd
Area: 11,783.1 m2
Location: 2 Magazine Road, Singapore
Completion: 30 Jan 2014
Clients: RB Capital Hotels Pte L
Awards: 2014 World Architecture Festival Awards (Shortlisted), SIA Architectural Design Awards, MIPIM Asia Awards Gold, BCA Green Mark Awards Platinum (2013)