Designing the "Living Skin"

As Architects, our work often takes us to unexpected corners of the world, offering invaluable insights into how different cultures approach the fundamental challenge of building. This week, my journey led me to Singapore, a city-state that stands as a beacon for what's possible when urban density meets radical biophilic design. My temporary home, the Parkroyal Collection Pickering, isn't just a hotel; it's a living manifesto for a new kind of architecture. This building is a 2013 landmark project by Singapore’s WOHA Architects and has been an immersive study in what happens when we stop treating greenery as a luxury and start treating it as an essential urban infrastructure.

It's a place that deeply resonates with Juhani Pallasmaa’s call in The Eyes of the Skin for a return to multi-sensory design, a building that speaks to us through more than just its visual appeal.

Beyond the Green Wall: Designing with Nature, Not Just Around It

The most striking feature of the Parkroyal Collection Pickering is its beautiful integration with nature. It holds space in the building envelope for over 15,000 square meters of greenery, which is more than twice the total land area the hotel occupies. It's not just a building with plants; it’s a building as a garden. This isn't merely aesthetic, it's a deeply intelligent design choice that offers profound lessons for high-quality residential architecture.

Climatic Intelligence & Natural Cooling.

In Singapore’s equatorial heat, this abundant greenery works as a natural cooling system. These 'sky gardens' and cascading plants reduce the urban heat island effect, shade the building, and promote natural ventilation. For us in New Zealand, this translates to designing with our unique climate in mind, using strategic planting to shield from harsh sun or wind, creating microclimates within your property, and integrating natural airflow to reduce the reliance on mechanical systems. It’s about creating comfort organically.

Water as a Design Element.

The hotel’s commitment extends to responsible water use, with harvested rainwater irrigating these vast gardens. This principle is vital for any modern home. Thinking about rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, and permeable landscaping isn't just about sustainability; it's about connecting with the natural water cycle and enhancing the resilience of your property.

The "Eyes of the Skin": Materiality & Light

Stepping inside the Parkroyal Collection Pickering, you’re enveloped by an atmosphere crafted through thoughtful material choices and a sophisticated approach to light.

Natural Materials & Textures.

The interiors showcase a beautiful palette of natural wood, rough-hewn stone, and exposed concrete resembling natural landforms. These aren’t just finishes; they’re tactile experiences. As Pallasmaa reminds us, we encounter architecture with our hands, our feet, and our memory. These materials engage the senses, providing a sense of grounding and authenticity that polished, artificial surfaces often lack. In our residential designs, we carefully select materials that will age gracefully, develop a rich patina, and connect you tangibly to your home.

Maximizing Daylight, Minimizing Tint.

The hotel uses low-emissivity (low-e) glass that isn't heavily tinted. This allows for maximum daylight penetration, creating bright, airy spaces while still managing heat gain with calculated shadow lines and roof overhangs. This is a principle we champion: harnessing natural light to enhance mood, reduce energy consumption, and make spaces feel more expansive. It’s about celebrating the natural rhythms of day and night within your home, without compromise on performance.

A Global Perspective for Your Home

My time at the Parkroyal Collection Pickering is more than just a luxurious stay, it's an immersive study in what's possible. It reinforces our belief at Day Architects that high-quality residential design isn't just about aesthetics or square footage, but principles such as,

• Improving Interaction with the Land. How your home breathes with its site, rather than merely sitting on it.

• Enhancing Neighbourhood Connection. Creating spaces that feel both private and seamlessly woven into the broader community.

• Elevating Quality of Life. Designing for your well-being, where every material, every ray of light, and every carefully considered plant contributes to a home that feels truly alive.

These aren't just grand ideas for a five-star hotel, they are the fundamental principles we integrate into every Day Architects project. Because ultimately, we believe your home should be a living, breathing extension of you, a space that resonates with the 'eyes of your skin.'

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