Sustainable shipping container hotel opens at Gardens by the Bay

Fancy a stay overnight at the Gardens by the Bay? You can now do so at the newly opened hotel concept by the Shipping Container Hotel in Serene Garden near Bayfront MRT Station. 

Called Garden Pod, the hotel was designed by President’s Design Award winner LAUD Architects and offers a view of the Marina Bay skyline and the surrounding gardens, announced Gardens by the Bay on Thursday (Sep 1).

The Garden Pod offers four different suites: The Maple Duplex, Juniper Duplex, Jasmine Duplex Suite and Bamboo Duplex.

Each of the four suites, which spans about 70 sq m over two levels, houses a living room, kitchen, a king and queen bed, ensuite bathroom, indoor dining seating and high speed Wi-Fi.

There is also a private outdoor patio, complete with outdoor dining tables and chairs for dining outdoors or watching the night sky.

The suites’ bedrooms also have a floral and tea-scented room fragrance from Maison de L’Asie, a Singaporean luxury niche fragrance house.

Beyond aesthetics, the Garden Pod was designed with sustainability in mind.

Aside from using repurposed shipping containers, the roofs have photovoltaic panels that harvest clean solar energy that constitute around 80 per cent of the pods’ energy needs.

Even the pod’s interior is given a ‘green’ touch, with drinking glasses and terrarium displays repurposed by Soda Lemon artisans and recycled drink coasters made by The Plastic Project Singapore. Even the soil in the terrarium displays is produced using upcycled horticulture and landscaping waste from homegrown company Soil Social.

A one-night stay at the Garden Pod cost $600. Each container can accommodate up to four adults.

The Garden Pod was designed as a sculptural form to complement the plant displays and add a new dimension to the landscape at Gardens by the Bay, said LAUD Architects director Matthew Yeo.

He added: “The distinctive pinwheel layout of the hotel allows bedrooms to enjoy elevated views of the surrounding gardens through the wide expanse of glass. Nature is welcomed into the indoor spaces on the lower floor through large panels of sliding glass doors and generous semi-sheltered outdoor decks for guests’ activities. The use of containers and lightweight steel structures stems from the idea of ‘touching the ground lightly’ to minimise disruptions to the Gardens and the surroundings.

“In line with this principle, we incorporated various sustainability solutions in our design such as the use of double glazed glass and solar photovoltaic panels to reduce energy consumption.”

Gardens by the Bay Deputy CEO Lee Kok Fatt added that Garden Pod also offers an option for visitors to fully experience the attractions in the day, then stay overnight in style and comfort “amidst the tranquility of Serene Garden”.

“For Singaporeans who are familiar with Gardens by the Bay, Garden Pod is also an interesting new option for a staycation.”

Garden Pod is the latest ‘container hotel’ set up by Shipping Container Hotel. The concept was first piloted at their One-North location before being replicated in Haw Par Villa. 

Bookings can be made on the Shipping Container Hotel’s website. Visitors will have to make prior arrangements to meet the hotel’s guest relations staff at the containers as there is no physical front desk.