Opened in 2013, the 16-floor Parkroyal on Pickering was recently voted one of the world’s most influential tall buildings of the past half century by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Located in the Central Business District, the luxury lodging’s architects drew inspiration from terraformed landscapes such as rice paddies to create dramatic outdoor plazas and gardens that flow seamlessly into the interiors.
The young hotel chain 1 Hotels is best-known for its Instagram-friendly features, such as the foliage-covered walls, tree-trunk coffee tables and lobby art made from birds’ nests. This millennials-baiting brand claims to be at one with nature in every way, from its design aesthetic – think earthy palettes, natural textures and raw materials – to the way it sources reclaimed or upcycled materials and serves its food.
The 168-room apartment-thotel Leman Locke in the Big Smoke’s East End has transformed three suites into lush indoor jungles. The Productivity Suite is filled with ferns, peace lilies and plants said to inspire focus and creativity, while the Romance Suite has a “botanical canopy” theme. Meanwhile, the Tranquil Suite promises guests a zen-like forest-bathing experience with plants that supposedly purify the air.
Apart from bedside lavender balm and scent diffusers, several Westin Hotels and Resorts branches are being fitted with lighting that mimics the sun’s position throughout the day – helping guests reset their circadian rhythms. In some rooms, LED lights will be installed behind perforated metal screens on the ceiling to produce shadow patterns designed after the dappled light that comes through a forest canopy.
