The striking Oasia hotel is an architectural delight created by Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola. It is housed in a tall, slender oval-shaped building clad in a red aluminium latticework over which grow 21 species of climbing plants – in effect a vertical garden.
The contrast between the industrial red and green foliage is stunning. It tops out with a sky garden covered by the four sides of a red lattice converging into a graceful open-topped barrel, effectively bringing nature into a district of glass and steel offices.
Oasia Hotel rises up from a small plot of 2,300 square metres in the centre of Singapore’s Tanjong Pagar downtown business district. The design ingeniously multiplies the available open space three-fold through three sky gardens, each with ceilings six floors high, evenly interspersed between its 27 floors. The 21st floor is where the club lounge and the infinity pool with its garden, reside.
Contradicting the western building concept of keeping the outside out, each sky garden brings inside the hotel tropical foliage and climate. Two sky gardens contain infinity swimming pools and lounge and coffee areas, and another is a communal yoga and wellness centre.
Reception sky garden
Checking into the hotel is in the open air on one side of a sky garden on the twelfth-floor reception, the lower floors being offices. The nine floors above contain the superior and deluxe rooms and the four floors above them the club rooms. The club rooms will have their own reception on the 20th floor as staffing levels increase.
Oasia Hotel is indeed a striking vision that stands tall both physically and philosophically on three pillars of “respite, refuge and rejuvenation to travellers”.
Who for:
This is a hotel for grown-ups 13 years and older. Ideally for couples looking for a break in Singapore or business travellers who want a more human touch to their visit to this island nation.
Accommodation
Club Room
Free standing bath
There are 314 rooms – 88 Club rooms and 2 Club suites. The décor combines natural elements like copper and wood along with living and breathing greenery.
Superior and deluxe rooms are 23sqm and come with floor to ceilings windows and a bathroom with a rain shower. Rooms are decorated with natural colours interspersed with dashes of burnt orange and although business travellers are part of their target audience, this was not the usual corporate décor.
Our room, a club room on the 21st floor, had a floor-to-ceiling window that let in lashings of natural light and a vantage point over the city – a view superior and deluxe rooms do not have. We particularly enjoyed sleeping with the curtains open to enjoy the nighttime lights of the city below from our king-sized bed.
View over Singapore from Club Room
The bathroom had sliding glass doors on two sides to open the space into the bedroom for less inhibited guests and a compact, free-standing bath.
There are plenty of mod cons, including a yoga mat alongside fluffy dressing gowns and full access to a beautiful Club Lounge and infinity pool on 21st floor as well as various wellness activities. There is even a free neck and shoulder massage available between 6 and 7pm every evening at the club area.
Food & Drink
Breakfast is taken at the Marmalade Pantry restaurant on the ground floor and offers an extensive international menu buffet. Those in club rooms can take theirs in the Club lounge on 20th floor.
Club lounge
Whilst the food offering was more limited the space was relaxed with impeccably polite service and even more pleasing is the Happy Hour between 6 and 8 when cocktails and alcoholic drinks are free.
Facilities
Infinity pool in the Club aea
Roof top pool with no roof
Roof top pool
The infinity pool on 21st floor has heated water yet is still refreshing. Plus you get a view of the outside because there is no wall.
There are a further two rooftop pools situated on the 27th floor. The area is full of lush foliage ,and as there is no roof if you get there after dark, you can enjoy the night sky.
There’s also a small but well-equipped 24-hour gym.
How much
Superior rooms from SGD 285 / £174.00
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What’s nearby?
Oasia Hotel is minutes away from Raffles Place, Clarke Quay, Sentosa, Orchard Road, China Town and Marina Bay.
Verdict: Leaving the hotel after our two nights was a wrench. The hotel’s spirit of open space, natural foliage and relaxing vibe had got to us. We applaud the Oasia Hotel in creating a city centre hotel that doesn’t look to fill every available space but which is generous in its open areas that connect back to nature.