Luxury Meets Living Design: Why Fairmont Chose GWS Living Art

In the heart of Singapore’s city centre, Fairmont Singapore stands as a benchmark for luxury hospitality. As part of its ongoing sustainability efforts, the hotel partnered with GWS Living Art to introduce a large-scale green wall at its main entrance, transforming a transitional space into a lush, immersive arrival experience.

More than a visual statement, this installation demonstrates how biophilic design can be meaningfully integrated into dense urban environments, enhancing both environmental performance and guest experience.

Scope of Work

Tasked with bringing biophilic scale to a luxury setting, GWS Living Art designed and installed a 107 m² modular green wall system comprising over 2,000 individual plants. The engineering scope was comprehensive, involving the integration of automated irrigation, grow lights, and an innovative closed-loop water recycling system to overcome site drainage constraints. From initial fabrication to ongoing maintenance execution, the project represents a turnkey solution in high-performance green infrastructure.

Objectives: Bridging Biodiversity and Five-Star Hospitality

Envisioned as a botanical gateway, the project aims to redefine the guest arrival experience through the lens of biophilic luxury. The objective centred on seamlessly integrating lush greenery with Fairmont Singapore’s signature luxury, creating a refined environment where nature enhances the hotel’s elegant guest experience. By selecting species that promote thermal comfort and air filtration, the design turns a sustainability commitment into a tangible, sensory experience. This integration of native biodiversity ensures that the feature is not merely decorative, but a testament to the harmony between dense urban development and nature.

Project Highlights

Systems Engineered for Luxury Spaces

The green wall acts as a botanical gateway, softening the transition between the urban exterior and the hotel interior. Flowing curves and wave-like geometries introduce a sense of movement and calm, aligning with the expectations of a luxury hospitality environment.

Over 2,000 Individual Plants

A) Drynaria Quercifolia, B) Philodendron Scanden, C) Nephrolepis Bostoniensis, D) Davallia Denticulata

Over 2,100 plants were carefully curated to balance performance and aesthetics. The planting palette features Drynaria quercifolia, introducing a bold, sculptural texture, alongside Philodendron scandens for dense, cascading coverage. Nephrolepis bostoniensis contributes to improved air quality, while Davallia denticulata was selected to reflect native biodiversity.

Each species serves a distinct functional role, whether providing coverage, enhancing texture, or supporting environmental performance, resulting in a rich, layered, and multi-dimensional green composition.

Modular Engineering for Seamless Installation & Upkeep

Modular Panel System

The modular panel system is designed to streamline both installation and long-term upkeep. Its off-site prefabrication enables efficient deployment, while the modularity allows for easy maintenance and quick plant replacement, minimizing downtime especially in high-traffic areas. Complemented by automated irrigation and grow lighting, the system ensures consistent conditions for optimal plant health across the entire wall.

Closed-Loop Irrigation Innovation

A key feature of the project is its recycled, closed-loop irrigation system. In the absence of a drainage point, water runoff is captured and recirculated, improving water efficiency while overcoming site constraints.

Lessons from Fairmont: Innovating Beyond Environmental Constraints

Operating Within a Live Hotel Environment

Installation took place within an active five-star hotel with continuous guest activity, requiring careful coordination to minimise disruption. Noisy works were restricted to early morning hours, deliveries were scheduled at night, and installation was carried out using a split-shift schedule to ensure operations remained unobtrusive throughout the process.

Site Constraints and Drainage Limitations

The lack of a conventional drainage outlet required a complete rethink of the irrigation strategy. The solution, a closed-loop system. This solution introduced additional complexity in calibration, requiring precise scheduling to maintain optimal moisture levels.

Redefining the Standard of Green Luxury

The Fairmont Singapore green wall demonstrates how nature-based solutions can enhance both design and performance in urban developments. Beyond its visual appeal, it functions to improve air quality, support biodiversity, and create a more comfortable microclimate. Its success is driven by precise design, robust engineering, and sustained maintenance. Ultimately, the project shows that sustainability and luxury can work hand in hand to deliver environments that are both refined and ecologically meaningful.

If you’d like to learn more about our approach to green engineering and nature-integrated design solutions, get in touch with us at hello@gwslivingart.com.