Harmony with the Environment: Siloso Beach Resort

A resort built around trees and plants. [Photo: Siloso Beach Resort]

Siloso Beach Resort is guided by a simple philosophy — harmony with the environment. Built from conception to be an eco hotel, it not only adopts sustainable features in its design, but also applies best sustainable practices and technologies throughout its operations.

For instance, the hotel used environmentally friendly construction techniques like micro-bore piling, which does not give off vibrations that would harm tree roots. The placement of the majority of rooms near the bottom of the resort also helped to preserve the original terrain, one of the many attempts made to preserve the natural surroundings. Native flora and fauna such as existing trees on-site were integrated into the resort design. Closer to nature and more energy-efficient by design, an open-air concept brings the outdoors into the resort seamlessly.

Since its opening in 2006, Siloso Beach Resort has been a case study for its unique sustainability practices in the hospitality industry. The resort actively invests in innovations and sustainable best practices. In so doing, it aims to demonstrate that it is possible to be green even with limited resources.

For instance, the resort believes that nature preservation is an important priority. Villas in the resort are constructed on stilts, which prevent damage to tree roots, exemplifying the philosophy of building around nature, not disrupting it.

Rooms are constructed to minimise impact on the surroundings. Slow-growing trees are allowed to grow through rooms, incorporated through holes in floors and ceilings. Adjustments are made every six months to the protective bunds wrapped around trunks as well as the holes where necessary to accommodate new growth. Fast-growing trees are encased in glass and grow freely while providing a unique aesthetic display for guests.

Good examples of the balance between the use of technology and hands-on sustainability efforts are the centralised recycling area and an anaerobic digester that breaks food leftovers down into nutrient-rich water.

At the same time, the resort believes in simple innovations.

Take for instance the self-maintaining roof garden, one of the longest in a hotel, which insulates and reduces the building’s heat load. A spring water source discovered during construction is used solely for the resort’s swimming pool, gardening, and outdoor maintenance activities. Piping that appears to have been laid by missionaries in the mid-20th century to prevent mosquito breeding by draining stagnant water comes full circle today. This early invention supplements natural mosquito control by the mosquito’s natural predators, like dragonflies.

On the roof, a green sanctuary provides plant décor as well as herbs and spices. Sustainable farming without pesticides, chemical fertilisers, or growth stimulators supplies 10% of the resort’s vegetable needs. Food waste is vermicomposted, a process where worms produce castings used as fertiliser for landscaping, farming, and other plant needs. Promotion of vermicomposting and sustainable farming methods are part of the resort’s outreach programmes.

The hotel also believes in being socially responsible, and it actively organises various outreach and community education programmes. To date, more than 5,000 people from businesses, schools, and other organisations have toured the resort and learned about its environmental features. The resort reaches out to the diversity of visitors from different cultures and countries in its educational efforts.

“Our educational focus on sustainability means that we use our facilities not just for leisure, but as a test-bed and showcase of the sustainable business concept, exploring the potential of the resort as a training ground.” — Mr Sylvain Richer de Forges, Director of Sustainability, Siloso Beach Resort

At the end of the day, Siloso Beach Resort believes that businesses should be accountable to the environment. Management constantly instills the mindset that sustainability is a long-term priority. For its efforts, the resort has been recognised as the first hotel in Southeast Asia to be certified as an Eco Hotel by TÜV Rheinland (an international certification body). It has also won the Singapore Environmental Achievement Award, the Singapore Sustainability Award, and the ASEAN Business Award (CSR Category).

Being sustainable does not mean an increase in business costs. Siloso Beach Resort is not only an eco hotel, but also an economically viable business that enjoys reduced energy and water consumption, and lower energy bills and wastage.