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Project Name: Intercontinental Maldives Maanmunagau Resort
Location: Maldives
Date Completed: October 2019
Architect: Eco-Id Architects Pte Ltd
Interior Designer: Eco-Id Architects Pte Ltd and Avalon Collective Interior Design Studio
Hotel Group/ Developer: InterContinental Hotels and Resorts (Operator) | Leisure Horizons Pvt Ltd (Developer)

Situated on the southernmost tip of the Raa Atoll, this is InterContinental Hotels & Resorts’ first property in the Maldives. The context of the island and its lagoon is a given, starting with the macro planning of the master plan to lay out the blueprint of experience zones and building massing. Analysis of views, guest privacies, throughout-the-stay experience relationships of various areas, intertwined with the back-end operational efficiencies were studied and implemented.

A typical Maldivian resort would utilize the inner portion of the island as the back-of-house (BOH), main service zone for the resort. This resort however, shifted the entire BOH to a corner of the island. This shift made efficiencies to the daily incoming and outgoing boat services to be away from guest’s private areas, while being at a central position that oversees the entire stretch of resort including the long Water Villa jetty. This in turn creates a new offering for a Maldivian resort, where the real estate is then given back to the guest as private garden extensions for each Land Villa.

Reclamation studies, from programming, environmental, marine and cost had been done to form the extension of the main island, creating a new inner lagoon and another villa product type that offers both the magic of an over water villa and the charms of a beach by the doorstep. This inner lagoon created a cocooned executive area, a separate facility of lounge and pool overlooking the lagoon axis, accessed only to the “Club Intercontinental” tier.

To complete the facilities, the signature Spa extends to the south-west corner taking in the ocean view and marine life as a tranquil setting overwater as seasonal sand build up washes in and away underneath. A Kids Club is protected and set in the island with its outdoor activities area and a Fitness building with a gym setup and yoga roof deck and garden is also offered.

Throughout the resort architecture, pared-down, localised elements are the essence. Off-form and subtly textured concrete finishes paired with timber log columns. Modern Nako louvres introduced as a response for natural light and ventilation control. For this resort the designer sought to not let luxury be defined by opulence and glitter but with honesty and authenticity for a timeless resort property.