Blink Design Group redesignar Maldivernas legend på Huvafen Fushi

21 mars 2024 administration 5-stjärniga hotell och resorter 0

Huvafen Fushi är en ikon för Maldiverna och ett förtrollat gömställe vid North Male Atoll som krävde lite nytt tänkande och kärlek för att föra sina 44 påkostade bungalowbostäder ovanför vattnet och stranden uppdaterade och in i framtiden.

BLINK founder and creative partner Clint Nagata says the challenge facing his team was a complete refresh of the resort’s interiors while staying true to the brand’s essence of sophisticated island chic and effortless style and ensuring the disruption to a very loyal clientele was kept to a minimum.

“Naturally enchanting was our mantra,” says Nagata. “Wherever possible we used handmade materials from nature and colour palettes inspired by nature, designed to deliver a crafted sense of sophistication.”

BLINK’s philosophy of placemaking requires a deep dive into the customs, culture, arts and crafts of a destination before pen is put to paper or fingers to touchpad. For Huvafen Fushi this meant an exploration of local textiles, building materials and weaving techniques to create a new vision of sophisticated atoll chic, and a design that complements but never competes with the stars of the show: the turquoise waters, azure sky and shimmering white sands of North Male Atoll.

“Balance is key in a delicate refresh like this,” says Nagata. “For each villa, it was about establishing a natural focal point and the interplay of subtle elements.”

The resort is rightly famed for its otherworldly overwater bungalows and palm-fringed beach villas, as well as iconic pavilions for those who truly want room to spread their wings. Sprawling overwater jetties offer complete seclusion and privacy.”We wanted to instil a sense of returning to the roots of when the resort first started, and recapturing some of that magic, while elevating the design to be full of surprising details, and spaces that impart a sense of wonder and tranquility.”

För inredningsväggarna används handgjorda väggbeklädnader i vävd abacafiber, tillsammans med naturliga ROA-tapeter från Java i Indonesien, där vävarna är av fulländad skicklighet.

“These woven designs are increasingly intricate and ambitious yet retain a natural beauty,” says Nagata. “Woven rattan material features at the bedhead, and Jim Thompson silks in shades of green add a restrained splash of colour for the pillows.”

Rotting, timmer och vävda teman fortsätter genom stolarna, sofforna och andra möbler, medan tak med träpaneler och burspråk tillför den raffinerade ön-vibben.

Rena linjer, återhållna toner, lekfulla texturer och ett överdimensionerat badkar i djupsten skapar badrum att dröja kvar i.