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Sustainability and conservation at heart of new Maldives Mövenpick hotel

Sustainability and conservation at heart of new Maldives Mövenpick hotel

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Coconut wood, bamboo and the spectacular natural scenery of the Maldives was the inspiration behind the new Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru.

Designed by Poland-based MOTIV, the architecture practice has designed a hotel that weaves into the uninhabited Kuredhivaru island environment, blurring the boundaries between design, Maldivian heritage and nature.

“We wanted to make sure we did not damage the island or the marine environment, so we followed nature,” explains Pawel Podwojewski, founder of MOTIV. “Also, we did not want to build anything too contemporary; so you will find in the final design influences from the Maldives and Indonesia.

Mövenpick Resort Kuredhivaru Maldives

“Organic shapes used for the roofs in the villas and restaurants allow the structures to blend with the environment. Sustainability was always our priority and therefore I was looking for solutions that could enhance my design.”

The 30 Beach Pool Suites and three Beach Spa Pool Residences are surrounded by native trees and mature plants, providing privacy and shade. Each room features an elevated deck that ‘floats’ three metres above the private pool, offering ocean views.

The 72 Overwater Pool Villas feature glass floors in the hallway, which frame displays of marine life underfoot. Each villa also has a private pool and a large outdoor deck with a hammock and direct access to the sea below.

natural materials used at the new Movenpick hotel in the Maldives

The roofs, inspired by central Asian culture, provide canopies that reflect ambient light into the rooms at night.

In terms of natural materials, coconut wood has been used for the furniture and structural elements of the open pavilions, while the interior mosaics were finished with handmade square-shaped coconut tips.

Mövenpick hotel

The resort’s main restaurant, Onu, is built entirely from bamboo with a wide-open roof, including intricate geometrical shapes. Bodumas, the hotel’s seafood restaurant, boasts a roof design that’s inspired by seashells.

Natural materials in the Movenpick hotel

“Conservation is a key element of the project. Every coconut palm on the island has been preserved, with a limited number being replanted. The island is also home to some traditional
coral brick structures with historical and cultural significance and these have also been preserved for guests to visit,” adds Pawel Podwojewski, founder MOTIV.

The hotel is set to open in November 2018.

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