Tuesday, March 13, 2007

New Resort To Be “Perfect” Maldives Destination

A new luxury resort has been built in the Maldives, which is aiming to offer a “unique lifestyle” to those who appreciate the “sophistication and charm of the past” yet enjoy the modern conveniences of the 21st century.

Opening just weeks ago, Naladhu Maldives is the country’s most recent resort, and is located on Velighandu Huraa, a private island, in South Male’ Atoll.

Naladhu, which means “beautiful island” in Dhivehi, is just one of many resorts being showcased by the Maldives at this year’s ITB (International Tourism Bourse) travel trade show in Berlin, Germany.

Minivan News met up with Naladhu representatives at the event to find out just how “unique” the resort was.

“Naladhu is a celebration of living,” said Public Relations Director Marion Walsh, “Every person’s life is the essence of their imagination and Naladhu provides the canvas and the colour palette to those who wish to make their holiday picture perfect.”

Architect Mohamed Shafeeq and interior designer Julian Coombs were the ones chosen to transform Velighandu Huraa into that “perfect” holiday destination.

Shafeeq, whose portfolio includes the Four Seasons Kuda Huraa and Taj Exotica, designed Naladhu so that its structural elements reflected certain intrinsic features of the archetypal Maldivian village. As a result, the houses of the resort are situated on the edge of a lagoon, similar to the native dwellings on remote islands of the Maldives.

Additionally, the architecture incorporates certain design elements of Sri Lankan colonial influence, which is combined with the practical and airy layout of the local habitations.

In an effort to compliment Shafeeq’s vision, Coombs said he drew on ingredients that articulated a feeling of refined familiarity.

The interior designer accomplished this by combining colonial furnishings gathered from his personal voyages with plush fabrics of muted natural colours that incorporated Maldivian, Indian and Sri Lankan influences.

Naladhu Representatives say that the work of Shafeeq and Coombs results in a resort that provides a lifestyle that can be as inclusive or exclusive as a guest desires and offers “a mosaic of timeless moments to be imagined.”

Source: Minivan, by
Phillip Wellman in Berlin

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