Naladhu Maldives: Moments designed to last

Ensconced on a private island in the idyllic Maldives archipelago, Naladhu is designed to create more than a luxury accommodation experience. Inspired by a temperate tropical climate and the native dwellings of the unique Indian Ocean islands where it is set, Naladhu’s architecture and interior design embodies a lifestyle. A lifestyle which can be as inclusive or exclusive as a guest desires.

According to architect Mohamed Shafeeq, whose portfolio includes the Four Seasons Kuda Huraa and Taj Exotica, the structural elements of Naladhu reflect certain intrinsic features of the archetypal Maldivian village. Namely, the houses are situated on the edge of a lagoon, similar to the native dwellings on the remote islands of the Maldives.

The architecture also emphasizes the significance of generous living space, allowing areas to evolve similarly to the landscape and forms of local buildings and houses. Fusing certain design elements of Ceylonese architectural colonial influence with the practical and airy layout of the grand habitations, Naladhu encapsulates a sense of homeliness and ease.

The scale of the Naladhu houses with their white, lofty roofing and liberal room space, provide a sense of freedom and expansiveness, whilst allowing for a sense of individualism and privacy. In a tropical climate where external living areas are as integral to the home lifestyle as the interior habitat, Naladhu also incorporates ample outdoor space into the design such as an extensive veranda, vast teak sundeck and dining pavilion in the champa style of South Asia.

Importantly, the positioning of the dwellings creates an intimacy with the lagoon, with the ebb and flow of its cerulean waters calming and appeasing the senses. This natural element, coupled with the pond, terrazzo bathtub and personal pool generates a visual and sensuous continuity, so that a sense of buoyancy and lightness can be experienced throughout the living space.

Beyond the private enclosure of each house, the architecture of Naladhu’s open resort areas has been designed to create a welcoming sensation. The prime restaurant and bar area mimics the open sided and elevated roof constructs that are distinctive to local villages – where special occasions are celebrated by a communal feast.

To complement the elegant yet homely manner created in the architectural aspects of Naladhu, renowned interior designer Julian Coombs has drawn on ingredients that articulate a feeling of refined familiarity. His refreshing flair for choosing travelling relics to match the colours and flavours of classic life is perfectly suited to the Naladhu atmosphere.

Coombs has expertly combined colonial furnishings gathered from his personal voyages with plush fabrics of muted natural colours that incorporate Maldivian, Indian and Sri Lankan influences. Highlights of the décor include an author’s desk, maxi bar cabinet and a library corner brimming with classical literature, all of which enhance a sense of nostalgia and romanticism.

The sunken terrazzo bathtub bestows an unrivalled vista of the endless Indian Ocean and its horizon, while the interior steam rooms afford the view of the lush tropical landscaping around the bungalow. French glass mosaic tiles line the opulent pool, contrasted by warming fabrics on the sun lounges and bleached teak decking. An outdoor designed rain shower provides the perfect refresher to the Maldivian tropical weather and guests can feel secure in the privacy of their residence.

Aged wooden trunks, especially sourced from Indonesia, provide the stalwart Doric columns for the immense veranda, flawlessly framing the Indian Ocean.

Yet despite these amorous furnishings and opulent natural elements which truly make Naladhu’s atmosphere unique, every modern convenience is also within arm’s reach. The state-of-the-art espresso machine, private wine cellar, wireless Bose sound system and flat screen TVs are cleverly concealed within each bungalow’s interior.

All of these details, so meticulous in their design, encapsulate the essence of Naladhu which brings relaxation to all your senses, a timeless sense.

For reservations and more information, visit Naladhu.com.