Maldivian Floating Villa
MAST has collaborated with local NGO ‘The Eco Org’ on the development of an off-grid, floating villa, which was presented to government ministers in August, as part of a new vision for sustainable tourism development in the small island state. The project promises an alternative to the expensive and environmentally devastating practice of land reclamation – all while providing a totally unique experience for guests.
The Maldives, which comprises an archipelago of 1.200 low-lying tropical islands, has seen a growing number of land reclamation projects in the past years, due to an increase in tourism and a shortage of accessible land. The construction of luxury resorts typically involves smothering coral reefs with sand, which not only destroys the reefs but also alters ocean currents. These projects often also involve the transplantation of large numbers of mature trees and palms from other islands.
Floating villas avoid the need for this damaging practice by being moored in the expansive protected lagoon areas around the Maldives, where they would have a minimal impact on the marine ecosystem.
Category
Wellness, Urban Design, Tourism Development
Timeline
2023 – ongoing
Location
Maldives
Collaborators
The Eco Org
The villas provide a unique experience for guests, offering private views over the water from the two large bedrooms, bathrooms and living room, as well as access to their own protected courtyard garden and undulating wooden roof terrace. They utilise an existing suite of technologies including solar cells, battery packs, on-board sewage treatment and watermakers to provide a high-end villa experience, indistinguishable from resorts on land – except for the gentle sway in high winds and the fact that guests will have to access by electric boat, swimming or paddleboard.
MAST’s floating villa has been designed as a proof of concept, with plans for further development in collaboration with Maldivian NGOs and the local community.
