This could be the most high-design hotel in the Maldives

by editorial March 14, 2018

There’s no shortage of beautiful island hotels in the Maldives. Just read our raving reviews of Naladhu Private Island by Anantara, Kanuhura and JA Manafaru, which are only a fraction of barefoot-chic retreats peppered along the archetypal jewel-like archipelago. However, the St. Regis Maldives may just blow all of them out of the water — design-wise.

Nominated for five AHEAD Asia Awards this year, the first-ever St. Regis resort on a private island is a textbook example of high-design. And it’s all thanks to Singapore-based architect Wong Chiu Man of WOW Architects.

Taking inspiration from the impossibly clear waters it surrounds, WOW has designed the hotel’s accommodations and public pavilions so you can conjure aquatic creatures from various angles. Lagoon villas, outlined to resemble manta rays, and an imposing whale shark-shaped bar are what you’d first notice as you fly in via seaplane.

However, look closer and you’d realise WOW has planned the resort with several distinct ecological zones of the inhabited Vommuli Island in mind. There’s the lagoon, beach, coastal and jungle area. The architectural forms still very much take a leaf out of Mother Nature’s book, and include variations of primitive huts in a nod to the island’s origins.

The hotel has won several awards last year, including the International Beach Resort of the Year Prize by The European Hospitality Awards 2017. And this year, it is the most nominated entrant of the AHEAD Asia Awards. Taking place on March 15, 2018 at Andaz Singapore, the award ceremony celebrates the best hotel and spa designs around Asia.

We can’t say for sure if St. Regis Maldives will win all five categories, but here’s hoping it’ll bag at least one of the following.