Situated on Maavelavaru Island, this is our first project in the high-end hospitality industry in the Maldives. The project aims to combine a contemporary and traditional concept of a bar & restaurant in a new 6-star resort. The design is inspired by a "chic businesswoman with a
Vietnamese hat," blending sleek modern design with the traditional Maldivian resort style.
Nestled among natural foliage on the island, the entrance to the bar and restaurant is deliberately concealed from the main pathway. Guests will need to find the entrance by following a footpath through the landscape. The entrance is a modern sculptural wall contrasting with the surrounding greenery, hinting at what lies beyond.
Upon entering, the built environment suddenly becomes modern and sleek, creating a sense of arrival. A glass tunnel surrounded by greenery leads to the reception area, which is almost overlooked because the real reception is the breathtaking view of the waterscape and the Maldivian Sea.
This is the orchestrated arrival experience of the Mac Bar & Restaurant. The most striking feature of the architecture is a lap pool extending into the sea, underneath which a wine cellar with exclusive dining is hidden from view.
Through the use of mirrors and a skylight (under the lap pool), a surreal space is created, with the wine storage seeming to stretch to infinity, giving the impression of walking in mid-air and further enhancing the sense of arrival.
