Privacy and social rendezvous are often considered mutually exclusive, but Studio MK27 challenges this idea with Patina Maldives, a luxury resort within the new Fari Islands archipelago. The Brazil based designers had the entire island to play with, and they made the most of it by creating envelopes and interiors for a medley of buildings, including a reception pavilion, a spa, multiple bars, and restaurants. The accommodations of the resort architecture, too, were designed to be a mix of water villas, in-land villas, and beach suites, each of which is equipped with its own private pool.

The inspiration for the hospitality design is very evidently derived from the context of the site. The bright blue waters along with calming beige of the sand and the deep green foliage are amplified in the hospitality architecture by Studio MK27. The villa architecture is respectful of its surroundings, never rising higher than the tree canopies. Instead of height, the studio plays with spaces, creating dynamic pockets, with the ability to take on bustling social interactions and quiet secluded moments alike. The volumes are large, airy, and playful and the materials used are a continuation of the design’s respect for its context. The studio uses matt finished earthy tones along with natural textures of wood, stone, and sand to create a visually cohesive island.

The studio takes this penchant for material to the interiors of the villa design as well. The interiors boast of a perfect mix of design and technology. High tech sliding windows that operate at the press of a button and custom-made blackout blinds, coexist with woven light fixtures and wooden shelving units.

Light, clearly, is more than a means of illumination and pairs with shadows to become a lighting design element in its own right. The various types of openings— horizontal and vertical—lined with brick grills and wooden trellises create a subtle play of patterns that change throughout the day.

Much like light, the natural landscape also acts as a design element. While some of the landscape design is clearly manicured, a large portion of the foliage is kept natural, creating instinctive pockets of solitude. These pockets are offset by larger clearings suited for gatherings.

The varied sense of the landscape trickles into the design of the accommodations. A luxurious Maldives resort design would feel incomplete without the inclusion of water villas and Studio MK27 fulfils this with four sets of water villas, projected onto the sea, on two sides of the island. Accessed by a snake-like pathway over the water, these villas are designed to feel open without losing any sense of privacy. With ladders from the raised floors leading directly into the jewel toned water, these villas are the ultimate luxurious dream.

To add to the water villas are the inland villas and beach suits. However, the main architectural element of the accommodation is the two storey three-bedroom beach house. Equipped with a private pool, a full bar design and kitchen along with an outdoor dining deck and campfire space, the house is made for entertaining.

Though many buildings across the island have their own sense of identity, such as the spa designed around a shallow pool design, the kids club with pops of colour to add fun to the façade, and the cluster of restaurants designed like an urban village, the island as a whole does not lose its holistic identity.

Project Details

Name: Patina Maldives
Location: Maldives
Architect: Studio MK27 - Marcio Kogan + Renata Furlanetto
Area: 400 sqm
Year of completion: 2021
Interior Design: Studio MK27 - Diana Radomysler + Pedro Ribeiro
Landscape Designer: Vladimir Djurovic Landscape Architects