Milaidhoo Island Resort's Design is Authentic to Maldivian History & Heritage

  • April 25, 2017
Milaidhoo Island Resort's Design is Authentic to Maldivian History & Heritage
Below are a just a few of the examples that make it distinctly Maldivian (versus Balinese or Thai which have inspired many other resorts’ architecture in the destination).

- Almost everything at Milaidhoo has been custom-made for the resort from craftsmen around the region, including the hanging swing-chair on every deck (called ‘undhoali’ in the local language) that is a staple of Maldivian residents.

- Natural building materials and decorations (wood, stone, coconut thatching) were used in construction to ensure that the style remains in touch with nature. Product was sourced from renewable forests, making Milaidhoo one of the few remaining resorts on the atoll with traditionally thatched roofs in cadjan (coconut leaves).

- Local artisans also add culture and character throughout the hotel, including at the entrance of each beach pool villa. Walls made of limestone blocks are loosely held together with white cement, similar to a dry stonewall effect. This traditional building technique dates back to the days when Maldivians used blocks of coral to build their homes.

- Additionally, the resorts Ba’theli restaurant was built by local boat builders. The restaurant, which is supported on stilts, is an arrangement of three traditional wooden cargo sailing boats (called ‘ba’theli’ in the local language) joined together, topped with coconut leaf thatching.

- The wooden parquet floor found in every beach pool villa is another design highlight. The idea itself was inspired by wooden flooring found in one of the old sultan’s palaces which dates back 300 years. The historic wooden flooring concept is used at Milaidhoo in a modern honeycomb pattern made of whitewashed ash wood.

Visit website: www.milaidhoo.com