Scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2021, Patina Maldives, Fari Islands, forms a revolutionary example of biophilic design - building design that connects people with nature. The design concept comes from renowned Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan, founder of the multi-international award-winning design studio Studio MK27. Patina Maldives, the first resort of Patina Hotels & Resorts, the new lifestyle brand of the Capella Hotel Group, is part of the Fari Islands in North Malé Atoll. The Fari archipelago offers guests the choice of seclusion and retreat at one of a total of three luxury resorts and immersion in the vibrant island life of the island's centerpiece, Fari Marina Village and Fari Beach Club. Inspired by the beauty and metaphorical significance of the island landscape, Studio MK27's sensitive and fluid design creates spaces and atmospheres that encourage an intense dialogue with nature as well as interaction with others.

Design and nature in harmony

"Patina is unique to the Maldives. It offers the opportunity to experience seclusion together. It is one of the most remote places on the planet and yet a place where people can meet. Patina Maldives does justice to our own antagonisms: the simultaneous longing for tranquillity and party, for nature and design, for technological progress and the time-honoured, for complacency and meaningful thought," says star architect Marcio Kogan about this project. Out of respect for the overwhelming and intoxicating blue of the sea and sky, the delicate architectural lines run unusually low so as not to interrupt the horizon. The intense green of the flora surrounds each of the 90 contemporary designed Beach and Water Pool Villas, offering one to three bedrooms; as do the 20 Fari Studios, which are secluded but still part of island life, providing the ideal blend of isolation and connection. All the studios and villas, restaurants and service buildings bear Kogan's signature. Public areas are open, bright and inviting, with the Fari Marina Village and Fari Beach Club forming the vibrant heart of the resort. Here guests will find enticing shops and inviting restaurants, as well as a specially commissioned installation by American artist James Turrell for Patina Maldives. The airy design of all the buildings on the island is the result of playful experimentation with each space, the hierarchical arrangement of textures creating fluid transitions between the open and closed areas.

Practical and aesthetic

For the interior, muted colors, subtle textures and matte finishes were complemented by noble materials to represent the dialogue with nature. Wood, linen, rattan, paper cords, stone and natural fibres find their way outside, creating fluid transitions between indoors and out. Unique to the Maldives, floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic sliding doors allow the villas to open on three sides - while bespoke blackout blinds create cocoon-like cosiness at the touch of a button. Millwork furniture, crafted exclusively for Patina Maldives by Studio MK27, incorporates subtle practical and aesthetic design features that enhance the experience of space and meet the needs of the discerning traveller. These range from bed frames with integrated control panels to hidden charging compartments for electronic devices. In addition, carefully selected pieces from leading furniture designers add that touch of luxury and individuality to the villas: the interiors feature pieces from Bassam Fellows, Lin Brasil, Gervasoni and Vitra, while the exteriors clearly display the signature of Dedon, Carlos Motta and Paola Lenti. Other dramatic style elements enhance the bathrooms: stand-alone double bathroom shelves in black Marquina marble, basins made from a single block of stone, Italian porcelain tiles and double bathtubs in the outdoor area.

About Patina Hotels & Resorts

Patina Hotels & Resorts, was created by Capella Hotel Group to appeal to a new generation of travelers. Seeking meaningful experiences in the world's most extraordinary places, they emphasize responsible design and intuitive, authentic service. With a deep appreciation for both nature and community and an unwavering dedication to the well-being of the planet, Patina Hotels & Resorts encourages guests to make meaningful connections with themselves and the world around them. The focus of the design is on the individual - it picks up on the different moods of guests and adapts to the individual needs of each guest with intuitive as well as personalized service; so that no two stays are the same.

For more information, see: www.patinahotels.com

Picture credits: Patina Hotels & Resorts / Studio MK27, Fernando Guerra