World-renowned architect Shigeru Ban has designed Infinite Maldives – a new ‘resort-residence’ set within the Male Atoll, just a 35-minute speed-boat journey from Male Velana airport. Developed by Crystal Property Group and managed by The Cocoon Collective, it will comprise 44 luxury over-water and beachfront villas, alongside a fitness center and spa.
With villa prices starting at a cool $1.2m, the resort-residence model allows buyers to reap a cash yield from their investment each year from hospitality operations and stay at their fully furnished turnkey villa whenever they like with no blackout dates.
While details remain sparse for the time being, we do know the villas will be dotted throughout four landscaped gardens designed by revered landscape architect Michel Desvigne.
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Each property will be crafted from natural, locally sourced, and recycled materials, in a sign of Crystal Property Group’s commitment to minimizing the resort’s environmental impact. Ban used pre-fabrication methods and lightweight materials to further reduce the amount of transport and energy needed for construction.
“What makes Infinite Maldives unique is that the resort blends in with the sea and the green nature in an ‘infinite’ manner,” he commented. “Conventional resort design usually starts by designing and arranging buildings first and placing water features and vegetation after, using the spaces left between the buildings.”
Ban continued: “For Infinite Maldives, we first considered the resort’s landscape design by carefully defining the relationship between water, land, topography and vegetation, to make the most of this sense of lace. The individual buildings were then carefully designed and placed within the landscape, with a focus on creating continuity and comfort between interior and exterior spaces.”
Reza Magdon Ismail, CEO of Crystal Property Group added: “This is an extraordinary project located in a very special part of the world and alongside it’s home, we believe Infinite Maldives will truly stand as a testament to the wonders of all the island has to offer.”
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