(CNN) – Many architects would kill to be given a blank slate on which to create their dream project.
His approach was to build in a way that brought out the island’s natural beauty while using as few natural resources as possible.
“The real concept is how we can showcase this existing beautiful nature, which means pristine, white beach and crystal clear water,” explains Yamazaki. “These are the elements we wanted to preserve.”
First on the priority list: clean energy.
As solar power becomes more and more common in the Maldives, Yamazaki didn’t like how so many hotels and resorts tried to hide the panels behind buildings as if they were something shameful or unsightly.
Instead, he and his team designed their own panels and incorporated them into the resort’s overall aesthetic. Today, Kudadoo remains the only fully solar powered private island in the country.
“We decided to just design a large public building with a solar roof,” says Yamazaki. “In terms of power calculation, this was apparently enough to cover or supply electricity to the entire island.”
An aerial view of Kudadoo Resort.
Kudadoo Maldives Private Island
Besides creating something beautiful and useful, Yamazaki had another goal in mind for his solar panels — education.
“When you go to the Maldives, you usually arrive by seaplane or boat, so the first impression of the resort is always a rooftop or building in the distance,” he explains. “Instead of hiding it, we showed that we made it the main character of the island, so people (see when they arrive).
This confrontation is exactly what Yamazaki wanted to achieve. Travelers to the Maldives may come for a luxurious and beautiful environment, but the architect hopes they will also leave with a sense of responsibility to care for the islands.
According to him, sustainability is not an add-on that you can store behind a building out of sight. Instead, it’s a beautiful design element placed in the most visible position possible.
A sinking nation
The low-lying islands of the Maldives are at serious risk from climate change.
According to projections by NASA in coordination with the United States Geographical Survey, the entire country could be completely underwater by 2050.
He said: “Our islands are slowly being flooded by the sea, one by one. If we don’t reverse this trend, the Maldives will cease to exist by the end of this century.”
One of Kudadoo’s 15 villas.
Kudadoo Maldives Private Island
Yamazaki also sounds the alarm.
“The concern is really becoming more visible and louder. The sea is rising much faster than scientists predicted. People in the Maldives are very concerned. We have been going to the new resorts and making sure they have done a lot of erosion studies. and coastline protection”.
But the architect is trying to be even more proactive in his approach.
“As an architect, we are there to build a new environment,” he says. “We make sure to show what’s happening underwater, not just sea level rise, but what’s happening with sea temperature, why corals are dying or why fish migration is different this year…we also like to bring people’s attention to this too”.
A stretch of that famous white sand at Kudadoo.
Kudadoo Maldives Private Island
As more and more travelers learn about sustainability and specifically look for properties that rely on natural fuels and energy sources, the architect believes that brands and destinations will follow.
“I think a lot of developers, architects, investors … are becoming more aware of why people come here — beyond the usual five-star hotel accommodation. What are the best points? The water, the weather, the breeze, the view I think that these are the elements that are important. Instead of building the big fun pool and bar hall, I think many investors are not only doing that, but also trying to share some of the profits with a local community to clean up the Environment.”
Private plunge pools, world-class wine lists and doing something good for the environment at the same time? now that sounds like luxury.
