Patina Hotels & Resorts, the latest lifestyle brand from Capella Hotel Group, has opened its first property, Patina Maldives, Fari Islands — with more in development.
Designed by renowned Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan of Studio MK27, Patina Maldives, Fari Islands is the first property of the new luxury lifestyle brand Patina Hotels & Resorts by Capella Hotel Group.
It is set in the Fari Islands archipelago in the North Malé Atoll of the Maldives and features 90 contemporary one- to three-bedroom Beach and Water Pool Villas, as well as 20 Fari Studios.
Design notes
Of the project, Studio MK27 writes, “The architectural lines never break the horizon, they speak low and elegantly. All buildings are visually permeable, melted, dematerialized, putting life and men in the centre of the experience.”
“The island’s shape followed natural curves. The greens take care of almost all the island and determine a series of beaches and trails in nature, erasing any traces of human gestures. The only built path, in wood, determines an axis that organizes the whole program for the hotel. On the left, there are the main building and most of the villas. To the right, there’s the spa and the common spaces of the village and beach club.”
Authentic experiences
Awarded the ‘Great Design Award 2021’ in the Architectural Digest Hotel Awards, there are six artworks, installations and collections positioned throughout the resort, including works by James Turrell (USA), Hiroko Takeda (Japan); and Cássio Vasconcellos (Brazil).
Visitors can explore the resort’s art collection and a special map reveals their location throughout the resort.
Some of the resort’s activities include floating pod experiences and other wellbeing treatments at Flow Spa; 3D modelling, ceramics and coral conservation workshops, interactive music programs, Maldivian cooking classes, tennis, private cinema experiences, wine tastings, art tours, cruising, fishing, snorkelling, surfing and diving.
Sustainability
Patina Maldives, Fari Islands rescued and planted thousands of trees and shrubs from neighbouring islands that were being industrially cleared. Renewable materials were used in the creation of the resort’s structures. Power is harvested from the sun, saving 795 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.
The resort is the first in the Maldives to feature a 100 per cent solar-powered kids’ club, recreation and dive centres.
With a goal at its kids’ club, Footprints, to inspire future generations, the programs and activities are centred on discovery. At Footprints’ Fab Lab, kids can turn recycled ocean plastic into models using 3D printing and laser cutting technology which mimics the energy-saving prefabrication techniques that were used in the modular construction of the resort’s villas.
A culinary program teaches the benefits of local, organic and sustainable plant-based cuisine. Children can access free diving lessons, while free PADI dive certifications are also offered for local Maldivian children, helping to raise next-generation awareness of the local ocean environment.
To help create a balanced, economic ecosystem, the resort donates one per cent of its gross operating profits to fund a range of charitable initiatives that focus on supporting Maldivian women and children, and the local communities most heavily impacted by global climate change.
An on-island organic permaculture garden generates fresh produce, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during the supply chain process. At their leisure, guests can explore and forage the variety of vegetables and herbs available within the garden. All off-island ingredients are sustainably sourced and accredited by EarthCheck or the International Pole and Line Foundation.
The resort’s drinking water is produced and bottled in-house with on-island water bottling plant, Nordaq.
More Patina Hotels & Resorts are in development in Ubud, Bali; Sanya, China; Osaka, Japan. Further locations are being considered in Southeast Asia.
Fari Islands is located in the North Malé Atoll within the Maldives, a 45-minute luxury boat transfer from Malé International Airport.