Basking in the beauty of the Maldives is a luxury that can now be enjoyed in an all-inclusive eco resort powered entirely by solar energy. Opened at the end of 2018, the Kudadoo Maldives Private Resort was designed by New York-based architectural firm Yuji Yamasaki Architecture (YAA) to create a luxury experience guided by eco-conscious principles. The crowning jewel of the resort is The Retreat, a two-story dining and leisure hub topped with a folded roof clad in solar photovoltaic panels.
Set on a private island on an aquamarine lagoon, the Kudadoo Maldives Private Resort offers 15 spacious residences ranging from one to two bedrooms. Each residence is over 300 square meters in size and opens up to a 44-square-meter infinity plunge pool and unobstructed ocean views. Guests also enjoy access to a private butler, tasteful handmade furnishings and modern fixtures including a television and surround sound system.
Sustainability drove the architects’ design decisions, which minimized environmental impact wherever possible. The resort is mainly built of eco-conscious materials, such as timber from sustainably certified forests in Canada, New Zealand and Indonesia. Energy usage is reduced thanks to energy-efficient cooling systems, fully automated lights and passive design features that promote cross ventilation.
Traditionally, solar panels are hidden in discreet areas in the Maldives and it does not have any other function, but in Kudadoo, [the] photovoltaic roof is decidedly visible and becomes the icon of the place,” the resort said in a statement. “Solar concept should be as informative and persuasive as it is productive. At a glance, visitors can assess the size of solar roof, and then comprehend the
relationship to the scale of the resort served by it. As you get closer, the design of the building reveals geometry that not only maximizes production of electricity by its angle, but also minimizes consumption of electricity by allowing sunlight to come through the gaps between panels, minimizing the use of artificial light during the day.”
