The 61-villa Viceroy Maldives is located in the isolated northern edge of Maldives, on Shaviyani Atoll. Here, the 17-acre private island of Vagaru is a haven of unspoiled nature dotted with palm trees and pristine sand encircling a blue lagoon.
The design of the villas is an interpretation of the hull of an inverted Maldivian dhoni – a traditional fishing boat. A deliberate move away from a stiff square or rectangular design, the villas have irregular shapes with curved walls, lending a sensuous feel to the spatial experience. Every villa comes with a private pool and a private sun deck.
The villas are well spaced around the island for maximum privacy with 32 villas over the water and 29 on the beach. Some of the villas are single-storeyed while others are double-storeyed with either a room or an open deck on the upper floor. Those with a room on the upper floor have two circular windows in the ceiling for stargazing.
An interesting mix of Malaysian Balau, Kapur and Meranti were used for different parts of the resort’s structure and interiors ranging from roof trusses, ceilings, flooring, doors and windows. A giant chill-out swing suspended over the pool deck from the ridge beam of the villas’ roof heightens the enjoyment of the Maldivian sea breeze and the boundless sky.
When dusk falls, the view of the villa and its surrounding areas become magical. The timber beams on the ceiling, combined with deliberately exposed thatched roofs, are themselves a work of art when the lights are turned on in the evening. The light emanating from the villa’s interior softly illuminates the timber rafters, door frames, thatched roofs and timber decking, creating a warm glow and a romantic feel for a relaxing time on the swing, or a leisurely stroll on the powdery white sand.