Alila Villas Hadahaa

Alila Hotels & Resorts is working with architect Chan Soo Khian of SCDA Architects to develop a new sustainable resort in the Maldives. Alila Villas Hadahaa is slated to open in 2009. The $40 million resort will feature 14 Aqua Villas and 36 Island Villas, 20 of which come with a private pool. In-resort facilities and services include a dive centre, a tropical island garden spa, a fully-equipped gym, a Maldivian specialty fine dining restaurant, a rooftop lounge, the Alila Living boutique and a library with a star-gazing roof. All resort villas and facilities are designed to integrate into the site as carefully as possible to preserve the natural beauty of the destination.

The resort is set on the pristine tropical island of Hadahaa in the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, surrounded by a vast expanse of sea, stunning coral reef, abundant fish life, and stands of the native Sea Trumpet and Sea Hearse. 

The development is being billed as the first resort in the Maldives to commit to the standards of ‘Green Globe’ – an international benchmarking and certification programme for the travel and tourism industry – throughout its design and construction stages. The development achieved the Green Globe ‘Building Planning and Design Standard’ Certified Status in August this year.

“By joining the internationally-recognised Green Globe program and committing to having both its design and operations certified, Alila Villas Hadahaa is raising the benchmark for others to follow,” says Andre Russ, Head of Global Markets for Green Globe. In developing the island, Alila kept to Green Globe’s rigorous ‘Building Planning and Design Standard’ benchmarks and its own ‘long-standing philosophy of luxury living in natural environments, while treading lightly to preserve the essence of a destination.’

The appointed architect, Yale-trained and Singapore-based Chan Soo Khian of SCDA Architects, has blended innovative designs in keeping with strict environmental standards. His designs have been guided by environmental impact studies, with the buildings orientated to best deal with the tropical climate and natural environment of the island. Other innovations include rainwater harvesting, waste treatment plants, high roofed areas and open ceilings, cross ventilation in all indoor spaces, deep roof overhangs, and windows shading. Many natural materials, including coconut, timber and coral stones found in the region have been used. The site will have a low building and infrastructure coverage area, with only a fifth of it being built-up. Large areas of the site are designated for biodiversity protection where native species will be selected and reintroduced.

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