Singapore-based design powerhouse KulörGroup is proud to introduce a new architectural vision in the Maldives: .Here Maldives, a luxury resort that challenges the traditional horizontal layout of island hospitality. Eschewing the standard division between beach and overwater villas, the resort is a lived promenade that connects the lagoon to the sky.
Under the visionary leadership of KulörGroup’s Founder and Creative Director, Christopher Chua, and his forward-thinking design team, KulörGroup has reimagined luxury hospitality with .Here Maldives. Rather than a mere collection of destinations, they have crafted a seamless spatial experience immersed in elevation and stillness with movement.
Featuring seven signature villas, known collectively as Somewhere, the resort is intentionally designed as one of the smallest resorts in the Maldives. This architecturally concentrated destination—conceived as a continuous spatial journey—allows guests to inhabit multiple conditions within a single, cohesive sequence.
The island’s public spine is defined by a gently curving pedestrian and buggy pathway, guiding movement and orientation across the site. More than infrastructure, this shared route functions as an anchor that frames the intersection of the resort’s architecture, landscape, and daily life.
Arrival redefined: from water to elevation
At .Here Maldives, arrival begins over water. Villas are entered directly from the lagoon, with living spaces positioned low and close to the water. Lagoon-facing decks, private pools, and concealed grottoes create an immediate sense of immersion, grounded in shade, sound, and reflection.
Above where the architecture rises, master bedrooms occupy a second-floor position over the lagoon, where the horizon expands and the spatial experience shifts. From this elevated vantage point, each villa makes an unexpected turn back across the island.
The pool as a spatial experience
A private elevated walkway extends from the master suite, crossing above the island’s public spine while remaining fully secluded.
Comprising three unique pools calibrated to different conditions, the experience begins with a lagoon-facing pool that sits close to the water at the lower level, while a sunrise-facing beach or jungle pool is embedded within stepped terraces at the rear. Alongside it runs the villa’s defining spatial feature—a 47-metre-long elevated private pool, suspended above the island as a continuous inhabitable edge.
From different points along its length, including sections with glass-bottom panels, guests can experience multiple perspectives: looking outward to the lagoon, inward toward the jungle and beach, downward to the public spine, or upward to the open sky.
“We wanted the pool to behave like space, not an object,” said Christopher Chua, Founder and Creative Director of KulörGroup. “At different moments, you’re looking outward, inward, downward, or upward. You’re constantly aware of where you are—between land and horizon.”
A skyline defined by lightness
Arrival options are equally deliberate, where each villa features a private boat dock, allowing guests to arrive directly at their lagoon-side deck. Alternatively, arrival may unfold through the island’s public sequence beneath the resort’s most recognisable architectural forms.
A series of split-roof pavilions rises above the public realm, forming a gathered skyline rather than a singular monument. Evoking the rhythm of traditional dhonis across water, the roofs are sculptural yet intentionally open, allowing light and sky to enter. Between and beneath the soaring roof forms, the public areas unfold as a series of open, layered spaces designed for movement, pause, and gathering. Linear walkways extend over the lagoon, passing through a rhythmic procession of rope-wrapped columns that filter light, frame views, and soften the transition between indoors and out.
Within the restaurant and bar pavilions, the architecture opens upward into generous, expansive volumes, while interior interventions deliberately recalibrate the scale. Feature ceilings draped with textured elements, finely detailed column cladding, and layered lighting introduce tactility and intimacy beneath the large roof forms. In the bar, a coral-like three-dimensional surface wraps the space, filtering daylight and transforming after dusk into a softly glowing field of shadow and pattern. Together, these layered gestures allow the public realm to feel both expansive and grounded—where spatial drama is balanced by craft, texture, and atmosphere, and remains continuously connected to sea, breeze, and horizon.
“The roofs are about lightness,” Chua added. “They allow space to open upward and let the sky in.”
Material restraint and integrated design
.Here Maldives distinguishes itself through a rare concentration of experience. By prioritising precision over scale, every architectural gesture is calibrated to support stillness rather than excess. This results in a strong architectural voice within the resort; one that is not loud in volume, but profound in its impact in delivering unforgettable moments.
With an emphasis on proximity and precision in every aspect of its design, the resort is built to deliver one single, continuous experience rather than a collection of separate parts. This was realised through a deep collaboration with MuzaLab for the interiors and Topo Design for landscape architecture. With this, the resort exists as one seamless trajectory, bound by the common values of shared intent, spatial clarity, and restraint.
An expanding vision: nowhere and beyond
The .Here Maldives experience is set to grow with the upcoming launch of Nowhere, an ultra-exclusive eight-bedroom private island retreat. Nowhere will offer a self-contained world of luxury, including its own spa, ice rooms, and gym, maintaining the same architectural philosophy of immersion and restraint.
In addition to this, guests at .Here Maldives can enjoy access to the creative facilities at neighbouring Finolhu, A Seaside Collection Resort, and KulörGroup’s extension into the broader island ecosystem. It includes an Art Studio and Teens Hut, newly designed in 2025, defined by its expressive bamboo architecture inspired by barnacles and ocean forms.
Teen Hut is a first-of-its-kind facility in the Maldives designed specifically for young adults aged 12–18. This vibrant space features high-tech amenities, including gaming consoles, music stations, and creative technology, alongside a pool table. It is complemented by a robust schedule of curated activities, ranging from traditional Maldivian cooking classes to outdoor adventures.
Simultaneously, the new Art Lab offers a creative hub welcoming guests of all ages. Guests can explore various mediums, including painting, pottery, candle-making, and crafting coral ceramics or miniature dhonis (traditional Maldivian boats). Further extending this creative experience, KulörGroup has placed a blank canvas in every villa as an open invitation for guests to express themselves.
Finolhu Seaside represents the resort’s deliberate extension of its relationship to the horizon beyond a single island, into an intricate tapestry of architecture, creativity, and exploration.
How .Here Maldives paves the future of KulörGroup
More than a singular destination, the launch of .Here Maldives embodies the first milestone in a permanent commitment to the region’s experience-led design landscape that will unfold across various upcoming projects. The studio also currently helms an architectural uplift for another iconic all-inclusive resort, in hopes of redefining design statements and guest experience for a contemporary facade of what it means to have comfort, identity, and longevity.
Photo credit: KulörGroup
