Joali Being

MALDIVES

Whether floating or soaring, flowing or cosseting, the design energy of Gürok Group’s second Maldivian resort embodies a wellbeing concept that celebrates weightlessness.

Words: Neena Dhillon • Photography: Courtesy of Gürok Group

Iprefer a life physically and mentally free of weight,” says Turkish hospitality luminary Esin Güral Argat, whose first project in the Maldives launched her Joali brand in 2018. The Vice President of multi-sector conglomerate Gürok Group is deeply serious about her own wellbeing, finding time to pursue a healthy lifestyle despite the pressures of running a successful business. This passion for wellness has been poured into every corner, curve and soaring structure of Joali Being, the sister property to Joali Maldives. Also located in the Raa Atoll, Argat’s new venture can be found on the secluded island of Bodufushi, home to indigenous flora and fauna and a natureimmersive wellbeing experience.

“For the transformative spaces of Joali Being, we blended modern technology and traditional wisdom, looking for distinctive ways to deliver unparalleled possibilities for reflection and healing – from sound treatments and hydrotherapy to herbology and culinary arts,” she continues. “This is why we have built the resort using biophilic design principles that harmoniously integrate our architecture and design into nature and, in so doing, enhance the flow of energy.”

Wellbeing here goes beyond the barefoot relaxation offered by other luxury hotels in the Maldives, with the resort’s diversity of wellness modalities, facilities and experts raising the bar in this island-nation. At the core of the approach is the idea of weightlessness, a concept heralded by the sinuously undulating Gate of Zero welcome jetty, which has been conceived by artist Seçkin Pirim. Inspired by the skirts of the Sufi whirling dervishes, the gate invites guests to leave their egos, excesses and baggage at the door – and move from a state of being to becoming.

Weightlessness is a concept that design studio Autoban has run with too. “All structural elements are designed to achieve a sense of lightness, with linear and flowing architecture hovering lightly in place, at once a part of the natural environment yet also simultaneously

Across the resort, soaring ceilings, organic forms and voluminous spaces combine with an unapologetically feminine colour palette of teal, dove grey and blush

floating above it,” reveals co-founder Seyhan Özdemir Sarper. In practice, this means soaring ceiling heights, organic forms – there’s not a sharp angle in sight – and voluminous spaces, all of which combine to allow for grand expressions of the science-driven, biophilic design theme.

“Across all areas we used form, pattern and texture to mimic configurations of nature, along with sumptuous surfaces and delicate touches to evoke the spirit of the island,” Sarper explains. “As part of our layered approach, we also emphasised detail and materiality to create multi-sensory interactions, enhancing the bond between guest and nature.”

Guest villas intricately convey these interconnecting concepts, with the expansive abodes featuring sculptural and tactile room dividers that can be played with to open up or enclose spaces. Barriers to the outdoor world are also absent, the indoors spilling out to a large deck complete with private pool and suspended chair swing. “Our intention was to create a rich sensory experience, summoning both the feeling of an absence of gravity and one of being embraced by nature,” says Sarper. “Roof canopies, surfaces and garden walls feel almost sculptural, folding as lightly as paper, angling softly to envelop the spaces.” In the unapologetically feminine colour palette, blush pink juxtaposes with teal, dove grey, ivory and gold, the alluring hues complemented by driftwood furniture and figures of animal species that either swim or fly. Sybaritic bathrooms feature mosaics that depict the hypnotic traces of waves in sand, while canopied beds inject romance to the private retreats.

Dining spaces across the resort are open-plan and interactive, with Flow comprising three signature kitchens that serve their own distinctive and healthy fare. The restaurant is housed under a dramatic and undulating roof that mirrors the movement of the ocean, with other inspiration drawn from beach textures, including driftwood, coral, shell and fishing nets. Layered outdoor seating areas, replete with lustrous marble stairs, provide a panoramic view of the clear blue waters beyond. By the pool, Mojo bar offers equally appealing vistas. As part of the dining offer here, a specialist tea atelier is characterised by a mosaic-paved counter in a swirl of sea blues, complemented by bark-enclosed columns and topped

with round basket pendants suspended from another soaring ceiling.

While all ceilings send the eyes swivelling upwards, it is perhaps the entrance of Areka Spa in which the height and form of the structure truly awes. Sarper describes the approach: “We wanted to usher guests into a soothing lair-like space, a departure point for the journey towards transformation. The surfaces here are rhythmic and organically textured with handcrafted finishes, mimicking the natural rock grooves carved by centuries of waves.”

Curves are replicated throughout the spa, with different sculptural expressions found in the Hydrotherapy Hall – which includes a dreamy Watsu pool awash in mosaics and twinkling stars – the marble hammam and the glowing salt-inhalation room. The subtle yet repetitive use of naturally occurring forms is a thread that weaves its way across the island’s ethereal buildings, with the hexagon an exemplar, according to Sarper. “Omnipresent in nature, the hexagon is often thought to evoke a sacred geometry, signifying balance, harmony, spirituality and even eternity.”

The wellness facilities are extensive – there are 39 treatment rooms alone, dotted across the island – with the external landscape forming part of the journey, from the trails carved into the lush flora to the Discovery Sound Path, an outdoor area in which guests can play with instruments that sound out healing harmonics. The design team worked hard to preserve the natural flora of the island, plotting the resort around the existing environment. It is in the conservation of the forest, the nods to indooroutdoor living and the choice of materials, including cane and coir, that Maldivian culture is quietly referenced.

There is an effortless rhythm to the design narrative that embraces the concept of weightlessness at every turn. If design can tap into a particular energy, to eliminate negative vibrations – all the while finding a harmonious existence alongside nature – then Joali Being is the place where this has been achieved. EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner / Operator: Gürok Group Architecture: Autoban, Atölye4n Interior Design: Autoban www.joali.com

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