The Maldives, an archipelago of more than a thousand islands off the southern tip of India, is renowned for pristine beaches and unparalleled ocean views. The natural setting of these islands, which sit atop shimmering waters and reflect colors of emerald and royal blue, is the perfect place for an island resort getaway.

But while any number of resorts in the Maldives offer snorkeling among the coral reefs and overwater villas that let travelers dive into the lagoon from their hotel rooms, Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa stands out — with its careful curation of the island spaces and bold interior designs, inspired by Bauhaus style and the glamorous histories of 20th century fashion and air travel.

In this episode, host Hamish Kilburn meets with Singapore-based designer Dan Kridsada to trade Maldives travel stories and reveal all the careful decisions that go into constructing an overwater villa. Dan explains how he turned every room inside-out to establish a seamless connection between travelers and the natural features of the Maldives, then brought in striking visual elements and carefully structured framings to set every room apart, in a way that ultimately heightens the experience of being dropped onto an island in the Indian Ocean.

• 00:00 Pro tip for your arrival to the Maldives
• 00:45 Introduction to Dan Kridsada and the first design question for today’s episode: How do you create such a distinct personality for the hotel, without disrupting the traveler’s connection with the island setting?
• 02:00 Hamish shares his parents’ experience visiting the Maldives when it wasn’t a luxury destination, and Dan explains the balancing act that Le Meridien’s luxury overwater villa is accomplishing, in how it makes guests feel at one with nature
• 07:45 Why Bauhaus? Dan and Hamish talk about the choice to create a bold and striking interior design — including Bauhaus, mid century style, and patterns that layer fashion influences on top of traditional Maldivian references
• 11:08 How to design furniture with sustainability in mind
• 12:30 How to design the perfect sunset experience, starting with an “infinite canvas” and ending up with a one-of-a-kind outdoor bar and pool that overlooks the ocean

Featured Hotel: Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa

Featured Designer: Dan Kridsada, Bluette

Explore more stories about hotel design at Travel by Design

Follow host Hamish Kilburn's hotel design reviews @HotelDesigns