DEPARTURES UNITED KINGDOM AUTUMN 2021

DEPARTURES TRAVEL PARADISE FOUND 24 TWENTY-FIVE nautical miles north of the Maldives’ capital Malé, a clutch of new coral isles have been born. Four, in total, have risen from the sea to become the Fari Islands, the most opulent new hotel development in the Indian Ocean. It’s here that Patina, a hip new brand from the swish Singaporean Capella Hotel Group, and the storied Ritz-Carlton have chosen to plant their flags, opening hotels in May and June 2021, respectively. A standalone Capella resort will complete the set at the end of 2022, while the fourth island houses the 1,000 staff required to keep the machine well oiled. The location is sublime, a mere 45-minute speedboat transfer from Malé, yet surrounded by wide open horizons and luminous blue waters that shimmer from turquoise to cerulean to sapphire. Take a wander and you’ll encounter swathes of bonewhite beach, quivering palm trees and lake-calm lagoons frequented by stingrays, needlefish and pairs of titan triggerfish. If we weren’t letting you in on the secret, you’d never know that these islands were man-made, using sand scooped from the ocean floor and layered atop living coral reefs, mimicking a process that usually takes 10,000 years. While there is some debate around this type of construction and the amount of damage it might inflict upon the environment, the Fari Islands were built in this specific location at the suggestion of the Maldivian government (only 189 of the Maldives 1,192 islands are inhabited, but many of the larger isles are set aside for farming and local industry). To ensure the build Left: Patina’s cosy lobby; above: the generous terrace at the Ritz- Carlton’s Eau Bar was as sustainable as possible, teams of local officials and marine biologists were brought in to work alongside the architects. Damage-reduction measures included covering the existing reef with silt nets to protect the corals from suffocating sand and dust, examining the currents to avoid interfering with natural flow patterns and stopping construction during the important coral-spawning season. With the foundations in place, thoughts then turned to the design. For its flagship property, Patina (patinahotels.com) commissioned the Brazilian architect Marcio Kogan of São Paulo firm Studio MK27, known for his unique brand of tropical modernism and an emphasis on sustainability. For his first hotel project, Kogan took the 1.1km-long island and transformed it into an oasis of chic and easy living. FROM LEFT: GEORG ROSKE, © RITZ CARLTON

GEORG ROSKE Everything here encourages unwinding and relaxation, from the clean-lined, low-slung architecture to the earthy colour palette and sophisticated furnishings, including pieces from Bassam Fellows, Lin Brasil, Dedon, Carlos Motta and Paola Lenti. And then there’s the art collection: concise, compelling and an adventure to find. At the arrival greenhouse, look for a six-metre-wide tapestry by Japanese artist Hiroko Takeda. On the beach, scout for FAHR 021.3’s Momento, 2021, a giant swoop of white concrete. Rummage between the palm trees for a series of eight mirrored monoliths by Chinese artist Hongjei Wang. The one you won’t miss – it takes pride of place alongside the marina – is the Skyspace Pavilion, a showstopping piece by Californian legend James Turrell. In the creatively charged villas, which number 90 in total, split between the beach and a series of overwater piers, glass walls can be The intimate deck and pool of a onebedroom Water Pool villa at Patina retracted in three sides to the open air. Interiors are infused with a midcentury vibe – bold grey walls, woven rugs, lots of warm woods and chunky rattans – and stitched with stealth tech, such as hidden charging points and control panels for the blackout blinds. Freestanding stone bathtubs can be found on the deck or in the bathrooms, which are stocked with amenities from Haeckels, a veganfriendly, environmentally sound British brand creating covetable 25 DEPARTURES