FAIRMONT ’ S SIRRU FEN FUSHI PUTS A CONTEMPORARY SPIN ON MALDIVIAN NATURE .
By BARBARA BOHN , MANAGING EDITOR
No perfectly straight line exists in nature , and it doesn ’ t exist at the Fairmont Maldives Sirru Fen Fushi , either . That ’ s by design . “ We didn ’ t want anything to be completely straight ,” says Hirsch Bedner Associates ’ Robbyn Carter , lead designer of the resort , which opened in April . The name means Secret Water , and the island property draws on the visuals of the local environment . “ Everything ’ s a little bit organic .”
Taking as inspiration the tools of a fisherman ’ s trade , rope and other materials show up frequently in the public buildings and the 120 overwater and beach villas , including five semi-open jungle tents . Rope hangs from the ceilings , with airy light fixtures featuring glass fishing net floats ; headboards are among the many woven elements , along with crocheted poufs and mats patterning the floors .
The wall textures are hand-troweled , with handcarved wood details throughout ; bamboo makes an occasional appearance as well . The palette is natural , with an occasional bright burst from turquoise and polished metals .
There ’ s even an occasional surfboard , a nod to Carter ’ s roots and evidence that her own career has very much not been a straight line : From the coast of California , her work took her to Amsterdam and a stint with designer Marcel Wanders . For a few years she ran her own studio , and then headed to Southeast Asia . She was named an HBA partner in December .
Carter visited the resort most recently a few months ago to fine-tune the design “ down to the pillows ” – and it was quite a difference seeing it in use versus her first
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