PREVIEW

The Madi Hiyaa restaurant sits in a tropical lagoon in the Maldives looking like a monster of the deep.
Inspired by man’s history of battling giant sea creatures, and taking the shape of the pink whiprays that graze in the lagoon, the overwater Yakitori Restaurant and Bar is the brainchild of bosses at Nomadic Resorts.
They have revamped this part of the Banyan Tree Vabinfaru resort to create a new iconic dining experience.
As well as being a stunning example of biomimicry, the naturally ventilated, bio-climatic structure features an incredible sea saltwater infinity pool and an array of overwater catamaran nets where guests can relax while enjoying breathtaking sunset panoramas, caressed by the gentle sea breeze.
Crafted using bamboo, the structure is amplified by the dramatic Maldivian landscape and reflected in the lagoon.
In the Dhivehi language, in which Madi means “ray” and Hiyaa signifies “shelter,” the building’s name pays tribute to the graceful rays that migrate across the Indian Ocean. The roof structure is built entirely out of bamboo.
As a Bamboo Ambassador at the World Bamboo Organization, Nomadic Resorts lead architect Olav Bruin intended to show the potential of this amazing building material at this iconic location, as bamboo has the potential to play a major role in the building industries transition towards a more sustainable future. Being one of the fastest growing renewable building materials in the world, bamboo is an extremely effective carbon sink, as we need to move towards a future where buildings actually sequester carbon instead of expelling it.
Shaped by a series of hyperbolic paraboloid columns and roof trusses, the structure reflects the endo skeleton of the Mobulidae family.
Dendrocalamus Asper bamboo was used for the primary structure and the smaller Gigantochloa Apus bamboo was used for the grid infill. The roof is clad with timber shingles.
The sleek interior features a bar and services blocks clad with the black Gigantochloa Atroviolacea bamboo that subtly contrasts with the pale bamboo columns and timber decking. The rhythmic, pattern of the bamboo internodes refers to the movement of the waves.
Madi Hiyaa, is the latest member to the family of ray-inspired structures that Nomadic Resorts has developed and joins The Den at Soneva Kiri and the treehouses at Playa Viva, as part of an improbable family of bamboo rays stretching from the pacific coast of Mexico to the gulf of Siam.
The project demonstrates Nomadic Resorts’ design approach that is inspired by the Genius Loci or spirit of the place, resulting in buildings that fit symbiotically into their natural surroundings, in the believe that architecture should serve as a bridge to connect nature, culture and people.