Chapter 03 · Masterplan

3.10Three masterplans, side by side

What each plan changes, in the same measures.

**Table 3.10.1**The three masterplans in the same measures, from each island’s 3.1 metrics. Malé’s density is of its housing land; Villimalé’s is of the whole island.
MEASURE	MALÉFahi-Malé13.43 ha	VILLIMALÉVilli-Veshi12 ha, 4 ha rebuilt	HULHUMALÉHiyaa-Vehi12 ha
The one move	Port to Thilafushi Four wings open the waterfront to the city.	Industry leaves Streets bend to the trees; dead edges become shared space.	A centre A radial plan round a plaza, with no straight paths.
People in the area	9,230 → 10,500 14% more people.	1,283 → 2,603 About twice as many.	32,000 → 11,800 63% fewer; 20,200 move to a new development elsewhere in the region.
Density	3,648 → 2,476 People per hectare of housing land.	175 → 209 People per hectare, whole island.	2,667 → 983 People per hectare.
Open space per person	0 → 3.8 m² 4.9 m² with the pedestrian streets.	18 → 14.5 m² Whole island: more people share it.	3 → 5 m² Round a central park and plaza.
Room at home	21 m² each Living space per person in the new capstone homes.	28 → 44 m² each Living space per person.	15 → 27 m² each Living space per person.
Cars	To the edge Ring road only; parking within a 200 m walk.	To the edge Buses and cycles outside; inner streets for people.	To the edge Perimeter roads; a vehicle- free core.

WHAT THE THREE PLANS SHOW

Three directions on density, one answer for public life.

PEOPLE IN THE AREA, BEFORE AND AFTER

+14%

Fahi-Malé

×2

Villi-Veshi

−63%

Hiyaa-Vehi

Malé’s plan adds a few people, Villimalé’s doubles them and Hulhumalé’s moves most of them out. Density goes three ways. What each plan does for the street does not. Chapter 02 found that public life depends on how a place is designed more than on how dense or how new it is, and the three plans answer it in the same way.

WHAT ALL THREE DO

Cars are kept to the edge, so the streets inside belong to people on foot.

Streets and paths are shaded by trees, canopies and the buildings themselves.

Ground floors face the street with shops, workshops and places to sit.

Each plan sets rules for how buildings meet the street, so the plan holds as it is built.