Masterplan

and bridge view.

Community gardens/playgrounds to promote nature & healthy lifestyle.

Holhuashi in East Beach side for shade and conversing areas.

POPULATION ON SITE

from 1,283 people

2,603

+1,320 residents; 260 rehoused on site

LIVING AREA PER PERSON

from 28.03 m²

44.19

more room for each resident

SITE METRICS, EXISTING AND PROPOSED

INTERVENTION AREA, 4 HA

Table 3.1.1V

proposed. The cards above are for the 12 ha masterplan area unless they say otherwise.

LAND USE, BEFORE AND AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Figure 3.1.4V

m²

Area (ha) People Open share of area Open area (ha) Open space per person (m²) People per hectare

The 4 ha intervention area, existing and

9.9

8.2

9.8

21.1

Land use, before and after, as a share of the site. Grey is roads and other land. Source: the Villimalé group’s metrics tables.

FLOOR SPACE INDEX

from 0.50

1.10

more floor space on the same 12 ha

GROSS FLOOR AREA

from 60,469 m²

132,205

119% more floor area

EXISTING

PROPOSED

CHANGE

4

4

1,220

191

+1,029

63.7%

73.5%

−9.9 pts

2.55 20.9

2.94

154

305

48

share of the site, %

23.7

11.8

m²

CAPSTONE HOUSING, 4 HA

none

Plot footprint (m²) Residential floors Gross floor area (m²) Residents Homes Average home (sq ft) Living area per person (sq ft)

−0.40

−133 +257

Table 3.1.2V

Capstone housing on the 4 ha. Five buildings

of 80 homes each: 20 three-bedroom (1,000 sq ft), 20 two- bedroom (750 sq ft) and 40 one-bedroom (645 sq ft). Floor area assumes 6 to 8 full floors on 2,000 to 2,500 m² plots.

26.6

OPEN SPACE PER PERSON

from 18 m², whole island

14.5

m²

less each, as more people share it

ISLAND DENSITY

from 175 people per ha

209

per ha

20% more people on the island

ONE BUILDING

2,000–2,500

6–8

12,000–20,000

316

80

760

192.41

Residential (mixed)

Commercial

Industrial

Institutional

Sports and recreation

Open and green space

ALL FIVE

10,000–12,500

6–8

60,000–100,000

1,580

400 760

192.41

9.9% → 21.1%

0.4% → 2.5%

8.2% → 0%

9.9% → 11.9%

12.6% → 13.8%

23.7% → 26.6%

THE IDEA

Today, building forces nature and island life to fit around it. The plan stops forcing nature: its streets bend to respect it, and its layout follows the natural flow of the island’s greenery and streets. Change runs from light repairs to full rebuilding, across four zones.

Figure 3.2.1V

The parti: the plan bends to the island’s trees and natural flows.

LEGEND

Main relocation move

Concept zone

Concept connection

Amenity core node

Stitch link

Vista / breeze cut

Hulhangu monsoon

Iruvai monsoon

Parti step

Masterplan boundary

Sea / lagoon

2

We let the architecture bend to Villimalé’s natural conditions, so the island’s character guides how it grows.

4

The dead edges become open, active public space that brings the community together and joins the island’s green links.

Figures 3.2.2V to 3.2.5V

Bending ideas to respect nature

Circulation

Back of house to front of house

Community / shared space

The parti in four steps, from the island as it is to the island as proposed.

1

The current condition prioritises rigid development, forcing nature and island life to adapt to the built environment.

3

Natural flows of people, landscape, wind and activity are woven together to create continuous movement and stronger connections.

Green links

Adjusting nature to our will

Movement / activity

Embody the natural flow

Circulation / soft connection

Disruptions

Nature

WHAT IS THERE NOW

The 12-hectare site shows buildings to be demolished, kept or adapted, and moved, beside the bridge under construction. Its main problems are industry beside homes, few kinds of shops, unpaved roads that flood, large underused plots that threaten existing trees, and a beach mostly closed to the public.

Figure 3.3.1V

What stands on the site today: what is kept, adapted, moved or demolished.

LEGEND

Existing building — retained

To be demolished

Retained & adapted

Heritage / cultural building

Use to be relocated

Congestion / conflict zone

Existing road

Problem point

Masterplan boundary

Sea / lagoon

Few shops and everyday amenities in the area, so residents travel elsewhere for basic needs.

Poor road conditions and inadequate drainage cause flooding when it rains.

Figures 3.3.2V to 3.3.7V

WHAT THE IMAGES SHOW

On the ground, the area feels cut off. Homes sit beside industrial yards, unpaved roads flood after rain, and the beach is mostly closed to the public. Large plots stand idle while trees are cleared, and there are few shops within walking distance.

Lack of shops

Flooding

Six problems seen on site.

Industry beside homes

Industry and homes share the same area, and work activities conflict with residential life.

Underutilised land

Large areas of land stand underused, leaving inactive spaces and little room for community use.

Deforestation

Development pressure is removing trees and vegetation and reducing natural green areas.

Blocked-off beaches

Beach and coastal areas are cut off from the community, limiting public access to the coast.

HOW PEOPLE MOVE

The plan sorts roads into main, secondary and local roads and jogging paths, with a route for the Thilamalé bridge. Buses and cycle lanes run on the outer roads. Inner streets are for people only, shaded by trees, so residents can walk safely.

Figure 3.4.1V

The road system: main, secondary and local roads, jogging paths and the bridge route.

LEGEND

Perimeter road

Neighbourhood connector

Superblock street

Slow motorbike access

Pedestrian-only / shaded walk

Ferry / speedboat route

Terminal / jetty

Parking pocket

Bus stop

Road section cut

Masterplan boundary

Sea / lagoon

Dedicated walking paths within the residential areas, allowing residents to move around safely on foot.

Figures 3.4.2V to 3.4.4V

WHAT CHANGES ON THE STREET

Each road gives more of its width to people. Among the homes, lanes are for walking only. Cycle and pedestrian lanes link homes to work and to the rest of the island, and buses and cycles share the roads at the edge, so traffic stays out of the centre.

Pedestrian lanes

Three types of road in plan and section, at one scale.

Cycle and pedestrian lanes

Dedicated routes for people who cycle or walk to work and around the island.

Bus and cycle roads

A road network along the perimeter and key edges of the residential zone, with dedicated bus lanes along high-traffic routes.

WHERE THE SITE BREATHES

The area has no shared public space today. The plan spreads parks and open space across the site: pavilions facing the sea, community gardens, pocket parks and places for young people. Open-air classrooms, a jogging track and food gardens give residents reasons to be outside together.

Figure 3.5.1V

Public and green space: pavilions, gardens, pocket parks and the jogging loop.

LEGEND

Park / green space

Plaza / hard public space

Pocket park

Tree canopy / shade

Green breeze & vista corridor

Waterfront promenade

Shaded pedestrian link

Beach / swim & dive entry

Sky / vertical park

Masterplan boundary

Sea / lagoon

Designed to reflect the island’s character and tradition. These learning spaces support outdoor classes and community activities.

A shared garden where residents can grow and pick fresh fruit, vegetables and other edible plants, cared for by the community.

Figures 3.5.2V to 3.5.5V

WHAT THE SPACES OFFER

Each space gives people a reason to stay outside: lessons under the trees, a jogging loop with no vehicles, a garden to grow food in, and Valu There, the area’s only natural woodland, kept for children to explore. All are reached on foot.

Outdoor open classrooms

Community food garden

Four of the public spaces.

Jogging trail

A continuous loop around the residential areas with no vehicles allowed: a safe, uninterrupted route for jogging, walking and recreation.

Valu There

Keeps the area’s only natural land while bringing community activities into the jungle, so children can explore, play and connect with nature.

WHAT THE SITE OFFERS

The plan adds offices and other public buildings, shops and cafés, and an active waterfront that makes the beach a place to visit. Small stalls, seating and a wellness centre line the beach, and the sports grounds open to the community.

Figure 3.6.1V

What the area offers besides homes: public buildings, shops and the waterfront.

LEGEND

Civic / terminal

Commercial / retail / F&B

Market

Waterfront hub

Ceremonial / cultural

Amenity core

Active ground-floor frontage

Masterplan boundary

Sea / lagoon

Made for the daily gathering at school pick-up and drop-off, this area is a welcoming buffer that stays open to the public all day.

Using Villimalé’s calm, natural setting, this centre offers active and restful routines for body and mind.

Figures 3.6.2V to 3.6.5V

WHO IT SERVES

More daily needs can be met on foot: a place to wait at the school gate, a lively beach, a wellbeing centre and a maritime research centre. The waterfront and the research centre also give the rest of the island a reason to come.

Outdoor parents’ seating area

Wellbeing centre

Four of the non-residential spaces.

Recreational waterfront

The beach becomes a lively waterfront with small stalls, a holhuashi and a wellness centre, beside the former police sports ground, now open to the public.

Maritime research centre

A hub for marine study and research that joins environmental observation with public education, to build care for the ocean around the island.

WHERE PEOPLE LIVE

Large blocks are divided into two or three smaller units to keep a human scale, add ways through and reflect the informal character of Villimalé. Ground floors hold residential and community activities. Trees removed during development are replaced, and vertical planting and green spaces are built into the buildings.

Figure 3.7.1V

Where people live: smaller blocks, kept homes and the capstone buildings.

LEGEND

Retained organic housing

New residential

Social / subsidised housing

Mixed-use

Capstone plot

Height tag

Density gradient

Masterplan boundary

Sea / lagoon

Keep and strengthen the island’s greenery: trees removed during development are replaced, with vertical planting and green spaces built in.

Residential blocks are divided into two or three smaller blocks, for a human scale, more ways through and the small, individual character of Villimalé.

Figures 3.7.2V to 3.7.5V

WHO LIVES HERE

In the 4 ha intervention area, five capstone buildings add 400 homes, and the number of people per hectare rises from 48 to 305. Smaller blocks, living ground floors and shared levels keep that growth at a human scale.

Greenery and vertical planting

Block division

Four ideas for the housing.

People-oriented ground floors

Ground floors hold residential and community activities, not a continuous commercial belt, keeping the island’s everyday street life and human scale.

Vertical mixed-use integration

Commercial and shared spaces sit at different levels of the residential buildings, making active spaces that support everyday community life.

LAND USE

MOVEMENT AND NETWORK

HOUSING

INSTITIUTIONAL

COMMERCIAL

OPEN SPACE

UTILITY

INDUSTRIAL

BUILDING GUIDLINES

transition from maximum 10 storeys

Footprint, setbacks & Open space

Waterfront Transition

Building heights shall gradually

t0 1 storey along waterfront.

Buildings within each plot should be

arranged as 2–3 distinct masses.

The masses may vary in form and

height upto 10 storeys

Footprint, setbacks & Open space

Buildings should be limited to 8–10

storeys, with 15% open space

and a minimum 2m setback on all sides.

Mixed residential development

The commercial/other uses can be

integrated to the building at

different floor levels

Waterfront Transition

Replace all removed trees and

maintain substantial, community oriented

vegetation through landscaping and

edible planting

Mixed residential development

Minimum 15% of total GFA of each

residential building should be allocated

to Commerical/ other uses

MASTERPLAN GUIDLINES

e-mobility within the residential zone,

Mobility

Prioritise walking, cycling, and

with private vehicles restricted to

essential access only.

Green Infrastructure

Retain and integrate existing

mature trees into the site

design where feasible.

Motor vehicle Exclusion

A special checkpost with limited

parking for private vehicles from Malé,

accommodating a controlled number of visitors.

Climate Integration

Building arrangement promotes natural

airflow and ventilation, oriented

to capture winds from both monsoons.

Motor vehicle Exclusion

Private vehicle access

from the bridge into Vili-Malé

shall be restricted.

Motor vehicle Exclusion

Locate parking at residential

edges, with dedicated spaces

for electric two-wheelers.