Blink breathes new life into Huvafen Fushi
Blink Design Group recently refreshed the accommodation offerings at Huvafen Fushi in line with its ‘placemaking’ philosophy.
The studio was tasked with breathing new life into the property’s 44 above-water and beach bungalow dwellings. Speaking on the redesign, Blink founder and Creative Partner Clint Nagata revealed that the challenge was to completely refresh the resort’s interiors, while also staying true to the brand’s island chic essence and ensuring continuity for loyal guests.
“’Naturally enchanting’ was our mantra,” says Nagata. “Wherever possible we used materials and colour palettes inspired by nature, designed to deliver a crafted sense of sophistication. Balance is key in a delicate refresh like this. For each villa, it was about establishing a natural focal point and the interplay of subtle elements.”
Blink’s philosophy of placemaking requires a deep dive into the customs, culture, arts and crafts of a destination before pen is put to paper or fingers to touchpad. For Huvafen Fushi, this entailed an exploration of local textiles, building materials and weaving techniques to create a new vision of sophisticated atoll chic, and a design that complements the natural surroundings.
When it came to refreshing the beach bungalows, the studio “wanted to instil a sense of returning to the roots of when the resort first started, and recapturing some of that magic, while elevating the design to be full of surprising details and spaces that impart a sense of wonder and tranquillity,” Nagata continues.
For the interior feature walls, the studio opted for handmade woven abaca fibre wallcoverings, alongside Roa’s natural wallpapers from Java in Indonesia. “Woven rattan material features at the bedhead, and Jim Thompson silks in shades of green add a restrained splash of colour for the pillows,” says Nagata. Rattan, timber and woven themes continue through the chairs, sofas and other furniture pieces, while timber panelled ceilings and bay windows add refined touches.
