Tropical Timbers in Maldivian Resort Architecture
Spotlight on: Chengal
SPOTLIGHT ON: CHENGAL
- Species: Neobalanocarpus
- Origin: Malaysia and Thailand
- Common Applications: Mostly used for heavy construction, railway sleepers, and heavy duty furniture, decking, staircase, door and window frames.
- Characteristics/Appearance: The heartwood is yellow-light brown with a greenish hue. As it ages, the color becomes dark purple or rust red.
- Janka Hardness Scale: 2,130 lb₁ (see chart on page 15)
- Comments: The timber is durable and resistant to termite attack and fungal infestation. Planing is known to be easy with a smooth finish.
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Located between its reception and outdoor floating pavilions, the consultation area sports a lattice of chengal rafters and battens beneath a fiberglass roof. This roofing installation is not only structural but also serves as a filter for the otherwise too intense sunlight streaming into the double-volumed space. The roof is asymmetrically held up by painted masonry wall on one side, and square timber columns on masonry piers on the other. The roofing structure frame the pastel-coloured walls to provide an uplifting yet calming space for consultation and preparation before any spa treatments. These are complemented by the judicious use of timber in slats as simple screens and the polished balau flooring.
As part of the Addu Atoll, Villingili Island is a five-minute boat ride from Gan International Airport. Shangri-la's Villingili Resort and Spa is located on the northern tip of the island with six kilometers of coastline and two kilometers of white sandy beaches. The 132-villa resort's structural works were all constructed with a mix of balau and kapur whereas meranti was used for interior timberworks. There are seven distinctively designed villas, two bars and three specialty restaurants in the resort.
The Fashala Restaurant, which offers seafood cuisine, features the most dramatic design of the three restaurants and affords spectacular views of the ocean. The slightly tilted giant central columns in the restaurant are clad with strips of meranti. The floors are in balau and the screen walls are of meranti slats. All the timberworks were finished to a consistent lime-washed look and feel, which binds all the disparate materials to provide a harmonious and relaxed spatial experience.
Over at the 61-villa Viceroy Maldives located in the isolated northern edge of the Maldives, on Shaviyani Atoll, the 17-acre private island of Vagaru is a haven of unspoiled nature dotted with palm trees and pristine sand encircling a blue lagoon. The design of the villas is an interpretation of the hull of an inverted Maldivian dhoni – a traditional fishing boat. A deliberate move away from a stiff square or rectangular design, the villas have irregular shapes with curved walls, lending a sensuous feel to the spatial experience. Every villa comes with a private pool and a private sun deck.
The villas are well spaced around the island for maximum privacy with 32 villas over the water and 29 on the beach. Some of the villas are only one floor while others feature two floors with either a room or an open deck on the upper floor. Those with a room on the upper floor have a dormer window for stargazing. An interesting
Frequently asked questions
What wood species was used for the consultation area rafters at the spa?+
The consultation area features a lattice of chengal rafters and battens beneath a fiberglass roof. Chengal was chosen for its durability and resistance to termites and fungal infestation.
Where is Shangri-La's Villingili Resort and Spa located?+
The resort is located on the northern tip of Villingili Island, part of the Addu Atoll, a five-minute boat ride from Gan International Airport. It has six kilometers of coastline and two kilometers of white sandy beaches.
What timbers were used in the construction of Shangri-La's Villingili Resort and Spa?+
The 132-villa resort's structural works were constructed with a mix of balau and kapur, while meranti was used for the interior timberworks.
How is meranti used in the Fashala Restaurant design?+
The slightly tilted giant central columns are clad with strips of meranti, and the screen walls are made of meranti slats. The floors are finished in balau, with all timberworks given a consistent lime-washed look.
What inspired the villa design at Viceroy Maldives on Vagaru Island?+
The villas are designed as an interpretation of the hull of an inverted Maldivian dhoni, a traditional fishing boat. This moves away from stiff square or rectangular forms, using irregular shapes and curved walls for a more sensuous spatial experience.
What are the key characteristics of chengal wood?+
Chengal heartwood is yellow-light brown with a greenish hue that ages to dark purple or rust red. It has a Janka hardness of 2,130 lb, is durable, resistant to termites and fungal infestation, and planes easily to a smooth finish.