Seabed Sleeping

We take a peek inside the world’s first undersea hotel suite, opened in the Maldives at the close of 2018.

- Dayle Kavonic

THERE IS A REASON THERE’S A MARKET FOR AQUARIUMS: we, as human beings, are deeply curious about what lies beneath the ocean’s surface. But aquariums have been done. Diving has been done. Even submersibles have been done. What hasn’t, until now? A full-on undersea villa, complete with a spacious bedroom, living room, wardrobe and bathroom.

Say hello to The Muraka at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, opened in November 2018 as the world’s first liveable, multiroom sub-aquatic residence, born of Crown Company architect Ahmed Saleem’s desire to embrace architectural ideas outside of the norm that would pay homage to the Maldivian marine landscape – arguably one of the most beautiful on earth. ‘Many architects and designers have explored the beauty of this destination through complementary infrastructure,’ explains Saleem, who designed the globe’s first undersea restaurant, Ithaa, on the same island back in 2004. ‘I started to think beyond this and explore the possibility of designing physical elements under the sea.’