A resort built around simplicity and upcycling.

Cocoa Island was the first resort in the Maldives by COMO. It’s a gem that reflects a bygone era of resorts in this region: intimate and casual, it draws upon simple wood and textiles to produce spaces that feel both elevated and comfortable. This is, perhaps, why it has one of the highest rates of repeat visits in COMO’s portfolio (especially by couples). This was one issue that worried us when we were asked to give the island a much-needed repair-and-refresh. The second was the problem of waste. Given that nothing is sourced from the atoll, everything new would have to be imported and all the old material would be waste.

Both problems suggested the same solution: what if we simply polished up and found clever new uses for the island’s legacy objects and materials? This would preserve that lovely sense of place, while minimizing waste and new production. While some much-needed new building space was added, much of the work involved re-sanding, re-incorporating older items within an updated design language, and adding touches and motifs to delight visitors.

Images courtesy of COMO