If you are a ski afficionado, there's no chance you have not heard of Cheval Blanc (White Horse) in Courchevel - the top resort to be seen in during the winter months. So its little sister, Cheval Blanc Randheli is an obvious favourite for the warm months - or, because this is the Maldives we're talking about - all year long.

Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, the creative genius behind some of the world’s most stunning resorts—including the Chedi Muscat in Oman — Randheli marries contemporary aesthetic with the traditional Maldivian craftsmanship. Gathy has created hotels across the world, from the Viceroy in Snowmass, Colorado, to the Hotel Bora Bora in French Polynesia, operated by most of the leading top-tier hospitality brands such as Banyan Tree, GHM, Jumeirah, Park Hyatt and Shangri-La. If it wasn't for the unrest in Egypt, Gathy would have delivered his best design yet on a private isle on the Nile for the Cheval Blanc hotel at Aswan - this project is still "on hold" for half a decade now.

Randheli consists of a variety of land and over water accomodation, one and two bedroom guest suites, as well as public facilities. The design is contemporary, all structures are in timber with thatched and timber roofs. One of the focal points of the resort will be the copper and bronze clad reception.

"We’re not just architects," Gathy said in a recent interview for the Telegraph. "We’re lifestyle product designers. Design is also about daring and challenging rules. And it has to be marketing-oriented. I know what people like, what people talk about… It’s actually more important to please the heart than the eye, and a lot of architects and designers forget this."

In every villa, a dedicated Majordome looks after guests’ every desire. Thoughtful attentions embellish each stay, adorning everyday life and sparking the joy of surprise.

‘‘ There are three key components to

luxury: the freedom to do exactly

what you want; privacy; and space.

All photos © LVMH

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