Living landlocked looks a whole lot worse after after you look through all these water-loving Maldives innovations. The Maldives is a tiny island nation in the Indian Ocean that makes up for its relative lack of size with its awe-inspiring conceptual hotels and golf courses.
Turn-down service and pillow chocolates have nothing on a hotel in the middle of the ocean standing on stilts. I don't care how many holes of nude golf you play, nothing will ever beat playing golf in the soon-to-come floating golf course of the Maldives. Click through this top list if you are looking to see some of the most awesome conceptual island architecture around. If you prefer your countries high in elevation and your water confined to pools, then this one might not be for you.
19 Water-Loving Maldives Innovations
19
Underwater Hotels (UPDATE)
Hilton Maldives Turns Restaurant into an Underwater Hotel Room
18
Tropical Spring Fashion
The Erin Wasson Esprit Spring/Summer 2011 Campaign is Sweet and Sassy
17
Hotels on Stilts
Angsana's InOcean Villas are Island-Free Vacations in the Maldives
16
Vacationing Boat Homes
The Cocoa Island Resort Will Provide a One-of-a-Kind Experience
15
Hilton Maldives Resort: World's First Undersea Restaurant
14
Seductive International Spas
Shangri-La's Villingili Resort and Spa Offers Piece of Paradise
13
Modern Water Chalets
New Design For Huts on the Water
12
Huvafen Fushi
Luxury Hotel of the Stars
11
Underwater Restaurant (Update)
10
Star-Shaped Mini-Cities
Koen Olthuis Designs Maldives Floating Islands Concept
9
Extreme Tourism
Swimming With Sharks
8
Green Luxury Retreats
Alila Hotels Developing Atoll Carefully
7
Controversial Color Resorts
The Olialia Fantasy Island in Maldives is Exclusive to Blondes
6
Stranded on a Remote Island
with Four Seasons
5
Buoyant Athletic Facilities
The World's First Floating Golf Course Will Run on Solar Power
4
Carbon-Neutral Countries
Maldives Pledges to Meet Goal in One Decade
3
Shoe-Shaped Resorts (UPDATE)
The Olialia Blonde-Only Island Faces Government Setbacks
2
Eco Tourism
Malibu & Reef Check Team Up For Amazing Internship
1
Buying New Island Nations
Maldives To Buy New Homeland
Related Ideas
Yacht-Inspired Camping Trailers
This Modern Travel Trailer Concept by Maria Prokosheva is Sleek
Venetian-Inspired Museum Designs
The Conceptual Floating Glass Museum is AI-Generated
All-Pink Life-Size Dollhouses
Airbnb Listed the Barbie Malibu Dreamhouse for Barbie Movie
Watersport-Minded Concept Campers
This Camper Features Separate Wet and Dry Zones
Generously Glazed Tiny Homes
This Vacation House Has An Ingenious Interior Layout
Floating Bamboo Houses
This Vietnamese House Aims to Protect Residents From Rising Water Levels
North Iceland Lagoons
Geothermal Vacation Destinations Open In Akurekyi, North Iceland
Tranquil Shoppable Bungalows
Studio Robert Mckinley Unveiled the 'Captain Balfour' Bungalow
Modern Houseboat Designs
Jolson's Houseboat Occupies Lake Eildon, Just Outside of Melbourne
Brutalist Mexican Hotels
Hybrid & Palma Add Organic Elements Within This Brutalist Hotel
Floating Meditative Pavilion Designs
The Crystal Lake Pavilion by Marc Thorpe Design is Tranquil
Chic Treehouse-Style Hotels
Studio Sax Designs the Suitree Experience Hotel in Costa Rica
Luxe Submersive Superyachts
Migaloo Unveils a New Giant Migaloo M5 Superyacht Design
Smart Glass-Topped Lookouts
These Picturesque Cabins Offer Stunning Views Of the Sky
Serenely Stilted Houses
This Sustainable Tiny Home is Situated On An Elevated Platform
Comfortable Desert Retreats
IOAN Designs the Landing House with Minimized Nature Disruption
3D-Printed Hotels
A First-of-Its-Kind Hotel is Coming to Marfa, Texas
Shapeshifting Outer Space Hotels
The Acromnia Orbital Hotel Imagines Life in Space
Contemporary Hawaiian Beachfront Houses
Olson Kundig Architects Designs the Hale Napo'o Home
Mermaid-Inspired Beach Houses
Booking.com's Under the Sea Stay Celebrates 'The Little Mermaid'
Picturesque Family Retreats
Malcolm Davis Architects Adds to This Beautiful Building
Miniature Seaside Wooden Cabins
Alexander McGee Designs a New Wooden Cabin in Cape Town
Rurally-Inspired City Buildings
The 'Ziel' High-Rise Building Brings the Country to the Cityscape
Stunning Hotel Designs
Located in Puerto Escondido, Casa TO Was Designed by Ludwig Godefroy
Flax Fiber Floating Homes
The Conceptual 'Blue Nomad' Floating Home is Sustainable
Incredibly Modern Lakeside Houses
Stephenson Design Collective Converts an Old Boy Scout Camp
Mountain Sheep-Inspired Attractions
Thilina Liyanage Proposes This Park Observation Deck Design
Beautifully Sculptural Concrete Museums
Qatar Museums Unveils Official Images of the Lusail Museum
Curvaceous Luxury Condominiums
This Miami Condo Building Will Feature a Glass-Bottom Rooftop Pool
Nature-Connecting Vacation Homes
kaviar.collaborative Designs the New House by the Lake in India
Recycled Mini Golf Courses
Lab La Bla Made a Miniature Golf Course with Denim & Wine Corks
Balearic Island Housing Projects
The Life Reusing Posidonia Project has 14 Dwellings on the Island
Stunningly Whimsical Playgrounds
XISUI Design Draws Inspiration from Natural Forms Such as Caves
Floating Meditation Pods
Thilina Liyanage's Lakeside Meditation Pod is Geared Toward Yogis
Everchanging Water-Based Theaters
Open Architecture Designs the Yichang Grand Theater in China
Flood-Proof Raft-Inspired Sofas
Mother Releases the Bliss Soda for New York Design Week
Mid-Century Nostalgic Hotel Redesigns
Hotel Riomar Launches a New Design with Bright Contrasts
Rejuvenated Retail Buildings
This Vietnamese Building Will Feature Lush Native Greenery
Orb Lighting Installations
Teamlab's Mangrove Island is an Innovative Display of Lights and Color
Sci Fi-Themed Glamping Retreats
The 'Outpost X' Retreats Boast An Ancient Yet Futuristic Aesthetic
Japanese Garden-Inspired Offices
Flooat Designs the Mitsui & Co Office Space in Tokyo
Opulent Oceanfront Homes
This Home Offers Stunning Views Of the Pacific Coast Of Mexico
Japanese Island Holiday Villas
BIG Unveils a Look at the Finished Not a Hotel Setouchi
Lavish Ecotourism Resorts
Saudi Arabia's 'Zardun' Resort Lets You Experience Local Flora & Fauna
Kilometer-Long Museums
Junya Ishigami Introduces the Zaishui Art Museum Along a Lake
Modern Harmonious Minimal Resorts
Studio MK27 Designs the Luxurious Patina Maldives Resort
Award-Winning Housing Designs
Hong-En Lin Emphasizes the Importance of Clean Water Access
Tranquil Water-Inspired Apartments
Right Angle Studio Designs the Ripple Apartment in Singapore
Park-Surrounded Interconnected Homes
Atelier Data Designs the Praia Grande House in Portugal
Modern Traditional Wellness Spaces
The WELL at Chileno Bay Opens in the Chileno Bay Resort
Conscientious Luxury Resorts
Fairmont Maldives, Sirru Fen Fushi Champions Sustainability
Quaint Alpine Minimal Cabins
New Zealand Studio Well Architecture Designs the Kererū Retreat
Oceanside Bamboo Restaurants
This Maldivian Restaurant Boasts Stunningly Sustainable Construction
Snow Mountain Minimal Homes
Design Over The Norms Creates the Blissful Snowfall House
Legacy Luxurious Resorts
Raffles Hotels & Resorts Announces Three New Global Properties in 2024
Minimal Beach-Side Luxe Homes
Vanessa Rome Interiors Designs the Palm Beach Residence
Luxe Tented Biophilic Resorts
Luxury Frontiers Designs The New Naviva Resort in Mexico
Coral-Shaped Bulbous Pavilions
Marc Fornes Designs a Bulging Pavilion for Louis Vuitton
Minimalist Gradient Glass Desks
The in.water Concept by Nicola Morelli is a Metaphor for Pollution
Shore-Perched Modern Homes
Prentiss + Balance + Wickline Design the Tongass Ledge
Fortress-Like Dynamic Residences
McLeod Bovell Designs the Liminal House in Vancouver
Juxtaposing Minimal Artful Homes
Hino Studio Designs the Oceana Retreat in Florida
Farmland-Inspired Rural Hotel Cottages
Kooo Architects Designs the Ningshan LuZhai Cottage
Flood-Mitigating Wooden Homes
Ushijima Architects Designs a New Small Home in Shiga Prefecture
Bamboo Luxe Pool Houses
Baldó Arquitectura Designs the Godai Pavilion with a Hanging Roof
Solar Powered Luxe Treehouses
Fort Treehouse Co. Designs the Baltic Treehouse in Canada
Tranquil Treetop Bali Resorts
Alexis Dornier and Studio Jencquel Design the Lost Lindenberg Resort
Tranquil Reimagined Wellness Resorts
Open AD Designs the Ziedlejas Spa and Wellness Resort
Off-Grid Self-Sufficient Island Homes
Vollebak and Bjarke Ingels Design the Earth House in Canada
Minimal Ocean-Overlooking Villas
Dagmar Štěpánová Designs the Achioté Villas for Formafatal
Hidden Urban Oasis Cottages
Winwood McKenzie Adds an Extension to the Quarry House
Frameless Glass Twin Villas
Formafatal Designs the New Achioté Twin Villa in Costa Rica
Sci-Fi Coastal Hotel Concepts
NEOM PResents a Look at the New Epicon Hotel Concept Design
Moving Floating Entertainment Hubs
MEYER Floating Solutions Design the Oceaya Entertainment Hub
Femininity-Exploring Boutique Hotels
Estudio Carroll Designs the Xique Boutique Hotel
Repurposed Wooden Shoreside Homes
H2 Designs the Tree House by the Lake in Vietnam
Californian Canyon-Inspired Edifices
This Waterfront Building Pays Tribute to Rock Formations
Themed Hotel Rooms
Island Shangri-La Launches ‘Themed Room Experiences’ for Hotel Guests
Oasis-Like Urban Hotels
Montalba Architects Renovates the Nobu Hotel in Palo Alto
Off-Grid Private Islands
The 'Vollebak Island' is Designed to Be Sustainable & Self-Sufficient
Bamboo-Clad Residential Homes
i29 Designs the Open Park Villa to Connect with Nature
Minimal Wooden Lush Hotels
Frida Escobeda Designs the Boca de Agua Hotel in Quintana Roo
Blackened Timber Tranquil Cabins
The Hideaway House is Nestled in the Abundance of Nature
Rustic Ruin-Inspired Aquariums
Tatiana Bilbao Estudio Designs The Sea of Cortez Research Center
Stingray-Inspired Restaurant Roofs
Atelier Nomadic Designs the Canopy of the Overwater Restaurant
Beach Club-Inspired Holiday Homes
YSG Re-Designs This Stunning Sydney Coastal Home
Avian-Inspired Luxury Residences
This Hill-Top Costa Rican Home is Inspired By Bird Plumage
Environmentally Blending Residences
A Threshold Studio Designs the Ineffable Light Home
Figure 8-Structured House
Silvia Fiarman and Alexis Dornier Design the Loop House in Bali
Tranquil Earthy Condo Residences
Hino Studios Designs the Grand Bay Residences in Florida
Tranquil Brazilian Beach Houses
Studio MK27 Designs the Casa Azul in São Paolo, Brazil
Zig-Zagged Vacation Villas
Falcão de Campos Designs the New Pura Comporta Holiday Home
Treehouse-Style Tranquil Resorts
Frida Esobedo Designs the New Boca de Agua in Mexico
Curvaceous Brick Forest Homes
Blurring Boundaries Designs the Asmalay Home in a Forest
Serene Hawaiian Resorts
The Mauna Lani Hotel Joins the Auberge Resorts Collection
Bridge-Defining Tranquil Cities
BIG Studio Showcases the Plans for Mindfulness City
Water-Inspired Sales Building
CIFI Group's New Office Reflects a Frozen Fluid Aesthetic
Light Reflective Modern Villas
PPAA Completes the Concrete Villa with a 'Water Mirror'
Chequered Garden Tea Rooms
Rashid Ali Architects Designs a New Garden Pavilion in Hargeisa
Boomer-Targeted Luxury Resorts
Palm Lake Resort Yamba Cove Sets New Benchmark for Baby Boomers
Long Geometric Hawaiian Guesthomes
Hahn Lavsen Creates the Vipp Cold Hawaii Guesthouse
Whimsical Tranquil Holiday Hotels
The Two Bunch Palms Hotel is a Homey Oasis in the Desert
Riverside Scenic Calming Hotels
WJ Studio Designs the Boatyard Hotel in the Village of Shanwan
Rugby-Themed Vacation Getaways
The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai Launches a Rugby Championship Event
Stilts-Reading Suspended Homes
ElasticoFarm Designs The Hole with the House Around in Italy
Modular Wooden Holiday Homes
Arsenit Designs the Piil Home Resting in an Estonian Forest
Contemporary Luxe Thai Retreats
AvroKO Designs the Luxurious Centara Reserve Samui Hotel
Nature-Inspired Poolside Homestay
GS Design Creates the Miyue Blue and White Island Pool Homestay
Hospitality Contemporary Cabins
Andreas Martin-Löf Deisgns the Landet Series of Cabins
Plant-Based Lifestyle Getaways
Calabash Cove Resort & Spa in Saint Lucia Offers a Unique Service
Natural Landscape-Surrounding Homes
All(zone) Designs the Under the Rain Trees Holiday Home
Luxe Turkish Boutique Hotels
The Bodrum EDITION is a Hotel Designed by Two Combined Forces
Dockside Coastal Beach Homes
Raimundo Gutiérrez of ERRE Arquitectos Designs the Prat House
Nature-Immersive Tranquil Resorts
Stilt Studios Designs the Treehouse Villas in Bali
Pale Yellow Minimal Townhomes
i.B. Archstudio Designs the VVV Townhouse with Pastel Hues
Jungle-Inspired Rental Operations
HYBRID and Palma Join to Create the NICO Sayulita
Open-Air Kenyan Holiday Homes
PAT Renovates the Falcon House with Passive Cooling Systems
Lotus Flower-Inspired Villas
Thilina Liyanage Designs the Lotus Villa Inspired by Nature
Coastal Hybrid Residential Hotels
Palma Designs the New Chiripa Housing Complex in Mexico
Youthful Vintage-Inspired Hotels
Standard International is Set to Launch New Hotel Brand
Oceanfront Luxe Residential Complexes
Tadao Ando Unveils the Armani Beach Residences
Climate-Friendly Waterfront Homes
From 4 to 1 Creates Three Pavilions in Copenhagen
Turtle-Shaped Bamboo Restaurants
Thilina Liyanage Designs the Turtle Restaurant on the Coast
Lantern-Like Tea House Pavilions
Grau Architects Designs the Tea House Pavilion by the Lake
Oversized Thatched-Roof Health Resorts
Ingenhoven Architecture Designs the Lanserhof Sylt Resort
Tranquil Island Wellness Retreats
Neri&Hu Design the Sanya Wellness Retreat Hotel on Hainan
Rustic Contemporary Bunkhouses
SHED Architecture & Design Unveil the Guemes Island Bunkhouse
Wooden Pavilion Seaside Homes
LAND Arquitectos Designs the House of Circumstances in Chile
Tall Beachfront Residential Buildings
Bentley Motors Unveils its Inaugural Residential Complex
Eco-Friendly Vodka Cocktails
Bali Water's Paradise Pack Helps to Tidy Up Waterways
Island-Inspired Vibrant Fashion
Marni and No Vacancy Drop the Nature of the Broom Series
Romantic Carribean Hotel Stays
Harbour Village Beach Club Introduces the Love & Luxury Package
Mozambique-Inspired Sanctuaries
NJF Designs the Kisawa Sanctuary as a Tranquil Getaway
Water Flow-Inspired Art Buildings
MAD Designs the Waterfront Nanhai Arts Center in Guangdong
Idyllic Tranquil Nature-Surrounding Cabins
BLDG Workshop Designs the Algonquin Highlands Cottage
Whimsical Flowing Woodland Villas
Thilina Liyanage Designs the 3 Bedroom Balinese Villa
Beachfront-Inspired Tranquil Bungalows
The Captain Balfour Joins the McKinley Bungalows Capsule
Animation-Inspired Themed Hotels
Disneyland Resort Debuts the New Pixar Place Hotel
Dolphin-Shaped Tranquil Retreats
Thilina Liyanage Designs the Dolphin Villa by the Lake
Architectural Tranquil Cabin Retreats
Snøhetta Designs the Bolder Lodges in Lysefjord