{"id":3446,"date":"2023-12-27T18:07:35","date_gmt":"2023-12-27T07:07:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/?p=3446"},"modified":"2024-10-21T20:27:14","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T10:27:14","slug":"how-the-maldives-fari-islands-used-mass-timber-to-achieve-zero-carbon-ready-certification","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodcentral.com.au\/how-the-maldives-fari-islands-used-mass-timber-to-achieve-zero-carbon-ready-certification\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Maldives’ Fari Islands Are the Ultimate Bucket List Spot!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Pontiac Land Private Limited is one of the only holiday destinations to achieve EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certification for its Fari Islands Maldives resort, and that’s no small feat!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fari Islands development is the first in Asia to achieve\u00a0‘zero carbon ready’<\/a>, with villas and amenities designed to support renewable energy sources and minimise carbon footprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the reasons for this impressive feat is their use of mass timber<\/a>, an alternative to traditional building materials like concrete and steel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This material is more efficient to transport and assemble, significantly reducing carbon emissions in production and transportation compared to traditional building materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EDGE meets MET construction <\/h6>\n\n\n\n

To achieve EDGE certification<\/a>, buildings must meet specific criteria around supporting renewable energy sources and minimising carbon footprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mass timber, along with one of the largest solar installations in the Maldives (>2MW), was instrumental in achieving EDGE certification. (Photo credit: Pontiac Land Group).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mass timver has been a major driving force in reducing carbon emissions by over 6,000 tonnes after production and transportation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, 20,000 mature trees<\/a> were transplanted from neighbouring Maldivian islands that were being cleared for development, promoting sustainable architecture and design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Fari Islands<\/h6>\n\n\n\n
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A view to the Ritz Carlton Hotel, one of the hospitality brands on the island. (Photo Credit: Ritz Carlton, Maldives)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Fari Islands in the North Mal\u00e9 Atoll of the Maldives offer a unique resort experience that celebrates the natural environment and artisanal craftsmanship. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anchored by three world-class hospitality brands (including the Ritz-Carlton), the archipelago is only a 50-minute speedboat ride from Mal\u00e9 International Airport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The picturesque Fari Marina, featuring the vibrant Fari Beach Club, boutique shops, and a selection of upscale food and beverage options, complements the resort’s serene and social atmosphere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The resort truly is a destination for the bucket list.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Local Sourcing and Certified Timber<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest challenges faced by the developers was sourcing certified timber in the Maldives, which lacks a timber industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To overcome this, the development team worked with Double Helix Tracking Technologies to trace the origin of the timber used in the project and ensure it was PEFC-certified<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Double Helix used DNA testing to verify the trees’ species and ensure the timber was harvested from legal and sustainable sources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company also worked with the Maldivian government to develop a national timber tracking system to help prevent illegal logging and promote sustainable forestry practices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Introducing the ‘Skyspace’ – which includes a 400 sqm free span roof with razor-sharp soffits and a 16-sq-m hole in its middle, which presented a challenge. It was judged that timber would weather the corrosive marine environment better than steel. (Photo credit: Global Construction Review<\/a>).
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Marco den Ouden, General Manager of Patina Maldives, one of the hotels in the Fari Islands development, praised the use of\u00a0PEFC-certified timber<\/a>\u00a0in the project, “It was important for us to ensure that the timber we used was not only sustainably sourced but that it also helped support the local communities in the Maldives. By partnering with Double Helix, we achieved this goal and created a truly sustainable resort.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introducing ‘Skyspace’ – an icon in the sands<\/h6>\n\n\n\n

The Fari Islands development also includes other sustainable features, such as a zero-carbon-ready solar installation and mass-engineered timber in iconic structures like the Skyspace Maldives installation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Created by American artist James Turrell<\/a>, Skyspace Maldives is a gravity-defying masterpiece made entirely of engineered timber. The design called for a 400-square-metre free-span roof with a 16-square-meter hole in the middle, with no visible beams or columns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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