Naahil Ibrahim

Meanwhile, we also hired a local to take drone shots of the island, allowing us to capture better-quality images of key areas, including the lagoon and the overall island context. This helped us build a clearer spatial understanding to support our research and analysis.

@neeshibrahim @naaahiilx @raayurr @haialea1722 @ayya9800-blog

After the earlier interviews in the afternoon, my group members rested before we all headed out again in the evening for the remaining scheduled interviews, as well as informal conversations with local residents.

One of the key interviews during this round was with a local working at both the DTRC and NRC, which provided useful insights into the island’s systems and community services from an operational perspective.

@neeshibrahim @naaahiilx @raayurr @haialea1722 @ayya9800-blog

After returning to the guest house, everyone gathered to plan the next phase of our fieldwork. We spent the evening refining our questionnaires for local residents, updating interview questions, and arranging appointments with various institutions and organizations around the island, including the school, hospital, NRC, DTRC, and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile Haima claimed the sofa as her base of operations for the night.

@neeshibrahim @naaahiilx @raayurr @haialea1722 @ayya9800-blog

The next day, we visited Himmafushi Council for an interview with the council representatives. The discussion gave us valuable insights into the island’s history, the needs of the community, ongoing developments, and the council’s future plans for Himmafushi. We also had the opportunity to share our design project and discuss potential locations that could be suitable if the proposal were to be developed in reality. Hearing the council’s perspective helped us better understand the local context and the practical considerations involved.

A special thank you to Hassan Faaiz and Shadh Ahmed for coordinating the meeting and making this opportunity possible. Their support throughout the process, along with the documents and information they provided, played an important role in helping us gather the data and insights needed for our research.

@neeshibrahim @naaahiilx @raayurr @haialea1722 @ayya9800-blog

Interview 03 - Big Fish Maldives Private Limited

While exploring the industrial zone of Himmafushi, we came across Big Fish Maldives Private Limited, a company involved in the sourcing, processing, and distribution of yellowfin and skipjack tuna from the Maldives’ traditional handline and pole-and-line fisheries. Through our visit, we learned about the company’s role in supporting both local and international markets by supplying tuna products in various formats for food service and retail industries. Being headquartered in Himmafushi, the company benefits from direct access to the Maldives’ major air and sea export routes, making it an important contributor to the island’s economy. We also learned that the availability of fish through the factory has reduced the need for many residents to engage in fishing themselves, highlighting the influence of industrial activities on the local community and livelihoods.

@arushyzahir @naaahiilx @ayya9800-blog @raayurr @haialea1722

Interview 02 - International Beverages Company:

As part of our research, we visited IBC, the Life Water factory located within the industrial zone of Himmafushi. During the visit, we learned about the factory’s operations and its contribution to the island’s water supply. We were informed that IBC provides water free of charge through two public taps on the island, supplying approximately 10 tons of water to each tap.

The visit also gave us insight into the factory’s production process, including the number of tanks in operation and the volume of bottled water produced daily. The staff guided us through the facility, explaining how water is processed, bottled, and distributed both locally and for export. Although photography was not permitted, the experience was highly informative and offered valuable firsthand knowledge of an important industry within Himmafushi.

@arushyzahir @naaahiilx @ayya9800-blog @raayurr @haialea1722

Interview 01 - Council Meeting:

Prior to our second visit to Himmafushi, we arranged a meeting with the Island Council to gain a deeper understanding of the island and collect information that was not available through secondary sources. The discussion provided valuable insights into the island’s history, community needs, ongoing developments, and future aspirations, which greatly informed our research and design process.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Hassan Faaiz and Shadh Ahmed for coordinating the meeting and giving us the opportunity to engage directly with the council. Their support was instrumental in helping us gather important firsthand information.

@arushyzahir @naaahiilx @ayya9800-blog @raayurr @haialea1722