The Architecture Department of the Faculty of Engineering, Science and Technology (FEST) at The Maldives National University is proud to announce the Annual Student Work Exhibition 2025, taking place from 1st to 2nd December at the Faculty of Health Science Hall. This year’s exhibition will feature a diverse collection of design work from Semester 2, Semester 4, and Semester 6 architecture students, highlighting their creativity, technical skill, and growing contribution to the built environment of the Maldives.

A key highlight of the exhibition is the Semester 6 architecture studio project, where students present a bold and optimistic vision for the future of Malé City. Confronting challenges such as extremely high commercial land values and limited public open spaces, students explored how regenerative master planning and innovative housing strategies could offer a conceptual roadmap for creating a more livable, heritage-rich urban environment.

Beginning with an in-depth analysis of Malé’s core urban issues, congestion, motor-vehicle dominance, lack of open spaces, weak amenities, and the mismatch between housing cost and housing quality, students developed regenerative masterplans for 12-hectare regions within the city. Their proposals allocate four hectares for new mixed-housing developments and community facilities, while the remaining eight hectares focus on revitalizing existing neighborhoods through heritage-sensitive, small-scale interventions.

Each student then designed a detailed mixed-residential block comprising 100 apartment units, with 50% dedicated to affordable housing for temporary residents. The blocks also integrate units for relocated Malé residents, supported by commercial components that help cross-subsidize the affordable housing model. The designs prioritize communal living, incorporating ample shared spaces, green pockets, and essential amenities that had been insufficient within the original neighbourhoods.

The Annual Student Work Exhibition 2025 celebrates the imagination, research-driven approach, and technical maturity of FEST’s architecture students. The event is open to the public, offering visitors a chance to explore fresh perspectives on urban living and the future of architectural development in the Maldives.