An exemplar in economics, a politician at the helm of leadership; these are attributes of the Vice President, Faisal Naseem, that Maldivians normally associate with. What they aren’t yet familiar with is his creativity in craftsmanship.
The interior and exterior of ‘Millennium’, showcases a hidden attribute of VP Faisal. His strong passion for constructing and being the sole architect of his residence, adds to his qualities in different trades.
"Designing is the type of work that I am fully interested in. I enjoy being able to design it for a person’s liking, whether it is a resort, guesthouse or their personal residence".
Doing everything with care and precision, is an exceptional quality that is embedded in the VP’s characteristics.
His political ventures began with the non profitable work he did for the community. When he helped people in business ventures without profit, he did it with care and dedication. His tenure in the parliament as the Member of Parliament for the Kaashidhoo was completed with the utmost dedication to the welfare of the people.
Elected by the citizens in 2018 for his term as the Vice President of the Maldives, was a turning point in the history of policy makers for the country. Although he is praised in his career as a politician and economist, the one venture he is fond of is his passion for building.
"I am not a politician, my background is in construction and building development, as you can very well see", he jokingly gestured as he showed around the Millennium.
The house was testimony to the fact that VP Faisal would have been an outstanding interior designer if not for his duties as a politician.
"The work I did in a few resorts was noticed by visiting foreign friends. I was invited to do the interior design of a few of their residences abroad".
Both the interior and exterior of the house Millennium in Funaadu District, Fuvahmulah city, is aesthetically pleasing.
VP Faisal affirmed that the amount of work, intricacy and time taken for the construction of Millennium would be difficult to picture easily.
"he shop that we bought the black screws from in the capital, ran out of stock because we purchased it all. But the way we have utilised the screws cannot easily be seen", the VP went on to highlight the precision used in the making of Millennium.
The foundation of the house was made in 2000. The name for the house, Millennium was chosen in line with the year 2000. After years of the land staying idle, the construction of Millennium began in 2014. From the foundation to the finishing's, it was the VP who was hands on, involved in the construction of his house.
The harmony of modern wood and stone design can be seen throughout the house in its nine rooms. All the rooms come with an attached bathroom and are designed differently to one another. The underlying colour scheme of the house is a black and white concept used in the right blend to highlight the wood and stone contours of the house. The idea for a wood and stone house came from his passion to explore different concepts in building as well as to teach interested people.
His work in the house started during his term as the MP for Kaashidhoo. "Every two weeks, I come down to do the work, taking breaks only for prayers. Even when it’s midnight I don’t feel like stopping because I was driven".
The horizontal use of wood in the house brings about a unique finish. Materials for the house were brought from Thailand and Indonesia with nine workers to assist him. The rooms were done one after the other which made people speculate. However, each room was inspired by the architecture he saw on his various trips abroad which he later sketched out. Completing one room and then going on to the next was ideal for the VP as he wanted no details to be left unattended.
Embracing a resort-style concept for the Millennium was to give visitors a good ambience to stay at. The rooms of Millennium can additionally be booked for events and portrays the natural beauty of Fuvahmulah city in general.
His interest for craftsmanship and economics derived from the young age of 17 when he embarked on his first job. His father was his role model and he followed in his father’s footsteps to build his career.
The VP’s father was an exemplar of many talents being involved in various fields from corporate governance to businesses and later in politics. In politics he endured hardship, getting arrested and being exiled to other islands.
When Paradise Island Resort was opened in 1994, VP Faisal was the Assistant Manager. Next to his responsibilities in the role, he was fond of landscaping and carpentry even at the time. He did work in the resort’s lobby, counters and sign boards which brought a lot of contentment to him as he was doing something he had talent in.
He went on to design the interior and exterior of more than eight resorts in the Maldives. His design concepts included the spa, restaurant and other exteriors of the resorts which was highly recognised by both locals and foreigners. He is a firm believer that learning different trades and skills is better than sticking to one.
"I believe that doing something thoroughly and not just for the sake of doing it, goes a long way. As a Resort Manager, I was content if my team was content. Building relationships to maintain relationships is what I aim for and what keeps me motivated."
His assistance for other people in various areas brought about inception of Faisal Foundation. The foundation helped communities in creating awareness of pressing concerns such as the environment. The foundation additionally created sports driven communities, awareness on the security and safety of communities, educational awareness and boosted the livelihood of Fuvahmulah in community welfare.
His term as the MP of Kaashidhoo was well-received as his work to build a better, healthier island was acknowledged by the people.
After 27 years of service in the industry he is now fully engaged in his accountability as the Vice President until his term ends in November. Will the citizens of the Maldives see him being involved in his craftsmanship skills after his term?
His answer to the question is short. However unlike in previous times, his enthusiasm for carpentry and creativity will not go amiss.
"I will know when the time comes. It’s something I am capable and fully interested in. I am someone who gives 100 percent commitment to the task at hand. Currently my time is utilised to be of service to the people with the responsibilities I vowed upon as the Vice President."
Sign In
