Jean-Michel Gathy: How He Changed the Hotel Industry With his Designs

His life’s work can be summed up as a tautly stretched hammock over the sea. While it may sound trivial, it revolutionized an entire industry. When the One&Only Reethi Rah opened in the North Malé Atoll in 2005, Belgian architect Jean-Michel Gathy came up with something truly unique for the overwater villas: he equipped each terrace with a net suspended above the Indian Ocean, where guests could lounge. As inconsequential as it may seem, the impact was monumental. Today, it’s hard to find a resort in the Maldives—or any similar idyllic seaside destination—that doesn’t feature a relaxation net over the water.