New Happiness

Male', the capital of the Maldives, is one of the most densely populated cities in the world, with 80,000 people living on an island that measures less than two square kilometres. Its inhabitants have responded to this situation by covering virtually every wall on the island with blocks and stripes of colour. While the colours serve to carefully mark the limits of property, they also contribute exuberantly to a shared cityscape. Living in a country that is widely perceived as an archetypal tropical paradise but confined to an island with no beaches and little public space, the Maleans express pride in their homes by giving them names like Bereezee Villa and New Happiness.