Discover Majara Residence in Hormuz Island
Exquisite Accommodations with Stunning Views
Since a few years, travelers have been hearing about Hormuz Island get curious about these strange and colorful dome structures standing out on the coastline. Majara Residence is an innovative concept created by ZAV Architects, in collaboration with locals and integrating the island’s natural environment. It’s an ode to the strange and strong beauty of this island, one of the Persian Gulf’s gems.
Completed in 2020, Majara (which means “Adventure” in Persian), is a seaside accommodation complex located just 5 kilometers away from the small town of Hormuz, in the northern coast of the island. It is a sustainable, community-driven project conceived by the Tehran-based architectural firm ZAV Architects in collaboration with local artisans. Its signature domed structures are painted in bright colors, resembling a surreal village that perfectly blends with the island’s rich and earthy tones.
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Tailor-made for Hormuz Island
The complex, built on an area of 10.300 square meters, consists of 200 colorful domes of varying sizes and shapes, some of which are interconnected by various open and closed areas. Within the complex are 17 suites, hosting up to 85 guests, and various public areas such as restaurants, cafes, galleries, prayer rooms, souvenir shop and tourist info points.
These futuristic structures were designed with the island’s harsh climate in mind, incorporating natural ventilation and thermal insulation techniques: solar panels, rainwater collection systems and natural cooling methods are used to ensure a minimal ecological footprint.
The minimalist interior echoes the simple shape of the domes. The decor indeed focuses on sustainable living, with basic yet comfortable facilities and using variations of color that match the exterior colors. The furniture was produced in the region, with some pieces being executed by craftspeople of Hormuz.
The architects have been rewarded by several prizes for the Majara Residence: the Archdaily Building of the Year 2021, the Golden Award at Taipei International Design Award, and the 2nd prize at Memar Award public buildings category.
Community Empowerment
Beside its intriguing and interesting design, the philosophy behind this project is as important as its beautiful result. Majara Residence was conceived as a sustainable tourism project with a strong focus on empowering the local community. The construction involved local artisans and used local materials to create eco-friendly structures.
To build these 200 domes, the architects decided to use the superadobe sandbag technique. This construction technique was pioneered by Nader Khalili, an Iranian-American architect, in the ‘80s, for which he earned the Aga Khan Award. This technique involves layering bags filled with soil and sand, using on-site material to create structure like domes.
Eventually, it’s interesting to note that the residence was built on the location of the campsite that was next to the “soil carpet coast”, a temporary artistic creation that used to be made every year and during which artists and locals would use ochre of various colors, naturally present in Hormuz, to trace a pattern similar to that of a carpet. This sand woven carpet was made on a large area of 1300 square meters. The last “soil carpet event” was held in 2014.
Community Empowerment
Nearly four years after its completion, the Majara Residence had not yet opened to the public when that article was written (Sep 2024). However, it should be possible for travelers to spend the night at the residence this season according to some information. In the meantime, they are still allowed to have a look at the interesting architecture from close during their visit of Hormuz.
What to Do and See in Hormuz
Hormuz is a beautiful and unique island, which fascinates travelers since a long time. It used to be a strategic port on the maritime trade routes that crossed the strait of Hormuz. Occupied by the Portuguese and then under the control of the British, most of the island remained untouched. It is nowadays inhabited by 6.000 peoples living mostly from fishing and tourism.
Hormuz Island is a small island of 42 square kilometers, with one main road going all around the island. After eating the famous “tomooshi” bread typical from the region, hop on a rickshaw or rent a bike (for the sporty ones!) to explore the beauties of the island. Among the most famous sightseeing are of course the famous Red Beach, the Valley of Statue, the Rainbow and the Salt Caves, and the Rainbow Valley. You can also explore the Portuguese Castle, which was actually a military fort, one of the most important in the region and that contains an underground church.
How to Reach Hormuz and Majara Residence
Majara Residence is located on Hormuz Island, which is accessible only by ferry from the Iranian mainland and from Qeshm Island. There are daily five ferries from Bandar Abbas to Hormuz Island (departures from Bandar Abbas are at 7 AM, 9 AM, 1 PM, 5 PM and 9 PM; departures from Hormuz Island are at 7 AM, 9 AM, 11 AM, 2:30 PM and 7 PM). The journey takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour. For travelers coming from or going to Qeshm Island, there are only two ferries a day (departures from Qeshm are at 7 AM and 2 PM; departures from Hormuz are at 8 AM and 3 PM).
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Upon arrival on the island, you can easily find local transportation to Majara Residence, which is situated on the northern side of the island and usually at the beginning of a tour of the island. Keep in mind that the best time to visit Hormuz Island is during the cooler months, from November to March, when temperatures are more pleasant for outdoor activities. The island’s hot and humid summers make exploring highly uncomfortable.
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