These strange and unique houses are located in Hormuz, an island of Iran, overlooking the Persian Gulf with surreal landscapes and special colors. The project “Presence in Hormuz” is carried out by ZAV Architects, an architectural studio located in the capital Tehran. The purpose of the project is to develop a city and attract tourists to visit the lives of its people, both in terms of culture, society and economic development.
The architects of ZAV Architects describe the project as a “cultural residence”, with about 200 domes as vibrant as the colors of the rainbow, located about 5km from the main town on the Iranian island of Hormuz. In addition to homestays, “Presence in Hormuz” also integrates a resort, an interesting and inspiring alternative that is far more inspiring than standard high-rise apartments.
“Presence in Hormuz” intends to bring more visitors to the forgotten island to increase national and local GDP (gross domestic product) with the help of unique architecture. Imagine, from above, each dome represents a family. There are 15 holiday homes out of about 200 domes in total. They are designed in different sizes and colors.
In addition to housing, the project also designs restaurants, cafes, souvenir shops, tourist information support centers, reception areas, … to serve tourists to visit and Resort. ZAV Architects arranged the domes close together to create a strong sense of community, while drawing soft, fluid lines like the island’s natural form.
All domes are painted in bright colors such as red, yellow, green, blue to create a striking and attractive exterior. This bold use of color continues inside the structure, where the walls and interior are painted in a harmonious color, creating a connection with the overall exterior.
“You cannot remove the color element from the island of Hormuz. From what belongs to nature such as blue sea, white sand, golden sunshine, people here also use color as an important means of expression. It can be in their costumes, in the interior of their homes and even in the food of the indigenous people who are colorful. That is what inspired us to bravely use bold colors for this small island,” explained ZAV Architects.
Another interesting fact is that each dome on the island has a structure made of stacked sandbags, filled with soil and sand dredged from the Hormuz pier. These sandbags are supported by a steel frame and finished with solid cement. Each resident can contribute their efforts in the construction process as a skilled craftsman.
“Architecture is a platform to change the world and its mission is to spark innovation… So we are constantly looking for ways to take architecture out of its comfort zone.” ZAV Architects hopes that the success of the project will contribute to promoting tourism and supporting the local community on the small island of Iran.
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