Residenza Majara: its name means adventure, its goal is to change its country and its appearance is incredible.
The extraordinary VILLAGE with the RAINBOW DOMES
#Presence in Hormuz 02
The Iranian studio ZAV Architects created the “Presence in Hormuz 02” project: a political and social manifesto created to raise awareness and show a real political and economic alternative to illegal oil trafficking, the only activity that currently produces income for the island.
Hormuz is in fact an ancient historic port in the strategic strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf, south of Iran, which controls the shipment of oil from the Middle East.
Despite the beauty of the island, the local inhabitants struggle economically, being involved in illegal traffic activities using their boats, not fully exploiting the tourist potential of this wonderful island.
#The key role of architecture
In a country where the state is grappling with political disputes, any architectural project can become a real alternative to internal government activities.
The goal for those who want to change their country with projects like this is to try to answer a simple question: how can architecture suggest a political alternative for community life?
Presence in Hormuz is a series of urban developments by a semi-public institution that has hired ZAV Architects in order to empower the island’s local community.
The second phase of this project takes the form of a multipurpose cultural residence called the Majara residence.
Its name means adventure and its appearance is incredible.
#The village with the colored domes
The goal of this project is to build trust and bonds between citizens and tourists, who will be intrigued by this curious and fascinating-looking village.
The Majara residence takes the shape of a village where each dome is of a bright color, creating a unique spectacle.
All the domes were built with the “superdobe” technique, which is the contemporary alternative to the rammed earth method, conceived by the Iranian architect Nader Khalili.
The colored particles, be they earth, sand, gravel or stone, accumulate and form a set of colors reminiscent of the island’s landscape.
The small size of the domes makes their construction compatible with the construction skills of local craftsmen, who are not inhabited by large projects.
The priority of the ZAV Architects project was in fact to use only local materials, easily accessible and cheap, so as to allow a construction whose main costs were linked to a fair remuneration of the native labor.
# The colorfull inside
The inside of the domes reflects the outside: once you enter, you are enveloped in a bright color that undergoes variations depending on the environment and the light.
Everything is colorful: from the floor, to the ceiling and even all the furniture that decorates the unique little house.
Most domes provide housing for residents, while other domes house common areas for dining, laundry, or praying. There are also rooms dedicated to crafts and even an area dedicated to tourist information.
ARIANNA BOTTINI
