Homage to Hormuz A colourful project on an island off the coast of Iran responds to environmental and economic challenges WORDS BY RIMA ALSAMMARAE
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ollowing the 2014 decision to annex Hormuz Island to the Free Trade Zone of Qeshm, plans to boost the quality of life for the 42-square kilometre piece of land that sits just off the west coast of Iran were put into action. The scheme was multi-fold, focusing on providing economic stability by drawing upon the island’s inherent attraction for tourism, and manifested in the ongoing urban-tourism intervention, ‘Presence in Hormuz’, a year later. Located on the uppermost crest of the island, Presence in Hormuz consists of three projects: Rong, a cultural centre that receives tourists on arrival; Majara Residence, a visitor’s accommodation; and Badeban Centre, a training centre to equip locals with hospitality skillsets. The assertive programme involves the help of the island’s long-standing community in its construction and future maintenance, and is designed by ZAV Architects, a Tehran-based practice that views architecture as a means to economic advancement for investors and local communities alike, as well as on a national scale.
