IUVA Hotel & Resort

This project is a hotel and beach resort situated in East Zanzibar, Tanzania, covering an area of 65,000 sqm in a beautiful coastal destination rich in natural resources and jungle landscapes. Positioned where the main road nearly meets the beach, it connects local towns along a vibrant corridor. The area boasts a friendly culture, featuring local activities like dancing, religious ceremonies, and bustling bazaars that attract tourists from around the globe.

The main challenge was to design the project to bridge the public beach and road, enhancing interactions between hotel guests and the local community. Many existing resorts isolate themselves from locals with walls, limiting the engagement with the surrounding culture.

The hotel’s design aims to connect tourists and locals who already frequent nearby bars, restaurants, and markets. Our innovative approach focuses on activating the main road rather than the beach, fostering communal experiences. Tourists come to Zanzibar not only for its natural beauty but also to immerse themselves in its unique culture shaped by its geography.

Rather than constructing a standalone building, the project will integrate into the local landscape and villages. We designed the site to incorporate a hill, utilizing the 14-meter elevation change from the beach. Amenities like the lobby and restaurants will rise from this hill, resembling a local village and employing local construction techniques. The hotel entrance will feature a market space for local microbusinesses, allowing tourists to engage with the authentic Zanzibar lifestyle.

Indigenous African art symbolizes the connection between people and the land, reflecting the harmony between nature and individuality. Our design recognizes this relationship, embedding it not just visually but fundamentally into the project’s conception and its interaction with the natural environment.

A central aspect of the design was ensuring the project feels like a community asset, crafted by local hands. To achieve this, we prioritized using local construction methods and materials, incorporating ocean sand and roadside timber, which enhanced our ability to reflect local techniques, geometry, and site organization.