Silver Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design · 2026
Anantara Zanzibar Resort and Residences
- A' Design Award 2026 Silver Winner in Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design
- Awarded April 15, 2026
- CLIENT: Infinity Design and Architecture
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 8,658
- Verification code 50CDC95676 · Verify this award
About Anantara Zanzibar Resort and Residences
Anantara Zanzibar is a beachfront resort and residences project located in Nungwi, on the coast of Zanzibar, overlooking the Indian Ocean. The design combines local heritage with modern comfort. Limewashed walls, carved timber doors, handwoven lattice screens, and locally sourced coral stone are used throughout. Courtyards, pavilions, and verandas link indoor and outdoor spaces. The villas include private pools, sunken firepits, and lagoon decks. The layout guides guests from open social areas to quiet retreats.
Situated within the contemporary discourse of environmentally conscious hospitality design, this aerial rendering of Infinity Design and Architecture's Resort and Residences presents a compelling vision of how luxury accommodation might achieve harmonious integration with sensitive coastal and forest ecosystems. The masterplan demonstrates sophisticated understanding of site-responsive design principles, arranging built volumes in organic configurations that preserve substantial forest coverage while creating intimate relationships between private villas and the aquatic environment. The chromatic orchestration visible from this elevated perspective reveals careful material selection, with warm-toned roofing materials creating visual cohesion across diverse building typologies while establishing sympathetic dialogue with the golden sand below. Particularly noteworthy appears the graduated density of development, with structures concentrated along the coastal edge transitioning to larger-footprint buildings nestled deeper within the palm canopy, suggesting thoughtful consideration of privacy gradients and environmental buffer zones. The central amenity area, anchored by what appears to be a substantial pool complex and gathering pavilion, creates a natural focal point that organizes the overall composition while maintaining visual permeability toward the water. The pier extending into the turquoise shallows introduces a linear element that draws the eye outward while providing functional connection to marine activities. One might observe how the serpentine internal circulation paths echo natural water courses, creating organic movement patterns that soften the geometric precision of individual structures. The preservation of mature palm specimens throughout the developed zone suggests commitment to existing landscape character rather than wholesale transformation. How might a visitor experience the journey from this comprehensive aerial totality to the intimate scale of individual spaces within?
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The Anantara Zanzibar Resort & Residences is a five-star beachfront development blending contemporary elegance with Zanzibar’s heritage. Architectural details such as limewashed walls, carved doors, lattice screens, and coral stone are paired with modern comfort. Spacious villas with private pools, sunken firepits, and saltwater lagoons highlight cultural authenticity while setting a new benchmark for luxury design in East Africa.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Hotel suites range from 57.5–62 sqm, one-bedroom villas at 240 sqm, two-bedroom villas at 360 sqm, and three-bedroom residences at 485 sqm across two levels. The penthouse spans 175 sqm, while royal suites measure 115 sqm. All layouts prioritize ergonomic flows, generous indoor–outdoor connections, and Anantara’s global spatial planning standards.
- Tags
- Zanzibar, Luxury Resort, Branded Residences, Beachfront Villas, Swahili Architecture, Coastal Design, Tropical Retreat, Contemporary Elegance, Anantara, East Africa
- Production Technology
- The design employs locally sourced coral stone, mangrove poles, carved timber doors, and handwoven lattice screens, paired with modern construction methods. Finishes include limewashed walls, fluted wood detailing, brushed metal, veined marble, and weathered stone, all selected for authenticity, durability, and timeless appeal.
- Design Challenge
- The main challenge was balancing local craftsmanship and heritage expression with international five-star hospitality standards. Constraints included sourcing authentic materials, ensuring environmental integration, and adapting vernacular motifs to modern construction techniques. Overcoming these created a design that is both culturally grounded and globally aspirational.
- Project Duration
- The project is located in Nungwi, on the northeastern coastline of Zanzibar, overlooking the Indian Ocean. Development commenced with design studies in Dubai and Zanzibar and continues toward phased realization, supported by Minor Hotels and Infinity Developments.
- Operation Flow
- Spaces are designed as a sequence of sensory journeys, moving from open social areas to quiet retreats. Courtyards, pavilions, and verandas create natural transitions, while water features and native flora encourage exploration. Villas offer private pools, firepits, and lagoon decks, ensuring immersive and intuitive guest experiences.
- Research
- Architectural research combined contextual analysis, vernacular studies, and market demand assessments. Objectives were to fuse Swahili heritage with modern hospitality. Methods included site surveys, material sourcing, and cultural consultations with local artisans. Insights revealed demand for authentic ultra-luxury resorts in Zanzibar, shaping a design that bridges heritage and contemporary global standards.
- Inspiration
- The project is inspired by Zanzibar’s raw natural beauty and cultural heritage, reinterpreted through a lens of modern luxury. As design director Karla Seliman explains, the vision was “born from standing alone on the island of Zanzibar, as if it were deserted, imagining how I would build an entire city from its raw, natural beauty.” Guided by this approach, the resort was crafted as an extension of nature itself, with open, flowing spaces that blur the boundaries between indoors and outdoors.
- Image Credits
- Image #1: Infinity Design and Architecture, Anantara Zanzibar Master Plan, 2025.
- Patents
- Copyrights belong to Infinity Design and Architecture, 2025