Anantara Zanzibar Wurin Shakatawa da Gidajen Zama by Karla Seliman

Anantara Zanzibar Wurin Shakatawa da Gidajen Zama by Karla Seliman is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 Kyautar A' Design Award ta Azurfa in Masaukin Baƙi Competition Category.

AzurfaMasaukin Baƙi· 2026

Anantara Zanzibar Wurin Shakatawa da Gidajen Zama

by Karla Seliman

Client: Infinity Design and Architecture

Kyautar A' Design Award ta Azurfa Winner in Masaukin Baƙi Category

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The Design

About Anantara Zanzibar Wurin Shakatawa da Gidajen Zama

Anantara Zanzibar wani aikin wurin shakatawa da gidajen zama ne da ke bakin teku a Nungwi, a gabar tekun Zanzibar, wanda ke kallon Tekun Indiya. Zayyanar ta haɗa al'adun gargajiya na gida da jin daɗin zamani. An yi amfani da bangon da aka shafa da farar ƙasa, ƙofofin katako da aka sassaƙa, allon raga da aka saƙa da hannu, da dutsen murjani da aka samo daga yankin a ko'ina cikin ginin. Filayen tsakar gida, rumfuna, da barandoji suna haɗa wuraren ciki da na waje. Gidajen villa sun ƙunshi tafkunan ninkaya na sirri, wuraren wuta da aka gina a ƙasa, da dandalin kallon lagon. Tsarin ginin yana jagorantar baƙi daga wuraren zama na jama'a zuwa wuraren hutu masu natsuwa.

The Recognition

About the Kyautar A' Design Award ta Azurfa

Zanen Anantara Zanzibar Wurin Shakatawa da Gidajen Zama ya lashe Kyautar A' Design Award ta Azurfa, wata karramawa mai tsananin daraja da ake bai wa zane-zane na matakin koli, masu kyau sosai kuma masu burgewa. Waɗanda suka lashe kyautar Azurfa ayyuka ne masu haske sosai da ƙirƙira mai yawa waɗanda ke nuna ƙwarewa, baiwa da kaifin tunanin masu zanensu. Ana sa ran zanen Anantara Zanzibar Wurin Shakatawa da Gidajen Zama ya zama aiki mai ban mamaki, abin koyi, mai ƙwarewa sosai kuma mai ƙirƙire-ƙirƙire mai zurfi. Wannan zane da ya lashe Kyautar A' Design Award ta Azurfa ƙirƙira ce mai abin lura sosai, da ake sha'awa, wacce ke amfanar da kuma kai iyakokin fasaha, kimiyya, zane da fasahar zamani gaba. Zanen Anantara Zanzibar Wurin Shakatawa da Gidajen Zama ƙirƙira ce da ake yi wa hassada sosai wacce ke tada sha'awa, tana kawo jin daɗi kuma tana haifar da mamaki da al'ajabi.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

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.
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.
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.
Patents: Copyrights belong to Infinity Design and Architecture, 2025
Team Members: Karla Seliman (Design Director), Osama Al-Hajjar (Principal Architect), Rohit Al Manzalji, Isa Ahmed Isa, Bisher Alatiah, Yazan Zaem, Ian Iglesias
Image Credits: Image #1: Infinity Design and Architecture, Anantara Zanzibar Master Plan, 2025.