Anantara Zanzibar Resort jeung Padumukan by Karla Seliman

Anantara Zanzibar Resort jeung Padumukan by Karla Seliman is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Perak in Hospitalitas Competition Category.

PerakHospitalitas· 2026

Anantara Zanzibar Resort jeung Padumukan

by Karla Seliman

Client: Infinity Design and Architecture

A' Design Award Perak Winner in Hospitalitas Category

9,017

Verified Award Winner

Verify Award Status for #177335

Visit Site View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

Colors

The Design

About Anantara Zanzibar Resort jeung Padumukan

Anantara Zanzibar mangrupa proyék resort jeung padumukan di sisi basisir anu perenahna di Nungwi, di basisir Zanzibar, nyanghareup ka Samudra Hindia. Desainna ngahijikeun warisan lokal jeung kanyamanan modéren. Témbok anu dilabur kapur, panto kai ukiran, saringan kisi anu ditinun ku leungeun, sarta batu karang ti sumber lokal dipaké di sakuliah wangunan. Buruan, paviliun, jeung téras ngahubungkeun rohangan jero jeung luar. Vila-vilana dilengkepan ku kolam renang pribadi, tempat durukan seuneu anu ngalelep, jeung dek laguna. Tata perenahna nungtun tamu ti wewengkon sosial anu muka ka tempat panyingkuran anu tengtrem.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Perak

Anantara Zanzibar Resort jeung Padumukan mangrupa juara A' Design Award Perak, pangakuan anu luar biasa bergengsi anu dipasihkeun ka desain kelas luhur, endah jeung matak kagum. Para juara Perak téh karya anu pohara cemerlang jeung pohara kréatif anu ngagambarkeun kaahlian, bakat jeung kapinteran para désainerna. Anantara Zanzibar Resort jeung Padumukan diharepkeun jadi karya anu éndah, karya andalan anu pohara profésional jeung pohara inovatif. Desain juara A' Design Award Perak ieu mangrupa panemuan anu pohara kasohor jeung dikagumi anu mangpaat sarta ngamajukeun watesan seni, élmu, desain jeung téknologi. Anantara Zanzibar Resort jeung Padumukan mangrupa kréasi anu pohara diirikeun anu ngahudang kahayang, ngabawa rasa positip, jeung ngahudangkeun rasa heran jeung kagum.

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.