The Colorful Communal Domes of Hormuz, Iran
If you have ever fantasized about following the yellow brick road to the magical land of OZ—Hormuz, Iran may be your dream destination. Hormuz is a celebrated Persian Gulf port town that has fallen on hard times. A group of architects hoped to make a positive impact by building a distinctive collection of interdependent domed communal dwellings that look as though they may house Oz’s merry Munchkins.
The domed dwellings are part of a project called “Presence in Hormuz”, which is designed to create an affordable communal living space that offers shared laundry facilities, dining, and prayer areas. “Presence in Hormuz” features winding paths and sweeping steps which were created to delight locals and tourists alike. The colorful, fantastical domed dwellings that look as though they are fresh from the board game “Candy Land” were inspired by the surrounding landscape. Hormuz is dotted with jagged mountains and undulating sand dunes.
The bulb-shaped domes of Hormuz were constructed with adobe crafted from local sand, Celebrated Iranian architect Nader Khalili—who specialized in building shelters for people in crisis out of sand and stone—pioneered the adobe making technique that was used when constructing the domes of Hormuz. The designers of “Presence in Hormuz” like to think that every dome is a natural extension of the land on which it is built. The great hope is that this visually stunning collection of seaside domed dwellings with striking circular windows that recall ancient times will help foster harmony in a region that has witnessed countless rounds of economic, social, and political turmoil, Can a tightly knit community of people who are deeply dependent on one another govern themselves better than an overarching power structure? Much like the residents of Oz—the residents of the multicolored domes of Hormuz, Iran welcome the many benefits of communal living.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Majara Residence (Presence in Hormuz 2), Hormuz Island, Hormozgan, Iran
- Coordinates
- 27.07155, 56.42692
- Access
- As of 2026-10-11, the UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Iran, the U.S. State Department says Level 4: Do Not Travel, and the Government of Canada says Avoid All Travel. Advisories can change; check your own government’s latest notice. Majara is an accommodation complex with community facilities described by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, but current day-visitor access is not confirmed. Do not treat its open layout as permission to enter private accommodation; travel to Iran is not advised under these current notices.
- Admission
- No current day-visitor ticket or separate entrance fee was found in the project and architecture sources reviewed. Accommodation prices are lodging charges, not an admission fee, and vary by room and date. Access is not confirmed; do not plan travel under current government advisories.
- Time needed
- No standard sightseeing duration for day visitors is published. Majara is an accommodation complex; an overnight stay depends on a confirmed booking. Current government advisories advise against travel to Iran.
- Best season
- No property-specific visitor season is published. Older island-wide guides describe November–March as more comfortable than the hot, humid summer, but that is climate context—not Majara operating information or a travel recommendation. Current government advisories advise against travel to Iran.
- Opening hours
- No current public walk-in hours were verified. Hotel check-in times are not attraction opening hours; confirm property operations only if travel advisories change and travel is appropriate.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-29
- Facts checked
- 2026-10-11
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