Project overview
Hondurabi Beach Resort is an unbuilt hospitality concept by ONDO for Hondurabi Island in the Persian Gulf, Iran. Developed in 2022 for SARAAJ, the proposal takes the nesting patterns of sea turtles, and the image of eggs sheltered in coastal sand, as a conceptual starting point. It translates this reference into a grouping of dome-shaped accommodation units connected by underground passages, exploring the relationship between architecture and the island's coastal landscape.
Project details
Project: Hondurabi Beach Resort
Studio: ONDO
Location: Hondurabi Island, Persian Gulf, Iran
Client: SARAAJ
Project Status: Unbuilt Concept / Design Completed
Design Year: 2022
Site Area: 12,000 m²
Number of Rooms: 50
Biomimicry and the coastal setting
The turtle-nesting reference informs a conceptual approach to form and spatial organization. Above ground, the domes are conceived as individual elements within a wider landscape; underground connections provide a proposed circulation network between them. This arrangement studies how the visible presence of accommodation might be balanced with continuity of the coastal setting, while making movement between rooms and shared spaces part of the experience of a stay.
The architectural language combines concrete with references to the Persian Gulf's shanashil tradition. Thermal comfort, ventilation, renewable energy and awareness of marine habitats remain design intentions. The proposal raises questions about how tourism infrastructure, guest access and recreation can be considered in an ecologically sensitive island setting. Any claim about energy savings, thermal performance or habitat protection would require technical assessment and ecological evidence; these are not established outcomes of the unbuilt concept.
Hospitality program
The proposal occupies a 12,000-square-metre site and provides for 50 rooms alongside service and landscape areas. The accommodation mix includes rooms for couples, twin rooms, family suites and accessible accommodation. Proposed amenities include a spa, food and beverage spaces, private pools, sun terraces and marine recreation. Different service levels support a range of guest experiences. The recorded project milestone is completion of the design phase; the project remains unbuilt.
Concept Visualization | Unbuilt Project
The gallery presents conceptual visualizations, including the sea-turtle imagery; these are not photographs of a completed building or evidence of habitat conditions or environmental performance.
Project credits
Concept Originator & Design Director: Mohsen Saraji
Architectural Design Team: Sara Salamat, Mohammad Hassan Daneshvar
Post-production: Javad Saberi
Website and media support: Zahra Mohammadpour, Faezeh Abadi
Art review: Metanat Mohebi
Related services and projects
Explore ONDO's creative architecture approach. Related work includes Mother Mountain Villa and Kish Resort & Theme Park. Discuss a project with the studio.
