Omani through and through

Six Senses Zighi Bay plants indigenous tree species and reuses water through reed-based biomimicry.

Six Senses Hideaway Zighi Bay is proving that luxury and sustainability do not have to be mutually exclusive.

Nestled in a hidden fold of Oman’s rugged Musandam region, Six Senses Hideaway Zighi Bay is quietly challenging traditional definitions of luxury.

The resort, which recently celebrated its second anniversary, is a rare example of how high-end hospitality can seamlessly co-exist with social responsibility and environmental sensitivity.

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It is also an important example of how a design can embrace local influences and sustainable principles, without sacrificing on quality and, perhaps more importantly, economic viability.

A low profile
A key focus of the Six Senses Group is to create resorts that are in complete harmony with their environment and natural surrounding: “To blend in, not to harm or destroy any habitats, and to use local design, materials and craftsmanship,” noted Tara Hammond, environment and social responsibilities officer for Six Senses Hideaway Zighi Bay.

Resort size, exact location, buildings, and topographic and thermal conditions, are carefully considered before a resort is built, and the company is constantly exploring ways to improve its carbon and water footprint.

“With this in mind, Six Senses Hideaway Zighi Bay was designed to blend in with the rugged natural surroundings of the Musandam region, combining the element of luxury to deliver a rustic chic decor.

To do this, rather than using conventional materials, Six Senses opted for traditional ones such as date palms, limestone and timber, and used traditional building styles (wattle) to reflect the surrounding indigenous village style of the Omani Peninsula,” Hammond detailed.

“The entire property is built using masonry walls which are left un-plastered, adding a rustic flavor. The interiors have stucco walls, mosaic floors created from pieces of local limestone and the villas are all fitted with furniture constructed with wood (all made on-site by local craftsmen) and left unembellished to give a wholesome, organic and sustainable look,” she continued.

The resort consists of a series of low-rise buildings set on an unadulterated bay flanked on all sides by a dramatic, jagged mountain-scape. A signature restaurant nuzzles into the mountain-side, some 293m above sea level.

“The restaurant has been designed and constructed to blend in with the mountains without damaging the mountain rock and ruining the aesthetics or interfering with the biodiversity of the local environment. This gives guests a unique opportunity to experience a dramatic dining experience, yet without causing disturbance to the surroundings.”