Her anthropocentric talk
at Design Indaba and her
focus on transforming
developing communities made
us select Zimbabwean-born
NICOLE NOMSA MOYO
for ‘The Challenge’.Your concept begins with the idea that
relaxation is a luxury... NICOLE NOMSA
MOYO: Our days are so heavily impacted by
networks and networking that we all need
to detach sometimes. Zorora – whose name
translates to ‘rest’ in the Shona language –
is a new off-grid luxury hospitality experi-
ence. A spa will float on each of the world’s
naturally occurring pink lakes, rare gems
that very few have ever seen or experienced.
Pink lakes are created by high saline levels
or the presence of algae that produce a
reddish pigment. The visitor experience will
change throughout the seasons, since rain
dilutes the pink colouration.
How does your design affect the visitor
experience? Zorora’s shape and aesthetic
are inspired by salt. It’s an experimental
evolution of Himalayan salt lamps, which
are used in interiors to generate a calm and
tranquil atmosphere. I pushed this concept
further, considering how a person could
have the same experience inside salt. The
spa features a wooden deck with a flotation
pool, from which visitors can enjoy their
natural surroundings. The water’s high
concentration of salt facilitates relaxation,
buoyancy and even energy production.
Walls are lined with ionized salt, which
possesses strong antiseptic and inflamma-
tory properties, allowing the space to serve
as a centre for healing therapy.
You want to bring awareness to the vulner-
ability of these natural wonders. How? Salt
extraction from Lake Retba in Senegal is a
vital part of the local economy; the salt is
used mainly to preserve fish. Some of the
world’s pink lakes are disappearing due to
a reduction in salt concentration caused by
excessive human activity. Zorora aims to
draw international attention to these places
and foster a new tourism economy that pro-
motes the conservation of salt to maintain
the lakes’ character.What does Zorora say about the future of
hospitality? Its message is that there are so
many beautiful natural places to experience
in the world.
Yes, we may have made incredible
progress with technology, but nothing is
more creative and impressive than nature.
Passive design can generate luxurious and
innovative off-grid experiences. The most
popular and attractive landmarks receive
heavy traffic because of current modes of
transportation. But there are so many inter-
national companies – big and small – that
could benefit from designing extraordinary
things in extraordinary places to help boost
local economies. – TI
nnmoyo.comThe Zorora spa will float on each of
the world’s naturally occurring pink
lakes. Housing an internal flotation
pool, the structure is inspired by that
of Himalayan salt lamps.THE CHALLENGE 39