From its inception, Saffire was imagined as an iconic project to redefine tourism in Tasmania. The original brief was for a much larger development of 150 rooms, but this was rethought by Federal and eventually became a far smaller scale, more intimate resort; a decision with which we were in total agreement.

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The location was scarred from its previous use as a disused caravan park so the project became as much about repairing the site and interpreting its unique qualities as it was about creating a space from which it could be experienced. With this in mind, we shaped the main building as the end point in a journey, in which views of the Hazards are shielded and revealed and finally presented as a destination which is a panoramic overview of the Hazards and their context.

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The resort is also organic in its relationship to the site. Its form evokes memories of coastal land forms, dunes, waves or sea creatures. The suites are small waves or boats, arranged on the site as if marking the tidal shoreline. The passage between the units is a metaphor for a beach, the suites moored like small craft run up onto the sand. Each suite is enclosing and private, yet opens to an individually personalised view of the Hazards.

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The project has become an international symbol of Tasmania.

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View the Saffire website here