Knights Rest by SAXON HALL architecture was voted as the public’s favourite project entered in the 2022 Tasmanian Architecture Awards.
The project provides a simple amenities block to The Bruny Island Long Weekend and allows clients to use the facilities (with a choice of a loo with a view, or a more private lavatory), while ensuring the dash from the tent doesn’t result in frozen extremities, thanks to the wood fire next to the hand basin.
‘Architects have the ability to work across many scales and types of projects and bring value to projects both large and small. While this project is modest in both budget and scale (it’s a tiny 13m2!), it shows that architecture can provide solutions for the smallest of buildings,’ says Australian Institute of Architects Tasmanian Chapter Executive Director, Jennifer Nichols.
Dolphin Sands Studio (another small-scale project – 36m2 – nestled into the dunes at Dolphin Sands with panoramic views of the Hazards) by Matt Williams Architects received the second highest number of public votes, followed by The Boathouse (also a small-footprint build with views overlooking the River Derwent) by Maguire and Devine Architects.
‘It’s really interesting that this year, the public have gravitated to projects with a small footprint. The average Australian house has one of the largest footprints in the world, which is really not sustainable. We need to think about creative ways of building smaller, and these projects show that small doesn’t mean that comforts need to be forgone,’ says Miss Nichols.
The public were invited to have their say and vote for their favourite project entered in the 2022 Tasmanian Architecture Awards, with 24 projects from across the state in the running.
‘The only way we can truly make our built environment better for everyone, is by ensuring that we all understand the value of architecture and how it contributes to our broader public realm,’ adds Miss Nichols.
‘The People’s Choice harnesses the opinions of the public and allows them to engage with architecture.’ The peer-reviewed award winners in the 2022 Tasmanian Architecture Awards were announced via a YouTube live stream on Saturday 11 June. Watch the online presentation event.
View all the projects entered in this year’s awards.
