15/04/2025 - ​In their continuing quest for the exceptional, VIPP reveals its latest guesthouse initiative, this time in a remarkably distant dimension – in space, time and spirit. VIPP CEO Kasper Egelund states that the designers of the Tasmania venue have "created a truly breathtaking piece of architecture, a space for reflection and escape, that perfectly complements Vipp's design ethos."
This latest addition to its roster of design experiences, a first in Australia at 42° south of the equator, is indeed singular. Here, guests can partake in a slower, more contemplative way of inhabiting space and engaging with the rhythms of the natural world – whether observing the movement of light and changing weather, spotting rare white wallabies roaming the land, or immersing themselves in the VIPP soul.
This new design-immersion guesthouse is a monolithic, smoothly finished, 30-meter-long exposed concrete "tunnel" cantilevered over "the edge of the world," framing exceptional views of the suggestive Tasmanian mountain and sea landscape.
"The dramatically elongated proportions of the structure respond to the landscape by purposely framing the D'Entrecasteaux Channel with a broad expanse of frameless glass. By this methodology, the user is located in the extraordinary, natural landscape of Tasmania's Bruny Island", comments project architect Thomas Bailey and director of the Hobart design firm Room11. The destination includes a 35 square meter independent 'studio,' sparsely furnished – intentionally - to serve as a place of meditation, quiet and solitude.
If described verbally, the stark volumes might seem out of place, but seen in their surroundings, the observer notes that relationships between the artificial and the natural heighten their reciprocal perceptions – the sleek walls a perfect surface for the play of the shadows of the tree trunks that create an almost textured, ever-mutable plane that feels intrinsically connected to its site; the framed views and raised section highlighting the complex human/nature balance, inspiring deep thought.
This approach to architecture - contrasting and juxtaposing stark form with natural surroundings – is handled masterfully by Room11, who stand on the shoulders of such projects as Peter Zumthor's Secular Retreat, the Aires Mateus' House in Monsaraz / Casa na Terra, or Tadao Ando's Chapel on the Water in Hokkaido, to name a few. While they all may appear at odds or even alien at first glance, they slowly reveal their deep harmony through scale, materials, and a conceptual clarity that is powerful enough to drive the interaction between architectural object and place.
In this project – like the above 'contrast/fit paradox' examples - nature collaborates with architecture rather than serving as its backdrop; concrete is used for its expressive qualities rather than utilitarian purposes; and the emphasis is on framing, sequencing and stillness rather than mere shelter.
Thomas Bailey says it well, "On Bruny Island, we have created understandable forms that do not mimic context; rather, they create an intelligible form from which we can comprehend the nature of place. It is a place where the cut of contemporary architectural thinking is starkly rendered against a raw natural context."
Inside, a central atrium separates the living space from the bedroom and bathroom; the interiors, in a palette of polished concrete, black steel and timber, are characterized by Vipp's signature minimalism. Furnishings include the new all-aluminum V3 kitchen with a stainless steel worktop and crenelated surfaces, as well as the brand's Swivel chairs upholstered in Australian sheepskin. At the end of the space, a recessed glass façade opens onto a terrace that thrusts outward – hovering above the terrain and framing the rugged beauty of the Tasmanian landscape.
The Tunnel is a totally self-sufficient, off-grid structure that uses harvested rainwater and solar energy. "The entire western façade is derived from the geometry of the solar array. An unequivocal statement of prioritizing green energy production in contemporary construction. It's a celebration of a new frontier in sustainable construction. As far as we are aware, this is the first building to feature an entire façade created by solar technology, making the most of the location's latitude", notes Bailey. In addition, the thermal mass of the concrete contributes to regulating indoor temperatures.
A chromatic skylight inspired by the southern Aurora Australis lights is one of the project's most poetic elements. When sun filters through the tinted glass, the yellow, pink, and orange tones create ever-changing visuals shaped by the seasons and time of day.
By the shore, the strategically-placed Cosmic Dancers - a series of black-and-white ceramic sculptures by Danish artist Lin Utzon - form a counterpoint to the red gum trees, their rhythmic silhouettes engaging with the water and surrounding bushland.
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