SAF20Aerial_011.jpg

Project Budget

$32M

Architect

Circa Architecture

Client/Developer

The Federal Group

Year

2010

 

Image courtesy of Federal Hotels and Peter Whyte A five-star luxury resort development at Freycinet Peninsula on Tasmania’s East Coast.

Luxury in hand with nature: Saffire Resort perfects the harmonic balance between innovative structural design and the natural world

Completed in 2010, Freycinet’s iconic Saffire Resort gracefully complements the landscapes and habitats of Tasmania’s serene coastline. Situated on what was once an old caravan park, the undeveloped site for this project held a stark contrast to the terrain’s pristine ambience. The development concentrated on incorporating natural elements from the site’s surroundings to create a structure that not only refrained from diminishing the native terrain, but amplified its existing value.

The organic architectural style of Saffire Resort maintains an authentic connection with the surrounding coastal forms whilst also cultivating a precise impression of luxury. Resembling the body of a stingray, the main building is entered

through the tail to reveal a panoramic display of Great Oyster bay and the Hazards. Prominent structural features are utilised throughout the site to block and expose certain views, carefully creating a frame for the iconic Tasmanian coastline. The blended naturalistic and opulent design entertains Tasmania’s high end tourism market, attracting clients from across the globe.

Such a calculated design required large expanses of glazing wall and open space free from bold columns. The complex supple roof form chosen to best complement the rich natural site needed to be cost effective and receptive to a simple build. Rationalizing the free form roof was achieved using a ply-shell structure supported on sparsely located tree columns. Due to its location on the coast, the worksite itself was highly exposed to harsh weather. Close collaborative work was required between our civil and hydraulic engineers and Inspiring Place Architects to deliver a water sensitive landscape comprised of vegetated swales, silt traps and erosion control.

Featuring 20 lavish suites, the completed Saffire Resort has become a national and international award-winning development and demonstrated the excellent working relationships Gandy and Roberts experiences with the client, architect and contractor.