An Off-Grid Concrete Retreat Treads Lightly on Bruny Island

Tunnel Tasmania makes a striking impression in Bruny Island’s rugged landscape. The cantilevered concrete structure seamlessly connects indoors with out, with floor-to-ceiling windows and multiple light wells delivering a sense of effortless flow. Beyond the elevated terrace is an awe-inspiring 300-metre stretch of sea, and an almost 270-degree view of the D'Entrecasteaux Channel, the body of water that connects the remote island and Tasmania’s south-east coast.

Conceived by owner Dane Taylor and brought to life by Hobart-based architecture firm Room 11 and Danish design company Vipp, the structure both complements and contrasts the island’s raw natural beauty. Taylor first visited Tasmania after the initial Covid lockdown, then purchased this plot sight unseen from Sydney. “Once I saw the site in person, it was clear that the architecture needed to be strong but restrained,” he says, “and that the building should be about framing the landscape, the water, the light and the feeling of being on Bruny.”

Within this setting, Tunnel Tasmania showcases how architecture can encourage calm and clarity. “The building is deliberately minimal and controlled, so the changing conditions of the island become the focus. It’s not just accommodation, it is an experience of place,” says Taylor. “Beyond the beautiful island and wildlife, I think spending time in unique architecture genuinely does something for the mind.”

Tunnel Tasmania is the 11th Vipp guesthouse for the family-owned company and the first in the southern hemisphere. “I think Vipp was drawn to the project because it felt aligned with their global guesthouse concept: a highly designed, simple and functional space in a remarkable location, where the guest experience is just as important as the objects themselves,” says Taylor.

As for that guest experience, Tunnel Tasmania provides the ideal base to explore Bruny Island’s renowned local produce and experience the beauty of this untouched part of the world. Or simply relax with a picnic on the deck, take an outdoor bath at sunset, or visit the floating sauna moored in the waters of Little Oyster Cove. Outside, you may be able to spot seals, dolphins, wallabies, spotted quolls, wrens, or even the two resident white-bellied sea eagles.

“I would recommend guests do enough to experience the island, but not so much that they miss the point of being there,” says Taylor. “The best stays are the ones where people give themselves time to cook, read, sit outside, watch the light change, listen to the weather and properly disconnect.”