Elevation +0 m AHD
Project — Bruny Island / lutruwita, Tasmania
Knights Rest a warm beacon in the bush.
An off-grid washroom and retreat on Bruny Island — a small building designed to draw walkers through the Tasmanian bushland, and winner of the 2022 People’s Choice Architecture Award.
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At a Glance
An off-grid retreat that won the people over
Knights Rest is an off-grid washroom and retreat facility on Bruny Island, created as part of upgrades to The Bruny Island Long Weekend off-grid site.
Designed as a warm beacon in the Tasmanian bushland, it draws walkers toward it through the landscape — a small building given real presence by careful siting, form and light.
It went on to win the People’s Choice award at the 2022 Tasmanian Architecture Awards — a rare honour for a modest, off-grid structure, and a vote from the people who move through the place.
The project was realised as an owner-builder build, guided closely by Saxon Hall from the first sketch to the last detail — hundreds of sketches and messages as the build took shape.
A small building can still be a landmark — a warm beacon that draws you through the bush.Saxon Hall
Design Highlights
A warm beacon
Designed to glow in the bushland and draw walkers toward it through the landscape.
Genuinely off-grid
A self-sufficient washroom and retreat with no mains services.
People’s Choice 2022
Voted the People’s Choice at the 2022 Tasmanian Architecture Awards.
Part of a bigger idea
Built as part of upgrades to The Bruny Island Long Weekend off-grid site.
Owner-built
Realised by an owner-builder, guided closely by the architect throughout.
Small but considered
Proof that modest buildings, carefully made, can carry real presence.
Gallery
Publications & Press
Client
Have worked on a number of interesting projects with Saxon, most recently as an owner builder for a wilderness toilet that ended up winning the people’s choice architecture award. As a relatively inexperienced owner builder, I asked a lot of Saxon throughout the process. The number of sketches and texts back and forth as I learned to build must have been in the hundreds!
Rob Knight · Owner-Builder · ★★★★★
Project Credits
Have a small site with big potential? Let’s make something worth walking to.
From the first sketch to the last detail — designed with you, whoever’s holding the hammer.
Start a conversation0408 812 707
