Two people stand in a minimalist, concrete interior, looking out through a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows at a serene lake and rugged, mist-covered mountains.
← Back to Projects

Dove Lake Viewing Shelter

Dove Lake, Tasmania 2021

A shelter on the shores of a glacial lake in Tasmania.

Built within the footprint of a former car park in the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, the new Dove Lake Viewing Shelter draws on the tones, textures and history of its immediate context to become a part of a unique natural and cultural landscape. The design balances the primary function of a shelter, a haven for visitors to a remote region notorious for its ever changing weather, with that of an experience - a space that gives pause, and curates an uninterrupted visitor connection to the landscape.

Dove Lake Viewing Shelter’s scored exterior creates a rhythmic pattern echoing Cradle Valley's geological characteristics, while also promoting the growth of lichen over the concrete structure in the years to come. Robust materials and finishes were chosen to withstand extreme weather conditions and high visitor volumes, and provide an enduring space that requires minimal maintenance and energy consumption, showcasing sustainable architecture.

Sited carefully to conceal Dove Lake on approach to build a sense of anticipation for visitors, the footprint of the shelter is considerably smaller than that of the original car park that occupied the site. Endemic plant species, propagated from the surrounding environment, have been used to rehabilitate previously disturbed areas that are now given back to the delicate landscape

A gallery framing a unique setting.

Conceived as a series of connected cave-like chambers, the minimally-lit interiors draw visitors through a sequence of unadorned corridors and strategically-placed windows. These initially offer only glimpses of the landscape before dramatically revealing wide views of the lake and mountain in the main viewing chambers.

Deliberately void of decoration and modern comforts, the exposed interiors focus the visitor’s attention, slows their movement, and increases their awareness of their own impact on the surroundings. Light appears through ‘cracks’ at junctions between floor and walls, allowing the weather conditions to dictate the interior’s mood and visual tone.

The building features a sharp, angular roofline that slopes down toward the surrounding tall grasses and wild shrubs. Large glass panels are integrated into the textured concrete walls, reflecting the overcast sky and the dense green trees in the background.

A collaborative design connected to Country and Culture.

The building is a chapel in which to contemplate the beauty of the natural landscape, its vast scale, and the magnitude of time over which it has formed. Etched distinctly on one of the courtyard-facing walls are the words ‘Always Was…Always Will Be’, acknowledging Australia's indigenous past and the Tasmanian Aboriginal community’s continued connection to the area.

Designed in collaboration with Tasmania Parks & Wildlife Service, the local community, and members of the Big River Nation, the Dove Lake Viewing Shelter was built to provide an accessible visitor experience in one of Tasmania’s most valued natural destinations.

Visitors rest on a multi-tiered timber bench inside a dark, minimalist space that features floor-to-ceiling windows looking out toward a rugged landscape.
Indigenous people apply reddish-brown ochre to the words "always was..." carved into a textured concrete wall. The scene captures a ceremonial act of marking the architectural space with natural pigments.
An angular concrete building with a prominent timber-lined cantilevered roof, set against the jagged peaks of Cradle Mountain and surrounded by native Australian vegetation. The building's exterior featuring ribbed, light-grey concrete walls and a dark, geometric concrete ceiling. A large glass window reflects the textured wall, and a simple wooden bench sits at the base of the window in an outdoor walkway.
A perspective view from inside a dark concrete walkway looking out toward a bright, sunlit landscape. The space is characterised by an angular ceiling and a single linear light strip along the floor on the right. A space featuring dark, textured concrete walls and a matching ceiling. A recessed warm light strip along the floor, creates a moody, atmospheric corridor.
A sharp, angular ribbed concrete structure sits atop a bed of dark crushed rock, overlooking Dove Lake and the mist-shrouded peaks of Cradle Mountain under an overcast sky.
A person walks past a long, textured concrete wall featuring a relief map of mountain peaks. The space is anchored by a continuous timber bench and a recessed floor light that casts a warm glow across the concrete floor. The sharp angles of the concrete walls and the warm glow of a recessed light under the timber soffit contrast with the grey, misty environment and dark gravel landscaping.
A minimalist, angular concrete building with a sharp overhanging roof sits in a misty landscape. A wet road leads to the entrance, which is accented by a warm, linear orange light under the eaves. A courtyard featuring a ramp with dark metal railings, a wooden bench, and large glass windows. The space is framed by a bold, angular concrete ceiling and a high perimeter wall.
A long, shrouded building is tucked into a vast alpine landscape of rolling grassy plains and dense shrubbery, set against a backdrop of mist-covered mountain peaks.
A close-up shot showing large glass windows reflecting the surrounding greenery. The building's sharp, geometric frame contrasts with the soft, dense shrubs and forested hillside in the background. A dramatic, low-lit interior with matte black walls and a long bench. A single bright red jacket hangs on a hook, providing a stark pop of color. Minimalist linear lighting along the ceiling and floor creates sharp shadows and highlights.
A long concrete hallway with an angled ceiling and warm floor-level lighting. The phrase "always was ... ... always will be" is inscribed in ocra on the wall. A blurred figure walks through the corridor, creating a sense of motion.
An expansive interior hallway with a raw concrete ceiling and floor. To the left, floor-to-ceiling glass windows look out onto a rugged, misty landscape. A person stands gazing out the window, while another sits on a warm timber bench built into a dark, slatted wall. A low-profile, angular building with dark glass windows sits embedded in a vast, grassy moorland. The structure’s jagged roofline mimics the surrounding hills, blending into the landscape under a bright, cloud-filled sky.
A textured, monolithic concrete wall stands beside a grey path lined with dark crushed rock. In the background, a large, rocky mountain rises under a cloudy sky, emphasising the building's rugged, geological aesthetic. A tall vertical display panel titled "Dawn of Time," featuring an image of the Milky Way over mountains, stands in a minimalist concrete interior. A warm, backlit timber-slatted wall provides a soft glow against the dark, angular architecture.
Two hikers look out across a vast, scrubby alpine landscape toward a low-slung, modern glass building nestled at the base of a rugged mountain slope.

Related

Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre
Project

Cradle Mountain Visitor Centre
Luke Waldron interviewed on the Detailed Podcast
News

Luke Waldron interviewed on the Detailed Podcast
Double win for Dove Lake Viewing Shelter at Tasmanian Architecture Awards
News

Double win for Dove Lake Viewing Shelter at Tasmanian Architecture Awards
International Recognition at the Architizer A+Awards
News

International Recognition at the Architizer A+Awards