Tucked against the bushland edge of Brisbane’s south, Toohey Forest House by Bones Studio offers a refined rethink of the post-war family home. Rather than clearing the site, this renovation celebrates what already exists, layering contemporary architecture, landscape and community-minded design into a home that feels both grounded and quietly progressive.
A Quiet Rebellion Against the Knock-Down Norm
Set on the fringe of Toohey Forest, this Brisbane renovation challenges the default impulse to demolish and rebuild. The original post-war house remains firmly positioned at the front of the site, preserving its familiar scale and contribution to the streetscape, while allowing a new design narrative by Bones Studio to unfold gently behind it.
Reworking the Original, Not Replacing It
Inside the existing structure, change is measured and intentional. The former kitchen has been transformed into a generous master suite, enabling all bedrooms to remain within the original footprint. This decision respects the home’s history while maintaining a sense of continuity and comfort that often disappears in more aggressive renovations.
A Pavilion That Slips Quietly Into Place
The new pavilion, housing the kitchen, dining and living spaces, is positioned discreetly at the rear of the block and remains largely unseen from the street. Light-filled and open, it connects to the original home via a glazed gallery, a subtle transition that heightens awareness of movement between old and new without overstating it.
A Garden at the Centre of Daily Life
Between the original house and the new pavilion, a tropical courtyard unfolds as the emotional heart of the home. The landscape design by Green Care Project is deliberately restrained yet richly evocative, carefully calibrated to sit comfortably within a suburban street while conjuring a sense of immersion and escape. Lush planting draws greenery deep into the site, layering texture and shade to create a bushland aesthetic that feels both natural and quietly enchanting. Hidden nooks and softly defined edges invite exploration, while framed views connect interior spaces to the garden beyond. A gently winding path threads its way through the landscape toward the pool, reinforcing an intuitive, unforced relationship between architecture, movement and nature.
Redefining the Suburban Front Yard
At the street edge, the home quietly rewrites suburban convention. Instead of fences and formal planting, the front yard is reimagined as a native garden, planted with species endemic to the neighbouring Toohey Forest. Left deliberately open, it invites the community in, anchored by an in-ground trampoline that encourages shared moments of play.
Spaces Designed for Delight
Inside, moments of surprise soften the home’s architectural clarity. A concealed cubby tucked into the bulkhead above the kitchen offers a secret retreat for children, reinforcing the idea that sophisticated design can still embrace joy, imagination and everyday play.
A Home That Balances Past, Present and Place
Toohey Forest House is an exploration of balance: preservation and reinvention, structure and landscape, private retreat and shared neighbourhood space. It demonstrates how contemporary living can be achieved without severing ties to history, offering a model for renovating Brisbane homes that value longevity, generosity and a deep connection to place.
Design: Bones Studio
Landscape Architect: Green Care Project
Structural Engineer: Inertia Engineering
Builder: M2 Build
Photography: Catherine Schusler
