Indooroopilly Studio | Kieron Gait Architects

Indooroopilly Studio | Kieron Gait Architects | Photographer: Christopher Frederick Jones

2026 National Architecture Awards Program

Indooroopilly Studio | Kieron Gait Architects

Traditional Land Owners

Land of the Turrbal and Jaggera

Year
2026
Chapter

Queensland

Brisbane

Category
Interior Architecture
Builder
Four Walls Constructions – Todd Price
Photographer
Christopher Frederick Jones
Media summary

The studio is located at the bottom of a 4 storey pole house in the inner Brisbane suburb of Indooroopilly.  Built in 1999 using hardwood reclaimed from Howard Smith Wharves, the house has an incredible superstructure of massive hardwood posts on concrete piers.

The owners wanted to create a multi-purpose studio to provide a calm space to work from home, receive guests who stay over, and a future single occupancy space for family.

This 45sqm space was designed to reveal the existing structure and provide a natural and earthy material palette that belongs in the shadows of the large fig tree.  The wall of the house facing the gully becomes a deep door and window system, embracing and celebrating the posts.  These deep reveals contain shelves and display for the geologist owner and allow an edge that can be opened to the fig tree.

National Awards Received
National Jury Citation

2026
Queensland Architecture Awards Accolades
2026
Brisbane Regional Award
Brisbane Regional Award Citation
2026
Brisbane Regional Commendation
Commendation for Interior Architecture
Brisbane Regional Commendation Citation

Indooroopilly Studio is an intimate project that balances retreat and utility in a highly resolved response to site, structure, and client needs. A timeless and restrained material palette and finely crafted detailing establish a complimentary dialogue between new and existing elements, celebrating the materiality and character of the original building. The studio opens to a gully and significant fig tree, creating a space that enhances the amenity and experience of the space and a deeply contextual architectural outcome. 

2026
Queensland Architecture Awards

Commendation for Interior Architecture

Queensland Jury Citation

Indooroopilly Studio is an intimate project that balances retreat and utility in a highly resolved response to site, structure, and client needs. A timeless and restrained material palette and finely crafted detailing establish a complimentary dialogue between new and existing elements, celebrating and complimenting the materiality and character of the original building. The studio frames and opens out onto the adjacent gully and significant fig tree, creating a space that embraces the amenity and experience of the unique location and results in a refined and deeply contextual architectural outcome. 

2026
Queensland Architecture Awards #2

Queensland Jury Citation #2
2026
Queensland Architecture Awards #3
Queensland Jury Citation #3
2026
Queensland Architecture Awards #4

Queensland Jury Citation #4

2026
Queensland Architecture Awards #5

Queensland Jury Citation #5
2026
Brisbane Regional Shortlist
Queensland Chapter Awards
Queensland Jury Presentation

Region Jury Citation
2026 Brisbane Regional Commendation

Commendation for Interior Architecture

Brisbane Regional Commendation Citation

Indooroopilly Studio is an intimate project that balances retreat and utility in a highly resolved response to site, structure, and client needs. A timeless and restrained material palette and finely crafted detailing establish a complimentary dialogue between new and existing elements, celebrating the materiality and character of the original building. The studio opens to a gully and significant fig tree, creating a space that enhances the amenity and experience of the space and a deeply contextual architectural outcome. 

2026 Queensland Chapter Award

Commendation for Interior Architecture

Queensland Chapter Jury Citation

Indooroopilly Studio is an intimate project that balances retreat and utility in a highly resolved response to site, structure, and client needs. A timeless and restrained material palette and finely crafted detailing establish a complimentary dialogue between new and existing elements, celebrating and complimenting the materiality and character of the original building. The studio frames and opens out onto the adjacent gully and significant fig tree, creating a space that embraces the amenity and experience of the unique location and results in a refined and deeply contextual architectural outcome. 

We desired a space that could function as an office, guest accommodation and a self-contained apartment, with a strong connection to the outdoors. The resulting design feels separate from the main residence in all of the practical ways that working and resting require, yet connected to the elements that make this site special. It is beautiful, but incredibly functional. It feels both fresh and timeless. The design is different, while still sympathetic to our main residence and we love how the structure is incorporated in a way that makes the integration of old and new feel seamless and coherent.

Project Practice Team

Kieron Gait, Design Architect
Kristian Meredith, Project Lead

Project Consultant and Construction Team

Building Certificaton Consultants, Building Surveyor

Connect with Kieron Gait Architects

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