Yuggera people
Queensland
Brisbane
Tighty Whitey exemplifies small-footprint living, proving that great design is about quality, not square meters. On a steep, compact site with towering neighbours, this bold and efficient response maximises space, material honesty, and urban liveability – redefining density with intelligent, stylish solutions for contemporary family urban living. Â
Located in a dense Brisbane suburb, Tighty Whitey explores small-footprint living through adaptability, restraint and long-term value. The clients sought a home that could evolve with their family while remaining embedded in their established community. Rather than relocating, the project challenges assumptions around scale, privacy and density through reuse and restoration, efficient planning and considered form-making.
Tighty Whitey House is a considered response to small-footprint living on a constrained steep inner-city site. The project retains and restores the original workers cottage, complemented by a compact vertical rear addition that introduces height, light and spatial generosity, stepping with the site’s contour. Openings are carefully placed to frame views of the neighbourhood and beyond, maintaining privacy while allowing connection to the street. A street level secondary dwelling is integrated with discretion, demonstrating a thoughtful and replicable approach to gentle densification. Supported by Life Cycle Assessment, the project evidenced reduced environmental impact through reuse, restraint and durable design. Through efficient planning and a disciplined approach to form, it stands as an exemplar for small-footprint residential additions.
After eight years in our 140-year-old cottage, our growing family needed more space without leaving the community we love. Maytree Studios took the time to truly understand how we live and what mattered to us. Their thoughtful, collaborative approach resulted in a home that is light-filled, functional and deeply connected to the outdoors. Every space feels intentional and genuinely reflective of us. The process was seamless, and the outcome is a home we love living in every day.
Rebecca Caldwell, Design Architect
Andy Keeffe, Design Architect
Alisha Bouris, Interior Designer
Optimum Structures, Structural Engineer
Green Care, Landscape Consultant
Milanovic Neale, Civil Consultant
Eden Scapes, Landscape Installer
Urban Planners Queensland, Town Planner