Toowong Lighthouse by Alcorn Middleton
A celebration of indoor-outdoor living, Toowong Lighthouse designed by Alcorn Middleton, delivers resort-style living in inner-city Brisbane.
Words: Hande Renshaw | Photography: Jad Sylla
Toowong Lighthouse, in the Brisbane suburb of Toowong, is a transformation of a 1930s Californian bungalow into a family home, drawing influence from the owner’s Greek heritage.
Designed by Alcorn Middleton the renovation makes the most of its location compete with curved feature arches and a breezy indoor-outdoor extension.
Home to a growing family of five, the new addition expands on the previous formal footprint, combining existing rooms to create larger zones, while the new form aims to accommodate larger gatherings.
The main architectural elements were left to the back of the house, where a new rear area was required to connect the existing house to the new pool area.
A curved feature ceiling covers the new indoor-outdoor living and dining area, which sits between the main portion of the residence and the pool. The ceiling detail works in tandem with the brick archways framing the pool, all of which can be closed off with 3-metre-tall sliding glass doors.
The arches and ceiling are a key aesthetic feature in the home and contribute to the drama of the space. The structure is designed to accumulate ambient light, with reflections of rippling water dappled onto the ceiling plane.
Above the semi-outdoor dining area is the children’s bedrooms and a shared bathroom, which is accessed by a large spiral staircase. Full-height windows open up to a view over the pool and tropical treetops.
Toowong Lighthouse evokes a resort style of living in its openness, while also presenting an approachable and engaging series of spaces.
The curved ceilings and brick arches frame the pool and also draw light into the semi-outdoor living space. Photo: Jad Sylla
“The distinctive chimney column gives the project its name: Toowong Lighthouse.”
Simple white forms are the foundation of the interior spaces. Photo: Jad Sylla
A palette of mostly white forms the basis, with insertions of vibrancy to further animate and reflect the personalities of the occupants. Photo: Jad Sylla
“As an expression of outdoor living, a new colonnade structure was conceived as a key feature of the rear addition.”
The main bathroom was updated with blues that evoke the Cyclades islands. Photo: Derek Swalwell
Shades of blue reign supreme in the main bathroom. Photo: Derek Swalwell
The exterior of the original 1930s bungalow remains intact, with the extension just visible. Photo: Jad Sylla
The distinctive chimney column gives the project its name: Toowong Lighthouse. Photo: Jad Sylla
The feature chimney column can be seen from the front of the house. Photo: Jad Sylla