Architecture

Step Inside 9 Of Brisbane’s Very Best Homes

If you love getting to peek inside residences and unique buildings that are not usually open to the public, this year’s Brisbane Open House is going to be a real treat for architecture fans and sticky-beakers alike!

The 2026 program features a total of 93 buildings, including a record 16 private homes that will be open for visitors only on Saturday July 18 and Sunday July 19.

See some of our favourite homes across the city that are well worth a visit below.

Written
by
Christina Karras

Toowong Renovation by KIN Architects. Photo – Christopher Frederick Jones

The original small footprint cottage and garden have been reimagined. Photo – Christopher Frederick Jones

Photo – Christopher Frederick Jones

The project focused on building under the existing home. Photo – Christopher Frederick Jones

First House by Nielsen Jenkins with Michael Lumby. Photo – Shantanu Starick

The contemporary house is broken apart into pods. Photo – Shantanu Starick

Permeability was prioritised to create courtyard gardens throughout. Photo – Shantanu Starick

Photo – Shantanu Starick

The project challenges the conventional approach to post-war homes in Brisbane, where demolition is often favoured over preservation. Photo – Catherine Schusler

Toohey Forest House by Bones Studio. Landscape design by Green Care Project. Photo – Catherine Schusler

Balmoral Hillside House is a reconfiguration of a faux Queenslander by Kieron Gait Architects. Photo – Christopher Frederick Jones

Photo – Christopher Frederick Jones

Thresholds of stone pebbles drift throughout the house, separating public and private, inside and out. Photo – Christopher Frederick Jones

Cornerstone by Loupe Architecture. Photo – Alanna Jayne Mctiernan.

Photo – Alanna Jayne Mctiernan.

The first objective was to increase the living space for a growing family of four, while also balancing outdoor spaces and the integrity of the original cottage. Photo – Alanna Jayne Mctiernan.

York by Smith Architects. Photo – Christopher Frederick Jones

The pre-war Queenslander that has been thoughtfully extended and reimagined for contemporary subtropical living. Photo – Christopher Frederick Jones

Photo – Christopher Frederick Jones

Torbreck is an icon of modernist subtropical design and one of Brisbane’s most significant and recognisable residential buildings. Photo – Christopher Frederick Jones

Constructed between 1959 and 1961, the building was designed by Brisbane architects Aubrey H. Job and Robert P. Froud. Photo – Christopher Frederick Jones

Many of the homes inside have maintained their Modernist appeal. Photo – Christopher Frederick Jones

Yeronga House by Tim Bennetton Architects. Photo – Shantanu Starick

Photo – Shantanu Starick

The post-war Queenslander house was transformed over two stages. Photo – Shantanu Starick

In the early 1960s, Mr and Mrs Eisenmenger commissioned Brisbane-based architect Barry Walduck. It’s now known as the Eisenmonger House. Photo – Chris Osborne

Writer
Christina Karras
29th of June 2026

Brisbane Open House is returning for 2026 with one of its most ambitious programs yet.

Over the weekend of Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July, doors will open to the public across Greater Brisbane, unlocking major government institutions, cutting-edge commercial buildings, heritage landmarks, and beautiful private homes — many for the very first time.

This year’s program is unprecedented in both scale and significance, marking the event’s 17th year running.

‘Each year, this event reminds us that Brisbane is more than just the places we pass through every day. It’s a city full of history, character and stories waiting to be discovered,’ Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says.

“Every building has something to tell us about who we are, where we’ve come from and how we’re shaping Brisbane’s future.’

Alongside much-loved program staples, including ABC Brisbane, Brisbane City Hall, Government House and more, a record 16 private homes will open their doors, offering visitors a rare and intimate look inside some of the city’s most extraordinary places to live.

Highlights include a family home dubbed Toowong Renovation by KIN Architects and Balmoral Hillside House, a reconfiguration of a faux Queenslander by Kieron Gait Architects that draws the landscape (quite literally) into the home.

You can also see inside the First House by Nielsen Jenkins with Michael Lumby, who’ve subverted the typical suburban footprint to create something more contemporary. Meanwhile, Toohey Forest House challenges the conventional approach to post-war homes in Brisbane, favouring preservation over demolition,

Plus, retro architecture fans will appreciate touring six of the subtropical homes inside the Torbreck Apartments — one of Brisbane’s most significant residential buildings — and a modernist favourite, Eisenmenger House in Carina.

Following last year’s extraordinary demand, Brisbane Open House 2026 has significantly expanded its tickets and while some are already sold out, you can go on the waitlist in case more are released!

Explore the full program and get your tickets here.

Latest Stories

Recent Architecture