Tour of Cornerstone

Take a tour of Cornerstone, a Brisbane home stripped back and reimagined, restoring a neglected character cottage while adding space for a growing family.

Designed by Sam Butler in collaboration with Sarah Neale, the project responds to a two-part brief: increase the living space for a family of four while reinstating the integrity of the original cottage, which had been obscured by layers of unsympathetic renovations. The addition opens the home outward to light, air, and garden, while the restored cottage provides three bedrooms and a home office.

The landscape complements both parts of the home, with native plantings to the street supporting local ecology and a tropical scheme to the rear creating a lush backdrop suited to the Queensland climate. Natural materials throughout ensure the home reads as a coherent whole despite its layered history.

Architect: Loupe Architecture (2021)