Heartful House

Set in the leafy riverside suburb of Chelmer, this much-loved family home has lived through some of Brisbane’s biggest flood events, including 1974 and 2011. Owned by our client’s parents before them, the house carries decades of family history. Moving away from Chelmer, the Brisbane River and the community they love was never really an option. 

Having experienced flooding before, our clients knew the strength of their existing hardwood-framed home. Rather than retreat from a flood-prone site, the project became about creating a more flood resilient home: one designed to better withstand future Brisbane flooding and recover quickly afterwards. 

Maytree Studios was engaged to help the family undertake a flood resilient renovation supported by Queensland’s Resilient Homes Fund and Resilient Retrofit program, combining practical flood resilience measures with a broader rethink of the home. 

At ground level, previously enclosed rooms were removed and returned to a shady, open undercroft. New structural beams open up the footprint to create breezy, protected outdoor living spaces that can better tolerate inundation. Timber battens provide privacy, while an affectionately named ‘lily pad’ marks the relocated upper-level entry. 

Upstairs, the floor plan was reorganised to provide two generous bedrooms for the clients’ young adult sons and open up previously cellular living spaces. The original front stair and verandah were removed to create a terrarium-like void, bringing northern light, planting and street views into the home while maintaining a visual connection to the garden and ground below. With the sliding glass doors open, the new balustrade creates the feeling of a protected terrace: part inside, part outside. Over time, planting will grow into the void, strengthening the connection between the elevated home and its landscape. 

Flood resilient design continues through the interiors, with solid insulation, removable skirtings and a kitchen designed with removable cabinetry and appliances within a stainless-steel frame. If floodwater enters again, vulnerable components can be removed, cleaned or replaced with less demolition and waste. 

This Brisbane flood resilient home is designed not around the idea that flooding can always be prevented, but around something more pragmatic: reducing damage, making recovery easier and allowing a family to remain connected to a place that means a great deal to them. 

• Location

  Yuggera & Turrbal Country
  Chelmber

• Year Built

  2024

• Builder

  Sheltermade Projects

• Photography

  Jack Gibson