Architectural Practice
On his return from New York Toomath set up practice, and three years later was joined by Derek Wilson to set up Toomath and Wilson. Toomath and Wilson were later joined by Don Irvine and Grahame Anderson in 1972, forming the firm Toomath Wilson Irvine Anderson Ltd.
Toomath's work reflects an exploratory and intelligent engagement with modernist architectural ideas. A key architectural interest has been the articulation of continuous space, which is particularly evident in his Toomath Senior house, Lower Hutt (1949), and the Mackay house, Silverstream (1961). The Toomath Senior house is famous as the site of a discussion Toomath and Lew Martin had with architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner about New Zealand construction. Pevsner found the detailing of a post in the carport unrefined. Toomath argued that it reflected an honesty in detailing, relevant to New Zealand architecture. The Mackay House, Silverstream is symmetrically planned and was designed for a couple without children. It was awarded the N.Z.I.A. Bronze Medal in 1962.
Other key works include Wool House, Featherston Street, Wellington (1955, in association with Bernard Johns & Whitwell) and the Wellington Teachers' College, Donald Street, Karori (1966–1977). The Wellington Teachers College, Karori, Stage One was awarded N.Z.I.A. Silver Medal (1972), and an N.Z.I.A. Local Award (Enduring Architecture) (2005). Wool House (also now known as Old Wool House) was recognised with an N.Z.I.A. Wellington Branch Enduring Architecture Award (2002).
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