In order to better understand the connections between physiological and architectural structures, Good Bones combines the skeletal system and the beginning stages of home construction. By combining this imagery, the similar functions of the simple wooden frame of a house is associated with complex network of skeletons. This serves to highlight the similarities between the functions of these structures in order to reach an understanding of the systems and scales that define suburban society.

The phrase "good bones" is usually used to refer to the frame of an old house. Despite the decay it may experience over time. designers remind their potential buyers that although a home may look decrepit, the underlying structure holds promise for modern improvements.