A Sydney Architect’s Terrace Home Serves as a Testing Ground for a Heritage Renovation

Houses We Love: Every day we feature a remarkable space submitted by our community of architects, designers, builders, and homeowners.

Project Details:

Location: Sydney, Australia

Architect: Studio Prineas / @studioprineas

Contractors: Focusbuild & Prepared Projects

Cabinetry: Finch Projects

Photographer: Chris Warnes / @chriswarnes

From the Architect: "Nestled in Sydney’s Inner West, Elià House by Studio Prineas is a contemporary reimagining of an 1890s Victorian Italianate house; an uplifting family home balancing charm and livability. The design team were mindful of the home’s existing narrative and sought to preserve and build on the existing layers of the home’s storied past.

"Despite its narrow footprint, the house is strategically planned to give a greater sense of clarity and purpose. Studio Prineas removed a series of incongruous additions, revealing the true scale and proportion of the original house. A gentle fall toward the rear of the home gave scope for a new indoor/outdoor space connected to the garden. An outdoor deck is cleverly contained within the shell of the old home while the rear façade is repurposed as an outdoor fireplace, allowing the family to utilize this outdoor area throughout the seasons. Beyond, a sunken walled garden provides a quiet retreat with wild landscaping, a pebbled courtyard and chicken coop."

"The ability to tinker and develop the design over a long period has resulted in a holistically considered outcome that equally balances the charm of the old home and the demands of contemporary living. The strength of Studio Prineas’s design methodology has advanced the studio’s approach to the design of terrace houses in a broader sense, setting a new benchmark for beautiful, livable outcomes in a heritage context."

More from Studio Prineas:

A Sleek Addition Hides Behind a Federation-Era Facade in Sydney

This Renovated ’70s Home in Sydney Is a Glowing Backdrop for a Couple’s Art and Furniture Collection