Family Haven

Studio Prineas redesigned this home in Sydney’s McMahons Point to have a relaxed layout that takes advantage of beautiful harbour views. Here Eva-Marie Prineas tells us more about the project

Design Anthology: How did you first meet the client? 

Eva-Marie Prineas: The clients came to us through an existing relationship with the builder. We first met in 2017, after they first bought this house with the intention of making it their forever home, and we worked together for the better part of three years during the pandemic to bring the project to completion. 

After three disruptive years overseas during COVID lockdowns, the couple can now return home and live the Sydney lifestyle they always dreamed of with their teenage daughter.  

What was their brief to you for the project? 

The brief was broad in that the couple just wanted a space where they could comfortably settle in – a relaxed family home that would offer light, connectivity and sweeping harbour views.

The 170-square-metre home spans across four levels. The original plan didn’t really make the most of the incredible site, so our aim was to reconfigure the space in a way that would make the most of its shallow footprint, while offering a relaxed and uplifting sensibility. Now, the house is rationalised to celebrate the ritual of each space, and better connect the family to the sweeping Sydney Harbour outlook.  

What’s unique about the building and the location? 

Located in McMahons Point in Sydney, the home is built on the land of the Cammeraygal People of the Eora Nation and nestled within a conservation area surrounded by homes adjacent to the water. 

How did you approach the project — what design references did you try to incorporate into the space? 

The decision to work with the existing 1980s building envelope was made early on and we were mindful of preserving the neighbours’ views and minimising changes that would require lengthy council approvals. As such, reconfiguring the layout and distilling the expression of the architecture, which had characteristics of a faux Victorian terrace, were our core priorities. 

We stripped back the embellishment in favour of a more contemporary, refined expression. The dark timber cladding, white render, blackened steel and tumbled stone establishes a sense of approachability and elegance.

A major move was relocating the main living area to the upper level, so it now has spectacular harbour views all the way to Sydney Harbour Bridge. Given the constraints of the heritage conservation area, we opened up the roof space to create a lofty ceiling volume without changing the building envelope.

Given the limited footprint, the custom island bench with a built-in dining table is integral to making the space feel generous and flexible, while still preserving a sense of lightness and transparency.  

Do you have a favourite element or design detail in the architecture or interiors?

Due to its minimal footprint, the design of the circulation was a pivotal move in the planning. The home’s vertical arrangement is linked by an internal lift wrapped by a staircase creating clear circulation zones. The circular path of travel allows for borrowed views through and between internal and external spaces, making the home feel more layered.

Images / Chris Warnes