Fisherman's House not only has an unbeatable view of Sydney Harbour, but it’s also a testament to the masterful blending of old and new, bringing together a 19th-century fisherman’s cottage with a contemporary concrete addition where minimalist architecture meets brutalism. The new home, set on a steeply sloping site in Birchgrove, on the land of the Wangal and Birrabirrigal People of the Eora Nation, is the work of Studio Prineas, a young and energetic architecture and design firm founded by principal Eva-Marie Prineas.
The house design mixes minimalism with rough, textured surfaces that offer intricate patterns against the region's bright sun. Openings towards the water bring the outside in and frame striking vistas of the harbour – a view also celebrated in the property’s infinity pool.
This balance of richness and simplicity is the result of a close relationship between the architects and the owners – Prineas has worked with them already in two other projects. 'The homeowners knew that achieving their forever home on this unusual but incredible site would take some inspired thinking,' the architect recalls.
The architecture team's aim was not to copy the historic cottage's character, but to elevate it through a powerful juxtaposition – thus, the modern concrete tower extension was born. A glazed courtyard connects gently the two structures, uniting two eras through a comfortable semi-open space. '[It] allows each structure to breathe,' explains Prineas. Meanwhile, the new element contains all the contemporary residential programme needed for a modern home.
Inside, textures and a range of quality materials add definition and functionality to the concept. There are bespoke, leather-clad sliding walls, to help rooms expand or contract; mirrored surfaces for an illusion of depth; joinery to enhance the minimalist approach through the creation of extra storage; and a dramatic, solid stone bath that doubles as a bedhead in the master bedroom.
A sense of layered, carefully orchestrated spaciousness prevails throughout in this project that is all about making the most of what's there and bringing it to the 21st century through careful contemporary design. Considered interiors meet a strong architectural overall approach and long views of nature in Fisherman's House –Studio Prineas' inventive domestic design.
-
What is the role of fragrance in contemporary culture, asks a new exhibition at 10 Corso ComoMilan concept store 10 Corso Como has partnered with London creative agency System Preferences to launch Olfactory Projections 01
-
Jack White's Third Man Records opens a Paris pop-upJack White's immaculately-branded record store will set up shop in the 9th arrondissement this weekend
-
Designer Marta de la Rica’s elegant Madrid studio is full of perfectly-pitched contradictionsThe studio, or ‘the laboratory’ as de la Rica and her team call it, plays with colour, texture and scale in eminently rewarding ways
-
A suburban house is expanded into two striking interconnected dwellingsJustin Mallia’s suburban house, a residential puzzle box in Melbourne’s Clifton Hill, interlocks old and new to enhance light, space and efficiency
-
Palm Beach Tree House overhauls a cottage in Sydney’s Northern Beaches into a treetop retreatSet above the surf, Palm Beach Tree House by Richard Coles Architecture sits in a desirable Northern Beaches suburb, creating a refined home in verdant surroundings
-
Year in review: the top 12 houses of 2024, picked by architecture director Ellie StathakiThe top 12 houses of 2024 comprise our finest and most read residential posts of the year, compiled by Wallpaper* architecture & environment director Ellie Stathaki
-
A monolithic house in rural Victoria celebrates 50 shades of greyAdam Kane Architects’ monolithic house in rural Victoria, Grey House, is ‘a testament to the power of simplicity and harmony’
-
Is Rochester Street Office a creative worker’s dream? Inside a Sydney workspace echoing calmness and lightRochester Street Office by Allied_Office merges utilitarian design with cascading vegetation, presenting a thriving environment for creativity and collaboration
-
A Melbourne family home draws on classic modernism to create a pavilion in the landscapeThis Melbourne family home by Vibe Design Group was inspired by midcentury design and shaped to be an extension of its verdant site
-
Tour Clifton House, an airy Bondi family home, brimming with natural light and foliageClifton House by Anthony Gill Architects is a North Bondi home using an abundance of vegetation to create a slice of privacy within the suburbs
-
Tour this compact Melbourne home, where a small footprint is big on efficiency and experimentationNorthcote House is designed by architects David Leggett and Paul Loh as their own home in Melbourne
