A new extension at Alpha House by Studio Prineas extrudes the classic pitched roof form into the garden, housing a warm kitchen space drenched in a blush-toned stone.
From the quiet Sydney street front, this house appears much like it always did – a Federation-style cottage with a steeply pitched terracotta tile roof. Once transitioning through the door, however, the full redesign at the thoughtful hands of Studio Prineas comes into focus.
The owner’s vision was to have a contemporary extension that would embrace the sprawling gardens, opening up the house at the back with modern, open-plan amenities.
“Our redesign allows the new extension to be neatly concealed behind the traditional façade, preserving the home’s legibility and integrity,” explains Eva-Marie Prineas, Principal of Studio Prineas. This approach has ensured that the original charm of the Federation dwelling remains intact while introducing a private, northern wing for the kitchen, living, dining, and outdoor areas.
In partnership with Artedomus.
The addition joins intimately with the garden. Prineas shares that connecting to the established Jacaranda tree was integral for the design and is the “focal point of the lounge room”. Large pivot doors, clerestory windows, and skylights frame the Jacaranda: “Even in winter, when the tree is skeletal, it adds a beautiful sculptural element,” notes the architect.
The kitchen draws on the tones of nature with an abundance of Tallowwood veneer cabinets, set against a striking burgundy and blush-coloured Tiberio natural stone from Artedomus. The selection of stone was deeply considered, Prineas explaining that it was “chosen specifically to complement the colours of the Jacaranda tree when in bloom”.
Undoubtedly the hero of the main living space, the jewel hues of the Tiberio stone ground the kitchen in warmth. Angular and monolithic in form, the island bench has been crafted with precision with the chunky base supporting a razor-thin top. Delicate brass floating shelves and a slender suspension light add to the sense of refinement.
“The stone was chosen specifically to complement the colours of the jacaranda tree when in bloom.”
– EVA-MARIE PRINEAS, STUDIO PRINEAS
The new kitchen is undoubtedly the centrepiece, where Artedomus’ blush and burgundy Tiberio stone grounds the space. A warm Tallowwood veneer and brass add the perfect material complement alongside the classic Diiva stools by Grazia & Co.
Behind the main bench, a concealed service area houses a laundry, linen store, cellar, and powder room, all accessible via pocket sliding doors. The generous skylight above bathes the space in natural light, harmonising with the warm textures and the terracotta tones of the barbeque alcove just beyond the threshold.
Elsewhere, the pink palette of the stone ties in with the natural tones found in the original fireplace hearths, which Studio Prineas has then repeated throughout the house. “Spaces are bound by colour-blocked applications of earthy, botanical tones, creating a consolidated aesthetic that allows garden views to resonate as vivid and ever-changing artworks,” notes Prineas.
Small details coalesce to create the whole – built-in timber bedheads with seamless storage, walls of minimalist cabinetry in eucalypt colours, and the same Tiberio natural stone repeats in the bathrooms. Artedomus’ pink-blush stone wraps the bathtub, basins, and a custom dressing room desk.
It also features as a floating shelf in the powder room, with a deeply filleted edge creating softness. What Alpha House has given up in terms of garden area, it has more than made up for in liveable space. The extensive openings in the new part of the home create a link to the outside that can be enjoyed in the comfort of an expansive interior – where ephemeral gradients of light from the skylights further enliven these spaces. Alpha House is a thoughtful setting for strengthening the connection between people and place.
The pink stone (Artedomus Tiberio stone), has been used in the bathrooms, including a sweet, bespoke floating shelf for the basin.
The hues of pink stone tie in with the earthy tones that have been repeated in the exterior palette throughout the house.
The rear addition was designed to connect to the garden and the Jacaranda tree becomes the focal point of the living space.
