How an Architect Adapts a 124-year-old Home for Modern Living
Led by award-winning architect Studio Prineas, the modern reimagining of the stately Federation-era home at 144 Albany Road, Stanmore, is as seamless as it is stunning.
Built 124 years ago, the semi-detached home was rich in character but lacking in natural light and communal living space. Enlisting the help of Eva-Marie Prineas, who had recently finished her own heritage renovation a few doors up at ‘Elià Home’, the transformation at ‘Walmer’ began.
Following Studio Prineas’ design philosophy of “retaining memory and celebrating history through the adaptation of places that are already special”, the home’s historical integrity remains intact, with a traditional brick façade, stunning ornate ceilings, and leadlight windows. “Our approach was to restore and breathe fresh life into the components that could be kept while sensitively layering a contemporary addition at the rear.”
Minimal changes have been made to the front two bedrooms, save for some cleverly designed built-in wardrobes and all-important ducted air-conditioning. Splitting one of the original rooms in half, there’s now a cozy study and stylish modern bathroom in its place, just before the hallway spills out into the comfortable living room where the magic really begins.
With floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the backyard, the eat-in kitchen is a showstopper. Functioning as the heart of the home that connects the original rooms to the modern extension, no detail has been spared, from sumptuous copper benchtops to fully integrated appliances and a retro freestanding gas stove.
Upstairs, the main bedroom suite captures an ultra-private treehouse feel, with elevated views over the backyard and across the district. Minty green tones were chosen to connect the original home with the extension, with built-in storage and tiling carrying the colour throughout. Downstairs, a second living room with generous storage, internal laundry, and a large bathroom spill out to the northwest-facing backyard with a covered patio and BBQ area.
Flawlessly combining Federation-era charm with the comforts and conveniences of modern living, ‘Walmer’ stands as a testament to intelligent design that honours both architectural heritage and contemporary sensibilities.
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