Sydney-based architects
When we hear the word ‘home’, a few sensations come to mind; cosiness, ease, comfort, and togetherness. It just so happens that there is a Dutch word that encompasses all of these sensations: gezellig. When Studio Prineas were tasked with renovating a
Before moving to the east coast of Australia, House Gezellig’s owners lived in The Netherlands for many years; hence, their affiliation with the concept of gezellig. Realising a sense of gezellig required removing any extraneous additions to the existing home and reconfiguring the floor plan to improve spatial clarity. A new central entryway framed by breezeblock walls forms the foundation of these renditions while gracefully setting the tone for the rest of the home.
The entryway unfolds into a warm, inviting foyer, leading into an open-plan living space anchored by a mid-century-inspired stone fireplace. Marking this transitional passage is a south-facing courtyard – establishing a connection to the outdoors from the onset. The home’s original asymmetric roofline made room for the addition of an over-scaled dormer window, which, in conjunction with the light drawn from the courtyard, forms an uplifting introduction to House Gezellig.
In chasing gezellig, Studio Prineas leapt to a very different corner of the world: California. “Turning to the history of the home for guidance, the work of Californian modernists Craig Ellwood and Pierre Koenig inspired us to develop a contemporary design language harnessed by modernist principles,” founder Eva-Marie Prineas says. A natural feeling of connection to the outdoors was one of these principles; honest, bespoke materials were another.
When we hear the word ‘home’, we can now pair it with the word ‘gezellig’ – a feeling that Studio Prineas embedded throughout this entire project.
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