An Aussie Family's Bright Addition Connects Them to a Beloved Garden

When a family of four searched for a home in the North Shore area of Sydney, Australia, they ended up falling in love with a garden.

The lush, leafy display belonged to a bungalow that had charm, but it needed modifications to meet the family's vision: namely, an open layout and a kitchen fit for entertaining. So, with the greenery in mind, the family brought on the help of Architect Prineas to tend to their dream address on the same plot of land. "The project sought to re-work the footprint of the existing 1930s Californian bungalow, without compromising the character," architect Eva-Marie Prineas said.

To give the owners more space without disrupting much of the original site — or upending their tight budget — Prineas and her team focused on a rear addition that resembled a shed-like structure. Its double-height ceilings and geometric windows bring in light and views of outside, while its expansive living space opens on to the garden they first admired. It's the exact connection to the outdoors they wanted.