Living the dream with Eva-Marie Prineas

Eva-Marie Prineas knew exactly what she wanted to be when she grew up. It was a decision based on one formative moment she experienced as a teenager: a clear memory of when her parents engaged an architect to complete a modest renovation on their family home in the suburbs of Sydney.

“Sitting in our living room, I watched the architect take out a pen and paper and sketch his thoughts right there in front of us. His immediate response to the space was transformative, and it was truly a revelation for me to see what could be achieved through problem solving,” says Eva-Marie. “This was a life-changing moment for me; ever since then, I’ve had a clear vision of what I wanted to do with my career.”

Eva-Marie immediately went to work achieving her goal. Following high school and college, she studied architecture at the University of Sydney and began her career working for a few small practices in Sydney. In 2004 she ventured out on her own to found Studio Prineas.

“I always hoped I would have my own practice – that was always the goal – and the time just felt right,” says Eva-Marie. “I was experienced enough to know what it would take, and at a stage in my life before I had too many responsibilities outside of my working life that allowed me to put all my energy into building my practice.”

The studio started taking on smaller jobs for friends and family, patiently working towards creating a portfolio of completed works. “I found the most challenging aspect of establishing Studio Prineas to be the same challenge most emerging studios face – how to get great clients and to gain their trust before you have testimonials from past clients and a body of completed projects to show what you’re capable of,” says Eva-Marie.

Fifteen years later, Eva-Marie is a force to be reckoned with. In addition to running a well-respected architecture firm, Eva-Marie was a co-founder of DARCH, the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) group for emerging architects. She’s been involved with the AIA mentoring program, is an examiner for the architects’ registration exam through the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia and the NSW Board of Architects, and has sat on juries for various awards.

“This continued engagement with the architecture community is a wonderful way to stay informed and connected,” says Eva-Marie. “From the design studios at university and the small practices I worked in, to the jury and board roles I’ve undertaken over the course of my career, each opportunity has given me a strong sense of the importance of community, teamwork, continued learning and professional development within our industry. These experiences also instilled in me the focus, work ethic and rigor required to realise architectural projects, along with the need to find the joy in it all along the way.”

What drives Eva-Marie is her belief in the power of design and how it can transform lives. Although each project Studio Prineas takes on requires a singular approach, they all share one common theme.  “Each project we work on is completely unique in its personal and cultural history, but the commonality is found in our approach to respecting and celebrating the past through restoration and additions that sit comfortably within their context,” says Eva-Marie.

“This is also our way of  addressing issues of conservation and sustainability; upon embarking on a new project we always challenge ourselves to reveal and restore as much as possible,” she adds. “Passive design principles are central to all our work. For us, it’s second nature to deal with issues of orientation, natural light and cross ventilation from the outset of every project.”

While practicing architecture and running her own studio is fulfilling enough on its own, Eva-Marie says what truly brings her joy is the relationships she has with her team, clients, collaborators and peers.

“As a practice, we strive to be authentic in our actions and always treat others with compassion and respect. This includes the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work. Educating ourselves on this connection to Country is critical, and it’s a journey we’ve been embarking on over the last few years as a team. As architects and designers, we need to better understand the impact our work has, not just on the urban landscape, but with respect for history and culture, too.”

Explore the inspiring projects completed by the Studio Prineas team on ArchiPro.