Winner: House Interior of the Year 2018. Captain Kelly’s Cottage involves the painstaking restoration of an original weatherboard cottage in Tasmania.

The 320-square-metre cottage dates back to the 1840s when it was built by Captain Kelly – a harbourmaster who was noted for his voyage around Tasmania in a whaleboat and for being the first Australian to enter the Antarctic Circle.

Australian studio John Wardle Architects restored the dilapidated Georgian dwelling on Bruny Island to its original condition, while also adding contemporary features to bring the interior up to date.

"The original cottage was deteriorating due to its age and its harsh environment. Over 175 years there had been many unsympathetic alterations to the small cottage. Part of our work involved the removal of these non-original works, to respectfully return the cottage to its original form," explained Wardle.

Judges comments: "An innovative restoration that shows sensitivity to the existing condition of the house by thoughtfully merging the new with the old. This complicated and ambitious project is more about narrative than style. And yet it is a beautiful, warm and welcoming space with a very clever use of material."

Designer: John Wardle Architects
Project: Captain Kelly's Cottage
Winner of: House interior of the year
Highly commended for: Interior project of the year
Read more: John Wardle Architects