John Ellway Architect has renovated Niwa House, a family home in Queensland, Australia.

Designed for a family of four, this renovation of an early 1900s timber Queenslander sat disconnected from its surroundings. Closed-in verandas have been opened up to restore their heritage core with living spaces now connecting to the street, wider community and connecting out towards the backyard.

A new kitchen addition to the rear sits on the ground, separated from the existing elevated structure by a central protected garden or ‘Ni wa’ にわ, the Japanese word for 'garden/courtyard/yard'.

This external space opens to the sky, drawing light deep into the house and is wrapped in a delicate bronze mesh to mediate sun, diffuse rain, manage insects and allow the family to open up securely for year-round natural ventilation.

The outcome is more a reconfiguration of existing spaces rather than a large extension, with only 30 square metres of area added overall.

This project has been longlisted in the house extension category of Dezeen Awards 2025.

Studio: John Ellway Architect
Project: Niwa House