The Old Byre

Set on a ridge above West Cowes, Isle of Wight, The Old Byre is insulated and wrapped in corrugated cement board, blending seamlessly with nearby farm buildings. Prioritizing retention over demolition, the project keeps the old barns largely intact. From the central courtyard, where drift seeds grow in cracks, a complex domestic exterior emerges, framed by a translucent polycarbonate façade and large glazed aluminium doors, each leading to separate living and working spaces.The two buildings remain purposefully disconnected, encouraging movement between private and social spaces through shifting weather and light. At night, the glowing façade hints at life inside. In the older barn, a spruce plywood “house within a house” creates intimate interiors linked by a back alley, with full-height doors replacing traditional handles and locks. A concrete plinth frames the courtyard, extends indoors, and grounds the transformation from animal shelter to human dwelling. Inspired by archetypes of the piazza, the archive, work, industry, and communal care, The Old Byre reimagines rural living through a dialogue between past and present.