At the Old Byre in West Cowes, two former agricultural barns were reworked through a design strategy that treats light and thermal performance as architectural drivers. Conceived by Gianni Botsford Architects in close collaboration with the owner, the project preserves the original footprints while introducing contemporary interventions that alter how the buildings behave across the day. When it received a RIBA National Award last year, the jury noted interiors that shift as the sun moves across the site, appearing to glow from within after dark.

The plan is organised around a central courtyard that functions as both circulation space and outdoor room, binding the two structures into a single composition. One barn contains an open living, kitchen and dining volume, defined by polished concrete floors, a stainless-steel island and exposed ply surfaces beneath a lofty roofline. Sections of polycarbonate cladding are applied externally, insulating the structure from the outside and diffusing daylight deep into the interior without glare.

Opposite, the second barn accommodates three bedrooms and a library, each opening directly onto the courtyard through glazed doors. Exposed brickwork and timber beams remain legible, anchoring the modern fit-out to the site’s agricultural history. Set 10 minutes from Cowes, the 1,792 sqft home balances rural seclusion with proximity to town. It’s listed for £750,000 with Aucoot.

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