The remodelling of this Georgian townhouse maximizes the compact 25sqm footprint by increasing natural daylight and the sense of space in each room through a series of carefully considered interventions. At lower ground floor level the rear elevation is completely opened up with full-width sliding glass doors. Moving up the house, the ground floor is transformed into a large combined kitchen/dining room that spans from the street front to the rear elevation. New glass backed shelving between the stair and the first floor living room allow borrowed light and glimpsed views between the two spaces. On the top floor the wall separating the staircase and the bedroom has been removed and replaced with floor-to-ceiling glazing. The low ceiling on this level has been removed to expose the timber roof structure, and the addition of two new roof lights provides ample natural illumination. As the clients themselves attest, the new home goes beyond the functional requirements of downsizing for later life to creating an elegant modern home that beautifully counterpoints its historic setting.