A 15th century barn conversion. The Coach House was a derelict barn enclosed by crumpling granite walls, unstable ground and a rotten roof. The brief was to convert this small and awkwardly shaped site into an open-plan adaptable home. The challenge was to acoustically isolate the space and minimise pollution from the surrounding roads whilst maintaining good levels of natural light and privacy. Sited in the town centre, it offered a unique opportunity to develop a detached historic structure into a compact urban house. A strict rationale of space and privacy provides generous living and working space, parking and external amenity. An independent frame within the granite shell allows fluid configuration, and clean detail gives a sharp contrast against the original construction. Natural lighting from above and via a glazed courtyard eliminates privacy and overlooking concerns associated with living in a dense urban location. The external character of this listed structure has be retained with minimal change, encapsulating a core of open-plan living and modern services.