Retro House is the transformation of a compact, inward-looking dwelling organised around a central courtyard. The original structure comprised a small entrance, two enclosed rooms and a partially covered internal space, with limited access to daylight and ventilation. The project preserves the experience of moving from the street into the heart of the house by retaining the courtyard as the primary spatial organiser, while redefining it as a light-filled interior room. A large glass skylight is introduced above this space, improving environmental performance while maintaining its central role. The ground floor rooms are reworked to increase permeability and usability, including the introduction of new façade openings and the careful restoration of existing architectural elements. Selective floor openings establish visual and environmental connections to the basement level, improving air circulation and spatial continuity.

To accommodate contemporary living requirements, an additional floor is introduced above the existing structure, housing new private spaces while maintaining the openness of the courtyard below. Circulation is resolved through lightweight metal stairs and bridges, allowing movement without enclosing the central void. The project establishes a dialogue between old and new through a restrained material palette, combining restored stonework with exposed concrete interventions. Custom cast in-situ concrete elements, including suspended walls with arched openings, act as both structural and spatial devices, framing views into the courtyard and filtering light from above. The result is a careful layering of historic fabric and contemporary construction, demonstrating how a constrained footprint and existing building can be reworked into a functional, coherent and enduring domestic environment without loss of character.