The Barn was designed by Tasmanian architect couple, Workbylizandalex. This adaptive reuse project involved the renovation and repurposing of an 1829 horse stable, which was converted into a 62 square metre tiny house. This was the first home of young architects Liz Walsh and Alex Nielsen and is now available as tourist accommodation through Air BNB.
In 2015, The Barn received the Residential Architecture - Alterations and Additions Award, and the Rory Sharrington Heritage Award. In 2017, this building was awarded for its national significance, being the recipient of the Henry Hunter Triennial Prize. Highly relevant to the overall design was the heritage value of the building. A condition for the renovation was to retain one of the horse stalls, which became the location for the bathroom. The original, rough sandstone walls ensure the building remains faithful to its history, and new windows sit in the existing opening.
The materiality was highly considered, with the tiling in the kitchen containing subtle references to the original material qualities. The stark contrast between the white plasterboard and raw brick interior make the old more prominent and remarkable.