Grand Designs

Author
Discussion

Adam B

27,231 posts

254 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
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wonderful playfulness, kitchen/living room/master bed are incredible

some of the finishes are not me at all

some bits are plain odd - do you really have to spin the bath round to get in en suite bathroom?

exterior actually works well, like the zinc and brickwork

Simes205

4,539 posts

228 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
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Very creative and enjoyable.

Tuna

19,930 posts

284 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
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I half expected it to get up and sit on the old lodge and squash it like a ripe tomato, Monty Python style.

Didn't 'get' it.

CoolHands

18,625 posts

195 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
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I like the black brickwork. I couldn't quit tell - would that have had normal coloured mortar? (Sandy) or was it sort of whitish looking?

Also, why are the owners always such muppets.

Doofus

25,806 posts

173 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
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Seems like a fun house. I recall designing something similar when I was nine.

My missus liked it. I thought they'd made a reasonable purse out of a self-inflicted pig's ear.

alock

4,227 posts

211 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
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Adam B said:
do you really have to spin the bath round to get in en suite bathroom?
There must have been an 'every day' door. No one would go through that door daily.

I like the second stair case with the intention of being able to put a lift in later though.

Adam B

27,231 posts

254 months

Wednesday 28th September 2016
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wish GD cut 5 mins out of the build and devoted it to showing the final result properly, every room and feature and a proper walk around

the biggest issue was how it melded with the old building, but it wasn't really shown from many angles

Pesty

42,655 posts

256 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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I liked it. Only one thing annoyed me why go to the trouble of making secret passages then put handed on the 'doors'

Push latches wouldn't have been much trouble.

Zoon

6,701 posts

121 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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The whole obsession with secret passages and rooms was all a bit Josef Fritzl for my liking.
For the money you could have made it far better.

Bonefish Blues

26,677 posts

223 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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CoolHands said:
I like the black brickwork. I couldn't quit tell - would that have had normal coloured mortar? (Sandy) or was it sort of whitish looking?

Also, why are the owners always such muppets.
I don't think that they came across like that at all

Chaffs

231 posts

187 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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Liked it a lot in terms of the use of materials and just goes to show that with a little time and effort even something as boring as bricks and mortar can be made into something quite gorgeous. As has been said elsewhere, it was also great to see things being done because they could .. though a revolving bath, can just imagine him saying to her "Sorry to disturb your bath, but would you mind turning your back whilst I take a dump?". Some of the interior was great, but some of it less so, though completely down to personal taste. I'd have liked to have seen more of their old house as well, especially with that drinks cabinet.

CoolHands

18,625 posts

195 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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when the wife was talking about having 'a SPACE for that family that...blah blah blah'

it's so self-indulgent and stupid. You've got a fecking massive house, talking about a SPACE where the family can interact and be one is so..., I can't even think of the word to describe it, maybe - pretentious.

Not just this couple, but most of them (who usually appear to be architects) start going on as if the SPACE as a defined concept is so vital. It's just a massive fecking house cos you've got loads of money; it's not going to elevate you to the status of a renowned architect you chump.

Bonefish Blues

26,677 posts

223 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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I'm sure an architect will be along shortly to explain that that's exactly what this architecting lark's all about!

GnuBee

1,272 posts

215 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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Polarised opinions again - which is a good thing; love it, hate it - buildings/interiors should do that, strive to provoke more than a meh or a "it's ok". I'm not sure I get the PH hate for architects but in this case it seems even more odd...

This time there was no poor client being driven to near financial meltdown by the excesses of a Rotring wielding, thick framed glasses sporting, tweed wearing architect. Instead we saw an architect un-apologetically build something for him and his family. They specifically spoke to the subject of the free form interior as a way of allowing them to evolve the house plan as their needs, tastes and living arrangements change. The architect even said he needed to get moving on it because the children would only be at the right age to enjoy the first iteration for a short time.

Can people really have such trouble imagining how, as a child, that would be a wonderful place to live? secret passageways, firemans pole, dens whilst at the same time the adults got to express their personal tastes.

The exterior was lovely to behold - if that hunting lodge does survive the next planning application then it would interesting to see how they resolve the link between the new and old - probably something involving escalators or a log flume. Also great to see people who were focused on the detail of execution - the specific desire to reflect the human element in the brickwork for example.


Shakermaker

11,317 posts

100 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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GnuBee said:
Polarised opinions again - which is a good thing; love it, hate it - buildings/interiors should do that, strive to provoke more than a meh or a "it's ok". I'm not sure I get the PH hate for architects but in this case it seems even more odd...

This time there was no poor client being driven to near financial meltdown by the excesses of a Rotring wielding, thick framed glasses sporting, tweed wearing architect. Instead we saw an architect un-apologetically build something for him and his family. They specifically spoke to the subject of the free form interior as a way of allowing them to evolve the house plan as their needs, tastes and living arrangements change. The architect even said he needed to get moving on it because the children would only be at the right age to enjoy the first iteration for a short time.

Can people really have such trouble imagining how, as a child, that would be a wonderful place to live? secret passageways, firemans pole, dens whilst at the same time the adults got to express their personal tastes.

The exterior was lovely to behold - if that hunting lodge does survive the next planning application then it would interesting to see how they resolve the link between the new and old - probably something involving escalators or a log flume. Also great to see people who were focused on the detail of execution - the specific desire to reflect the human element in the brickwork for example.
As a non-architect, I have a similar thought about it myself but would have expressed it as

"It was a house that they built for themselves to live in, in the style they wanted, and they will change it when the kids grow up, and it isn't your house so what's your problem if you don't like it?"

But your way sounds better.

I liked it. Might have to go and hunt it out, since it is "in Sussex" I will find it on an exploration day perhaps.

Europa1

10,923 posts

188 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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CoolHands said:
when the wife was talking about having 'a SPACE for that family that...blah blah blah'

it's so self-indulgent and stupid. You've got a fecking massive house, talking about a SPACE where the family can interact and be one is so..., I can't even think of the word to describe it, maybe - pretentious.

Not just this couple, but most of them (who usually appear to be architects) start going on as if the SPACE as a defined concept is so vital. It's just a massive fecking house cos you've got loads of money; it's not going to elevate you to the status of a renowned architect you chump.
I have to say, it does yank my chain when the homeowners start descending into that sort of language. I remember one episode where a German couple gutted their terraced house in London to make it open plan, and Kevin McCloud remarked on the fact there wasn't a door in the entrance to a room leading off the bedroom. "Yah, it's an organic space" or some such twaddle was the reply.

boyse7en

6,720 posts

165 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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Liked the idea of the kids secret dens and passages. Liked the external brickwork.
Hated the "mass" of the building. It looked like a big black industrial building. I know it was supposed to be barn-like, but it was so close to the old house that it looked totally our of proportion. It's patently never going to be linked to the old lodge.

Didn't like fireplace, including the voyeurs vault behind it. What was that for? Does he like to spy on his missus?

Thought the "pod" was a wasted opportunity. Fantastic view over the trees, and then they put in a small round window that you could barely see out of. It looked like a last-minute addition to the plan that hadn't been thought through properly.


Forgot: Bad episode for GD Drinking Game too. She didn't get pregnant and not over budget by 20% before the foundations were done...

Adam B

27,231 posts

254 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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Zoon said:
For the money you could have made it far better.
not picking on you in particular but lots of people make comments like this - why?

for the money they made exactly what they wanted, "better" is only your taste (unless someone makes a massive mistake and wastes a load of money, which this lot didn't)

so why not just say what you liked and disliked about the build


Edited by Adam B on Thursday 29th September 12:33

PurpleMoonlight

22,362 posts

157 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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Didn't work for me this week.

A big box with big windows.

I don't think it suits its environment.

I don't think it gels with the lovely cottage it's next to (and to be linked).

Reeks of more money than sense.

Nick Grant

5,410 posts

235 months

Thursday 29th September 2016
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I liked it, especially the ground floor. Nice to see a mix of furnishing styles rather than the usual.