grand Designs now!
Discussion
I also love this program. I thought it was great this week. The family seemed really nice and I think they deserved having such a beautiful house after the effort they put into it.
The house was actually from finland, I think they make them to order for you, but the total cost of the kit was something under 60k for that one, I think. Looks like excellent value. The house seemed to be really cleverly designed too - easy to build, all materials from trees, very insulated and only needing 1 wood burning stove to heat the whole thing. It looks amazing. I want one. Its very light too. I really liked the veranda too.
The house was actually from finland, I think they make them to order for you, but the total cost of the kit was something under 60k for that one, I think. Looks like excellent value. The house seemed to be really cleverly designed too - easy to build, all materials from trees, very insulated and only needing 1 wood burning stove to heat the whole thing. It looks amazing. I want one. Its very light too. I really liked the veranda too.
Well that was absolutely amazing. Such a wonderful house with all the fittings for £120000.
Did anyone see that beast of a machine at the beginning? The Fins harvest their forests with such efficiency that they are actually growing. The machine will pluck a tree, strip it and cut to pre designated lenghts in 30 seconds!!!.
Of course one needs to buy the land at extra expense.
Did anyone see that beast of a machine at the beginning? The Fins harvest their forests with such efficiency that they are actually growing. The machine will pluck a tree, strip it and cut to pre designated lenghts in 30 seconds!!!.
Of course one needs to buy the land at extra expense.
I don't see why planning permission people would withold that sort of structure from being built in an area where they would let a "normal" house be built though... if they do they are boring. The reason there is such a dearth of good architecture in people's houses. I would love a house that is interesting to look at as well as nice to live in. I think planner people should encourage people to take risks with their new buildings so that we have interesting things to look at. Endless mock tudor toy houses like you see in the new parts of crawley are a bit depressing.
D_Mike said:
I don't see why planning permission people would withold that sort of structure from being built in an area
because planners have no rhyme or reason to anything...
just a bunch of lentilits IMHO...
great building, we're actually using blown sheeps wool as insulation on a few new school...
and recycled paper is also popular...
very interesting...
JagLover said:
Great programme-nice house though I must admit I would prefer a brick house of the same size.
My wife was concerned about how warm it would be-does anyone know how it would compare to a conventional house with central heating and double glazing?.
I am not sure but chalets in mountains are all made of wood, aren't they? They are super warm. Also all that insulation (recycled newspapers) would help.
JagLover said:
My wife was concerned about how warm it would be-does anyone know how it would compare to a conventional house with central heating and double glazing?.
I think the answer lies in the fact that they had one wood burning stove to provide all hot water and underfloor heating for the entire house. Considering the stove will be fed by wood from the surrounding copses, I would expect their heating bills to be practically zip. Nice touch having a full height flue as well, radiating out as much heat as possible.
mechsympathy said:
Nice house, but I think all that internal wood would do my head in.
Agreed. As much as I like wooden structures, I'm not sure I'd want that much wood! I still think my favourite was the green oak framed one, from a couple of series ago, which had a hexagonal centre part with 3 wings leading off it. I would love a house like that 
Loved last nights, and so far the 3 episodes this series have all been great.
My favourite ever 'grand design' though has got to be the couple who turned the enormous disused Waterworks into a home. That place was incredible when finished, especially the huge open plan living area complete with a desk made from a real mini!
Some of the abroad ones were brilliant too, although I'd be interested to see a re-visited show as quite a few of the projects weren't complete when Kevin made his final visit.
Love grand designs
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