Grand Designs

[Bonefish Blues]

Do I recall correctly that he was an architect? If so, it looks like the classic shop window vanity project to showcase his capability.

If he wasn't, as you were!

Mrs wasn't used to staying in caravans, so I don't think that was much of an option

[61GT]

Really enjoyed that episode and considering the limitations of the building I think they did a very good job.

For me the biggest drawback was the location and no amount of work on the house can change that. As others have pointed out that is a very busy road, the traffic noise will be constant and the house is pretty much right next to the road. Not sure how relaxing it will actually be siting on the roof top terrace.

[anonymous-user]

Bonefish Blues said:

Do I recall correctly that he was an architect? If so, it looks like the classic shop window vanity project to showcase his capability.

If he wasn't, as you were!

Mrs wasn't used to staying in caravans, so I don't think that was much of an option

Yes he is an architect. Or at least he was in Spain.

[Leithen]

Huge I Told You So potential. Check.

Completely Unrealistic Budget. Check.

Unrealistic Build Schedule. Check.

Potential Marital Strife. Bonus points.

Perfect Grand Design candidates. No real Grand Design at all, just good disaster TV.

Any chance of an interesting, well thought out, costed, original build in this series?

[snobetter]

I liked the stone cutting machine though.

[monthefish]

Laurel Green said:

garyhun said:

I’m not entirely convinced that she likes it

Yep, doesn't look best pleased at all.

Not exactly child friendly either.

Is it not going to be fecking cold as well? No insulation on the walls (internally or externally) and no cavity.
In fact, I'm amazed that it got building regs approval as a dwellinghouse - the EPC must be horrendous..

[monthefish]

thegreenhell said:

Very nicely done, I thought, considering what they started with and the budget they had.

^^^
This. I'm amazed they achieved what they did on that money.

Pistom said:

I loved it.

He deserves to feel proud.

His Mrs is suffering typical GDPTSD

(Grand Design Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). All at a time when her hormones are all over the place.

May sound obvious, but I think you can only truly empathise and appreciate how stressful a self-build can be unless you've been through it personally.

Again, stating the obvious, but those 1 minute 'pieces to camera' from the stressed self-builder are a brief edit/insight into what are actually prolonged periods (months/years) of stress and worry.

[anonymous-user]

monthefish said:

May sound obvious, but I think you can only truly empathise and appreciate how stressful a self-build can be unless you've been through it personally.

Agreed.

Mrs G and I did a self-build about 5 years ago. It went pretty smoothly but was still a hugely stressful process at times. Spending a day offsite and finding the brickies had laid an internal block work wall about 500mm over where it should be was just one example

[Muncher]

I didn't really find my self build at all stressful, but then most of the work was done by me and my Dad with minimal outside help, so everything was within our control.

[mikal83]

The white coving looked wrong to me, would have preferred them to have been the same as the beams...……..oak?

[Adam B]

kev1974 said:

That big outdoor staircase was stupid, it went up to the floor directly below the roof (i.e. the bedroom floor), so other than using it to get the beds in the place (well they wouldn't fit up the internal staircase!) I guess it was just the world's grandest fire exit.

Didn't seem like there was any kind of toilet down on the basement kitchen level, unless they just neglected to show it, so you or any visitors have to go up to the bedrooms any time the facilities are needed?

Surprised that rope handrail was allowed, you could see how flimsy the sticks holding it up were when they walked up the stairs, I don't believe that would hold together if you tripped.

I don't believe they will live there for long, it's a totally impractical house for the two small kids, especially only having two teeny tiny bedrooms. Expect it will be on weekly holiday cottage let duty by Christmas.

Both sets of parents appeared to be seriously minted, so a bit odd that they were supposedly so short of money.

The place is right next to a fairly busy road! They cunningly never showed the view out of any of the windows on the road side. Not going to be the peaceful idyll the program made out.

Not sure I would be completely comfortable being surrounded by saxon bones. Presumably there's still lots and lots of them just under the soil, in the bits they didn't dig up for utility trenches.

Jeez what a grumpy sod!

Thought it was a great programme this week, kudos for their determination and very glad they rescued a bit of British history - thought the end result was very nice (didn't like all of it but you never do)

not sure he did his career any good though - 50% over build budget and fanciful deadlines where he is obviously lying to himself

[V8covin]

I can't imagine that staircase was put there by choice.....judging by how the timber flexed when stood on it wasn't built very well either.
Cracking transformation overall though

[gareth h]

monthefish said:

Laurel Green said:

garyhun said:

I’m not entirely convinced that she likes it

Yep, doesn't look best pleased at all.

Not exactly child friendly either.

Is it not going to be fecking cold as well? No insulation on the walls (internally or externally) and no cavity.
In fact, I'm amazed that it got building regs approval as a dwellinghouse - the EPC must be horrendous..

The u value of thick stone walls isn't horrendous, but they have huge thermal mass, so forget trying to heat for a few hours at a time, the heating needs to go on in September and off in March.

[Adam B]

one odd thing was the high aerial shots seemed to show one of the turrets capped with a light well but the other one looked open to the elements

[Sway]

Adam B said:

one odd thing was the high aerial shots seemed to show one of the turrets capped with a light well but the other one looked open to the elements

One had the spiral staircase, pretty sure the other was a chimney.

[thegreenhell]

From Google Earth

[Pericoloso]

I wonder how many of these fanciful projects haven't been completed.

[MXRod]

Unless I had a micro sleep , I missed the bit where the builders seemed no longer to be , err , building , and the program, after Christmas in Spain , jumped from a tower with scaffold early in the year , to summer , and complete ,and yes she was fairly cold about the finished article , as was I and SWMBO

[Jonesy23]

MXRod said:

Unless I had a micro sleep , I missed the bit where the builders seemed no longer to be , err , building , and the program, after Christmas in Spain , jumped from a tower with scaffold early in the year , to summer , and complete ,and yes she was fairly cold about the finished article , as was I and SWMBO

It did look a bit like the builders fked off for whatever reason and he was busy finishing it himself.

Got to be honest and say I wasn't wildly enthused by any of it, seemed like a lot of money and effort for not much outcome. Though at least the building isn't a collapsing ruin any more.

[61GT]

Drove past it today, looked very impressive from the road. Had the chance to have a proper look as I was a passenger.

Edited by 61GT on Friday 21st September 16:38