$1.3 mill with only 3 bedrooms. The two gay dads give themselves the biggest room and shove the kids in the one room with bunk beds. By the time the kids become teenager's they'll want their own room. Then what are they going to do?
Ugh. The plunge pool. The bath. The neighbours. The lack of play space for 3 growing boys and 2 active dogs. The lack of bedroom space for 3 growing boys. But what about the stupid door in Bed1 that only closed the loo OR the shower? Geez.
It's kinda interesting to see what can be done with non optimum blocks but in the end I feel sorry for people who live in places like that – especially kids. At no time can they just run outside and muck around, get dirty. Playtime is always structured as a trip to the park/beach/coffee shop/designated activity.
especially kids. At no time can they just run outside and muck around, get dirty
thats why they created computer games lol
When you look in nature you realise that men are simply not needed in raising kids
From seahorses to penguins, there are so many examples you have overlooked.
The standard mum, dad, 2.7 kids & a dog family is now in the minority. While I do think this is regrettable, there are a multitude of reasons.
shove the kids in the one room with bunk beds.
I think that is just while they are very young. It's probably more fun for them to share a room at that age.
By the time the kids become teenager's they'll want their own room. Then what are they going to do?
Don't forget they've still got the living quarters at the front of the property above the real estate agents... that would make an ideal pad for teenagers who want more independence. Also, I got the impression the two guys were hoping to add more stories to the building at some point down the road (they said something about the foundations being designed to hold 9 stories).
The two gay dads give themselves the biggest room and shove the kids in the one room with bunk beds
it kinda felt to me the kids were just trophies and the two dads were about 'me, me me'
At no time can they just run outside and muck around, get dirty. Playtime is always structured as a trip to the park/beach/coffee shop/designated activity.
So how is that different to children in high rise apartments? They go to the park like millions of other children world wide. Have a look at any of the Delfin ghettos, (sorry "Estates") virtually no backyard and the house next door less than 2 metres away.
The three chidren are 2 and under, so they wouldn't be running around un-supervised anyway. I'm sure too, that they'd have ample opportunity to get dirty in the various garden beds!
I wonder if the large bath tub in the master bedroom qualifies for a "pool fence" seeing that the boys are really young and can get in there unsupervised....
By the time the kids become teenager's they'll want their own room. Then what are they going to do?
Theres 3 bedrooms and a study, for the couple and 3 kids. I dont think thats an unreasonable amount of bedroom space, especially when you consider that its quite common for twins to share a room.
And on top of that, you have to consider all the planning problems and that the kids only came along more than halfway through (if it werent for getting the twins instead of a single child, theyd have 2 kids and 3 bedrooms).
What Im more interested in is this. Are those two toilets side by side, or is there something else going on that Im not understanding?
What Im more interested in is this. Are those two toilets side by side, or is there something else going on that Im not understanding?
I think ones a bidet. Remember they were aftera 5 star hotel feel
I think ones a bidet. Remember they were aftera 5 star hotel feel
Ah, that would make sense. Sort of :P Certainly an unusual choice for an aussie home...
As other people have commented Im still not sure about that single door idea, though.
Certainly an unusual choice for an aussie home...
Why? I've been in plenty of homes with Bidets. My choice would have been a Japanese toilet, the ones with all the hot and cold jets etc.. They've been around for 25 years and they're brilliant but bidets are perfectly valid, if space consuming.
Why? I've been in plenty of homes with Bidets.
Interesting. Maybe its a state thing... Ive never been in, seen, or even heard of one around here as far as I can remember.
Watched this ep last night.
The fact that they're a gay couple doesn't even come into it, the fact is that they created this massive space – the size of another apartment – for themselves and dumped 3 kids into one room.
Also that bath, it's big enough to cook a missionary in!
There was a third room, so when one of the kids gets older he'll be able to move into that, but it still leaves 2 kids in one room. That may be ok for twins, but surely at some point they WILL want their own rooms.
Sorry, for 6-8 years of planning and building, they may end up with a home that's only suitable for 5 years, possibly more.. but there will definitely come a time where they outgrow it.
And I SOOO wanted a plunge pool, until the price was revealed. Yikes. Also, how do you top up an interior plunge pool in a building like that? Run a tap from the sink?
The fact that they're a gay couple doesn't even come into it, the fact is that they created this massive space – the size of another apartment – for themselves and dumped 3 kids into one room.
This was probably one of the worst things about the house. I thought some of the things were quite good, like the vertical garden which looked amazing (but I'm not sure how they would water it or gain access to it as it looked totally enclosed) and the entrance area.
The bath in the bedroom was a bit over the top, not sure how they will go for re-sale when prospective buyers walk in and see that.
The episode really didn't paint the planning department at Leichardt City Council in a particularly good light.
The episode really didn't paint the planning department at Leichardt City Council in a particularly good light.
No. It most certainly did not and it would have been interesting for the show to contact them for their side of the story.
But no, the show is merely content in being a glossy brochure for over indulgent houses and their egotistical owners.
The episode really didn't paint the planning department at Leichardt City Council in a particularly good light.
It didn't but it also sounded like they just kept putting non conforming plans in. Takes two to tango
That may be ok for twins, but surely at some point they WILL want their own rooms.
There was a small study next to one of the bedrooms. I suppose it could be converted into a 4th bedroom at some point. It would be pretty small, but given the choice of sharing a bedroom or having a tiny one of my own, I'd choose the latter.
latest ep features a airplane runway roof. nice :p
I'd be interested to see how the house holds up in a strong storm – all those glass walls are going to wobble!!
And if the wind gets under the eaves of that roof.... look, up in the sky... it's a flying roof...
Correct me if I'm wrong, but was this the FIRST project in 3 seasons where a sustainability feature was even mentioned? Like, the solar panels were actually a design feature on this project?
In conclusion, another $million+ project that may have some architectural cred, but looks big and ugly and is probably ugly to live in, usability wise.
Wonder if there are going to be any Revisists for the Australian series? Then again, if you exclude the marketing projects, are there any *everyday-people* houses from 3 seasons left to revisit anyway? (I guess I just want to see how these *Grand Designs* hold up after just a few years...)
Wonder if there are going to be any Revisists for the Australian series?
I guess not, I think most of the original owners would have gone bust and sold up, and the new owners wouldn't have a bar of the TV crew wanting to step inside!
they didn't even mention in the episode how the house was going to be heated and cooled. if it wasn't for the owner mentioning they had Hydronic heating the viewer wouldn't even know.
the build footage didn't even show it going in anyway.... pretty poor production quality really overall this season. it's like they turn up, have an hour to film stuff then 5 months later come back to shoot another hour. stretch that out to 45 minutes then do one last visit after it's all finished.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but was this the FIRST project in 3 seasons where a sustainability feature was even mentioned? Like, the solar panels were actually a design feature on this project?
There was the house that was built around its water tank somewhere in the Adelaide Hills in Season 2 (?).
There was the house that was built around its water tank somewhere in the Adelaide Hills in Season 2 (?).
Thanks :)
So that's TWO building projects out of 25 that has a sustainability design. *rolls eyes*
With such a long hallway, why didn't they put one of those moving floor type things that you see in airports?
Seriously, all the glass along the hallway was completely wasted beacause none of those bedrooms get any views out of that side of the house. What's the point of having a view out of a corridor? Considering the amount of time you spend in a corrider every day versus in a room... ?
Seriously, all the glass along the hallway was completely wasted beacause none of those bedrooms get any views out of that side of the house.
yep thought the same thing. "oh nice, those windows will let in loads of light – ONTO THOSE WALLS" :p
oh nice, those windows will let in loads of light – ONTO THOSE WALLS
What you prefer? 50m of black featureless corridor requiring lighting, or a pleasant view? We were a bit bemused about the windows running parallel to the slope, not horizontal, and personally I prefer more solid building than they had.
The whole thing was overkill – stupid long corridor, stupid roof, ugly water tanks at the front door, polished concrete again (I know it's just me, but I just don't like it). But again it had nice features – the window seating in the lounge, the stonework (notice how many houses have had stonework and how nice it is?) the fireplace, the view, and they did at least think about sustainability and sited it correctly (unlike those numpty women a few weeks ago).
And I was interested to see if her snakeproof fence worked.
And I was interested to see if her snakeproof fence worked.
It just looked like a typical post and wire farm fence...how is it supposed to be snake-proof?
How did they get a 10kW PV system? I thought for domestic use the max is a 5kW system allowed (as in Vic)? Or are the rules different in SA?
Interesting that when he was describing his solar electricity system Peter didn't have a clue!
I'd like to see how the roof drainage system holds up in moderate to heavy rain. I bet its a sheet waterfall off the bottom end of the roof.
It just looked like a typical post and wire farm fence...how is it supposed to be snake-proof?
Exactly ... it was hard to see the size of the wire. You can get mesh with about ¼in holes but I couldn't see if that's what they used. That size should deter the biguns, but if, like me, they get babies popping in (still venomous, still deadly to dogs), they'll still have a problem. Plus the gates are also a weak point. :)
i'm pretty much done watching this show
yah i deleted the other eps i had from season 3....couldnt bare the thought of it anymore....
guess im done here :P
guess im done here :P
I keep telling myself that too, but I keep watching every week, rubber-necking a train crash in progress... *sigh*
With no sign of Bladex for last ep I'll nickname it The Slip & Slide. Or as we use to call it the slip & cripple, which will probably happen when the boys are older, climb up on the water tank, put hoses on the roof and race down the 60m :)
Correct me if I'm wrong, but was this the FIRST project in 3 seasons where a sustainability feature was even mentioned?
The house down in near geelong in season one has a mass of solar panels that they talked about
Looks like the byron bay house might have been taken by the banks already lol
http://m.realestate.com.au/p
It will be interesting to see how much it auctions for.
Just caught up with the season's final ep. Tons of concrete to keep the local concrete supplier happy for months, boring design with bare concrete.
And the comment from the concreter about the formwork panels – "there are only 60 panels available in the whole of Australia and we're using 50 here"...what a load of BS. I've seen the same formwork panels used in a lot of construction around the place.
"Brutalist" architecture? WTF is that?
And the pushy woman who wants a challenge for the sake of it...!
Glad that rubbish is finally over for this season.
"Brutalist" architecture? WTF is that?
it is a thing, unfortunately. for a hideous example of it, do a google search for 'Habitat 67', it will make your eyes bleed.
It will be interesting to see how much it auctions for.
The 7th has come and gone... wonder if it sold!?
And the comment from the concreter about the formwork panels – "there are only 60 panels available in the whole of Australia and we're using 50 here"...what a load of BS. I've seen the same formwork panels used in a lot of construction around the place
tell me about there are a number of formwork systems to formwalls no need to use that one,
its not the only job ever built with off form walls.
there is no way that lady knew as much as she was saying, the level of detail IMO was rubbish see how crap the entry looked and there out door path.
only thing that made sense was lifting roof up pre bolted.
The 7th has come and gone... wonder if it sold!?
I would like to know too. Can't find any info anywhere at the moment.
Just caught up with the season's final ep. Tons of concrete to keep the local concrete supplier happy for months, boring design with bare concrete.
I'll call this one the fall out shelter.
I would like to know too. Can't find any info anywhere at the moment.
According to a post on Lifetyle.com.au it didn't sell and now relisted:
http://www.mcgrath.com.au/bu
asebastian writes...
I'll call this one the fall out shelter.
+1
the concrete parts were horrid. it may have a great view, but the street appeal is zero with that massive concrete wall and tiny windows up the top.
Can anyone tell me what area the last house was in? I know it looks like it was behind Brisbane somewhere, but more info would be great. Pretty keen to take a drive up that way on my next trip there :)
Can anyone tell me what area the last house was in?
Mr Google says that the concrete supplier came from Murarrie, so the house must be within 30-45 mins trucking distance from there.
Ocean View which seems to be in the middle of nowhere according to google maps... and no where near the ocean.
The concrete monstrosity looked like a commercial building\school when it was finished.
I can't understand how someone could be so excited about the architecture of a car park, and not be interested in picking out fittings.
Ocean View which seems to be in the middle of nowhere according to google maps... and no where near the ocean.
From the mountains you look down over the hinterland to the ocean It is really great views but as you said, nowhere near the sea
I can't understand how someone could be so excited about the architecture of a car park, and not be interested in picking out fittings.
What got me more was what they said at the start about not doing the Italian concrete designs and melding with the environment and then it was even worse
I can't understand how someone could be so excited about the architecture of a car park,
Whilst you can certainly appreciate some aspects of the designs, nobody wants to live in a carpark, and her comment about appreciating it – even when it's all water stained.. Yuck.
If that's your style, Josef Fritzl would have some lovely rooms to rent you.
Probably would've rendered all that concrete that was facing the road the same colour that was facing the view that nobody else can see. The entrance way was like stepping into a James Bond-esque underground lair. You'd want to hang some huge tapestries or something on all those bare concrete walls, the sound echo just made the place seem cold and uninviting. All that being said, I thought she did a great job in project managing the build and the tradies didn't seem at all put out when she asked for variations, she really appealed to their emotional sides saying things like "look what you've created, aren't you proud??"
Looks like the byron bay house might have been taken by the banks already lol
http://m.realestate.com.au/
It will be interesting to see how much it auctions for.
Is that the house were the owner brought a guy from Italy to fit his kitchen? Hahahaha
the owner brought a guy from Italy
yep, some italian guy at a few $K per day, to put together flat pack cabinetry :p
Probably would've rendered all that concrete that was facing the road the same colour that was facing the view that nobody else can see. The entrance way was like stepping into a James Bond-esque underground lair.
On the other hand, for someone with a flair there are literally thousands of ways to change the look and feel of something that is more clearly an empty canvas than a comfortable retreat in the country.
I liked it but only for that aspect. Brutalism has had it's day long since.
Aren't they just showing the repeats / highlights of the previous seasons now? No new episodes as far as I'm aware.
Just watching an episode on pay now, poly cast walls, sandstone joint near the river.
Cant stand the host of our version, bags the guy for pressure washing the sandstone wall outside the house. Yeah, mold is really in.
Developer Max Iacopetta's plans to ''Max-imise'' his Wategos block appear to have backfired with the recent $5.6 million sale of the four-bedroom, three-level home with lift and pool. He and his wife Mariella had spent a total of about $7.5 million.
And I cant even pretend to feel sorry for them.
He was foolish to try and do a rich man's project with the bank's money.
Maybe we should just retitle this thread to Schadenfreude.
He was foolish to try and do a rich man's project with the bank's money.
That was the problem pointed out in the first 5 minutes of that episode.
They mentioned his construction company made school portables. Now i'm not knocking his work ethic, he's clearly successful – IN THAT AREA – but he had a totally deluded sense of greatness.
His success and the money he had, made him think he was some high profile property developer. which he clearly wasn't. No doubt it's different when you're making your own dream house but the mistakes he made were all amateur errors which were a direct result of his immense ego.
It's a shame he and his family didn't get to enjoy the house, it was bloody nice. Great to see a local snap it up at a discount though. As someone who grew up in a tourist destination, there's always a certain amount of satisfaction watching some tourist\outsider waste a stack of cash and fall on their bum. :-p
And I cant even pretend to feel sorry for them.
Me neither. I lost all sympathy when their response to the bank pulling funding was to fly to Paris for a Holiday. Not exactly something a normal developer would do.
The house was overcapitalisation gone mad. I am quite happy with an Ikea Kitchen, and a Cast Iron Bathtub.
The show is developing a reputation for this sort of thing. There was that place in sydney the nightclub guy built and went bust. They need to wake up and stop letting people use the show as vehicle for cheap promotion.
He was foolish to try and do a rich man's project with the bank's money.
Maybe we should just retitle this thread to Schadenfreude.
Looks like he has top pay $1.9 Million of someone else's mortgage then. Top marks fella. There's a reason you build portables and aren't a world class neurosurgeon.
And I cant even pretend to feel sorry for them.
Oh man, I just went looking for this episode after seeing that news article today.
What an absolute masterclass in what not to do and the dangers of ego. Plays out like a classic Shakespearean production. A perfect model of everything that is wrong in the Australian property market and the ethos of the Howard boom years.
the trip to Paris confirms the absolute and complete denial. So is this guy bankrupt?
That was the problem pointed out in the first 5 minutes of that episode.
Not really. Maddison's preamble is about the guy's meddling/lack of trust. The guy was wrong in that way but also in his ridiculous extravagance.
I think he started out in the right frame of mind, pre-build he says he wants to build a "modern-ish beach home with lots of local materials, stone and wood".
But 3.5 million just to buy the block? Mighty big risk for anyone to borrow that kind of money, let alone his crazy spending once he starts going off the rails.
In any case, I prefer to take the show as "50 minutes of entertainment", rather than "everything I need to know to judge this person from the safety of my armchair".
In any case, I prefer to take the show as "50 minutes of entertainment", rather than "everything I need to know to judge this person from the safety of my armchair".
Normally I'm with you on that. I generally enjoy most episodes and the owners.
Something about this guy, and the guy that built the Sydney waterfront one just rubbed me the wrong way. The whole thing seemed off from the start.
The show is developing a reputation for this sort of thing. There was that place in sydney the nightclub guy built and went bust. They need to wake up and stop letting people use the show as vehicle for cheap promotion.
Even the British show is the same, don;t know how many of those orginal owners still have the places they built. They go overboard to show off.
"ohh look at me, look at me"
I would love to see the show do something about all the places that have now sold.
I would love to see the show do something about all the places that have now sold.
The UK series had a "Grand Designs Revisited" run of 4 seasons. I suspect they only revisited selected projects!
http://www.channel4.com/prog
Two revisited episodes to air in April:
http://www.tvtonight.c
The revisiting episodes are now showing, starting with Clovelly. Over half is just a recap. Make that 35 minutes of the 49 are just a repeat.
Great choice of materials.... The timber needs to be repainted every year.
Yeah i must admit the repeated content in these revisited shows is annoying, and how about a house that was actually incomplete being revisited not oh yeah we have a facia on the front door, won an award and now turns out 15 flights of stairs aren't suitable for a kid.
The only house i want to revisit is the open sided Darwin house that guy built with a tree in the middle, i remember that at the conclusion of the show something about the council stopping construction because of no plans or approvals etc
we have a facia on the front door, won an award and now turns out 15 flights of stairs aren't suitable for a kid.
And he wants to move out. As she said it was arduous to live in at times. Sp award winning but as she said "a place to live" but I see that is all it is to them.
The only house i want to revisit is the open sided Darwin house that guy built with a tree in the middle,
Will be interesting if they do
Just started watching ep 1 of season 1, damn :( It's the story of a guy who build a 3 story house and had it finished 2 weeks before black saturday
Man that is an incredible house!
Season four starting on Thursday, October 10.
oh joy more overpriced mcmansions being built by yuppies with no budget. won't be watching it this time!
oh joy more overpriced mcmansions being built by yuppies with no budget. won't be watching it this time!
Try watching Location Location Location Australia where single income families have a miraculous budget of $800,000 to spend on a house.
Try watching Location Location Location Australia
i dumped that after 2 eps! also notice half the time their not even Aussie couples?
Finally! A house that is truly a Grand DESIGN, as opposed to the GRAND Designs that have been the typical offering these past few seasons. I almost had a heart attack when the client mentioned the incorporated energy saving features in their design!
Hope it can maintain this standard for the rest of the season.
Finally! A house that is truly a Grand DESIGN, as opposed to the GRAND Designs that have been the typical offering these past few seasons. I almost had a heart attack when the client mentioned the incorporated energy saving features in their design!
Was very interesting, especially how they mentioned that they hadn't been having to use cooling or heating as the house maintains the comfortable temperature.
I was a bit worried in the beginning that they were going to miss out on the view, but the view from the lounge room was beautiful. I don't think they showed the bathroom in the episode, but it was in the other "nook" :)
Hope it can maintain this standard for the rest of the season.
Sounds like a few more mansions with a couple of the more interesting designs thrown in.
Episode 2 – South Melbourne Brick House
Episode 3 – Torrens Park Modern Mansion
Episode 4 – Hornsby Heights Adobe
Episode 5 – Richmond Inner City
Episode 6 – Forest Eco Lodge
Episode 7 – Ilford Sheep Station
Episode 8 – Hunters Hill Textural
Was very interesting, especially how they mentioned that they hadn't been having to use cooling or heating as the house maintains the comfortable temperature.
Mmm... thermal mass. Very effective if designed right, but it can be hard to convince people to trust it (as per the wife in this episode). The downside is a lot of people consider concrete (and similar common mass objects) to not be very environmentally friendly.
I don't think they showed the bathroom in the episode
They did show some shots of it in the ending / completion parts, but didnt spend a heap of time drawing attention to it.
3 storey South Melbourne brick house – what happens when/if they have another kid? Only 1 bedroom. Ideally, they should have turned 1/3 of the bottom level into a parking spot. Off-street parking in that area would boost value enormously. If you look at the street they're on it's extremely narrow with only limited spots on one side of the street: 61 Dow Street, South Melbourne. They're also right opposite an ugly warehouse/shop type building. Conveniently none of this was shown in the episode.
Indeed, I thought it looked a bit dark and dingy and a bit over the top in some aspects -the lap pool, while lacking in others – light and enough storage space to avoid clutter as the living spaces were small/narrow.
We never got to see the ground floor completed so that was a bit odd. Then again, we rarely see the inside features being worked on with the AU series...
Loved the disinterested cat though :)
Not sure if I'm the only one watching this show... but what an awful, awful house this week! Discuss in 250 words.
The House was cold, sterile and rather bland for all its supposed lavishness.
It was as if they sparsely plonked alot of catalogue furniture in an oversized city office block floor and called it home.
Not sure if I'm the only one watching this show...
No, you're not.
I thought it was a "grand" design but as a home it failed spectacularly for me. I also wanted to hate the couple for wanting to live in such a cold, sterile, empty office block, but they seemed really natural, unpretentious people who didn't overcommit themselves. There were no money dramas or dramas of any kind for that matter.
But I just don't understand the desire to live in so much empty space.
I thought after the first 2 episodes they had realized that it isn't money that makes a grand design. This weeks was back to the old terrible GD Australia
I also wanted to hate the couple for wanting to live in such a cold, sterile, empty office block, but they seemed really natural, unpretentious people who didn't overcommit themselves.
They really seemed so nice, and this home was something they had obviously worked hard for and weren't mortgaged up to their eyeballs to get it.
It seems I'm the only one, but I loved the house and features. They've obviously learnt what they do and don't like, and chose their favorite things to incorporate into the house which I guess is why there wasn't a particular "style".
The only thing that annoyed me is their reluctance to talk $$$.
Yeah they should have to talk about the money.. but what are their incentives for being part of the show?
Are they allowing it all to be filmed just to 'show off'? Surely being able to afford the price tag would be inclusive of bragging rights yeah?
I laughed when I saw timber internal walls in a $7M house. If you're spending that kind of money on a house why not go for top quality solid brick internal walls? There's nothing that says quality like a hollow sound when you knock on your wall.
The only thing that annoyed me is their reluctance to talk $$$.
They hinted at it, but it is kind of horrifying when you see how many $$$ things cost in Australia. So much for winning a million in the lotto.
This week's adobe house in the middle of a bushy area had me scratching my head in puzzlement; I felt the house and design were ok, but in the wrong place. Also, all that dust coming off the walls for the next few years can't be too good for any electronic equipment!
This week's adobe house in the middle of a bushy area had me scratching my head in puzzlement; I felt the house and design were ok, but in the wrong place. Also, all that dust coming off the walls for the next few years can't be too good for any electronic equipment!
I thought the build was really interesting, and they seemed like such a lovely, easygoing couple who enjoyed the whole experience. I agree though, the dust would be such a pain!
I wish Peter, wouldn't push them for how much it's going to cost. If your building a house considered a grand design. Who cares what the cost is your building to make it a nice house rather than a budget.
If they divulge the figure great, if not leave it be.
For the second time this season, I am happy to say: "wow!" I really liked the Richmond inner city house featured in this week's episode. I was a bit worried at times that the wife wasn't being listened to, bit I think in the end she was pleasantly surprised and happy at the end result. I'd definitely love to live in a house like that!
On the other hand, once again a multi-million dollar build.... *sigh*
Why do so many of these houses go for huge sliding opening windows (such as in the Richmond house)? Without a fly screen you're just going to let in a ton of insects, and too much heat in summer and cold in winter. Makes no sense.
So the in fill terrace in Sydney with the good ideas for real world "sustainable" building was going along quite well until the final reveal.
1. Jeebus the total black and white reflective interior – Erk
2. The Mitsubishi split unit sitting on the roof. Wasn't the owner bragging, and the whole point of the slab, about not needing any mechanical heating/cooling? :/
I see a couple building house next/near to a Trig Station/Point I though Trig Station/Point were to be seen 360deg or unobstructed.
2. The Mitsubishi split unit sitting on the roof. Wasn't the owner bragging, and the whole point of the slab, about not needing any mechanical heating/cooling? :/
Haha – I was just about to come on here and make the same comment. What a hypocrite that guy is. He probably has it cranked on all day during the summer.
Also, I hate to break the news to that guy, but his heated slab / solar tubing is going to do SFA on a cold overcast winter's day. Where is the heat going to come from?? That kind of system needs sunlight and warmth, but in those conditions, you wouldn't need a heater anyway. Yes, I realize it stores heat during the day to release at night, but that makes it useless to use during the day itself, and requires a warm day and cold night, which only happens during particular seasons.
Ilford Sheep Station, NSW
Series 4 · Episode 7
Thirteen years ago Meredith and Matt Bayfield needed an escape from their busy lives as doctors in Sydney so they purchased a working sheep property at Ilford in the central table lands of NSW.
Well, not very adventurous you might say, besides the location, but pretty far from what a "McMansion" is.
It seemed they needed an architect with them, it being their first build.
Well, not very adventurous you might say, besides the location, but pretty far from what a "McMansion" is.
Yeah... kind of hard to say that one was too big for the block, or a generic eyesore from the road, etc.
It seemed they needed an architect with them, it being their first build.
Sounded like the designer was only so-so to begin with and didnt really share their ideas, then the designer moved before the build started and with all the "improvements" they made things just went downhill.
I had to wince when they wanted more room in the bedroom wing and just extended the slab. And then queue 10 minutes later "Oh, turned out we needed more foundations for our two storey stone wall"
Lol at the pool.
Mean little thing completely out of scale with the size of land and house.
And are there any govt authorities watching? Pools aren't supposed to have water in them until the fencing is done.
Otherwise, lovely stonework and timber, and a house I'd happily live in.
As mentioned, they were a bit clueless at times. How did they stuff up the power supply for the aircon? Not a big enough transformer? Not 3phase? Poor planning.
It seems the only options for this show are anything on acres, or any glorified dog box shoehorned into a crack in the footpath in the centre of the city.
And are there any govt authorities watching? Pools aren't supposed to have water in them until the fencing is done.
Could be different regs for a farm property, iirc.
Otherwise, lovely stonework and timber, and a house I'd happily live in.
Yeah, I did like the stonework. Like the host pointed out though, it was a pity that it was only one face that just finished as soon as it rounded the corner. Most of the interior was pretty generic.
How did they stuff up the power supply for the aircon?
Sounded like that one was 100% the designer's fault. From what was said, they spec'd the aircon without bothering to check.
Could be different regs for a farm property, iirc.
Really? Because kids are less likely to drown in a rural pool as opposed to an urban one?
Really? Because kids are less likely to drown in a rural pool as opposed to an urban one?
The laws were different for rural areas prior to 2010, why fence your pool when the kid can wander into any number of nearby dams or creeks?
But more likely this being a new pool, it was still designated in construction when the footage was shot. There are temporary allowances for construction sites. Or perhaps they have no kids and intend to flout the law.
But more likely this being a new pool, it was still designated in construction when the footage was shot. There are temporary allowances for construction sites. Or perhaps they have no kids and intend to flout the law.
They had a fence in the closing video of the episode, as well as in the additional videos on the website, so I'm going to assume it was still in the construction phase during the show tour.
I am happy to say: "wow!" I really liked the Richmond inner city house featured in this week's episode. I was a bit worried at times that the wife wasn't being listened to, bit I think in the end she was pleasantly surprised and happy at the end result.
I agree. It was a good use of a hidden site (which was probably the reason it made the show). I adored Ruth and her simple aspirations of a chook house and vege garden, she was so down to earth, definitely not one to care for grand designs!
If only I had 3 mill to spend on a plot and house.
(edit: yes I am a bit behind, working my way up)
Living on the Bellarine peninsula I take an interest in what is around here. So when I saw a cinema on the visit Geelong Bellarine twitter account I thought it was one I had seen before and lo and behold it was the Indented Head house from the first season.
It is now a luxury B&B.
www.Starhaven.com.au
Any thoughts on the Tassie house? They're a little "different" down there, aren't they? I really didn't care for it much. Inside it looked very 70s and somewhat daggy. The kitchen was underwhelming for a house of that price. I've seen $200k (Av Jennings type) houses with similar kitchens. The curved walls mean that a huge amount of space goes to waste. How do you put a desk against a curved wall? Or a bed? You can't. The windows looked very cheap – just standard flat glass, not even double glazed or tinted. It was, however, nice to see a house without a pool for a change!
I think it looked nicer on the outside than it did from inside, but the inside was a bit of a let down to me. As you mentioned, the kitchen was incredibly underwhelming (except for the amazing view), as was the majority of the interior.
That being said, they did seem to have a lot of fun building it like the other Tassie couple the week before. It's nice seeing people building houses for them rather than something that just looks like a show-home.
I had to wince when they wanted more room in the bedroom wing and just extended the slab. And then queue 10 minutes later "Oh, turned out we needed more foundations for our two storey stone wall"
(ok I am still running behind, I admit)
These guys were clueless and they should have picked up the shortcomings in the layout well before construction began (e.g. hall and kitchen size). They then implemented ad hoc "fixes" that then continued to compromise the design even further such as the additional ensuite that encroached on the stair head height.
I really didn't like this house, it looke like two separate houses joined by a little hall. it wasn't cohesive, especially with the *painted* weatherboards. WTF were they thinking there? And then that crappy little pool.
One star from me.
I have really enjoyed this season. What made it was the 'real' couples, even the stupidly rich hotel builders felt down to earth, and everyone got the home that they wanted.
What was gratefully absent was the presence of architects building a house for themselves and hoping to win a design award.
The Very Small House from Season 1 has just sold for nearly $2M
http://smh.domain.com.au/
How good was last nights episode?
To build a 3 story house from shipping containers and get the finishes he did was amazing. Massive effort.
Good to finally see an episode that isnt some yuppie couple with more money than sense. I was very surprised how good the house ended up looking considering how it was built.
I enjoyed this shipping container house than the one on GD-Uk from the other week.
The GD-UK one removed so much of the shipping container and put in so much structural steel, that the containers were almost pointless, they could have kept the structural steel, removed the containers completely and did a traditional build.
Wasn't the point of using the containers to save money, as they couldn't afford a traditional build? For $550k in the end, they could have done a beautiful traditional house.
For $550k in the end, they could have done a beautiful traditional house.
No way, each level was over 3m in height and the higher you go, the more dearer it gets. Conventional construction methods would have got them an up spec Project home with less height.
They also got hit extra $$$ because of on site mistakes, freak weather and not securing materials properly which got damaged by the weather.
Tonight's episode was good and I thought the house looked great. I just couldn't stand that lady, she suffered from a major case of knowitallism. Other than designing a funky house, she had no idea.
They tried to get through on a technicality and it back fired majorly. Being in the industry I'm glad the shire put a halt to the project because they clearly did not want to follow the rules.
To me she came across as a spoilt little brat who thought the world was against her when really she just wanted to sneak through the cracks and they got caught out.
I thought I'd give this show another go, dipped into some Season 3 episodes.
Snakes alive! The host of this show is the most uncharismatic person in the universe! Does he get better? I'd like to try this show out more, I bet there are some amazing Australian houses and people/stories, but that host, yikes.
Tonight's episode was good and I thought the house looked great. I just couldn't stand that lady, she suffered from a major case of knowitallism. Other than designing a funky house, she had no idea.
They tried to get through on a technicality and it back fired majorly. Being in the industry I'm glad the shire put a halt to the project because they clearly did not want to follow the rules.
To me she came across as a spoilt little brat who thought the world was against her when really she just wanted to sneak through the cracks and they got caught out.
Haha I agree about that old hag. What a whinging loser. They tried to pull a swifty and when they got caught she made out like she was a victim and the council was acting beyond their remit when they were totally correct in what they did. She came across as a self righteous bitch. From the moment they said they had demystified the whole process I knew I was gonna hate em though. Six months turned into five years, served her right lol.
Snakes alive! The host of this show is the most uncharismatic person in the universe! Does he get better? I'd like to try this show out more, I bet there are some amazing Australian houses and people/stories, but that host, yikes.
He's actually very good. He's not a showman, flashy show biz type, but if you listen to his commentary he's thoughtful and knowledgeable.
Sorta Carl Sagan as opposed to Daryl Somers.
They tried to get through on a technicality and it back fired majorly.
I had to wonder, was the wall really "deemed to be unsafe"? Or did the contractors accidentally demolish it – or did it fall over?
Surely if it was unsafe you would just brace it and continue with the job... and then replace it later when no-one would notice? Either way, I suspect one of their neighbours really had it in for them (her).
Surely if it was unsafe you would just brace it and continue with the job... and then replace it later when no-one would notice? Either way, I suspect one of their neighbours really had it in for them (her).
I reckon it wasn't braced because she was site manager and probably thought nothing of it. An experienced site manager would have probably saw the problem and acted on it
Surely if it was unsafe you would just brace it and continue with the job... and then replace it later when no-one would notice? Either way, I suspect one of their neighbours really had it in for them (her).
That was my guess. I don't blame them for exploiting a loophole in the council's regulations, but you can't make a single mistake (as they did with the wall). And very probably some hateful neighbour was just waiting by the phone.
Just watched my first AU episode, s5e02. Did anyone else think the owner builders were basically turds? I rather disliked them. The house was ok, nothing amazing.
Are all AU eps that bad, it really taints the original series.
Like the English version, there are good projects and ordinary ones.
You can't judge it off one Ep. Check out the cargo container house in Brisbane from a couple of weeks back. That was a good one.
He's not a showman, flashy show biz type
Unfortunately, this is"showbiz"!!
But I will try some more, starting with this Brisbane container one, and maybe I'll feel the spirit of Carl.
The UK one has become (not always) something of a cliche; the early challenge – the upbeat piano music – busy busy, then <setback>(!), music slows, no one on site, rain/puddles, difficult middle section, then busy music again, breakthrough, big music comes in, to camera – the challenge, blah, spirit, overcome, blah. Big makeover/reveal/lies about budget, to camera and close :D
...and it's already up for sale
http://www.realestate.co
Check out the cargo container house in Brisbane from a couple of weeks back. That was a good one.
I did last night. It was good, an interesting episode, house and people. Had to admire them as real can-do people. It was a bit of a 'builders house' = high on smart build tips/low on architectural smarts but yyr, a good episode.
It would definitely appear that Foxtel cheapskate this show to the max though. Not that many visits, the use of 'Ken Burns effect' stills in the end of show big reveal, everything about it feels that it is made with the minimum possible budget.
everything about it feels that it is made with the minimum possible budget
Nonsense, the average "The Lifestyle Channel" program surely reaches many hundreds of viewers and has many hundreds of dollars spent on it.
Really liked last nights house. Other than the Origami shaped room it was a simple design that flowed nicely. I loved that Rustic look too, especially the custom made Fence and gate out the front.
Nonsense, the average "The Lifestyle Channel" program surely reaches many hundreds of viewers and has many hundreds of dollars spent on it.
LOL. As I turned off the Foxtel sports and fired up Channel BT to watch this I did think – "there's something familiar about that Lifestyle logo ruining this low quality cap"! Turns out there are a whole load of channels on Foxtel showing not sport stuff and this is amongst them!!
I will keep watching (on Channel BT of course) and hope the moribund host gets a pay rise, the poor bugger.
New episodes of Grand Designs Aus, Location Aus, and Selling houses Aus are some of the highest rating for Foxtel, a part from sports like the footy and cricket.
How does a Foxtel-only program end up on BT? You can't digitally output a Foxtel signal to a PC?
One thing I've noticed this season is that none of the houses appear to have air conditioning (or heating for that matter). The container house is forgivable, but the Mt. Eliza house and last week's "Origami" didn't appear to have any either. I looked at the ceilings and walls to try and spot vents, but saw none. Why would someone spend such a large amount of money building a house and not think of how to cool it? My guess is they want to save money (installing ducted A/C can cost up to 20k), and I'm betting that after sweating through a few hot summers they'll give in and install it.
One thing I've noticed this season is that none of the houses appear to have air conditioning (or heating for that matter).
I'm not sure the filming is comprehensive enough to be 100% certain, but I didn't see any either (they did have a fireplace). That said, I live in an uninsulated wooden box in Brisbane and I don't have aircon, so maybe it is doable in a well designed/insulated house.
How does a Foxtel-only program end up on BT? You can't digitally output a Foxtel signal to a PC?
Apparently there are cheapo HDMI splitters that make a HDCP connection but are casual about passing it on.
Wow, that lady has a fair bit of ticker. To be able to design and build your own unique home is commendable.
Didn't care too much for the interior design, but I thought the exterior was magnificent. Especially the brickwork.
It would definitely appear that Foxtel cheapskate this show to the max though. Not that many visits, the use of 'Ken Burns effect' stills in the end of show big reveal, everything about it feels that it is made with the minimum possible budget.
Not sure what you mean here. For one, the Ken Burns effect involves using still photographs. During the final sequence of this show, photos aren't used – it's all video. A lot of the budget also goes into filming and flying the crew around. In any given year they might be filming 10 different projects going on around the country at the same time. Flying a crew around to all of them is expensive.
Wow, that lady has a fair bit of ticker. To be able to design and build your own unique home is commendable.
Didn't care too much for the interior design, but I thought the exterior was magnificent. Especially the brickwork.
I thought it was one of the more impressive builds on the Australian version of the show. And it looked like it was amazingly well built as well – that rooftop studio is something else. I can't say the house is somewhere I personally would want to live, but its certainly distinctive.
Episode 4, the Rammed Earth house, is the one closest to a house that I'd want to live in myself. Pretty nice part of the world they built in too.
The Episode 2 house, with their planning permission problems, just made me facepalm.
Why would someone spend such a large amount of money building a house and not think of how to cool it?
Because if you think ahead, you can avoid the need for airconditioning. 20k worth of ducted airconditioning is only required if you've stuffed up the basic design.
Because if you think ahead, you can avoid the need for airconditioning. 20k worth of ducted airconditioning is only required if you've stuffed up the basic design.
It's very difficult to avoid having the need for A/C. In theory you could do it but the cost would be enormous. For example, you'd have to make the exterior walls very thick (if using bricks – triple thickness), with insulation between each layer. This hasn't been done since the Victorian/Edwardian era. You'd also need to double glaze all the windows, and maybe put in double thickness 20mm+ plaster on the ceilings. The cost of installing A/C would be much less than making all of these modifications, even factoring in running costs.
ehhh type of episode...what was the budget anyways it was never disclosed only thr fact that he might have saved 250K on labour and build costs?
ehhh type of episode...what was the budget anyways it was never disclosed only thr fact that he might have saved 250K on labour and build costs?
Originally thought it would be about 1.2 mil but wanted to get it down to 1mil.
It's very difficult to avoid having the need for A/C.
No, not really.
This hasn't been done since the Victorian/Edwardian era
I've had a bit to do with one nearing completion nearby, and building my own place currently.
On the long weekend I was part of a tour of houses built smart enough. No aircon at all. Not only can it be done, it is being done.
The cost is not great, the main issue is in design.
No aircon at all. Not only can it be done, it is being done.
The cost is not great, the main issue is in design.
Yep and lets not forget that air conditioning in private homes was rare until the 70's
How ever did we get by?
Yep and lets not forget that air conditioning in private homes was rare until the 70's
How ever did we get by?
I don't have air con at the moment in Canberra, which does make a few weeks in summer a bit uncomfortable.
Yep and lets not forget that air conditioning in private homes was rare until the 70's
My grandfather had central ducted A/C put into his then-new home in the late 1950s. I believe it was one of the first houses in Melbourne to have it.
Besides, what a silly argument. Air conditioning in cars was rare in Australia until the 1980s. We got by fine without it, but would you want to go without it today?
The cost is not great, the main issue is in design.
Also it depends on the block of land you have and what way it faces. But regardless of orientation, the rooms on the west end of the house are going to get much hotter. In my old brick home, on a hot day, you could put your hand on the west-facing wall and feel the heat on the inside. The room was the hottest in the house. How are you going to stop that heat from coming in through the wall? The bricks are going to store all of that heat and then release it slowly into the house, which will gradually increase the interior temperature.
Besides, what a silly argument. Air conditioning in cars was rare in Australia until the 1980s. We got by fine without it, but would you want to go without it today?
The problem today is that poor design has made it difficult to live without air conditioning.
You've got McMansions in the western suburbs, with no eaves, dark roofs, concrete yards, no deciduous trees, plasterboard internal walls and low ceilings.
They are often poorly oriented and difficult to cross ventilate.
Just crappy design.
Also it depends on the block of land you have and what way it faces
That's part of the design – it has to begin at the subdivision layout.
How are you going to stop that heat from coming in through the wall? The bricks are going to store all of that heat and then release it slowly into the house, which will gradually increase the interior temperature.
The classic Aussie federation bungalow, built with no airconditioning in mind, would have had eaves/verandah sufficient to shade the wall. The ideal eaves match your lattitude so that the wall is shaded in summer but gains some lower angle sunlight in winter. Basic stuff.
An alternative to the hot bricks is the building format of reverse brick veneer. you put the bricks on the inside, where their mass moderates the indoor temperature, and put the insulation on the outside so the bricks don't get the heat.
None of this is secret, but project home builders are slow to learn.
http://www.yourhome.gov.au/passive-design
wonder what happened to " Cottage Point House"
remember in the episode the owner had some financial issues
http://www.lifestyle.com.au/
Was on the market basically straight away if I remember correctly.There was a post here with the real estate ad ,not sure if it sold.
The classic Aussie federation bungalow, built with no airconditioning in mind, would have had eaves/verandah sufficient to shade the wall. The ideal eaves match your lattitude so that the wall is shaded in summer but gains some lower angle sunlight in winter. Basic stuff.
I own an Aussie federation (I call Edwardian to be more accurate). It has thick walls but during the summer heat waves it's still hot inside. The windows are overly large, and have old thin glass that does diddly squat to keep the heat out. Luckily it's an investment (inherited) – I'd hate to live in it.
Going on from my previous post, we finally see the first house this season with air conditioning – the water tank house! Despite making the house as green as possible, the owners still realized the need for air cond in Melbourne's hot and often humid summers. They still didn't go for ducted, but every single room had a wall mounted unit. I suppose this was done for heating more than cooling, though.
(I call Edwardian to be more accurate)
There is no architectural style termed "Edwardian" this name was invented by real estate agents to sell houses, for authority regarding this statement refer to
"Identifying Australian Architecture" 1989
The guy in this week's episode reminded me a bit of Rene Rivkin. Also, when I saw the Morgan parked in the garage I said to myself, "of course". It was almost no surprise at all, like seeing an old Commodore in Dandy.
There is no architectural style termed "Edwardian" this name was invented by real estate agents to sell houses,
Er, it's legitimate:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwardian_architecture
Also, the term "Federation architecture" wasn't even coined until 1969 according to Wikipedia. Personally I think a term that came first is more accurate than one thought up of later on.
I want to hate the water tank house, can't say I like it all that much either. I hate the colour of the kitchen... there, I feel better now.
Er, it's legitimate:
Maybe in England and New Zealand but not Australia, will post all the Australian architectural styles, when I can be bothered, Edwardian is not amongst them ; )
I want to hate the water tank house, can't say I like it all that much either.
Wouldn't you be able to walk by and knife the water tanks?
Wouldn't you be able to walk by and knife the water tanks?
Yeah you probably could, just like you probably could throw a rock through a window of any other house.
How does a Foxtel-only program end up on BT? You can't digitally output a Foxtel signal to a PC?
HDMI capture card and a cheap HDMI splitter to get around any HDCP issues. I use this setup to archive stuff I want to keep for my media centre server. I certainly wouldn't put it on BT though.
Sriously who needs that much freaking water
It wasn't too long that "they" were telling us we were in a permanent drought and there would never be enough water again. Of course then it flooded.
Doesn't bacteria start to build up in water that's been sitting around for a long time?
Yeah I wondered the same thing. How long does the water stay safe? How does that all work.
It wasn't too long that "they" were telling us we were in a permanent drought and there would never be enough water again. Of course then it flooded.
Currently we live in cycles, where moisture in the atmosphere goes over the pacific and precipitates there. Or it goes over the mainland and precipitates.
Due to global warming, the amount of moisture in the atmosphere is rising. So either end of these cycles is getting more extreme. Drought is sucking up more moisture but not depositing it back on land. When it's depositing, it's sucking up more from the ocean and so more extreme rains.
As far as permanent, my understanding is that they are not sure where these cycles will finally land. They will alter. The only thing for sure is that they will get more extremes.
Which is why people complaining about the desalination plants are displaying a typical ignorant Australian attitude of not planning or thinking beyond the immediate.
Water infrastructure is built to not really withstand droughts. So they build a measure for those times. Next cycle begins, everyone complains they built the plant. So while now they should be making new catchments, working on storing more water than before for the next drought. Everyone is back to, 'there's plenty of water.' As if that'll always be the case.
O
LaxSagacity...
Yeah I wondered the same thing. How long does the water stay safe? How does that all work.
if its out of the light, in insomething that wont leech into the water harmfully, forever.
if its out of the light, in insomething that wont leech into the water harmfully, forever.
I suppose for most water uses it wouldn't really matter if it wasn't 100% clean, but there's no way I'd want to drink water that's been sitting in a tank for years.
Yeah you probably could, just like you probably could throw a rock through a window of any other house.
Lot easier to replace a window!
It wasn't too long that "they" were telling us we were in a permanent drought and there would never be enough water again. Of course then it flooded.
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
Pretty sure they mentiond 50,000L+...
The host said it was 30 tanks (@ 2000L each) although, some ended up cut in half as planters and they also showed a few being altered to accommodate the windows.
Pretty sure they mentiond 50,000L+...
I'm building based on 45000l primary potable water plus an existing 100,000l tank of reserve water, primarily for firefighting. I'm not sure that the 45000l will be enough storage if the weather patterns change. On the rainfall records for the past 50 years, we would have run out twice.
This week's house was one of the worst I'd ever seen. There was nothing remarkable about it at all – the exterior looked like a typical American suburban house from the northern states (in the south they look different). Good looking, and a bit different to the typical Australian house, but nothing "grand" about it at all. The interior, however, was terrible. Dark wood paneling everywhere – looked like something from the 1950s. Also, again, no air conditioning that I could see – big mistake in QLD.
he interior, however, was terrible. Dark wood paneling everywhere – looked like something from the 1950s
I actually liked a lot of the interior. Although the small windows and sticking to the english crappy house look on the outside ruined a lot of it.
Three specials set in regional Australia to air on LifeStyle starting June 4th
http://www.tvtonight.com.
Blah. It didnt feel grand or functional. Too much of an afterthought with lazy gimmicks and no serious planning or foresight for the future. Leaking roof check. 2 sliding partitions, one glass, one wood. Bathroom was hideous and compromised. Wasted space with a huge deck. No real showroom garden space. Predictable.
Shows the difference in philosophy of what Grand Designs Australia has been missing. It is an industrial site with extreme limitations on what can build. Not trying to build a grand mansion. Rather developing a house that lives within its conditions and fits in with its background.
Why such a huge deck? The living space couldn't be bigger than it was, so how to add space but keeping within the building limitations
Blah. It didnt feel grand or functional. Too much of an afterthought with lazy gimmicks and no serious planning or foresight for the future.
Agreed.
There was a shot showing the custom made sliding partition roller mechanisms and they were already really rusty.
What's the bet if they revisited in a few years both the motorised partitions wouldn't be working?
Shows the difference in philosophy of what Grand Designs Australia has been missing. It is an industrial site with extreme limitations on what can build. Not trying to build a grand mansion. Rather developing a house that lives within its conditions and fits in with its background.
i enjoyed the story ark between the two brothers one being a bohemian artist with pretty rigid my way or the highway views and the other brother being an architect with formal training and set procedures and protocol. there is something rewarding when you throw caution and procedure out the window and you just make something but this felt like a big afterthought. i knew that the two brothers would hit heads eventually but wanted more of a fistfight not the sobbing going on in the background. the sliding windows were pretty predictable. you don't need a mansion just some clever design ideas, multiple levels, and an ability to add on in the future. seemed like they boxed themselves into that cliff. didn't really meet the civic idea either.
multiple levels, and an ability to add on in the future.
They were already at the maximum floor space for the property. Would you preferred them to reduce the space used on the ground floor and added a second level?
I prefer to live on a single level if you are restricted in size.
Why leave space to expand when you are not allowed to? Remember this was an industrial site and this was a "caretaker's" house
Agree it wasn't perfect
I didn't see any solar panels at all on that roof. Very disappointing. A place like that should be fully self sufficient (off the grid). What happens when 5 years down the track, the couple have a baby... are they all going to share the 1 bedroom?
I didn't see any solar panels at all on that roof. Very disappointing
I would agree that it could have been more self sufficient in terms of energy
What happens when 5 years down the track, the couple have a baby... are they all going to share the 1 bedroom?
So which room would you have sacrificed or shrunk to fit in the second bedroom?
So which room would you have sacrificed or shrunk to fit in the second bedroom?
I'm suggesting the whole project was stupid. It might be a good idea for old retirees living on their own, but not a young guy who might start a family a few years down the road. "Honey, where's little Bobby?" "Oh, he's just playing down by the old rusty abandoned saw mill". Besides, spending so much money on a structure on industrial land will add very little to the value of the property. I predict that within 10 years this guy will be living in a regular brick box with 2 car garage in the suburbs.
Anyone know what's going on with this? We got three episodes of the new season, and now nothing for over a month?
Anyone know what's going on with this? We got three episodes of the new season, and now nothing for over a month?
was wondering the same thing.....
They were advertised as specials (no idea why!)
Perhaps they were episodes slated for inclusion in a previous season that the project ran longer than expected and weren't completed in time to be included as part of the normal episode run
Just watched the second of these eps. The guys seemed like such a lovely and down to earth couple. The house was too big for my tastes and they had an odd mishmash of furnishings (chandeliers, etc) that didn't fit with the modern architecture IMO. From the outside it looked good tho. Why not retire in style! Good for them., I hope they sell (or have sold) their old place.
Anyone know what's going on with this? We got three episodes of the new season, and now nothing for over a month?
I thought it might have been linked to proper Grand Designs returning a couple of weeks ago, but it turns out those are just recap specials and not new content (so I don't think Lifestyle is airing them?).
My best guess is that they don't have enough weeks to fit the episodes in as part of the main run between the end of proper Grand Designs and Christmas so decided to spin a few out as specials rather than carrying them over to 2016.
Perhaps they were episodes slated for inclusion in a previous season that the project ran longer than expected and weren't completed in time to be included as part of the normal episode run
No, I think it's just that they've run out of projects to film, so they aired a 3 episode season instead of a normal length one. Hopefully next year they'll have enough finished projects filmed to give us a proper season.
This is to bump this thread rather than start a new one.
For those interested in the "Grand Designs" series, available now is the Grand Designs "New Zealand" series if you wish to watch it. Can read about it here – http://www.tv3.co.nz/Shows/GrandDesignsnz.aspx
For those interested in the "Grand Designs" series, available now is the Grand Designs "New Zealand" series if you wish to watch it.
I can just imagine "Yeah, we decided to stretch the budget and get colorbond guttering instead of PVC, also tiles in the bathroom instead of vinyl."
You see that sort of stuff in a lot of houses in NZ. Stuff you'll get laughed for even in cheap houses in Australia.
I can just imagine "Yeah, we decided to stretch the budget and get colorbond guttering instead of PVC, also tiles in the bathroom instead of vinyl."
you might eat your words there :)
eps 1 was a very nice build. Strange as with all the greenery any episode dubbed with british accents wont go amiss in the UK version.
Loved the final result. And a super quick build too. By GD standards!
Good to have this back, watching the latest episode I can't help but think how great it would be if the houses featured in this show were available to rent via Airbnb. I know I'd stay in a few!
Must say the last 2 episodes have been a lot better than a lot of the others in the Australian version. Maybe someone realise what the program should be about
In the Adelaide episode, didn't the couple seem a bit old to be starting a family in the "future" ?? At least, I gathered from the large house that they were building, that they didn't have any kids but were planning on having them some time down the track. She looked at least 40, and he looked close to 50. Leaving it a bit late?!?
By the way, this is the property as it was when it was bought:
http://www.realestate.com.au
The "old" house looked pretty good to me.
I also didn't see a single solar panel anywhere on the house in SA. Disappointing.
A bit more info about the property:
Sold: $1,750,000
31 AUG 2011• Source: Government
Sold: $2,300,000
08 JAN 2005• Source: Government
Sold: $275,000
10 OCT 1996• Source: Government
Seeing as the house cost them 2.2M, and the property 1.75M, that's 4M in total (plus the cost of the demolition of the old house). Not cheap for a place 55km from Adelaide. I wonder why it dropped 24% in price from 05-11?
In the Adelaide episode, didn't the couple seem a bit old to be starting a family in the "future" ?
No. Who cares?
I also didn't see a single solar panel anywhere on the house in SA. Disappointing.
Maybe they plan to have a separate shed with panels/batteries/generator.
I wonder why it dropped 24% in price from 05-11?
GFC.
GFC.
That was 3 years before the property was sold. The effects in Australia were well and truly over by that point. Prices had already returned to normal by 2010, at least here in Melbourne.
No. Who cares?
Because they built this huge house for just 2 people. If they had kids, it would be a different story. And yes, a woman over 40 is getting too old to have children, in my view. There are increased risks that make it a questionable choice (if even possible).
The whole thing seemed very wasteful to me, compared to other houses featured on the show. For one, they demolished a fully renovated lovely old house because the wife didn't like the long corridor. Well, gee, how hard would it be to knock down a few internal walls and get rid of the corridor? The rubble from the old house is no doubt taking up space in some landfill right now. Very eco friendly build.
The effects in Australia were well and truly over by that point. Prices had already returned to normal by 2010, at least here in Melbourne.
Depends on the house I suppose, you could have bought a house in 2008 and still lost money selling it in 2013.
Don't forget it is a vineyard/business property as well.
Does anyone know what's the status of this show? The last new episode was back in December 2015. 2016 was the first year that no new episodes were shown, and now in 2017 there's still no news of a new season?
EDIT: it seems that the new season is on the way within the next few months.
Show has been axed. Though there are episodes in the can so will probably get something this year.
The rumor is that it will go away for a year or so and then be 'reborn' with a new presenter.
Well they've been filming a season 7 which is meant to air this year. I was under the impression they simply decided to slow things down because they ended up following quite a high number of builds and they wanted more interesting builds and designs.
2016 was the first year that no new episodes were shown, and now in 2017 there's still no news of a new season?
Actually, I stand corrected. They didn't air any new episodes in 2011 either. In fact there was an incredible 22 month gap between seasons 1 and 2 of the show, much more than the gap between this season and the last in 2015.
Anyone see the 1st of series 7, completely nuts the owners WENT well than double they're budget of 2.3 MILLION for the build!!
Over 5 million for building a house, and the guy is just a lawyer... I'd say he's living well beyond his means. The only people who should be spending that kind of money on a house are those who are already wealthy i.e. multi-millionaires.
And for that kind of money, couldn't you buy a property in Sydney that's on the water? Although their views were nice, it seemed to me like they were quite some distance from the beach.
Other issues with the house – only 1 shared bathroom for 4 kids? No guest toilet at all? And only 2 car spaces... when those kids grow up they'll need somewhere to park their BMWs.
I was disappointed that they didn't mention how long it took to complete the build. At the very end, they seemed to skip forward about a year without any explanation given.
That visual statement in the entry was a master stroke. It blew me away. The rest of the house was great, but an anti-climax after that zinger.
Well done.
Verrierdale Tent House, S7 Ep3 in the middle of a forest in Qld. looks very interesting but I can't help thinking that insecticide bills would be enormous!
Verrierdale Tent House, S7 Ep3 in the middle of a forest in Qld
Series 7 has just started. Where is this info?
Where is this info?
Well, it was in the magazine, it was advertised heavily on Lifestyle and in the weekly e-mails from Foxtel.
Well, it was in the magazine, it was advertised heavily on Lifestyle and in the weekly e-mails from Foxtel
Oh okay, so previews of upcoming shows ... I don't have Foxtel so don't get that info.
As you said, sounds interesting :)
Series 7 has just started. Where is this info?
Series 7 episode 3 (the pavillion/tent one) aired last Thursday.
https://www.lifesty
Kudos to them for even attempting to build on that block. I wouldn't have bothered.
Just watched the first ep of the new season. Didn't realise I was already 3 behind.
So, 1.3m for the block, original budget of 2.3m which MORE than doubled.
So over 6m all up. crazy, crazy crazy. The crazier thing is for Bondi, that they probably didn't over capitalise. Being so unique and extremely well made, plus that pool, means some offshore buyer would probably snap it up quickly if it came up for sale.
Gotta say, loved that pool. I've always liked plunge pools :D
Just watched the Rainforest Pavilion house...very impressive. I'm not sure that's the way I'd spend 1.6m but full respect to them for doing it. I enjoy the episodes where houses are pushing the boundaries and aren't just someone with money showing us how rich they are.
Just watched 7x02 ... The Flat pack house ... Nothing special ... Nice view though.
amazing view, great building material. I think the owner did a good job for a home using material never used here before.
didn't see any kids, so again, why such a huge house for 2 people? it's kinda crazy.
didn't see any kids, so again, why such a huge house for 2 people? it's kinda crazy.
Thats what I was thinking when watching it.
Maybe they have a housekeeper, there is no way 2 people can clean that house!
mixo
didn't see any kids, so again, why such a huge house for 2 people?
it's only 1 bedroom and ensuite which is on the lower floor, while the rest of the house is upstairs. Living room, dining, kitchen, powder room, outdoor indoor BBQ area, outside space.
Spacious for two people. If they decide to sell it, it won't be easy, because of the lack of bedrooms.
Just watching the Adelaide Gothic church house.
I often have sympathy for people whose build goes way off the rails. No sympathy here for these two. What a smug, self indulgent couple.
They are supposedly ministers of the church, so they don't work for a living, they just live like parasites on the charity of others. Other people who have paid for them to build a very expensive house that few others get to own.
And they are gloating about this on national television, absolutely no clue. And I thought pride was one of the seven deadly sins.
And I thought pride was one of the seven deadly sins.
There's going to be self-indulgent people now and then in shows like this. Clergy or not. Their parishoners will judge them (probably for the better), but it's really about the house design and build. Everything else is secondary.
They are supposedly ministers of the church, so they don't work for a living
They are paid a salary (by the church with a capital c), same as anyone else.
Spacious for two people. If they decide to sell it, it won't be easy, because of the lack of bedrooms.
That's what I thought. You'd want 4+ study if you ever really want the hope of selling most houses these days. If it was a 2 bedroom retirement home, then it had too many stairs and levels for that.
They should have squeezed at least 1 more bedroom into the layout.
Still, it was a great looking place at the end. If I ever build I'll definitely look into that material and see how far along its use has progressed.
There's going to be self-indulgent people now and then in shows like this.
yeah all these shows, Selling Houses, Grand Designs, GD AU, they all have at least 1 couple each season that grinds your gears. haha.
they all have at least 1 couple each season that grinds your gears
Or gets pregnant, breaks up, etc etc :)
Watched 2 eps this week.
The Noosa one with the silly tent roof that will be covered in leaves and bright green from the humidity within 6 months. I liked the retractable roof though, very nice. Until dusk anyway...
Then the chipboard one with the dumb bath in the entry way. I did like a few things about that place. For a small home, it was quite nice. I didn't mind decking as the timber floor either. that could certainly work well in the right house.
Yep, watched them out of order by mistake. derp.
Then the chipboard one with the dumb bath in the entry way. I did like a few things about that place. For a small home, it was quite nice. I didn't mind decking as the timber floor either. that could certainly work well in the right house.
The small 'frugal' house with compromises (bath in the entrance, fridge not in the kitchen) that cost over half a million to build!
The small 'frugal' house with compromises (bath in the entrance, fridge not in the kitchen) that cost over half a million to build!
Yeah, what was it in the end? $570,000? Holy moley, that was expensive for a house made out of chipboard.
And that Noosa one.. $1.2mill PLUS land so $1.6m for a 3 bedroom house.... yikes.
There's amazing houses in Noosa on the waterfront for less than that.
The most recent episode (the last of the season) was I think the worst episode I've seen. For those who missed it – it was a house in a new suburb of Canberra, which was supposed to be so well insulated that it wouldn't need to be heated or cooled. Then, at the end, the owners admitted they would have to put in air conditioning in the top storey! Even the host commented on how warm some parts of the house were. Aside from the insulation, there wasn't really anything grand about the house at all. At the end, I didn't even see any solar panels on the roof.
Yes I got the feeling the house didn't turn out quite as expected. The guy was putting on a brave face though.
The most recent episode (the last of the season) was I think the worst episode I've seen. For those who missed it – it was a house in a new suburb of Canberra, which was supposed to be so well insulated that it wouldn't need to be heated or cooled
Agreed, that was a shocker. In the end they got a cookie cutter house on a suburban street in Canberra – spare me!
Absolutely. People have been building enviro friendly houses in Canberra suburbs and environs for years – successfully. No heating/cooling necessary. There was even one a few years ago on a turntable that tracked the sun.
This pair said at the start they wanted to leave a legacy for their kids. Ha! Some legacy. A fugly house in a suburb full of the same sort of box, with no real outdoor space, that cost a fortune and failed in its one aim. And no, no solar panels. (yeah, I checked the satellite).
What I saw was a pair who will dine out for years on how clever they were and how much $$$ they saved by using the interwebs to source c**p from China. And spout words like "thermal break" ad nauseum.
Sadly the final ep was in November. I would like to know the internal temp upstairs after our run of 35 – 40degree days over Dec/Jan/Feb.
And Coombes has to be up there on the list of ugliest suburbs ever built. :(
I also found it interesting when they went into a passive "German" display home, and commented on how it was 30C outside, but "only" 24.5C inside. If that's the ambient room temperature in a house like that, then the whole concept is flawed, imo. Comfortable room temperature is 21-22C, and a 5C reduction from outside temperature is pathetic. So on a 40C day it's going to be 35 inside?
The episode description was also a bit misleading:
"When it comes to his family home, IT engineer Damien wants it filled with every hi-tech feature. Computer controlled blinds, a two-storey spiral glass staircase, and an air-powered laundry chute."
They didn't really show any high tech features at all? The electronic curtains were hardly hi-tech as they've been around for many decades, and the laundry chute wasn't shown at all. Shame.
Lol at all the comments on the last episode. I said exactly the same to my wife – this is called Grand Designs – not Bland Designs.
I also didn't like the episode before in Tasmania. It was quirky as was the guy but it seemed to be an exercise in recycling cr*p. Have they run out of truly innovative builders apply for the show or something.
I also didn't like the episode before in Tasmania. It was quirky as was the guy but it seemed to be an exercise in recycling cr*p. Have they run out of truly innovative builders apply for the show or something.
Agreed. The episode was an interesting watch, but in no way was it "grand".
Don't watch the Australian one regularly but the houses I've seen seem to equate 'grand' with costing lots of money, nothing really innovative and unique like some of the houses in the UK series.
The Daylesford Longhouse was truly interesting and innovative.
I'd love to visit the cooking school when it's up and running to see first hand what they have done there.
The only part of that I didn't get was how it was powered, they didn't mention solar and I'm pretty sure there would have been no mains nearby.
I liked the excavation via explosives. We joked about that when we had the site cut done for our rural build but no one suggested it as a real possibility worst luck.
The Daylesford Longhouse was truly interesting and innovative.
Yeh, that was definitely one of the better ones.
Best house I've seen in Grand Design Australia/NZ is the eco house in NZ, Corromandel Peninsula where the couple use waste material to built their house, not only that but also got free labour, by hiring a consultant to give a workshop in earth ship building house = GENIUS. Very creative and smart approach to building your house.
I would love to see more of this type of construction in this new season like turning waste to building material or more eco building that use the environment to their advantage. Fingers crossed!
'Earth ships' are really hideous though, old tyres and recycled bottles in the wall... erk. Environmentally laudible but not my idea of a 'grand design' statement. Every time I hear 'earth ship' I change the channel.
Earth ships' are really hideous though, old tyres and recycled bottles in the wall... erk.
Yes, I agree. The first earth ship house mostly build in desert environment does look hideous that's probably why they haven't really take off in surburbia, but so far on GD UK, the owners were aware of the problem but did quite a nice job in the end. Even Kevin Mc Cloud who was not a big fan of them, change his mind on a house built in France by a young couple, who also used the same concept of providing an "Experience" for inexperienced volunteer. Straw bale, earth ramp house are the type that I would love to see more on the show, it's such an old style of building but proven to pass the test of time.
Any idea where the Euroa house got it's power from? It looked quite remote so I'd be surprised if it was connected to the grid.
Any idea where the Euroa house got it's power from? It looked quite remote so I'd be surprised if it was connected to the grid.
There was solar panels, it didnt look like many though.
There was solar panels, it didnt look like many though.
Those panels wouldn't even be enough to power the heating for a house of that size. You'd need a 15 kW reverse cycle unit for that place.
Those panels wouldn't even be enough to power the heating for a house of that size. You'd need a 15 kW reverse cycle unit for that place.
Agreed,
The house was only 300m from a road (Euroa-Strathboogie Road) with power running down it and 100m from the little house he was living in down the hill. Wouldn't want to be digging the trench with all that rock though.
Any idea where the Euroa house got it's power from? It looked quite remote so I'd be surprised if it was connected to the grid.
Towards the end of the show when they did a drone shot from the air, you can see the shadow of a power pole at base of hill not far from house, so I'm guessing they are on the grid.
Anyone have an idea of street for the Elsternwick property.?
Anyone have an idea of street for the Elsternwick property.?
I was curious myself. In the background I saw this tallish/narrow building a few times, perhaps 6-7 storeys high. But Elsternwick doesn't have any buildings that tall that I know of (most are 3 storeys or less). The exception is along Glenhunty Road, but those are much bigger buildings than the one I saw. I'm in that area all the time and I've never seen that building before.
Excellent season so far, the Lockleys SA ep was disturbing though, almost feel they have a responsibility to tell people they are going to get themselves into trouble..
Concrete – passed engineering, sure if it's going to be tiled but if a public facing surface surely that is part of the finished product and they should have ripped it up and relayed without cost?
Design – Trendy that didn't suit their needs at all, the entire focus was the view of the river and they have that ugly shape blocking it or that poky little balcony that will probably rarely be used, and teenage daughters together in a single open space without privacy.
Million – dollar house they got it but they had to pay that much for it.
Feel sorry for them, and that they were not warned by a show and host that sees this kind of thing all the time. But I also understand it is a TV show, and may also serve as a warning to others.
and that they were not warned by a show
From what Peter was saying and the questions he was asking to the owners, the show is limited in what they actually say for legal reasons ;)
Ah yeah good call, give them some advice goes tits up and the show or Peter not there in a professional capacity gets sued, they are just observers.
Still tough to watch
I remember a few seasons back we came up with nicknames for the houses..
So far..
Ep 1 – House Harkonnen – the entrance reminded of their ships in the movie Dune. And the scale of the bloody thing.
Um that's all I got really
Latest ep 5
Wow.. she also got screwed..
That fireplace was horrendous and stuck out both out of place with the rest of the style and in the middle of the view.
View which I didn't l get with all that glass and only the minmal view and then saw they glassed over the walls at considerable cost.
Bath was bad too with all those little squares, surely they could have used bigger slabs, not to mention they didn't test it with the wood first.
So, the latest Tasmania episode. The woman is 38, and she's basically designed and built a house for one. How long does she intend to be single and childless for?
Bath was bad too with all those little squares, surely they could have used bigger slabs, not to mention they didn't test it with the wood first.
not only that...not much privacy on the back deck...more like a hot tub / spa than a bath.
So, the latest Tasmania episode. The woman is 38, and she's basically designed and built a house for one. How long does she intend to be single and childless for?
Gee...why didnt she think of that?
Not everyone wants kids.
How long does she intend to be single and childless for?
It's 2019, not 1958.
How shockingly over capitalised was this place?
Beautiful, beautiful timber (and interesting to see it sourced) – but what a waste of it!
And that hideous fireplace, that isn't even a fireplace.
$70k (although later reduced) for the glass? Yikes!! Awful block, average view.
As long as she's happy though ..
It was never for her.
She will hire it out 90% of the year. Great free advertising!
Keep an eye on Airbnb...
not only that...not much privacy on the back deck...more like a hot tub / spa than a bath.
Yeah my first thought was oh they have installed it yet, nope, that was like some Kramer air conditon installation lol
How long does she intend to be single and childless for?
Maybe that is what the outdoor bath is for, to attract the men folk :)
Beautiful, beautiful timber (and interesting to see it sourced) – but what a waste of it!
Those little squares, what the....?
And that hideous fireplace, that isn't even a fireplace.
With the internal heating installed I bet that was removed almost immediately.
$70k (although later reduced) for the glass? Yikes!!
Oh no you must have heard me wrong, not $17k, $70k, and to glass over walls, bloody hell
Awful block, average view.
I thought it was a decent block with a pretty great view?
It was never for her.
She will hire it out 90% of the year. Great free advertising!
Keep an eye on Airbnb...
Interesting..
Keep an eye on Airbnb...
I thought the same thing. It did not look like a home built to live in permanently. Still, it had some nice ideas and at the start I thought there's no way she'd source Huon pine for the bath but I didn't know about that hydro wood.
I'd have preferred to make a rectangular bath with a plastic inlay to keep the integrity of the wood intact. It looked like a great bath to use, but all those tiny wooden tiles it was made of... can't say it came up as good as I thought it wood.
And that iron monger guy, that was a lot of money for something not even functional that didn't even fit in with the design of the room.
Another tough to watch long wait living in a caravan or shed for years ep..
Was a bit surprised at the finished aerial shot to see a clearing directly behind the house, thought they were plum in their 120 acres of forest?
Nice to see another small house, and something a bit novel. But, wow, over capitalised again.
The "mr fluffy" exorbitant block price plus $800k on a bedsit ... I hope he manages to live there for a looooong time.
I remember a few seasons back we came up with nicknames for the houses..
Can't think of cool names for episodes but this is becoming the heartbreak season, sure we seem them often enough here and there, but seem to be a few in this one.
The "mr fluffy" exorbitant block price plus $800k on a bedsit ... I hope he manages to live there for a looooong time.
It didn't have the curb appeal I thought it would have also.
It didn't have the curb appeal I thought it would have also.
Think the plan is it will in 5 years or so once the garden has grown, I thought it was going to be deeper into the ground.
What a disaster, completely impractical for the rain or the bugs.. with a silk curtain.. around a huge beach courtyard? And was the grey curtain meant to protect the timber from the rain? He talked about using that dining space to work, considering he is a self employed financial trader why not ask for an office in the build, looking out over the rainforest. And was that bathroom for the family or the boys coz I dont see them luxuriating in the bath.
What an embarrassing hodge podge mess, and he didn't get the finish he wanted either. Talking friendships in tatters, noticed he wasn't there at the end.
What the..
yeah I thought the whole point was to enclose their living areas in a nice looking fly screen? that curtain was useless. the bedrooms were ugly also, you felt like you were walking into a prison cell.
yeah I thought the whole point was to enclose their living areas in a nice looking fly screen? that curtain was useless.
Yeah I didn't understand that at all, that was the whole point of the build, and why would you want that HUGE sandpit? Was like he was trying to clone Noosa in the Mt Tambo hinterland, could have been an amazing build, my folks used to live there.
the bedrooms were ugly also, you felt like you were walking into a prison cell.
Like it was ceated by the taliban, as first you get waterboarded on the way in.
What an embarrassing hodge podge mess, and he didn't get the finish he wanted either.
It was truly horrible. Not sure there was even one redeeming feature about it.
Like it was ceated by the taliban, as first you get waterboarded on the way in.
haha yeah, like a cell at Gitmo, just with a nicer bed.
It was truly horrible. Not sure there was even one redeeming feature about it.
Not sure if Australia series does revisits but that would be interesting to see if they had made, forced to make, changes to make it functional? Or if it was bulldozed lol
Can't think of cool names for episodes but this is becoming the heartbreak season
And they saved the best (worst) till last, man that last third was tough to watch
And they saved the best (worst) till last, man that last third was tough to watch
Yeah, I suspect he reduced his lifespan just putting that place together. One of the best houses of the season for sure, although I'm still a little unsure about the floor that opened up. The massive aquarium inside looked awesome too (although they didn't mention it).
Yeah, I suspect he reduced his lifespan just putting that place together.
Yeah that was what more what I meant, was a dramatic change in him in those end shots. Was sad. But I was also shouting at the screen when he kept vibrating the conrete.
Remember was great a few years back when all different countries shows were focusing on new environmentally friendly techniques and that kind of stuff, sure is some of that these days but is typically just the foam filled with concrete, but also seems this season to pick houses that were doomed from the start.
One of the best houses of the season for sure, although I'm still a little unsure about the floor that opened up. The massive aquarium inside looked awesome too (although they didn't mention it).
But yeah for sure, 1 & 3 the top 3. That made absolutely zero sense putting the trap door in the middle of the HT??? especially if going to have big heavy comfy couches etc there?Noticed the aquarium too that was very cool.
One of the best layed out houses from my youth was a house on a steep hill with a nice bit of ground in front with a pool, parents bedroom balcony living area upstairs and kids retreat downstairs with bedrooms either side of a main play/TV room, think very few houses seem to do that right, ie giving kids a proper area instead of a token awkward one, and this one did.
Yeah that was what more what I meant, was a dramatic change in him in those end shots. Was sad. But I was also shouting at the screen when he kept vibrating the conrete.
Yeah, all good, I was agreeing :).
Same re: vibrating the concrete – it was really irritating me!
The massive aquarium inside looked awesome too
what was with the colour? it looked like it was full of dirty river water
Who's got foxtel?
Mystery Bay, NSW
When retired architect Rob and wife Sally purchase a remarkable old dairy farm, they feel an enormous responsibility to build a home that will do justice to this beautiful and ancient patch of paradise.
It looked like a toilet block from the back
Father & son both Archtects! And that was the best they could come up with. Ridiculously ugly building with little or no effort in energy saving facing WEST you cannot be serious. Hated it
Ridiculously ugly building with little or no effort in energy saving facing WEST you cannot be serious. Hated it
Paid more than a million for it too.
Not sure if Australia series does revisits but that would be interesting to see if they had made, forced to make, changes to make it functional? Or if it was bulldozed lol
Was placed on the market
1.5 m for house plus 1.5 m for land too.
They said it came to 2M for the house in the end. The place looked like it was in the middle of nowhere.
They said it came to 2M for the house in the end. The place looked like it was in the middle of nowhere.
and $200k for the glass and doors – dont think we saw anywhere near $1.8m in the rest of the house and it REALLY did look like a block of toilets from behind!
Thoughts on this week's episode? Like last week's, this was another $3M or so build (land included). A bit hard to see the value in it, especially as there's no off-street parking. Surely they could have added a little garage entry from the side? A single car garage can take up as little as 14 sq. m, which isn't much out of 189 total. Also, considering the age of their kids, I wonder how much use they'll actually get out of that house before they move out?
Also, considering the age of their kids, I wonder how much use they'll actually get out of that house before they move out?
Yeah, wasn’t it 5 bedrooms plus study? Seemed like overkill.
Looking forward to this weeks build in Tas.
Yeah, wasn’t it 5 bedrooms plus study? Seemed like overkill.
Yes, 5 originally, but they turned 2 of the upstairs bedrooms into one double sized bedroom for the son, so ended up being 4. No idea why the parents wouldn't want that room for themselves?
No idea why the parents wouldn't want that room for themselves?
It didn’t have a very big closet, certainly not as nice as the one in the master.
Father & son both Archtects! And that was the best they could come up with. Ridiculously ugly building with little or no effort in energy saving facing WEST you cannot be serious. Hated it
They had the ocean right there and they decided to point the house at the river???
Also like to see how all the external wood holds up after a few years with the wind and salt water hammering it 24/7
My time on the coast. Constant salt spray & wind wears you down . Some nice days , of course but high cost with being on the ocean. Remember the tv rusted out & all the window frames corroded badly .
It seems I'm nowhere near as harsh as the rest of this thread seems to be on that Mystery Bay house. Sure the rammed earth wall isn't too attractive, but the large sliding to-hung doors are great and the timber screens/rotating shutters seem like good solutions.
As to the assertions about not being able to see where the $2m was spent, I guess that is what happens when you build in an uneconomical way. I'd imagine that a 50m long house that is skinny and therefore lacks many internal walls would add to the cost as cladding/bricks etc would be more costly than your typical timber-framed plaster internal wall.
They had the ocean right there and they decided to point the house at the river???
The side of their property facing the ocean was the wooded side – the clearing of which would obviously have added to the cost. Building in the already cleared section was most likely a practical decision, with the justification of lining up with the summit of the nearby mountain being a happy coincidence. Building where they did and facing east towards the coast would have just given them a view of a small hill with some trees on it
Don't know how episode 3 in TAS was a grand design it was more battlers building a house with the bare minimum.
Don't know how episode 3 in TAS was a grand design it was more battlers building a house with the bare minimum.
It was a bit more than the bare minimum!
Bare minimum is building a house with a volume builder house in a new estate
Place was split across 3 levels and was my pick of the 3 we've had this season.
Not to mention, it cost them $260k! 1/6th of what the architects in ep1 built and this didnt look like a public toilet block.
I loved the Tassie house. I’m a bit skeptical of the budget though, even if he did do most of the work himself. The fireplace and those sliding doors alone would have cost a small fortune.
Place was split across 3 levels and was my pick of the 3 we've had this season.
Yeh, I like the ones where they pour their own blood, sweat & tears into it rather than just seeing rich people spend bucket loads on a monstrosity.
Thought the deck out the front could have been a bit more generous but being built where it was sitting out there in the wind was possibly not high on the wishlist.
North Perth house looked like it was trying too hard to me. Not a fan of arches...hopefully they don’t make a comeback.
North Perth house looked like it was trying too hard to me. Not a fan of arches...hopefully they don’t make a comeback.
turned out alright in the end but wasnt a great advert for the family business and the owner didnt endear himself
Can't stand arches, so that house was hideous for me, not to mention the deck reminds me of a UFC cage.
I did not like this latest house
do not like concrete built houses like this one with the concrete floors
they look so cold
I did not like this latest house
do not like concrete built houses like this one with the concrete floors
they look so cold
usually I'd agree, I think they did a good job of softening it with the wood highlights and large colourful artwork.
Unlike a lot of people, I don't have a particularly strong feeling towards Brutalist architecture, but I think the house looks quite good (even if parts of it seem more like an art gallery than a home). Some of the joinery, such as that bookshelf on the 1st floor landing, is beautiful.
That said, I'm not sure how practical the house will be for a young family. And I have to agree that that roof deck is pretty bad – the chicken-wire like grating around it is a horrible material to use as a railing.
You'd think the son/brother of a builder would understand that having a contingency of just 4% in a custom build like that is insane.
Don't know how episode 3 in TAS was a grand design it was more battlers building a house with the bare minimum.
The guy was a guitarist for a while (almost 20 years) for one of the most infamous of the Aussie early extreme metal bands, blood duster. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_Duster Haven't seen the episode though, just saw band members mention it on facebook during the week.
How on earth did they spend over 700K on that?
I assume the joinery was hugely expensive, but still...
I think the joinery budget did get maxed out, did anyone catch the wardrobe in the master bedroom that had a curtain across it? I don't think that was intended as a design feature.
Regarding the latest episode, Hawksbury River. The Foxtel guide incorrectedly stated this was Victoria, but in re-airings it says NSW. Odd. Also the passive house idea didn't really work – they claimed it would be 21C inside year round, but it was 24 inside on the 35 degree day. Did I also spot a split system unit on the wall at the very end? I thought they said it would require no heating or cooling?
Also the passive house idea didn't really work – they claimed it would be 21C inside year round, but it was 24 inside on the 35 degree day.
Still pretty damn good. Much, much better than the typical Aussie house.
Did I also spot a split system unit on the wall at the very end? I thought they said it would require no heating or cooling
It might have been the ventilation system, I didnt notice it. Passive and very airtight houses will often use a mechanical ventilation system.
It might have been the ventilation system, I didnt notice it.
I just went on Foxtel On Demand and got a screen grab. Have a look:
Sure looks like a split system to me? Maybe they just use it in fan only mode?
Still pretty damn good. Much, much better than the typical Aussie house.
Not really. A solid brick, single level house shouldn't exceed 24C by that much on a 35C day, assuming of course that there hasn't been a long heat wave of many hot days in a row. The problem is, most new houses being built are not solid brick these days.
Is it just me, or doesn’t anyone else think that the host of GD Australia is a total insufferable wanker, compared to the hosts of the UK and NZ shows?
Personally he ruins it for me & makes it unwatchable. I rather enjoy the UK and NZ varieties though
Is it just me, or doesn’t anyone else think that the host of GD Australia is a total insufferable wanker, compared to the hosts of the UK and NZ shows?
I've heard this before but I don't know what makes the host unlikeable? To me, he's fine. I don't watch the UK version, though, so I've got no basis of comparison.
Also the passive house idea didn't really work – they claimed it would be 21C inside year round, but it was 24 inside on the 35 degree day.
Technically its not the idea that didn't work, but the execution. I'm no architect or engineer, but I think it not keeping a stable temperature as planned might have something to do with the extension not having enough thermal mass to keep cool in summer/warm in winter. There's only so much making sure sure your house isn't leaky (which effectively all a passive house is) can do when everything surrounding the air inside your house is heating it up – and I imagine it being copper-clad doesn't help that.
I think it's a little odd that the new extension with the living room with big windows is a separate wing to the kitchen, and that both halves apparently have laundries in them.
And while it's kinda nit-picky, I'm really not a fan of that rusted wrought iron looking handle on the door of the glass box link
s it just me, or doesn’t anyone else think that the host of GD Australia is a total insufferable wanker, compared to the hosts of the UK and NZ shows?
I wouldn't go that far, but I do agree that he does come across as the least likeable of the three
the extension not having enough thermal mass to keep cool in summer/warm in winter
How long had it been completed and how long does it take the thermal mass to stabilise/settle?
host of GD Australia is a total insufferable
He is fine for me. All three are architects.
He is fine for me. All three are architects.
Same for me, I do find au and nz hosts get a lil to chummy with the homeowners though and find uk hosts a bit over the top at times.
How long had it been completed and how long does it take the thermal mass to stabilise/settle?
No idea, but I can't imagine that a big section of the slab being cantilevered helps with it retaining thermal mass as it isn't in direct contact with the ground and is instead surrounded by air (which would obviously be of a temperature more extreme than the ground)
Finally a grand design on tonight's ep ruined by a piss pool as the centrepiece.
Who in their right mind would tile a 20m pool in full yellow tiles.....
I would retile it no matter what the cost
Who in their right mind would tile a 20m pool in full yellow tiles.....
I was more intrigued by who they stole the baby from!
I was more intrigued by who they stole the baby from!
Ivf? Woman seemed a bit old to be a first time mum! They must get people thinking they're the grandparents all the time.
Ivf? Woman seemed a bit old to be a first time mum! They must get people thinking they're the grandparents all the time.
I thought they were late 50's by the end, had to have been well into their 40's when they had the kid.
That pool though...
I thought they were late 50's by the end, had to have been well into their 40's when they had the kid.
It was weird seeing Peter back in 2013 at the start. He looked much younger (as you'd expect).
s it just me, or doesn’t anyone else think that the host of GD Australia is a total insufferable wanker,
I don't have an issue with him.
The NZ host is my favourite.
The NZ host is my favourite.
Peter definitely comes across as a bit of a wanker but he isn't too bad really. Kevin of course sets the bar here, but he can get away with it as he is British. Chris Moller was great though, very natural style. Like a lot of Kiwis, pretty inoffensive eh cuz? Cool as
The NZ host is my favourite
The NZ host quit hosting the show
they have picked a new guy to do it now
The NZ host quit hosting the show
Shame a hard act to follow maybe Murdoch nobbled him to make Foxtel wanker look better
Finally a grand design on tonight's ep ruined by a piss pool as the centrepiece.
Who in their right mind would tile a 20m pool in full yellow tiles.....
Looked more like a water feature full of pond scum than a pool to me, but I agree that its a terrible decision either way
Finally a grand design on tonight's ep ruined by a piss pool as the centrepiece.
Either that or constantly swampy/algae filled. Horrible decision either way.
New season, cool
Was placed on the market
Not surprised, and to be bulldozed for the land, was easily one of the worst builds of the entire show.
Shame a hard act to follow
Yeah always felt like he had a genuine passion for the build and the builders, wanting the best for both.
Never really liked the Aussie guy.. since series 1.. ep 1
The house this week is absolutely stunning. There's elements of the mid-century modern aesthetic that I love combined with modern finishes and a lot of "inside/outside" living spaces.
I do wonder what the windows that don't overlook the pool/courtyard/tennis court see though – I imagine there are more than a few windows that look directly on a neighbour's wall.
That said, the client/architect came across as a bit of a wanker right from the start – especially when he was acting like him drawing a building curved was a challenge for him, rather than for the builders/tradies/craftspeople that actually had to build it.
That said, the client/architect came across as a bit of a wanker right from the start – especially when he was acting like him drawing a building curved was a challenge for him, rather than for the builders/tradies/craftspeople that actually had to build it.
Exactly.
Also, the way they went on about the curves. It was an L shape and there was 1 curve on the inside of the L. Hardly groundbreaking.
Also, the bit about the helix staircase and showing the one at the Garman institute building and gushing about it as well....plenty of helical staircases around that pre-dated that by many many years.
That said, nice house! Expensive a.f. though.
The house this week is absolutely stunning.
That one definitely qualifies as a Grand design. Although I liked Pete’s little dig about the kids not liking tennis. Definitely a pointless luxury these days (unless someone’s actually a tennis player).
Expensive a.f. though.
Yeh, awesome house but I can’t see how you could justify that in suburban Qld. I’d be wanting a view of some magnitude for that price. Mind you someone offered 7.5M for it so lots of deep pockets out there.
That said, the client/architect came across as a bit of a wanker right from the start
feel sorry for the builder even if he was a mate. also feel sorry for the family with the budget going so far over – so self-indulgent and selfish.
That said, nice house! Expensive a.f. though.
Goes to show you that if you through enough money at a project you will get it done. I think from a distance it looks like a corner shop. The vertical slats did also look like a prison cell. What was the point to look at the view through those 'bars'.
I think the tennis court is more of a look at me I'm loaded status symbol. You look at google earth at the other house around that area in Ascot. You can't tell me they all are enthusiastic tennis players. It's a "I've got enough land to put a tennis court" statement.
I'm sure the builder has conditions in his contract for the price to increase with every amendment to the building plans. He would of been laughing all the way to the bank.
Since they finished the house their neighbour right beside them have either sold up and or knocked down their own house and a new mega house has been built.
Yeh, awesome house but I can’t see how you could justify that in suburban Qld. I’d be wanting a view of some magnitude for that price. Mind you someone offered 7.5M for it so lots of deep pockets out there.
It's Ascot/Hamilton, so you're paying for the postcode. The street across, Sutherland drive has multiple properties over $7.5m (though land is bigger).
I think the tennis court is more of a look at me
You couldn’t actually play tennis on that court, there was no perimeter/apron.
Did they say the staircase cost $100k? That’s a lot of labour on $2k worth of steel.
It's Ascot/Hamilton, so you're paying for the postcode.
Fair enough, I had assumed it was pretty exclusive but if I’m sinking that much into a house I’d want more than a post code. Views pls. But some people have more money than sense.
Views pls. But some people have more money than sense.
Views, while nice, aren't practical. It's certainly a bonus but proximity to work, airport, restaurants, city, schools would trump views in my opinion. Ascot is 10mins from the airport, 10mins from the city, which would be pretty appealing for a successful business person/family.
In saying that, $7.5m could get you something with a view in the same suburb.
https://www.onthehouse.com.a
In the season final Lifestyle to screen Grand Designs Australia fire
https://tvtonight.com.au/202
Does anyone notice that the host always goes for that fake kiss on the cheek when greeting women (I don't know what you call it when you "kiss" but don't actually?) I mean, I know people who are friendly with each other (or related) do this, but why is he as the host of a show, doing this with someone who he's just meeting for the first time? Seems odd to me.
I think the tennis court is more of a look at me I'm loaded status symbol.
What else are you going to do with the land? Houses with tennis courts tend to be on very large blocks. There's only so much garden you can have, and they're high maintenance compared to tennis courts. We had one in the house that I grew up in, but I can't remember ever using it. Eventually, my parents subdivided the block and sold the court along with the new block.
In this latest episode, did anyone notice that in the segment filmed in September last year, Peter gave the guy a hug after his house burned? I mean, how many rules was he breaking doing that? That was right in the middle of the lockdown – I don't know how he was even able to film, but to then break social distancing like that? Pretty thoughtless, imo.
The Ascot house is beautiful, but the tennis court is an expensive eyesore. It would have looked much better with the pool in the outer corner and a lawn in between.
With the Coburg house, did any one notice that there was a barrier/wall along the train line at the end, which wasn't there at the beginning? Coincidental? I was also trying to figure out the woman's accent – was she Swedish?
With the Coburg house, did any one notice that there was a barrier/wall along the train line at the end, which wasn't there at the beginning? Coincidental?
Yeah, noticed that too!
I was also trying to figure out the woman's accent – was she Swedish?
At the beginning, they said they had both come to Australia earlier as German backpackers.
I found out where the Coburg place is:
https://goo.gl/maps/CdnWXMKNC2eyTZnj8
It's fairly close to where they did the Bell St. level crossing removal, so that would explain the new barriers – they were put in because the train is now elevated in that section.
I wonder what address it has, because it's on an unnamed laneway and has no direct access to any named street?
they were put in because the train is now elevated in that section.
I thought the train looked much higher at the end!
That Coburg house is stunning. The finishes of everything given what's happened to the building is amazing, and that aquaculture pond is a great idea. That said, I can't help but think that it is 1 bathroom (really, an ensuite for the master bedroom) short on the middle level
I’d be wanting a view of some magnitude for that price.
It depends what you consider a view. I thought the look over the garden area and tennis court looked like it'd be really nice and relaxing. The property can be the view. It doesn't always need the oceans or herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically over the landscape.
That house would have an amazing feeling to live in it.
The Mt Tamborine abomination (season 8, episode 9) has some competition for the worst Australian TV build/reno of all time and when architects are given free range..
after watching Restoration Australia – Gasworks, Vic episode on FTA..
https://iview.abc.net.au/sho
Came across this repeat last night
Grand Designs Australia – Season 6, Episode 3 (Kinglake Non-toxic House)
https://www.completehome.com
Fireproof box house
While watching, thought the name of the owner/chef was familiar somehow
Turns out last year, the owner/chef was deregistered for running a business for 4 years after owing $2.3 million to creditors ($1.35 million to the ATO)
Hope the ATO likes his house
, the owner/chef was deregistered for running a business for 4 years after owing $2.3 million to creditors
Well, no wonder he could afford a fancy house – wasn’t his money.
That Dairy Farm house has got to be one of the worst looking exteriors I've seen on the show. Although I guess that was their point. The staged interiors were nice for the most part, except for the stuff that really didn't work.
It was amusing that Pete took us on a tour of another house that authentically did it and was really good halfway through the episode.
That Dairy Farm house has got to be one of the worst looking exteriors I've seen on the show.
Can't say I was impressed with the final house. Good luck to the owners I guess; at least they admitted it was polarizing.
Did anyone else find it weird the episode was 2 years old though? The date of production in the credits said 2020. Pretty bizarre when even last season said the episodes were made in 2021.
Was the final result so bland they simply didn't bother airing it back in 2020?
It was amusing that Pete took us on a tour of another house that authentically did it and was really good halfway through the episode.
Yeah, that other house looked stunning! Definitely felt like Pete was twisting the knife at that point; was pretty obvious he didn't think much of the actual house.
Did anyone else find it weird the episode was 2 years old though? The date of production in the credits said 2020. Pretty bizarre when even last season said the episodes were made in 2021.
They must have 2-3 seasons worth of houses on the go at all times with how long some of the houses take to complete.
My mate’s house was on last season, his episode was supposed to air nearly 12 mths before it actually did, he was told so many different air dates.
They must have 2-3 seasons worth of houses on the go at all times with how long some of the houses take to complete.
Good point. And I guess COVID complicated things after March 2020, so maybe they held back a few episodes in case the houses they were filming couldn't get finished due to outbreaks, etc.
A question about the Carlton house which had the car stacker. Wouldn't a 3 car stacker be about 6 metres high and therefore take up space in multiple levels of the house? They weren't exactly clear on this. Each car space would need to be about 2m high (assuming it's designed to fit all vehicles sizes/types).
therefore take up space in multiple levels of the house?
At the very least it took up 3 levels – basement, ground and first floor, but it seems that that part of the house isn't on the same levels as the rest of the house (which would make sense given even an SUV doesn't need the full height of a level, let alone the high ceilings they have in most of the house)
Well that house was... uhhh... different.
Really not sure about that skin pink colour on the outside!
At least they tried something different, I guess.
Man, GDA is such a cut and paste show. Every episode is literally the same – the segments, the music cues, everything.
It does feel very formulaic sometimes. They desperately need new music, it's very repetitive week after week.
Latest dome house had no heating or cooling? What was it's source of power – I didn't see solar panels anywhere?
Latest dome house had no heating or cooling? What was it's source of power – I didn't see solar panels anywhere?
There was solar panels on the shed they were living in during the build
I’m lost for words.
Inside and out, that is the ugliest house I have ever seen.
I pray they never need to sell it, who on earth would want to buy it.
And what a waste of that spectacular site/view.
I hate the way they don’t address that issue with what are obviously offgrid builds.
Pretty much EVERY episode goes from getting weather tight to final reveal. It’s such a lazy formulaic format.
Just how desperate were this couple to live in a dome? I don't think I'd have trusted that "builder" guy at all, so I was hardly surprised that he decided he didn't want to be around anymore.
A lot of the interior design elements highlighted that they ran out of money too which doesn't help the perception of the house
I don't think I'd have trusted that "builder" guy at all
He seemed like the type of person posting COVID conspiracy themes on Facebook.
That Gold Coast Hamptons inspired pastiche is the Mater Lotteries prize home.
I always wonder about these houses. It's your dream home, allegedly, and then you sell it. Um...
Did anyone else find it weird the episode was 2 years old though? The date of production in the credits said 2020.
another one tonight.
another one tonight.
Yep was suspicious when the first date listed was October 2017. Figured something must have gone wrong if it took 5 years to finish, but it seems the house was finished before COVID existed.
Looking back on past seasons, there's always been an irregular number of episodes (the last 3 seasons had 14, 10 and 8 respectively). I suspect they finished more episodes over the last two years and withheld them for future seasons, in case of construction/COVID delays.
Sadly it appears this season is only 8 episodes again.
Latest episode with the Tassie build was a good watch.
Absolutely beautiful location which they made the most of.
It wasn't a stunner from the outside but it was built for the harsh conditions and the fact the guy managed that result as a first time builder was very impressive.
They also seemed like a really nice couple. So was good to see it turned out well for them.
Absolutely beautiful location which they made the most of.
was a great result.
I did find one thing a little strange – at the beginning of the episode they said it was a 22 acre block, however throughout the episode and especially at the end, you see quite a few shots of neighbouring houses and they appear very close considering the size of the block.
they appear very close considering the size of the block.
Maybe they had to sell off some of the surrounding land to finance the rest of the house? They went about half a million over budget IIRC. End product looked fantastic though.
I thought the decision to add a Cafe to their busy lifestyle was a strange choice.
said it was a 22 acre block
22 acres isn't that big that you'll never see your neighbours. A lot of beachfront land is also narrow but deep, so that all blocks get a bit of beachfront land
Latest dome house had no heating or cooling? What was it's source of power – I didn't see solar panels anywhere?
Pretty sure I saw some heating hoses\equipment with the rebar before the concrete was sprayed over the top.
Amazing position. Absolutely stunning location but the house itself was odd. Glad they liked it, but I didn't and if I'd gone twice over budget and almost bankrupted myself building something so ugly looking I'd be devastated.
How is everyone watching this? Foxtel?
Yeh.
Latest house was ridiculously big for a retirees house. I was expecting it to be an absolute dogs breakfast during the build but it ended up ok. Not my taste at all though.
Latest house was ridiculously big
Absolutely.
BUT, the inside at least had human scale and looked liveable – unlike the cavernous concrete and glass warehouses beloved by many.
Something doesn't add up in the last episode (Clunes) – they said the couple were married for 48 years and been together for 53, but the woman said she was 62. So what, they got married when she was 14 and met at 9? I don't think so...
That Mediterranean hotchpotch was ridiculously big for just two people.
In 10 years they'll add bus stops between the rooms for them to get around in their dotage.
Wife: Honey, I'm gonna start my usual Monday house clean.
Hubby: See you on Wednesday!
Obviously. Where else would you watch it?
I don't have Foxtel. I download episodes that have been kindly uploaded here:
www.reddit.com/r/DownUnderTV
1000 square metres for a house is insane. That's ¼ of an acre, surely that can't be right? 4 times the size of a typical 4 bedroom house!
Obviously. Where else would you watch it?
I'm always shocked when I find out people actually pay for Fox.
I'm always shocked when I find out people actually pay for Fox.
Well if nobody paid for it, you probably wouldn't have a Grand Designs Australia to watch at all.
Australian TV Productions employ Australian people...much like Foxtel too, so there's also that.
I'm always shocked when I find out people actually pay for Fox.
Why? There are numerous exclusive-to-Foxtel shows, such as this one. They also have good movie channels.
Isn't GDAu also aired on Binge – that's where I used to watch it until I paused my subscription? Much cheaper option than Foxtel.
Guess I just lump paying for Foxtel with watching Sky news ;)
God I hope not. Whilst I understand the point thankfully I can choose what channels I watch and that definitely ain't one of them.
Isn't GDAu also aired on Binge – that's where I used to watch it until I paused my subscription? Much cheaper option than Foxtel.
Not the current season it seems
Something doesn't add up in the last episode (Clunes) – they said the couple were married for 48 years and been together for 53, but the woman said she was 62. So what, they got married when she was 14 and met at 9? I don't think so...
I thought the same, I know they said childhood sweethearts but I didn't think it meant they started dating when they were 9 lol.
Anyway I agree with the comments that the place was far too big, I know they obviously wanted it as a hub for when family visit but it just seems hugely extreme and like a massive amount of debt to get into at retirement age.
The episodes up on iview are season 6. The current episodes on fox are season 10.
oh, I didn't realise, I must be really behind in my watching (blush)
Well the latest one (Bullsbrook) is a doozy – an underground castle in the middle of nowhere. Where to begin…
Must be the first episode of Grand Designs where producers didn't wait for a house to be finished, simply ending the episode with a tour of an incomplete structure.
They're kidding themselves if they think they'll have it finished in 6 months. Even 12 months is optimistic for a house of that scale, given supply and construction shortages.
Where to begin…
Ok, I'll start ...
Castle? I don't think so. Supersized hobbit holes more like. Ok, there was stone. And some arches. And a nice medieval verandah....
The tunnels? So much money committed / spent – surely the turret was essential? You know, it being a castle and all ....
Pity she didn't know about the pair who built that domes place recently – she could have got their formwork for her domed ceiling!
Sad that George and Zeus didn't make it.
^^Don't forget her income as a yoga instructor ...
My guess is that to live in a $6M house you'd need to be earning 400k+ a year. Would a pilot and yoga instructor make that combined?
Would a pilot and yoga instructor make that combined?
Probably not.
I see here the average pilot salary is $90k p.a. which is a lot less than I suspected.
I thought 200k ish p.a.
www.seek.com.au
Could have saved wealth from previous real estate deals or maybe crypto?
Who knows, only guessing.
From the dynamic portrayed it appeared she wore the pants in the relationship and he was just a 'yes' man.
Hopefully we see the finished 'castle' in a year or 2 on GDA.
Matt.
Final ep was ok. Architects that go on GDA always tend to be the same, having big ideas and something to prove. I liked the concrete stencil but from a distance it looked strange/dirty and I'm surprised how big the house looked for only 8m x 8m.
The letdown from this episode was that it went from walls up to complete, would have liked to have seen more in between.
I'm surprised how big the house looked for only 8m x 8m
Same.
The interior and décor looked great.
Rooftop garden was cool, shame about the enforced opaque screens up there, killed the view a bit, glass would have been better.
The letdown from this episode was that it went from walls up to complete
For sure, I like to see the different trades doing a bit.
Never saw one nail or screw get put in, or timber for that matter, or paint, or anything except....concrete.
Pretty cool house overall though for a small family, awesome location.
Million bucks isn't cheap but location, location, location, city views.
Matt.
The letdown from this episode was that it went from walls up to complete, would have liked to have seen more in between.
Lockdowns would make it difficult. Speaking of which, Peter visited the finished house in August 2021 – Melbourne was still in lockdown then. He was keeping his distance while they were talking outside (and avoided hand contact), but then they went and showed him the inside – where distances obviously weren't maintained.
I also don't like a place that doesn't have a toilet on the same level as the living space. Although uncommon, I am noticing a disturbing trend of small multi-level inner city flats/townhouses that don't have this essential feature. In this case though I suppose it wasn't possible due to space constraints.
Rooftop garden was cool, shame about the enforced opaque screens up there
I get that they need to be opaque to prevent spying on neighbours, but how is it that high rises are able to built right next to each other where you can literally look straight across into the next building.
Grand Designs Australia
Grand Designs Australia will premiere its final season with the Foxtel Group and award-winning host Peter Maddison on January 25, 2023.
Source: https://tvtonight.com.au/2022
Very disappointed that Foxtel is ending GDA. Perhaps we'll get really lucky & another media organisation will pick it up ... but I doubt that.
Damn that's really disappointing. If someone was to pick it up I hope they bring over Peter. I'm a big fan of him in it.
Great, more cost cutting at Foxtel so they get rid of quality Lifestyle programs and keep blowing all their money on overpriced sports rights.
Love It or List It hasn't been renewed either.
Love It or List It hasn't been renewed either.
I saw that it's not coming back next year, but hoping it's been rested for another year?
Channel 10 also reviving Location Location Location after Foxtel scrapped the local version in 2014.
So I just found this show right like yesterday on foxtel and im already 5 episodes into season 1. Love this show. I find it very very addictive and im not sure why.
Grand Designs moves from Foxtel to free-to-air, but leaves its host behind...
As befits a show about the great Australian dream of home ownership, Grand Designs is moving – from Foxtel to free-to-air. But like an unwanted box of kitchen utensils left on the nature strip, the man who has fronted the Australian edition since its launch in 2010 will not be going with it.
...
...
...
The production company was tight-lipped about where the show was headed and who its new host is, but industry sources suggest the ABC is almost certainly the destination. Sources at the ABC were unable to confirm whether the broadcaster had secured the rights to the show.
Very disappointed that Foxtel is ending GDA. Perhaps we'll get really lucky & another media organisation will pick it up ... but I doubt that.
Rather pleased (depending on the new host) that I was wrong!!!!
So the new network hasn't announced it yet? I guess because new episodes won't be ready for another year or two, if they're only starting production now?
Foxtel are listing the latest episode as season 10, episode 9, and not season 11?
Yes, appears that a lot of the press for this season is calling it a continuation of the final season.
It seems to be a nice house, if pretty small for the cost. Thought Peter was over-doing the "this way of building is so new" and "its so complex" stuff, especially when you consider that a significant proportion of viewers (myself included) have seen a number of these sorts of houses built on various Grand Designs seasons before.
I also think they glossed over a number of things that I would have thought would have been important given the location and the apparent "bushfire proof" brief – unless I missed it, they completely ignored the resolution to the potential window issue and there wasn't any mention of what else made the house fire resistant besides the fact it is partially buried
The Mt Tamborine abomination (season 8, episode 9)
was just featured on Better Homes & Gardens, and showing how the mosies are kept out by the screens which are still just curtains with huge gaps along the top, bottom and sides.
With constant references to the 'mist' and showed the downstairs bedrooms too, looking out.. not at the concrete walls..
the bedrooms were ugly also, you felt like you were walking into a prison cell.
Like it was ceated by the taliban, as first you get waterboarded on the way in.
What a disappointing end to the series (current iteration). I suppose they had no choice but to wrap up this build as it’s Peter’s last episode.
Indeed, what a strange episode to end the series on.
Judging by the copyright date at the end of each episode, very few episodes this season were even made in the last year. Most were dated 2019 or 2020, so most of these episodes were sitting on a shelf for years.
There were no builds started in the post-COVID era, but you'd think they had plenty of in-progress builds being filmed. I guess we'll never know because the show was axed.
I guess we'll never know because the show was axed.
GDA hasn't been axed. It was even reported last year that GDA had found a new home of a FTA network (TV Tonight & The Age/SMH). Everybody assumed it would be the ABC since they already had the rights to GD & GDNZ, along with Restoration Australia.
Today we have confirmation:
https://tvtonight.com.au/202
https://tvblackbox
I can only presume that with this, the ABC now has the broadcast rights to GDA S07 & above.
GDA hasn't been axed. It was even reported last year that GDA had found a new home of a FTA network (TV Tonight & The Age/SMH). Everybody assumed it would be the ABC since they already had the rights to GD & GDNZ, along with Restoration Australia.
Well to clarify, anything shot with Peter Maddison post-COVID will never see the light of day because the ABC version will be a new iteration of the show.
Indeed, what a strange episode to end the series on.
I suppose there was no further progress on that last one...
I suppose there was no further progress on that last one...
What a disaster. Wonder how his elderly parents are feeling? They looked frail back in 2017, can only imagine how they're doing after selling their livelihoods to fund a hole in the ground.
Grand Designs Transformations has turned out to be an incredible disappointment so far. The hosts are bland as hell, the renos have all been hideous. To think they dumped the GDA format and Peter Maddison for this rubbish.
It's a very different format to normal Grand Designs, so probably doesn't warrant the same name. From someone that watches all versions of GD, I think it's a refreshing change and I've enjoyed the faster pace, including getting to see multiple transformations in a single episode. Certainly beats dragging through a full episode of GD where they're obsessed with rammed earth, or making a whole episode out of a revisit.
But yes I agree that the transformations have all been hideous so far :D
the transformations have all been hideous so far
Last weeks bathroom was mind bogglingly awful – quite fun actually! :D
But I got angry with the woman and her marble fixation. I'm no socialist but someone who MUST import a 2t coffee table needs a reality check.
And where are the NSW Pool Nazis with a house with folding doors opening directly onto the pool?
Last weeks bathroom was mind bogglingly awful – quite fun actually! :D
I enjoyed when the host/architect came in at the end and said that all the different styles/textures worked well together (or words to that effect). I guess he's never likely to come in and slate their $110k "masterpiece", but wow, there wasn't a single surface in that room that worked well with anything else.
I got angry with the woman and her marble fixation.
Episode 2? I started watching it last night. I agree with you, and her mute husband seems to have no say in anything about where they live other than to sign the cheque for the $3.2 million for the house she's trashing.
I got to the point where the stocky Kevin McCloud-wannabee knocked on the door of the gay couple plus ex-wife (to one of them) and basically said, "I don't know what's in here." It treated me with contempt: the staff, including the producer and cameramen had taken extensive footage and done interviews with the occupants prior to that, and Professor Architect had no idea why he was there?
I won't watch any more, it's just trying too hard and featuring too many tasteless, vacuous people who are happy to spend money without knowing why.
I won't watch any more, it's just trying too hard and featuring too many tasteless, vacuous people who are happy to spend money without knowing why.
I agree with you, but grand designs Australia (and somewhat UK and even NZ) has been that way for as long as I can remember. Usually featuring some developer/architect who's looking for the exposure and something to add to their resume. Results in boring builds that are seemingly unconstrained. Perhaps its linked to the wider economic environment and has resulted in a curtailment of riskier projects.
Would love it if the show got back to finding pioneering design and architecture done by normal everyday people working within constraints (time, cost, quality).
grand designs Australia...has been that way for as long as I can remember.
Okay. I haven't seen much of GDA, but the bits I have seen, seems to follow the McCloud formula very closely. If it did turn to be more of a promotional show, I'd find that a turn-off as well.
Would love it if the show got back to finding pioneering design and architecture done by normal everyday people working within constraints (time, cost, quality).
Indeed. That is its core charm, IMO.
Watching the Avalon episode
So much white
It made me long for a show called Good designs Australia where modest budgets are spent on modest houses to achieve well thought out results
This concept of throw money on expensive objects and ooh and ahh over the result is extravagance not great design
Ugh, this week's $0.5m pool ... the woman's mother is trying to garner sympathy (I guess) by sharing how hard and how stressful it is for her daughter.
Again, I'm no socialist but how do people trying to fill their shopping trolley watch this s**t?
And she put in fake grass .... double ugh :/
And she put in fake grass .... double ugh
I was gobsmacked that they put in fake turf. All that money spent (wasted) on this pool/cabana area that requires a day trip to reach from the house, and it all gets cheapened by the fake turf. The presenter just had to be polite, but it looked ridiculous.
I'm going to watch this and treat it as a comedy.
Remember when The Block renovated modest apartments with reasonable budgets? And didn't have Scott Cam? It was so much better. Watching rich people with dubious taste blow vast amounts of cash building weird and tacky houses on GDA is depressing. At least there's no Scott Cam though.
Ugh, this week's $0.5m pool ... the woman's mother is trying to garner sympathy (I guess) by sharing how hard and how stressful it is for her daughter.
Agree, some people have more money than sense. I can't ever imagine spending $500k on my yard. Yes I know that my yard doesn't have a bloody big rock in it that I want to dig into for a pool and cabana, but still.......
I was gobsmacked that they put in fake turf.
Fake turf because the husband couldn't drag a lawnmower up the stairs.
I'm going to watch this and treat it as a comedy.
Agree, there's been some pretty dubious remodels done so far. For example, who gets a two tonne marble coffee table??
Fake turf because the husband couldn't drag a lawnmower up the stairs.
They could have choppered it in!
I don't mind seeing better off people than me making their dreams come true. Just wish there'd be better dreams. And more financial jeopardy. I would like them to pick a few people that are a bit more financially straightened and have to be more creative and inventive. But maybe they're hard to find, or those types of people don't want to be on TV.
And let's have a Gordon Ramsey type presenter who comes for the final visit and tells me them how awful it is!
Fake turf because the husband couldn't drag a lawnmower up the stairs.
Found this odd- for the shaped patch of grass a robot mower would have been great I’d imagine.
Geez the Astro turf is ugly. And the amount of white used in the Reno. It was a look that’s for sure.
for the shaped patch of grass a robot mower would have been great
That's exactly what I thought, pay a couple of grand for some fancy robot mower that trims the top off each night, job done. And still be better off than however much that artificial grass cost.
And let's have a Gordon Ramsey type presenter who comes for the final visit and tells me them how awful it is!
The presenters are very nice about some really dodgy choices but even in more recent British Grand Designs, Kevin doesn't quite seem to go for it like I feel like he once did.
Watching the Avalon episode
So much white
It made me long for a show called Good designs Australia where modest budgets are spent on modest houses to achieve well thought out results
This concept of throw money on expensive objects and ooh and ahh over the result is extravagance not great design
That was a pretty poor episode. Spend nearly a million dollars for very little structural changes, just buy some heavy ass marble furniture and a bespoke wall, though that wall looked pretty sick. That painter got skills.
And that lounge room seemed uncomfortable and not relaxing at all. Far too interested in perception I think.
Ugh, this week's $0.5m pool ... the woman's mother is trying to garner sympathy (I guess) by sharing how hard and how stressful it is for her daughter.
Again, I'm no socialist but how do people trying to fill their shopping trolley watch this s**t?
And she put in fake grass .... double ugh :/
Don't mind the fake grass, if you have had it before it's easy to see why they put it in, if you haven't had it before it's easy to judge.
Could be lots of practical reasons.
- drainage going to be poor unless they specifically spend the time and money to make sure the rain doesn't drown the grass
- time, mowing and maintaining a lawn might be something they jsut dont have time for. Doesn't the husband travel alot from memory, and they have two kids. So last thing mum needs it to mow and maintain a lawn.
Good decision
That was a pretty poor episode. Spend nearly a million dollars for very little structural changes, just buy some heavy ass marble furniture and a bespoke wall, though that wall looked pretty sick. That painter got skills.
And that lounge room seemed uncomfortable and not relaxing at all. Far too interested in perception I think.
I'm not really a marble fan and I certainly would not want to live there but I was surprised to find I really liked the green marble bath and the colour in the kitchen was also interesting.
A couple of small marble things might have worked far better. Some people really have money to burn.
I've only watched the first one, and the couple with the Adelaide tram power station. The building was really cool and I thought it turned out great. But they spent way too much on it and were idiots for not first considering that they might one day have kids to accommodate, so it was totally impractical the moment the woman got pregnant. The other house with the pink plaid walls just left me wondering why it even made the show at all. It was bland and there was nothing going for it at all.
if you haven't had it before it's easy to judge
I do have fake grass. And lots of real grass.
The fake is in more of a service area ... clothes line, vege patch etc. It looks very neat and works well. But as for recreation? No thanks. It's hot as hell and feels like ... plastic. And no sitting, playing, recreating or playing with the dog. It encourages no life forms. No worms. No bugs. No birds.
For the area they had, a robot mower would have been perfect.
Did you notice the kids were playing down the bottom of the rock on the real grass?
Dear lord, that bathhouse! Wasn't even a bathhouse, it was a bathroom, with a fairly bog standard bath... in the garden. Yasmine sure did make the point a lot that a proper Japanese hot tub/bath would be the go, but then at the end... basically just told them she loved it all.
I did really like the facade of the other one, not convinced about the pink marble though but overall it was pretty good.
I had seen this in the guide previous weeks didn't know it was Australia. Assumed it'd probably be one of the spin off's Kevin sometimes does. I liked GDA, watched them all as their aired after being a fan of the original. Which I am now years behind on. I just stopped watch at some point and always meant to catch back up.
Randomly put on last night's episode and enjoyed. Now catching up.
The host are good.
I wonder how many times they set up and used that outside gym before they gave up and realised its annoying to set up and Melbourne isn't the climate for it.
So the one with the rock, the pool and the astroturf. There are lots of different types of artificial grass, some much more realistic than others, but they chose the brightest green one with a shortest carpet-style length. Aside from choosing a better type, they could have used real grass and had an electric mower stored up there and enlisted the kids to mow it to earn their pocket money every week. It just looked cheap and ugly.
The ratio of living space and bedrooms was off in the Tassie house. It needed at least one more bedroom or a separate cottage with more bedrooms.
And to no great surprise the Tiny House is on Airbnb. Clearly that was the always the main intention. No idea why they deliberately omitted that in the show. Theyd also do that in the old format when someone was clearly building a holiday rental. Turned out way better than I was expecting and from the positive reviews they seem to have nailed it.
Oh that bath house ended up so compromised it's a wonder why they bothered. I mean, nothing says Japanese Bath House like a Victorian rolled-top bathtub [rolleyes]. As for the women's house, it might have made a proper GDA episode as a complete new build. Was just a bit strange to start with a new house 90% done and just the internal fit out for an episode. Did look good though.
Anyone finding the people on this new series a lot less likeable?
I think it's a "reality tv" trend. The more shows there are, the less likeable the people are becoming. Are we getting to the bottom of the barrel?
Or is it just me?
Anyone have a Grand Design near them? I walk my dog past the ‘Mondrian’ house in Five Dock pretty regularly.
They should have knocked it down
Yeah it was nice enough in the end, but there was nothing about it that seemed to justify not knocking it down and starting again.
Airdate: Grand Designs Australia
Grand Designs Australia returns to screens in October, with a new host and a new home on ABC with the premier on Thursday 10th October 8.00pm on ABC iView and ABC TV. Season 11 will consist of 10 episodes.
I suspect all episodes will be available on iView from Thursday 10th October as was the case with RA & GDT ... time will tell.
No surprises that the new host is: Anthony Burke (Restoration Australia, Grand Designs Transformations), succeeds Peter Maddison, who previously hosted the show for 10 seasons on Foxtel.
And for the 1st season Anthony is also joined by Kevin McCloud.
However, given this description:
For his first season, Burke is joined on an architectural road trip by the inimitable Kevin McCloud. Together they pack up a Kombi and go in search of award winning contemporary Australian design, from ingenious small homes to opulent mansions.
Along the way, Kevin shares hosting insights with Anthony, gained from decades presenting Grand Designs in the UK.
I'm not sure that it will be "Grand Designs" in the usual sense...
The trailer though, seems to suggest otherwise:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g00Sv0lFG4c
More info here:
https://tvtonight.com.a
This is great news.
I'm not sure that it will be "Grand Designs" in the usual sense...
It's not that surprising if the first season is a different format, considering it takes years to build up enough footage for a season. I doubt they've been compiling it just in case the show returns.
Grand Designs Australia returns to screens in October, with a new host
I'm a fan of Grand Designs UK, and I've liked Restoration Australia when the houses were restored sympathetically. I have to say the few episodes of GD Aust I've attempted, did not seem to have the heart that their UK original had. Having read this, I'm looking forward to seeing the version appearing on the ABC.
Saw the latest episode last night and didn't like it. I prefer featured houses that most of the Australian population could afford, not multi million dollar mansions. I think more design skill is needed for modestly priced sustainable house and suspect it is easier, as a designer, to create "grand" designs when you get allocated an enormous budget by the home owner.
I thought it was an interesting look at some of what is being built on the high end, I really liked the Mornington Peninsula one but thought the Gold Coast one was gaudy and OTT. Looking forward to the full featured build episodes though.
aw the latest episode last night and didn't like it. I prefer featured houses that most of the Australian population could afford, not multi million dollar mansions.
I saw an article the other day where Anthony Burke was talking about this.
I agree with you, MacMansions are horrible, boring, places. I prefer the UK series, where a lot of the building is really creative. We are so out of their league.
I prefer featured houses that most of the Australian population could afford, not multi million dollar mansions.
I agree with you, MacMansions are horrible, boring, places. I prefer the UK series, where a lot of the building is really creative. We are so out of their league.
I agree with both of these comments. Sadly the Australian version has never lived up to its UK counterpart. I hoped with a new presenter, a new vision it would be different.
In this age where we have a housing crisis on our hands and being plagued by social and economic ills I was so dismayed to see the first macmansion being showcased as the epitome of good architecture and creativity to Mr McCloud himself. I was embarrassed. Whilst there were a few good choices of social housing and more modest residences, we then went back to another Macmansion in the ostentatious Gold Coast build. Yeuck.
Please feature more passive, context/culturally sensitive, sustainably progressive, and community minded efforts in future, to keep in step with our current times and climate.
The Hempcrete horse poo composting toilet house is great. Very impressive couple.
I watched a few minutes of the straw bale house. Straw bale I thought – interesting. Lost interest when it was revealed to be a 7 bedroom $1 million straw bale house.
I may be way behind, but I only just noticed the whole season was posted to iView to watch last week. I'd have watched more by now if I realised, but no reason to wait for weekly TV episodes after all!
The Hempcrete horse poo composting toilet house is great. Very impressive couple.
I loved this one. Nice guy, interesting build material, beautiful location, realistic/relatable budget, *not a mcmansion*, it had a lot to offer. House looked great when it was finished. 9/10. Took a point off for the outside loo.
...which can't be said for the previous ep with the terracotta tile house. The interiors were so bland, suburban and boring, like no effort had gone into them at all. Zero design aesthetic. The pool between the main house and parents' annex should have been this inviting space, lush with tropical/leafy plants, but like the inside, it was just this weird bland void.
The interiors were so bland,
Nevermind the interiors, the terracotta cladding was awful! All a matter of personal taste of course, but that was not one for me.
Nevermind the interiors, the terracotta cladding was awful!
I kinda let that slide because it was at least their point of difference.
Ok as for the guys' 1960s-style Gold Coast pad. I actually really liked the house. I was just surprised that the plunge pool was not only in the front yard, but also that they didn't sink it far enough into the ground. And it seemed from the guy's reaction he felt the same way once it was in. The first step down into the pool was well above ground level.
The big farmhouse seemed oversized (disclaimer: I don't have kids). What seemed weird with this one was the shed with the solar panels and gear was the first thing they built, yet when they moved into the tiny house they still didn't have hot water. Would seem a trifle to have partitioned off a temporary bathroom with an electric shower, even if just a bit of framing with some plastic sheeting strung up. And maybe another sleeping space in there as well. Liked the house though, I have off-grid aspirations myself so it's always good to see people do that.
I didn't like the GC house much at all, but did quite like the farmhouse. Currently building a house made up of red bricks and dark grey cladding myself, so I tip that way!
I didn't like much about the Sydney terrace one, the interiors were... oof, let's say bold. But then my taste is to go for neutral, all white or near white all throughout and add pops of colour in furnishings etc, which some people find boring. The pink render outside was certainly a choice.
I didn't like much about the Sydney terrace one, the interiors were... oof, let's say bold.
Yeah those colours were too much for me, too. Having said that I did once briefly consider doing the (windowless) bathroom at my last place in bright yellow tiles like their kitchen. Like they said it would certainly perk you up in the mornings. I did like their long hand made bricks, they looked good. Front of the house looked like it suffered from budget cuts with it all in the same blue and the upstairs balustrade not updated. I thought they would have gone conventional there and conformed with the Victorian style out there. Maybe they will yet do that.
The Hempcrete horse poo composting toilet house is great. Very impressive couple.
I loved this one. Nice guy, interesting build material, beautiful location, realistic/relatable budget, *not a mcmansion*, it had a lot to offer. House looked great when it was finished. 9/10. Took a point off for the outside loo.
Yes so did I. Found their story really heartwarming and loved the interiors and textures.
Surprisingly I didn't mind the GC one either. Didn't love it but thought they did well to keep within budget and achieve something modest given the constraints, especially the economic one like needing to consider keeping 4 bedrooms in order to keep the banks happy, which I thought was a bit ridiculous . Is that a Queensland thing?
I'm really warming to the presenter (and more diverse builds) as the series goes on.
the economic one like needing to consider keeping 4 bedrooms in order to keep the banks happy
I assume it's so the house would be of a higher value when completed, mitigating the bank's risk?
ANZ turned me down for a home loan once because the unit (my first home) was <50sqm and they apparently had a policy against that. Didn't even care that I had a 40% deposit. Silly and inflexible.
I assume it's so the house would be of a higher value when completed, mitigating the bank's risk?
ANZ turned me down for a home loan once because the unit (my first home) was <50sqm and they apparently had a policy against that. Didn't even care that I had a 40% deposit. Silly and inflexible.
Ah yes that makes sense.
I was told about the 50sqm min too when I first bought so have stayed away since, but does seem unreasonable when there are other factors that add value apart from size.
I'm really warming to the presenter
I'm afraid we're cooling to this guy, so gushy over everything without Kevin's eloquence. The onlly time he seemed to question anyone was their use of concrete which ended up a beautiful terazzo. Plus if that's all he can do for a bristle cut either grow it or shave it, erk a vagrant effect.
Mystery Bay, NSW
It looked like a toilet block from the back!
Father & son both Archtects! And that was the best they could come up with. Ridiculously ugly building with little or no effort in energy saving facing WEST you cannot be serious. Hated it
Catching up, starting with s9.
Whoah! Really was like the son was building an office block, or resort, not a home. His Mum saying she wanted a more homely coloured forced earth wall but ended up with "so, um, its good", and could have run a test on the corner first. And not really designed for the west facing either, his solutions even as Pete said were "clearly a work in progress" were bad enough, as gotta think during high winds those pivoting screens to 'protect you from the wind' them blowing around might be an issue, but then that you had to manually adjust them from outside?? Oh yeah and stupid architectural features like the "one of only two" HUGE doors in the house that has to be annoying given every day use.
OK the Buderim one where they said they wouldn't demolish the 80s house, but ended up only saving the slab and a few sections of wall. And a token gesture of reusing some bricks and pine cladding. This didn't "honour the old" or keep its soul at all. And it wasn't lost on the presenter either, he was understandably sceptical throughout.
End result? A new house with a shipping container pool clipped on the front, furnished with an eclectic mix of furniture and nicnacs. $1.6m of meh. Honestly they should have started from scratch.
Honestly they should have started from scratch.
Absolutely, the shipping container looked ridiculous.
The whole premise made zero sense, for family sure maintaining some memories of grandmas old home, but complete strangers? And how little they kept evident from the husbands reaction, and 'I wish I had more to design' after 18 months designing, and of all the places to then reuse the little timber they kept was to make their master bedhead?
So the Newtown eco house. I'm all for offgrid living but the incinerating toilet was just bizarre, especially burning through 1-1.5kW of her precious solar power a pop. Meanwhile, while I was looking at Google maps to see where the house was, I happened upon this house, literally one block over, which just happens to have solar panels on the front as at 2021. It's also in the Inner West Council LGA so that's curious. I wonder if she pissed someone at the council off.
$60k on Japanese tiles for a terrace is crazy, and the interior decor colours and patterns were all too much for me. Good on her for achieving her goal though, I hope it all works out for her.
If it were me, I'd have gone for just the off-grid solar, and designed the house without the terrace (or roofed it) in order to accommodate more panels. Save the off-grid water and waste for a more suitable property.
so gushy over everything without Kevin's eloquence
I think we’d be hard pressed to find Kevin’s eloquence anywhere, but I thought he was suitably critical of the shipping container pool build which I really was not fond of. I think I read somewhere though, even in McClouds case, they have to end on a positive note in the wrap-up regardless.
I loved the Barragàn inspired bold pink Surrey hills terrace with an emphasis on small and passive, for the most part. The colour palette was a lot and too much for me personally, but I admire their brave choices and that middle courtyard. The couple were quite humorous and great to see they were on budget and time.
Absolutely, the shipping container looked ridiculous.
…This didn't "honour the old" or keep its soul at all. And it wasn't lost on the presenter either, he was understandably sceptical throughout.
Yes totally agree, was a pretty poor design.
The couple from Echuca – such a frustrating episode.
Going fully offgrid (great), liked most of what they did, not a hideous monstrosity, but ...
They didn't consider water collection. We were waiting to see some revolutionary invisible guttering/pipes system but no ... they suddenly realised they needed to put in gutters. Doh.
The 2 pavilions thing ... put in a freaking airlock.
The kids sharing a bedroom? For how much longer?
How far away from the house is the car accomodation? So cars stay out in the snow.
Fretting about cost. $150k for landscaping ... that looked like a decent tennis court.
The woman whining about having to make compromises ... basically spruking how amazing she is with her designs.
I'm interested in how these offgrid places work ... what capacity did they have – for heating for instance?
What fire safety did they need to have? What sort of generator do they have? Details could be covered in a quick summary.
How often will they be at this place – weekends only? Too far out for daily commuting for work, school, kids activities etc. But $1m for a 2nd house? All via mortgage. I wish I was rich.
And put in a freaking airlock to join the pavilions. Sheesh.
And put in a freaking airlock to join the pavilions. Sheesh.
Haha I'm so with you, that was ridiculous. I wonder how long it'll be before they connect the two buildings. I also wish they would give us a rundown of their solar specs. I'm interested in that kind of thing though.
They didn’t stay there long!
How bizarre. They don't like their dream house they literally designed themselves? Or some other reason?
Will probably help sell it if they paint over China Shipping on the container pool.
How much did they spend on the renovation? $1.6m?
They bought it for $825k in May 2021 so a tidy $600k profit if they do get that price.
Wouldn't surprise me if they went off travelling again and working overseas.
Or was the whole idea using Grand Designs just a marketing idea to make a cash windfall ? Taxpayers version of 'The $$$ Block'
Meanwhile somewhere on The Gold Coast, two lads dream up an Architect 'inspired' compatible '400k' cookie cutter house and land package that first home buyers can afford ?
This episode was nonsense. The budget was far beyond 'cookie cutter' values, then throw in the land cost 500k or so, and we are somewhere near 3 times a 400k project home.
Not a bad design and finish in the end, plus off street parking for their two 'cookie cutter' Mercs ?
The budget was far beyond 'cookie cutter' values, then throw in the land cost 500k or so, and we are somewhere near 3 times a 400k project home.
For your average straight couple?? Probably. For an uppity gay couple? Probably not.
plus off street parking for their two 'cookie cutter' Mercs ?
Well at least they didn't have personalised plates.
I only half watched it; I thought swearing tradie mate was the dude's husband. I was very confused.
Episode 10 is left. Another poor struggling inner city dweller in Newtown, Sydney. I don't iView them, preferring a weekly dose of Aussie 'architecture'. Picked up some ideas for my own 'Grand Design' about to happen. 200k block of dirt overlooking a 'swamp', 400k build and 25k Architect who came to my rescue.
No Mercs, no flamingo's, no terracotta, no long distance commute and no fireplace !
Or was the whole idea using Grand Designs just a marketing idea to make a cash windfall ? Taxpayers version of 'The $$$ Block'
Very suss. Was the whole endeavor a cynical exercise in free advertising for China Shipping? The husband's evasive justification of the logo being "intensely personal" and refusing to elaborate raised a red flag to me. The conveniently timed sale listing adds fuel to the fire.
Won't help their cause that the end product looked woeful, shipping container notwithstanding. The house itself looked hideously uninspired and dated, and I doubt future buyers will give two shits about maintaining the "heritage" of the previous owners (which was frankly already ruined).
I saw a video of a freight train here in Cambodia last week, and the China Shipping containers were all really ancient, beat up, rusted, badly patched... I've never seen containers in such bad shape. Maybe they need more business for a cash injection? lol
just watching a few episodes tonight.
Surrey Hills did well with what they've got. On budget was amazing.
I'm reasonably conservative with colours and I like what they did excepting the bedroom. That was just too dark and confining.
Then that Echuca snow boarding mob. WTF.
A quintessential and classic Grand Designs episode.
Over complicated on a ridiculous budget and location with it being under thought end to end.
Numerous own goals.
No airlock, ridiculous roof, oh wait.. right we need water..
I do wonder if they ever investigated SIPs and a maybe chopper due to the goat track road.
Old mate being a builder, would've built + water tight in 2 days- (albeit with a conventional roof LOL)
Then that shared kids bedroom, but will drop 150k for landscaping on a weekender?
But your cars are in the elements. Shook my head on that episode.
I can't Google the right term, when I was a kid there was an old school tech my Nan had which was like an off peak heater with bricks.. Surely there'd be an updated version of that that the Nordic countries would have.
Or even an under floor heating that's has its own battery would've been the go.
I do wonder if there's a market for Captain Obvious to provide input.
Onto the inner Sydney off grid, serious kudos for having a crack and nearly getting it done. Crazy deep pockets!.2 million for a shoebox.
Also didn't like the stylistic flair, the Surrey Hills aesthetic would've worked being a similar footprint and even layout.
As a flap you to the council, I would've put a roof over that terrace, then put the North facing panels on there. Voila! Can't see from the street.. Or an automated system that has panels that follows the sun's movement?
I agree the show itself definitely missed opportunities to give us more information on some of the off grid stuff. Generally gushes over any PassiveHaus when these systems are a differing solution.
That is usually interesting, would like to see how it ties together etc.
The incinerating toilet was a new thing I've never heard of before. Pretty cool. The Tassie bloke should've got that.
I would've put a roof over that terrace, then put the North facing panels on there.
Just what I said!
Just watched the Tassie hempcrete one, that was very enjoyable. Not my favourite in terms of the house aesthetics although I liked the internal wall exposed hempcrete but the story was genuinely moving and I was amazed he had so much done by himself early on.
I happened upon this house, literally one block over, which just happens to have solar panels on the front as at 2021. It's also in the Inner West Council LGA so that's curious. I wonder if she pissed someone at the council off.
A few differences I noticed – her house is in a long row of houses, so the panels would stick out. The other house isn't in a row (i.e. not one continous roof across multiple houses). And it's got trees partially blocking the view as well. By the way, anyone find it unusual that the owner was 45 and had no spouse nor children?