Standing on reclaimed land, Amye and Nathan’s complex barn self build is designed for three generations of their family to live in.
Image: Channel 4
The third episode in 2021's series of Grand Designs sees Kevin McCloud meet Nathan and Amye, a couple who are tackling a complex self build in South Lincolnshire, creating space not only for themselves, but for Nathan's teenage children and his mother and step-father.
While Nathan and Amye were originally looking for a barn to convert, they found their options limited, with too many changes they'd want to make to each site. When a local building plot came up for purchase, it offered them the opportunity to build their own entirely from scratch, channelling the distinctive agricultural buildings native to Lincolnshire.
Tomorrow night we head to South Lincolnshire where Nathan and Amye are building a unique cathedral-like home modelled on local Dutch barn houses.
— granddesigns (@granddesigns) January 19, 2021
But how quickly will the pressure mount for project manager Nathan? #GrandDesigns pic.twitter.com/UNj7h0eOP4
Local vernacular
Image: Andy Haslam
Nathan, who is a builder and entrepreneur by trade, is more used to constructing estate housing. Located on reclaimed marshland and designed to withstand rising water levels, the steel-framed main house is reminiscent of a Dutch barn and echoes the double-mansard silhouette of local buildings. But this one has a few unexpected twists, from glamorously glazed gables and twin brick chimneys to all-over tile cladding.
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A lockdown build
Image: Andy Haslam
Planners approved the build in March of 2019, and the build got underway with Nathan as project manager. However, with the nature of the marshland causing issues from the get go, and the pandemic reducing the availability of materials to steam ahead with the build, was this too ambitious of a project? Watch along, and let us know your thoughts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
This episode first airs on Channel 4 at 9pm on Wednesday 20th January. You can find the full preview of this series of Grand Designs in the January issue to read online for free.
