Grand Designs houses revealed ahead of new series

Experimental concrete build

• Location: Lewes, East Sussex
• Grand Designers: Megan and Adrian Corrigall, 44 and 48
• Type of property: Single-storey, detached house
• Bedrooms: 4
• Bathrooms: 3
• Size: 290sqm
• Budget: £400,000
• Plot cost: £354,000
• Architect: Graeme Laughlan and David Mulligan, Raw Architecture Workshop

This project is based around a strikingly original concept – a home built entirely from cast-in-situ concrete, with no added finishes. It raises the question of whether such a stark material can provide a comfy home for Megan, Adrian, and their three children.

The build also includes experimental technologies: structural concrete that does away with reinforced steel bars, insulating concrete (to overcome cold-bridging) and a recyclable plastic shuttering system. The budget is modest for such an ambitious build, and to save money Adrian is project-managing the construction.

Modular barn-style property

Image: Stolon Studios

• Location: Leominster, Herefordshire
• Grand Designers: Stephanie and Alex Wilson, 39 and 45
• Type of property: Contemporary barn-style home
• Bedrooms: 3
• Bathrooms: 3
• Size: 198sqm
• Budget: £250,000
• Plot cost: £200,000
• Architect: Stolon Studios

Set in the base of a former gravel pit, this build has a corrugated-steel roof and cladding, with aluminium windows, all of which combine to make the house look like a traditional Herefordshire barn from the road.

The modular-style, black barn home is hunkered down within a cutting, reducing its visual impact. Built on the site of homeowner Stephanie’s grandparents’ farm, the house is the culmination of Stephanie’s 20-year quest to return to live in a place she’s loved since her childhood.

Feast your eyes on this listed folly restoration

Image: Fiona Walker Arnott

• Location: Aylesbury Vale, Buckinghamshire
• Grand Designers: Jaime and Mimi (Naomi) Fernandez, 38 and 35
• Type of property: Grade II*-listed folly
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathrooms: 3
• Size: 110sqm
• Budget: £200,000
• Plot cost: £100,000
• Architect: Jaime Fernandez

This restoration of a Grade II*-listed folly, which looks like a mini-castle, came with onerous planning restrictions and is on a site of special archaeological interest. Architect and homeowner Jaime Fernandez has taken on multitasking roles as the architect, joiner, plumber and labourer – fully embracing what he calls extreme DIY.

The project has been completed with traditional building techniques and materials such as lime mortar, bricks and stone. However, Fernandez also used state-of-the-art techniques to 3D-scan the building and create features such as a spiral staircase.

Modernist design

Image: Mark Bolton

• Location: Padstow, Cornwall
• Grand Designers: Harry and Briony Anscombe, both 37
• Type of property: Single- storey detached property
• Bedrooms: 5
• Bathrooms: 4
• Size: 50sqm (ground floor plan)
• Budget: £400,000
• Plot cost: £490,000

Harry and Briony Anscombe, and their three children, have made a radical change to their lives, moving from London to the rugged north Cornwall coast. Even more radical is the architectural inspiration for their new home.

Harry is a huge fan of the Ben Rose House by James Speyer, a steel and glass masterpiece that featured in the film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. To meet their budget, and with no prior experience, Harry project managed the build while running three fledgling companies and, adding to the stress, set out to complete the house in just eight months.

Black-clad modern houses

Image: Abel Hinchliffe, Coda Studios

• Location: Sheffield
• Grand Designers: Nik and Em Daughtry, 48 and 50; Jon Daughtry and Ali Jarjour, both 48
• Type of property: Two modern houses
• Bedrooms: 5 each
• Bathrooms: 5 each
• Size: 233.28sqm (Nik and Em), 196sqm (Jon and Ali)
• Budget: £350,000
• Plot cost: £173,000
• Architect: Abel Hinchliffe, Coda Studios

Identical twin brothers Nik and Jon have built two modern-industrial family homes that sit side by side. Both houses have a steel frame and are wrapped in black corrugated cladding.

Perched on stilts in front of a private dam, floor-to-ceiling windows maximise views across a picturesque millpond. Both properties are strikingly contemporary, minimal and industrial in design.

 

Tune in to the first episode of Grand Designs series 19, from Wednesday 19th September 2018 on Channel 4.

Which TV house are you excited about seeing in the new series? Tweet us @granddesignsmag or post a comment on our Facebook page. 

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