New Grand Designs soon: From Byron to a tiny house in Tassie
• It’s always impossible… until it’s done
In what Foxtel is labelling one of the most inspiring series to date, host and multi award-winning architect Peter Maddison is back with the long awaited eighth series of Grand Designs Australia. This season, Maddison follows 10 new homeowners – all driven visionaries with a dream to change their lives and Australia’s architectural landscape forever.
The backdrops are as varied as they are stunning, as the host travels from Victoria’s bush ranger country near Euroa where the dry earth is punctuated by huge granite boulders, to prime land on Sydney’s northern beaches where sloping blocks pose blistering challenges for two very different owner builders.
One such builder is Stephen Mallinger who has spent the last 15 years at the helm of his own construction company building homes for other people. Now he is expanding his repertoire and finally building his own home – and it’s a grand one. Set in the Northern Beaches suburb of Curl Curl, architect Andrew Donaldson’s unorthodox design comprises four split-level terraced pods which follow the natural contours of the sandstone cliff. The spectacularly steep site adds complexity to an already difficult project, but rather than shy away from the challenge both Stephen and the design take advantage of the natural surroundings – and the effect is inspired.
In the popular Byron hinterland, a young family is building an anti-mansion – a house with a neat footprint that fully values every last square metre. But it’s a proud Tasmanian travel writer that truly tests the principals of the small house movement, by creating a petite 40 square metre pod house providing all she needs and nothing more.
Travelling on to South Australia, Queensland and the ACT, Peter Maddison showcases as many eccentric and unique grand designs as modern masterpieces. Australia has never looked better in this exciting new series.
Grand Designs Australia is produced by FremantleMedia Australia exclusively for Foxtel and will be available to stream every week or watch on the Lifestyle Channel from Wednesday, July 17 at 8.30pm AEST.
