Grand Designs returns to the screens on Wednesday, and one couple is already hitting some serious bumps in the road.
Hosted by Kevin McCloud, this week, we meet Zara, a make-up artist, and her partner Giuliano, who works in tech. They’ve decided to take a big leap, not just by leaving their home in Reading to move to the Lincolnshire countryside, but by tackling a huge project: building a 400-square-metre, malthouse-inspired house. Giuliano, with no prior experience in construction, is stepping up to manage the entire build himself.
However, things go wrong pretty quickly, though. Giuliano runs into problems with the excavation and foundation work right from the start.
Despite putting in extra hours on site after his day job to keep things moving, it’s clear this project is going to be a lot tougher than they expected.
"I’ve tried to bring as much efficiency as possible into construction to streamline everything. I arranged the bricks for the bricklayers, making their lives easier, “ he said.
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However, there has been some confusion, with the real issue stemming from a breakdown in communication and responsibilities among the workers on the construction site.
The foundation for their home is meant to be complete but a vital job has been left undone.
Sharing his frustration over the situation, Giuliano says: “The groundwork team said it’s not in their responsibility, they’re not bricklayers, so they wouldn’t do it, and the brickies on site said the groundwork team would do it. That’s not going to solve the problem.”
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It’s a steep learning curve and with a fast-depleting budget, unexpected delays, and complex living arrangements to contend with, both he and Zara end up having to get far more involved than they ever anticipated.
They cart roof slates up ladders in a backpack, barter with a local farmer for his help and risk fitting specialist weathering steel cladding themselves.
Their new home and their future life together are at stake, but will youthful energy and determination be enough?
Grand Designs continues tonight, October, 2 on Channel 4 at 9pm.
