Grand Designs viewers appalled by ‘mad’ cost of ‘monstrous’ home – and share pity for neighbours
GRAND Designs viewers have been left appalled by the ‘mad’ cost of a ‘monstrous’ home – and shared pity for the neighbours.
The Channel 4 show has featured all sorts of unusual and innovative homes since it began in 1999.
Unsurprisingly, not all of them go down well with viewers at home, and that was certainly true of a property in Dartmoor which featured in a recent episode.
Presenter Kevin McCloud revisited the building off the Hux Shard to see the finished project.
Couple Joe and Claire began the project in 2021 but spent a fortune after being hit with a number of setbacks.
Project manager Phil Saunders said it had been a “nightmare”, with the coronavirus pandemic also playing its part in delaying the build.
The project originally had a budget of £835,000, but ended up costing a whopping £2.5million.
However the finished result impressed Kevin, who described it as “Tate Exeter”.
But Grand Designs viewers didn’t agree, with one writing: “GrandDesigns – “zinc monster” sums it up perfectly. An Architect. An Engineer. A Project Manager with the patience of a saint. Glazers who quit while ahead. But owners who have no idea. Sad really.”
Another added: “okay the house is fabulous but for a couple who appeared to have no interest in it other than an ability to show off with money.”
A third moaned: “Grey, grey, grey #GrandDesigns.”
Meanwhile a fellow viewer tweeted: “People who build houses like that always make damn sure they don’t have to look at houses like that when they’re at home. They always inflict the sight of them on everyone else.”
Another agreed: “I feel sorry for the neighbouring houses who lost a beautiful view,”
Others took issue with the cost of the couple’s kitchen, with one writing: “who pays 125k for a kitchen!! Madness.”
Grand Designs airs on Channel 4 and is available on All4.