Grand Designs (Channel 4 show with Kevin McCloud)

GRAND DESIGNS

UK / Channel 4 - Talkback Thames / x60 minutes / 1999- continuing

Series Producer: Graham Sherrington

Excellent specialist house building show presented by the erudite Kevin McCloud that follows couples over the course of a year as they attempt to build archectecturally designed and always interesting properties.

There is much emphasis on the design and building of the house with Kevin visiting at the build at various stages throughout the year before givnig his opinion on the finished house.

There have been several spin off of the show over the years with a special series, Grand Designs Abroad, in 2004 taking the concept abroad and into Europe for 8 episodes. Grand Designs indoors was a short lived (6 episodes) look at interior make-overs of special promise. Grand Designs revisited is an occasional companion show going back to look at properties featured in the series.

2007 saw the arrival of Grand Designs Trade Secrets, a half hour companion show that teamed Kevin with the likes of designer Naomi Cleaver and architect Deborah Saunt to talk about different aspects of building and design, it also featured behind the scenes moments from the show.

Channel 4 have an excellent website devoted to the series and they also publish a magazine based on the series as well as a yearly exhibition. 2008 saw a week long experiment of Grand Designs Live in which Kevin and the Team (in twice daily shows) attempted to build an eco house in just five days. Not as enjoyable as a standard episode but still good fun.

FURTHER READING
GRAND DESIGNS ABROAD

1. Malaga, Spain

2. The Lot, France

3. Puglia, Italy

4. Le Creuse, France

7. Les Gets, France

8. Alicante, Spain