Finally an Australian edition of the successful Grand Designs series has been produced. Just like its UK counterpart, Grand Designs Australia follows the story of a variety of innovative and clever builders from around Australia. The series presenter Peter Madison is doing an extremely good job in the 9 episodes in the first series but unlike Kevin McCloud is still finding his feet a little.

The houses are all very interestingly designed an built which reflects Australian conditions. This is highlighted in every episode such as the first episode about a building that is bush fire resistant and is built from steel as its owner had their previous home destroyed in the Black Saturday bush fire.

The financial stress is obvious in each segment, the stress of finances and obtaining a building permit for a house in the Northern Territory for a building in progress where a permit was not required before, eventually created a dramatic event, causing a heart attack for Trevor Sullivan. Building is definitely a stressful process and this series highlights that.

Grand Designs Australia Series 1 has looked at a number of designs, methods and materials such as steel, prefabricated, panel and conventional buildings. A number of innovative ideas were also employed such as copper pipes in the cavity to pick up heat for water heating. Quite fascinating actually!

Thankfully the episodes in series 1 were well selected from a wide variety of locations and designs. Hopefully there will be series 2 to follow. In the end, Grand Designs should be a must watch for all architects or anyone planning a house albeit perhaps on a lesser scale or even only for picking up some interesting ideas.

Episode Listing

Bushfire House - Episode 1

February 2009. Chris Clarke had just spent two years building his minimalist timber and steel dream home at Callignee in Gippsland when, less than a week after completion, it was burnt to the ground in the devastating Black Saturday bushfires.

Very Small House - Episode 2

Architect Domenic Alvaro and his partner Sue Bassett are urban animals who love the inner city suburb of Surry Hills in Sydney. However their dream location comes with a nightmare price tag.

Southport Heritage House - Episode 3

When Jan and Ed Gillman bought a tumble-down weatherboard in Southport, their first intention was to demolish and start again.

Clovelly House - Episode 4

Julie and Patrick Eltridge bought in Sydney’s beachside Clovelly three years ago, paying $1.6 million for an old house on a sloping block.

Lake Bennett House - Episode 5

For 17 years Trevor and Francoise Sullivan have lived with their two kids and numerous animals in an open sided shed on 33 bushy acres at Lake Bennett south of Darwin.

Hamptons House - Episode 6

If ever there was an ideal place for a Hamptons house outside the Hamptons, the Gold Coast hinterland would be it – wide open spaces, balmy sea-kissed air and a sense of prosperity.

Fish Creek Church House - Episode 7

Nothing like an impulsive act to take you down a path you hadn’t expected in life. For engineer Peter Riedel and his interior designer wife Mary, their sudden whim was to purchase an 1870’s church for $20,000.

Cottage Point House - Episode 8

Drew Muirhead is a self employed entrepreneur and man about town. He’s building a Balinese resort style mansion in leafy Cottage Point.

Indented Head House - Episode 9

Ian McDonald and Rob Wilhelm are not building an understated new home. Theirs is a Grand Design in its most literal sense.