Bristol: The Modernist Sugar Cub

Episode Information Bristol: The Modernist Sugar Cube

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Contents:

Date Published:
06/06/2008

Kevin's View

Kevin: Bristol: The Modernist Sugar Cube

A one off house is a beautiful bespoke thing that intimately reflects the personalities of the people that commissioned it - unlike commercial office blocks which are impersonal anonymous spaces designed for anybody to inhabit. Is it architecturally possible to create a perfect blend of business and pleasure?

This is an architect's dream home, properly built with a simple palette of luxurious materials sparingly used, controlled changes of scale, beautiful detailing and yet everywhere unremitting, hard architectural lines. It's not a building you expect a family to thrive in. And yet thrive they do.

You might think of this place as some kind of superficial style statement, a cliche whose glamour and beauty should really belong on the pages of some glossy magazine. Except I'm going to disagree because I think that beauty and glamour and style are not at all superficial. In fact for thousands of years in buildings like this it's been these things that make us feel welcome, that make us feel comfortable, that flatter us. They're the qualities that make us feel good, and you can't ask more of architecture than that...

Bristol Video

The finished house has divided opinion - slick minimalism or car showroom? You decide...

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Comments

  1. A fascinating episode, but we saw no detail of the roof. Flat roofs are notorious for leakage problems !! The TAP was superb ! One of your best Kevin ! From David Millar - West Australia
    Posted by David Millar on 01/09/2008 10:10:42
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  2. Hi Erin If we have any details for this at all, it will be listed on page 4 of this feature - if it's not there, then it hasn't been supplied to us! Let us know if you need more help!
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 26/08/2008 14:17:27
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  3. Hi all, I live in Melbourne Australia and love this program. I am particularly interested in the high-tech elements used in this fabulous house, such as the internal paint that sucks up smell, and the external paint that was demonstrated in the mud bath. Can you please advise as to what these are? I would like to track them down for my own renovation. Many thanks Julie
    Posted by Julie Howard on 24/08/2008 00:04:46
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  4. I love the fireplace used in this house. Can you please provide details on where to find it? Thanks.
    Posted by erin doyle on 22/08/2008 01:11:01
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  5. Hi Sheena Sorry, I can't. I watched the show but it was AGES ago and we don't have address details for it. If you're desperate, the production company will know but they might not be allowed to pass it on! Sorry! Lucy
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 21/08/2008 21:04:01
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  6. Hi Neil, Hi Steve Both of you have supplier enquiries - please see page four of this feature. Lucy
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 21/08/2008 21:02:24
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  7. Hi Bill For info on the glass partitioning system, look on page four of this feature! (click above)
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 21/08/2008 21:01:31
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  8. hi i would like to know the name/make of paint which was used on the outside of the sugar cube house, the one tested in the mud. thanks neil
    Posted by neil smith on 20/08/2008 16:40:17
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  9. Can anyone tell me what species the silver tree was at the end of the newly-built garden wall?
    Posted by Gino Ioia on 20/08/2008 13:39:49
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  10. What brand is this kitchen tap ??
    Posted by Steve Klimos on 20/08/2008 08:23:18
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  11. Hello Grand Designs I live in Tasmania, Australia and my husband and I just love this programme. I come from near Bristol and in the episode of the sugar cube house I feel certain it is in the area of Abbots Leigh, on the road the bus travelled to Portishead when I lived there. My husband thinks it is Clifton. Can you settle this argument please. Regards Sheena Reeve
    Posted by Sheena Reeve on 20/08/2008 07:02:35
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  12. FANTASTIC program !
    Posted by Sharon Ceglar on 20/08/2008 02:32:57
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  13. Love the minimalism of the house. What is the phhotographers website that took all the family portraits in the house?
    Posted by Kirsten Black on 19/08/2008 13:46:13
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  14. DearLucy, I'm interested in the GLASS PARTITIONS which become clear when the electric current is applied. I couldn't find this particular item on the Suppliers list. I couldn't see it specified on Komfort Workspace P/L website. Thanks for this page. When will Series 5 Grand Designs be available on DVD.?
    Posted by Bill Fitch on 19/08/2008 13:01:38
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  15. The most beautiful, well built and sensible house I've seen on the programme so far. Tonight's programme was fantastic, the design, materials and technologies used made me so excited. I can imagine that it would be a very peaceful place to live in.
    Posted by Judanne on 19/08/2008 12:41:54
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  16. Hi Lindsay, Which contacts did you want exactly? If you go to page 4 of this feature, there should be lots there.
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 18/08/2008 12:35:05
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  17. we love the house, love the opaque walls, please give us contacts because we want to arrange the same things in our new build. Time is of the essence before more things become developed. Look forward to hearing from you... In anticipation, Scott and Linds
    Posted by lindsay gow on 15/08/2008 23:03:12
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