Episode Information Grand Designs: The Glass House

Date Published:

19/05/2008

Architect Colin Harwood describes this huge glass-and-steel structure as a 'James Bond villain house'. It is also a family project: Colin designed it for his sister Lindsay and his brother-in-law Michael.

The design was inspired by Gio Ponti's Pirelli Building in Milan and, as in that building, the floor plan has a diamond shape. Four free-standing walls, rendered with concrete and painted white, are separated by high windows and there is a thin row of windows at the top. The walls at the ends are made of huge glass sheets.

As in many of the other Grand Designs, the ground floor of the house is open plan. Modernism is all, with clean lines and plenty of light and space. Special interior features include a spectacular glass staircase. Underneath the living area there is a large basement with underground parking.

Michael says the most difficult things were finding a suitable plot 'because you're up against developers', and 'dealing with the planners'. This suburban site borders on a conservation area, and the council at first rejected the white concrete finish of the walls. Fortunately the plans were eventually approved on appeal, but the build was greatly delayed. And Michael has another warning for would-be self-builders: 'You'll always be over budget'.