Finished house in snow

Grand Designs Episode Information Eco Arch: The Story

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Date Published:
18/02/2009

Richard is a senior architect in a busy commercial practice in London. He’s used to designing big buildings with big budgets. His wife Sophie is an investment manager in the city. A few years ago, fed up with the fast pace of life in London, they moved to Kent.

Now they’ve bitten the bullet, bought a plot of land with a rundown bungalow on it and drawn up a plan to replace that with something entirely different while they live in a caravan on site.

Bungalow Being Demolished

The bungalow makes way for something entirely different

The Plan

Richard and Sophie’s new home will be built using the latest avant garde eco technologies. On top of the eco-concrete foundations will sit a series of timber frame boxes, heavily insulated with recycled newspaper and clad in English cedar. Large, triple glazed windows to the south will help to heat the house using the power of the sun to warm the heavy concrete slab. The ground floor is arranged in a cross shape with a study, kitchen, sitting room and dining room branching off the hallway corridor. On the second floor will be three bedrooms and a master bedroom suite.

Richard and Oscar

Richard and Oscar monitor progress

To conserve heat this whole building will be enveloped in a metalized tough membrane to make it super-airtight, and then fitted with a ventilation system to recover heat from the air. Then there’s the arch. It's not semi-circular, but parabolic. It will be a soaring curve made from thousands of tiny clay tiles glued together. It will be totally unsupported by the building, a gravity defying first of its kind in Britain.

Inside, those tiles will be visible, soaring above the living spaces like a giant railway arch. On the outside, where the arch sits above the rooms, it will be insulated with foam and covered with layers of gravel and soil to allow wild grasses and flowers to seed - a living, green eco roof. It’s a highly experimental project and the kind of adventure that only an architect dare go on.

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  1. I just felt i should answer some critical points recently raised; re: high ceilings needing heating. The temperature from ground level to roof level is the same and does not require the house to need extra heating. This house works very differently than a usual (poorly insulated) house. Heat is being stored in the thermal mass which is highly insulated on the outside to prevent heat loss - hence no need for a heating system. The sun does that job for us, which is free. I can't get more environmentally friendly than that ! Re: Anne's points (16/10/09) the earth roof is designed to be a wildflower meadow, not covered with sedums. It has been seeded with seeds from a nature reserve a mile away. Hence 300mm of nutrient poor clay subsoil. The roof remained bare for most of 2009 due to the last layer of soil being applied in April so missing the spring germination period. Since then autumn germination has taken well and the roof is greening well all over (you can see some up-to-date images on my blogsite www.crossway.tumblr.com). However, establishing a wildflower meadow takes time and is not an overnight quick fix. No earth has slipped off the roof at all, earth was purposefully banked up at the sides to enhance the appearance of the arch 'rearing' out of the ground. No landscaping has yet been done due to finances! We had to stop spending when we finished the house. We plan to do lots of landscaping in early 2010 now that money has settled down a bit ! The house is amazing to live in and performing incredibly well (today it's -6 degrees outside and we're snug & warm inside without any underfloor heating or radiators in sight). You can see some of the results of our monitoring also on the above blog site. According to current monitoring results this house is panning out to use 12.8KWh/m2/annum for all heating & hot water, which is 72% less than the government's recent official definition of 'Zero carbon' at 46KWh/m2/annum. I'm happy to answer any other questions but just felt it appropriate to set the record straight for those unable to see/visit the house in person, many thanks !
    Posted by Richard on 23/12/2009 10:19:23
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  2. I just watched this program and I love the design of the house. I have yet to read the comments but I have skimmed some of them which seems to show that it is an eyesore. Just out of curiousity, does anybody have a pointer to Google Maps to see this building a bit from up above? Hawkins: thank You for a vision and the guts to follow it through! Cheers (mr.) Jan Rasmussen
    Posted by Jan Rasmussen on 02/12/2009 00:30:42
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  3. I commend eco design however looking into the production method of the 26,000 tiles they are fired in a kiln for two whole days; I do not consider this an environmentally friendly material. I feel that the style of the building was of much higher priority than the impact on the environment I, say this because the immensely high ceiling creates a large volume of air that needs to be heated. Taking the eco-friendly claims away I agree that it is a stunning building and the couple should be proud of it.
    Posted by Mr Doerr on 22/11/2009 13:35:51
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  4. As a local resident I have driven past this house several times. I was excited by the programme and keen to see the house in the flesh. At first I was intrigued but unsure about the design although I am a fan of modern architecture. The house sits in the middle of a plain and can be viewed from all directions. From one approach it looks like a giant nissan hut. There are no trees to soften the aspects. I was disappointed but prepared to withhold judgement. Now,eight months on it presents a sorry sight. The earth roof which I understood was to be planted with sedums etc. is still bare except for a few weeds. Much of it has been washed off by the rain and lies in heaps at the base of the roof. I wonder if this will affect the carefully calculated stress loads on the parabolic roof? No landscaping has been done and the garden is full of weeds and building rubble. The whole thing is a monumental eyesore and a blot on the landscape. It is quite unsuitable to its location and I cannot understand how it got planning permission. (I guess because of its eco credentials). I feel sorry for the architect and his wife because it was a dream project for them which appears to have gone horribly wrong. I would like Kevin to revisit this site and maybe do a follow-up programme.
    Posted by Anne on 16/10/2009 17:30:41
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  5. What would happen to the house if there was an earthquake/earth tremor (or some kind of natural disaster)? Do you think the house would still stand? I watched this episode a few months ago...been wondering ever since.
    Posted by Laura on 29/08/2009 04:56:09
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  6. An amazingly beautiful environmental home, apart from the obvious visual impact of the exterior & interior, it was the details of this home that made it so very impressive. Would love to know how it performs through the summer! By far the most exciting home I have seen on my favorite program. Congrats to the owners, its stunning!
    Posted by Nikki on 18/08/2009 10:52:40
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  7. The catenary not the parabola is the ideal form for an arch which supports only itself. Although some architects refer to parabolic arches in Spain, Antoni Gaudi himself used catenaries as evidenced by his use of strings and weights to determine the shape of the arch. Also although much attention was paid to the construction of the first layer of tiles to the original methods, I'm assuming this was purely for aesthetics as the rest was finished with concrete. If only for aesthetics, why not use something easier to work with such as a different mortar and concrete tiles instead of handmade ones. I also deplore the burning and obvious wastage of material while dismantling the bungalow. Recycled material was imported from a long way away where wood brick and other products could have been used? Really disappointing to see and really made it apparent that the architect was more interested in using the more popular "green" products instead of really being devoted to recycling. ie. Burning the wood then importing waste paper????? I would suggest that at a minimum the original building materials could have been mulched and buried?
    Posted by John on 17/08/2009 03:30:52
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  8. love the design but i would like more information on the systems used to turn it into a passive house and getting a return on the electricity this is the only part of the show that falls short please more information
    Posted by dale on 20/07/2009 12:30:07
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  9. A beautiful design and very brave. Living under thousands of tiles any one of which drop at any time.
    Posted by Dean on 12/07/2009 11:43:02
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  10. I have just watched this episode in Australia and I absolutely love this house. I have recently been to Italy and the terra-cotta tile roof reminded me so much of the sprawling roofs across Florence and Rome. If my house turned out to be half as beautiful as this home i would be very pleased. I will definitely consider a similar roof style when and if i ever build a house for myself.
    Posted by lucas on 09/07/2009 11:15:23
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  11. Congratulations on the courage to combine beauty, medieval methods, and sustainability housing. Oscar has more than an extraordinary house - he has two extraordinary parents.
    Posted by Adrian Glamorgan, Australia on 08/07/2009 16:34:32
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  12. Heroic is a perfect description. Rarely have I smiled through an entire episode of anything. This is truly and inspirational piece of art. This project alone justifies architects - it is what they all should be able to offer. I am profoundly impressed by the house, the ideas and the people. Thank you.
    Posted by Gordon from Australia on 08/07/2009 05:00:01
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  13. Excellent! A truly inspiring building of architectural and engineer magnificence. Of all the shows I've seen here in Australia, this building with its technology, and design features is the best I've seen. I would love to see this technology here in Australia. However, I cannot, at this stage, see our regulating authorities agree to such design. Although we all can see the benefits, regardless of geographical location. Well done.
    Posted by John Osmond on 07/07/2009 12:41:45
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  14. Please convey my congrats to Richard and Sophie. I regularly watch the show, but I can emphatically state that this house is one of the best, most sensually beautiful, I have ever seen...anywhere. It's a stunning achievement. many Architects pretend to understand Art. This house is the embodiment of the creative expression of spaces with truly purpose-relevant forms and materials, to which all contemporary Architects should aspire.(I am an Urban Designer and Town Planner, with extensive training in Fine Arts and an undergraduate Architecture background). Sincerely, Ian Grant AUSTRALIA
    Posted by Ian Grant on 07/07/2009 12:36:25
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  15. i love this program i whach it all the time when will it be out on dvd i will be the first to buy it.
    Posted by caitlin on 08/05/2009 14:43:06
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  16. We missed this episode and have heard that it was excellent! Is it scheduled to be repeated - or how soon before it is available on DVD?
    Posted by in Kent on 07/05/2009 18:51:09
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  17. Hi Richard & Team This episode of Grand Designs just aired in Australia. We were most fascinated by Sophie & Richard's Design. Congratulations, it was fabulous! So much so I thought I'd visit you on-line - how interesting was that!.....must admit we have the 'knockers' too in our country. In Australia we too are experiencing the same learnings regarding eco-friendly buildings. I'm thankful there are some bold people who take a risk and innovate for the sake of us all so we can truly gain knowledge. Impirical research is very important too as I'm learning from a thermal performance research project our organisation is involved in at the University of Newcastle for the past 8 years, so I'm pleased, and look forward to, what we can further learn from Cambridge University to make eco-homes more attainable for all. Congratulations again. p.s. how can we bring the building/planning regulators along on the journey? They play an important role yet sometimes they appear to stifle the innovation we so badly need - I guess that is politics!
    Posted by From Oz on 25/04/2009 09:05:38
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  18. it is very eco-tastic brap brap!!!
    Posted by Daniel on 22/04/2009 14:11:46
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  19. The arch house is clearly a well thought out design that has deeply researched elements which the owner has been modest enough to attribute to others who have helped him. It may not be a practical design to mass produce but it has many virtues. The problem is with the editing of the program that seeks to dramatize the process. It would be helpful to have a longer version for all the re-runs that will get shown in the future. A 'Tech' Grand Designs series could be put together to explore specific technical issues that are changing construction as we speak. It wouldn't cost much using mainly existing footage. As someone looking to go through the process again to achieve a sensible low-carbon design I am aware of just how hard it is to establish real facts when it comes to the pertinent issues of energy, performance and cost. Legislation is starting to affect design but there is a lack of transparency and not a little confusion with all the so-called solutions that are out there. We have previously built a triple glazed, fully sealed, low energy, timber framed house with a heat exchange system, I can attest to the virtues of using wood. It is the future, but Kevin will continue to make his asides. Our Grand Design had to contend with similar prejudices ... but that was more than 25 years ago!
    Posted by Chris T on 12/03/2009 09:44:25
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  20. I simply can't believe that the "revolutionary solar panels" produced £1800 income in "electricity" and "heat". How are you selling heat to someone and making money? How can the puny array of panels you have produce anything like that amount of electricity? Are you actually counting the amount you save by not heating a cathedral like this by conventional means? I wonder how many 3 bedroom houses of more conventional designs you could build for the same money also heated by passive means? I would also query the claim that it is an eco house since vast amounts of concrete (although 50% recycled) were used and that is one of the most eco-unfriendly building materials.
    Posted by Tim Wood on 06/03/2009 19:00:42
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  21. One of the research projects being undertaken by Cambridge University on the house will be to gather and measure all the data about every material used to make the building. Records of every person attending site during the build were kept, which will enable a very accurate assessment of the embodied energy attributable to the building of Crossway. We will then check this against the standard check lists currently used to do this job to ascertain how accurate such assumptions are. Hopefully this research will uncover patterns that will help generically improve how we go about building in the UK
    Posted by Richard on 05/03/2009 08:04:21
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  22. It would be interesting to know what the total carbon footprint of the construction process was, and how long it would take for this "eco" home to pay off its initial carbon debt.
    Posted by Eddy on 27/02/2009 12:17:44
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  23. Well done Richard & Sophie for being brave. Creating model solutions that tackle sustainability issues is the only way to help the vast majority to shift in their attitudes away from backward approaches. As an architect myself I am consistently up against resistance to change, often; partly planners because of regulations & how they are worded, partly Parish Councillors because they are often less enlightened, partly committee members, because they think of their power-base, rather than meeting greater goals. I believe the planning system itself has many problems allowing manipulation by minorities & it could get worse if appeals switch from trained professionals to a panel of Local Councillors in the same district, that were responsible for decisions in the first place. Beware everyone this is planned. It would be likely to stack up against achieving meritous design, such as Richard & Sophie have achieved. It is simple, each age reflects the needs of the time. The 21st Century needs to meet new requirements that cannot easily be obtained via old techniques- traditional forms of building. Victorian buildings do not translate easily to meet new goals. The arch may be a transferance from a different culture as an icon, but culturally we are becoming increasingly international anyway. One world issues of prime importance to all, relate to all cultures. The history of architecture & building showed changes through time in styles or approaches, that reflect that time. We even refer here to Elizabethan, Georgian, Victorian. An ancient spin, directing our attention to who had power. Architecture & power have been closely related through time. We now have an age of knowledge as power. The client manager here, has taken control to produce their vision of our time. Most importantly though, it is rooted in one world goals, it is responsible for itself. It managed finite resources well & uses less finite resources than others, from here on in. Our 'nation of shopkeepers' need to leave the visuals to us who are trained or they take the risk of being blamed for wasting resources & bankrupting us all in the pursuit of repeating the same 'traditional' mistakes. What a mess is our financial system & spec. building arena. I have professional curiousities of course, they are outwayed by the overall vision. A building reflects the mind of it's maker. Richard & Sophie, though I calculate this has cost you dearly in the pocket, I thank you for the focus you have maintained to show us all. It is a great nest for your expanding family & I wish you all the very best. Hopefully now you can enjoy it. It's birth & nurturing takes great energy to see through, not just physically but also spiritually. The enjoyment will be that much more I suspect & help off-set the mortgage repayments. Hope all's well with the new arrival...(s). Vaughan Keal MA(RCA)RIBA
    Posted by Vaughan Keal on 25/02/2009 12:00:27
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  24. TV program says you are making money from solar panels but didn't show any details. Where can I find out more?
    Posted by Joy on 24/02/2009 20:55:44
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  25. wow I loved it I wached the programe and I thought to myself I have got to find a website for this
    Posted by Lois McGregor on 24/02/2009 19:18:14
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  26. Certainly a striking structure but surely the cavernous space inside must consume more energy to heat than a normal height interior, in the same way that the huge volumes of larger barn conversions or church/chapel conversions do? I didn't see the start of the programme. What was the reasoning behind the arch apart from aesthetics
    Posted by Ark on 24/02/2009 00:03:40
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  27. I thought the brickwork was the best i have seen and the stairs were truly amazing,well done to those involved.
    Posted by OKB on 22/02/2009 21:47:29
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  28. hi . it is just amazing house and also sustainable. how i can get information about PV for tropical country and how it works .... and how you get the texture on the wall o the lighting image(8) this is any render ??thanks
    Posted by afranio sa menezes on 22/02/2009 21:15:01
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  29. We drove past your house on Saturday - it is certainly striking and different. We both like it but can see why some people don't. We are building our own home about 10 miles from you and would be interested in who your piling and ground floor slab contractor was. The tender goes out in a month or so. Whilst we are not going for the arch(!) we are planning to build with hemp lime and achieve near PassivHaus energy efficiency. We do have the luxury of mains gas so we plan solar hot water and gas fired underfloor heating. Interested in the solar panels and will check them out. We are looking at ones that will sit flush on a 5 degree sloping roof to avoid visual intrusion (Riomay). Enjoy the house.
    Posted by John and Penny on 22/02/2009 14:55:17
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  30. Superb Design. Really brave to experiment with the parobolic arch. It was the truimph behind much of Gaudi's work to allow the lightness and strength of his structures. I am now wondering, did he use this plaster of paris technique for the sinusiodal roof of the schoolhouse in Barcelona? Also congratulations for the zero effect the house will have on the planet. We need more thought in our designs now to slow or hopefully reverse the damage we are doing to our Mother Earth.
    Posted by Peter O'Brien on 22/02/2009 13:47:48
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  31. This is a reply to Anthony Lloyd-Wallis, the building makes more electricity than it uses, how is that not "eco friendly"!? I suggest that you attend to this without delay. Regards, Benjamin.
    Posted by Benjamin on 22/02/2009 12:11:14
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  32. Such an amazing house, does anyone know where I can get full resolution photos of it to have as my desktop?!
    Posted by Benjamin on 22/02/2009 12:09:01
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  33. I would like to find out more about the "revolutionary solar panels" from the eco arch house. Can any help me please.
    Posted by Barbara on 22/02/2009 11:50:15
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  34. I just wanted to let you guys know that I thought your home was amazing ,well done for taking a chance and wow did it pay off. When I've made my millions I'll be in touch to order an arch of my own :-)
    Posted by Marc on 22/02/2009 09:31:40
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  35. Any chance I can have your caravan now that you've done with it? Just kidding, watched the show, loved the house, absolutely stunning, good to see you making a stand for the environment too. Good work.
    Posted by Bobby on 22/02/2009 02:12:04
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  36. Really amazing and challenging dream project. I think you are a great architect as well as a greatest artist and designer too. you are really blessed. Wish you all the very best. One day if I have enough money I am surely going to look for you. Regards Bhavya
    Posted by BHAVYA on 22/02/2009 00:04:28
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  37. What a wonderful house. The arch is amazing and the look from inside truly stunning. I wasn't sold on the computer models but by the end I wanted to move in. You should be very proud ed
    Posted by ed on 21/02/2009 22:27:09
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  38. Were did you get the revolutionary solar panels from.
    Posted by lightfoot on 21/02/2009 22:26:28
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  39. Hello to Sophie, Richard and Oscar, Wow, what can I say, you are so brave. Congratulations on such an incredible creation, you must be so proud, it must feel so worth it now. We would love to see it for real one day. One thing I can't quite get my head round - with all the worry of caving in at the early stages, how do you feel living underneath it now? I really need to understand this. On something completely separate, my husband Lawrence is a professional chef, how would you feel about renting your kitchen for bespoke cookery classes, hope you don't think I am rude for asking, check out our website, just an idea, just think you have an amazing place and it needs showing off. Well done to all of you and enjoy, you deserve it. Kind regards Annabel
    Posted by Annabel and Lawrence on 21/02/2009 22:17:58
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  40. Are the solar panels solar thermal and solar pv? I want to understand where the energy comes from for the hot water requirements or the house. I'm a great fan of the Austrians - minimise demand through efficient design is a great principle. Regards
    Posted by roderick matheson on 21/02/2009 21:41:25
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  41. Very nice and I can see how some people love it and some hate it. How big is the house?
    Posted by jane on 21/02/2009 21:06:20
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  42. Just wanted to say what a great house Richard, well done for having the inspiration, drive and energy to see it through, it truly is an example of the future.
    Posted by Ben on 21/02/2009 20:29:15
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  43. I very much like the idea of the fitted ventilation system to recover heat from the air. I'd love to fit something similar to my own place but just can't find a retailer. Where can I get this ecodirendly (and wallet friendly) system?
    Posted by James on 21/02/2009 13:10:46
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  44. This is the first time I have written a comment regarding a Grand Design. I have always liked traditional houses but I have to say I really liked this house. It's interesting and exciting. Varying types of areas throughout the house will be an exciting place for their child to grow up in. I'm surprised by the negative comments written. I would love to see a website with more details about the build as so much had been cut out to fit the 49 minutes. Congratulations though, I think you have built a fantastic house.
    Posted by Daniel on 20/02/2009 15:40:38
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  45. Thanks for the comments. The solar panels are actually a combined PV and solar thermal panel calle PV-T (available from Newform Energy) and you could only see 2 of the 7 of the roof. Total area = 26m2 Two panels (8m2)are at 50 degrees for optimised winter solar thermal. The remaining 18m2 are at 5 degrees for optimal summer electrical generation. A fluid in the panels cools the PV cells thus greatly increasing their generating efficiency - the extrated heat is then stored in the worlds first thermal salt phase change thermal store. This is an area the programme didn't have time to cover. For info speak to Newform Energy and The Carbon Free Group. The income from generation comes not only from electricity generation but also from the government's new doubleROCS where money is paid for the generation of on site thermal energy. The figure i stated may vary obviously but the unit rates keep changing and the subsidy terms are not fixed yet i believe. So many things couldn't be covered in the programme - it's only 49 minutes long. Credit for the structure goes to Cambridge Uni and the builder, not the architect - but i don't do the editing. Resin flooring is from South East Coatings in Faversham. We burnt the bungalow because its flimsy 1933 timber stud frame was completely rotten. The asbestos was carefully removed beforehand.
    Posted by Richard on 20/02/2009 11:48:58
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  46. I dont think Kevin was disparaging timber frame per se - surely the point is that it's how you construct and insulate that matters, and the key is using the right quality membranes, air-leakage barriers, tapes, sealants and other products - and careful and thorough installation techniques - to achieve the air-tightness. it's worth investing in advanced kit from the start and taking care to plug up all the potential leaks that really makes the difference to the blower door tests and getting under that magic 2! Timber frame is the future - if it's done right!
    Posted by Mick Carroll on 20/02/2009 11:22:37
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  47. Hi - having built ourselves and been brave enough to go on national tv with our journey (Grand Designs) then I just wanted to say well done on your amazing project. It was brilliant to watch and the final result looks fantastic. Well done on your eco approach - it was inspiring. Hope you have many happy years in your home.
    Posted by morgy on 19/02/2009 21:58:41
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  48. Please can someone tell me where I can get that recycled glass/resin floor - I loved the imperfections it contained like the chain etc. Thanks
    Posted by Julia on 19/02/2009 18:17:13
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  49. I was fascinated with the episode the other day on eco arch house especially the use of eco products. I am a director of a mechanical services company and have several projects for large companies in the London Area. I am tryihg to get hold of re-cycled concrete to use on a project and am not having much luck. Could you recommend a few companies that could help me. Regards Andy
    Posted by Andy Hall on 19/02/2009 18:13:35
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  50. Interesting use of the arch construction techniques as shown in the great Arch of Ctesiphon, just south of Baghdad. That was constructed in the 1st century AD, and is easily the largest unsupported arch of its time still in existence.
    Posted by Nyree on 19/02/2009 17:51:38
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  51. I thought the compostition of the boxes, including the materials, and the quality of detailing was very good. I am not sure the arch looks that great from the outside, despite it being a great achievement, but it does look very nice inside, mainly because of the materials. Not sure it's something I would've designed though. Also, note to chubby, i missed the start of the episode but if he was burning wood then that is carbon neutral, only fossil fuels add carbon to the atmosphere.
    Posted by Dan on 19/02/2009 17:26:34
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  52. What a magnificent house! So nice to see something unique, rather than the "palette" of cliches passed off as contemporary architecture by most designers. I wish it was in my neighbourhood, I would find it so inspirational. Best wishes to this very personable couple.
    Posted by Graham on 19/02/2009 16:23:07
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  53. An interesting build. It is, however, difficult to reconcile the architect's comment, that he can expect a cheque from the government for £1800 every year for exported energy, with a quick camera shot of some small solar panels. Were they photovoltaics? Were there any more? With the current schemes for small-scale domestic renewable energy generators it is difficult to see how an income of £1800, from an electricity supply company, could be generated by the building unless 15 - 20 MWH per annum was being generated! Given the right wind conditions a 15KW wind turbine might achieve it, but none was in evidence. Alternatively at 1east 160 square meters of photovoltaics - but where were they? Chris P
    Posted by Chris P on 19/02/2009 15:16:47
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  54. Did I hear correctly that the owner was expecting ?1,800 for electricity generation; at 4p a unit that's an awful lot generation capacity I make that 45,000 units (kWh)- 123 kWh a day that's a vast array of solar panels with 7m2 producing 1kWp!! Can we have some clarification on this. Nevertheless an interesting program.
    Posted by Martin on 19/02/2009 15:05:25
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  55. I was fascinated by last night's episode however was Richard only really interested in the Publicity or was he actually interested in being "green". He was attempting to build an eco home but the very first shots included a raging bonfire, what did that do to his carbon footprint and was it really necessary to cut down the very things that consume carbon. We also watched the original bungalow being torn down without any regard to recycling. He stated that he would be selling back electricity to the national grid and was expecting to receive £1800 per year I would suspect that was very optimistic. There was no mention of how this was being done, although we did get a very brief shot of what looked like a wood or maybe biomass burner was that a mini CHP unit, an explanation would have been nice. And what about rainwater and grey water harvesting, no mention of those either. Lastly what was all that duct tape doing sealing the building for the air leakage test do we assume that was a temporary measure with a more permanent solution carried out later. Other than that fantastic and fascinating.
    Posted by Chubbly on 19/02/2009 14:54:45
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  56. So just what was revolutionary about the solar panels?
    Posted by P Hemmings on 19/02/2009 14:07:58
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  57. How is the electricity generated? Is there something other than the photovoltaics? Nice project.
    Posted by JulienBrown-ArchitecturStudent on 19/02/2009 13:33:48
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  58. As a structural engineer I was fascinated by the arch but a little disappointed/surprised as no mention was made of any involvement of an engineer in its design. In previous episodes that have been a lot less dramatic than this, the importance of the engineering design in complementing the architecture has been discussed. I am a firm advocate of early architect/engineer collaboration to achieve great architectural solutions backed up by innovative engineering. Whilst the principles behind arch design are basic, if this is indeed the first of its kind in the UK, I cannot see how the involvement of an engineer or engineering design could have been avoided. I thought it would have got a mention considering how critical it was to the whole concept.
    Posted by N J Groves on 19/02/2009 12:53:32
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  59. Apart from the use of local materials the architecture did not reflect or echo in modern way Kent vernacular architecture as a consequence I thought the building looked rather ugly. Peter Halpin Architect.
    Posted by peter halpin on 19/02/2009 12:03:11
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  60. I doun't usualy watch Grand designs, After watching last night I remembered why! Architecturaly the deisgn is clumsy. Enviormentaly the arguments did not add up.
    Posted by mart on 19/02/2009 12:02:44
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  61. First off i would like to say well done to the guys who built the house, a difficult and dangerous job, made to look easy. secondly how come on alot of the shows the lady of the house ends up expecting? me and my partner now have a bet before the show starts to see if they will fall pregnant or not, but the whole show is fun, and Kevin Mcloud does a great job of explaining stuff to people like myself, who are of a non building background.....however on that note, i cant understand why people have to send in comments, slagging off the builder/owner for what they have tried..this programme is about innovation and buildings "out of the box" and if you had watched the series from the beginning like i have and enjoyed every season, you would know this, as for not conforming to this or that, with the way planning and building inspectors are today, i dont think it would have passed for inhabitation had things like 'power sockets" not been in the correct position, and as the owner/builder is a senior architect for the company who designed his house...im fairly confident he knows exactly where plugs etc have to be located, as im sure his own electrical engineer does... many thanks to the team for this great programme...keep them comming
    Posted by Danny C on 19/02/2009 10:56:30
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  62. Dear Kevin I must say i was very dissapointed in your comments in last nights show(18/02/09 Eco arch), in which you described normal timber frame construction as leaky boxes. I am a small timber frame manufacturer and house builder and feel you did nothing for this growing sector of construction which has always been veiwed as the lesser choice against traditional block construction. I also feel the air test carried out in this programe did not reflect the true performance of the house as they were taping up leaks during the test.What score would this house have achieved with out these measures? The last property I built achieved a test rating of 2.14 with no taping of leaks before or during the test, If i had carried out taping of leaks during the test, I feel sure i could have achieved a much lower score but this would not then reflect the true performance of the house during its life time as you do not live in a house with sticky tape around doors and windows. Yours Sincerely Simeon Rives-Roberts
    Posted by S.G.Rives-Roberts on 19/02/2009 09:14:38
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  63. I am building the first zero carbon emission concrete house[passive] in ireland and was wondering would ye be interested in featuring it on show.I have tv quality footage which would cut down on expences coming over.It very unual and has atracted alot of attention.I was over at grand design show last year and a big fan of programme.Alot of viewers in Ireland
    Posted by micheal on 18/02/2009 23:36:11
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  64. This build has been a fascinating journey for several reason, a little more understanding of eco technology, and now keen to learn more as a result. Tte shape is unique and daring to a me, living in a square right angle world. This has trully been I think a real grand design because of its frontier ground breaking and positive outcome, So many of these progs are really ego-friendly rather than eco-friendly. About people wanting to say heh I have alot of money look at me. Great prog!
    Posted by Grand designer blogger on 18/02/2009 23:16:52
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  65. What a fantastic building and home I would love to see it.Is it possoble to have the location as I live in Kent not to far from the weald even to look from the outside would be good yours sincerely R Winfield
    Posted by Richard Winfield on 18/02/2009 23:03:43
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  66. I note that in the Eco Arch episode it was stated that there was a payback for the energy generated. However, it was not mentioned how the generation took place. I saw solar hot water panels and there was a clip of a boiler, but nothing on solar electricity. Any ideas anyone, or did I miss something Brian
    Posted by Calbri on 18/02/2009 23:01:57
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  67. I live near this property, and think it's frankly unpleasant in its setting. There are quite a few modern properties nearby that fit much better into a precious landscape - so we know that it's possible to build in a way that's sympathetic to the area's environment and traditions. The sooner this alien structure is surrounded by trees the better - though I doubt I'll live long enough for trees to get nearly big enough. It's a shame - from the TV programme the owners seemed a nice couple.
    Posted by Marden resident on 18/02/2009 22:50:31
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  68. Surely it's an inverted catenary, not a parabola? The only load is it's own weight and the load is uniform along the length.
    Posted by Malcolm Boura on 18/02/2009 22:24:40
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  69. Hi, I was most intested to see how you could justify calling this whole project eco friendly when you demolished an existing home and went 140k over budget. I do not believe you have achived this. Further more I need to point out as an electrical engineer you havehave not complied bs 7671 of the wiring regulations by placing the socket outlets in your open plan bedroom/bathroom within 3m of the bath or zone 1. I suggest that you attend to this without delay. Regards, Anthony.
    Posted by Anthony Lloyd-Wallis on 18/02/2009 22:14:28
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