Kevin McCloud follows people as they build their dream house, often focusing on modern design, energy efficiency, maximizing space and views.
Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 10, 2023.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!
For most people, living in a lighthouse is pure fantasy. Not so for Edward and Hazel Short and their two young daughters. Back in 2012, they set out to build a brand new, art deco, shining white lighthouse tower with additional bedrooms, guest rooms, and infinity pool on the side - all on a rugged but beautiful clifftop in North Devon. Kevin McCloud sees if they made that dream a reality.
The episode was rated 7.30 from 115 votes.
Design engineer Mark Butler is paralysed from the waist down and needs a cutting-edge, wheelchair-friendly family home. Making it for £600k proves a huge emotional strain.
The episode was rated 7.44 from 93 votes.
Kevin McCloud follows the progress of musician Toby Leeming as he sets out to build a house wrapped around an ancient oak tree in rural Suffolk. The design for Toby's five-building home contains six bedrooms, six bathrooms, a music studio and an annexe - a vast project more like a village than a house. Creating this life changing vision on a £530k budget, and in only eight months, will not be an easy task, especially as they must build up close to an ancient oak without destroying any of the roots.
The episode was rated 7.53 from 116 votes.
Kevin McCloud meets entrepreneur Paul Wilkinson and his wife Amy, who are building a giant new home on a 16-acre plot in Lincolnshire. The superstructure will be comprised of five circular buildings made up of interlocking timber cylinders, linked by raised wooden walkways that hang over a fishing lake. The complicated build proves difficult for Paul's local team, and their ambitious schedule of completing the project in a year soon looks out of reach.
The episode was rated 7.56 from 116 votes.
Andy and Jeanette plan a precarious cliff-top build on the west coast of Scotland. There are battles with extreme weather, budget overruns, and a sudden emotional shock.
The episode was rated 7.69 from 86 votes.
Kevin McCloud follows the progress of engineer Richard Bennett and his partner Felicia Böhm as they transform an underground water reservoir near the Humber Estuary into a family home. In 2013, the pair decided to embark on the ambitious build with a budget of only £150,000, but it proved a monumental challenge, and design and layout decisions stretched their abilities and the schedule to the max.
The episode was rated 7.69 from 109 votes.
Kevin McCloud revisits a home built on an airfield in Strathaven in Scotland to check on the progress made by Colin MacKinnon and his partner Marta Briongos. Their ambitious plan was to build a metal-sculptural home inspired by aircraft hangars right next to the runway, but the difficulties of building their elegant design saw a year-long project stretch to three years.
The episode was rated 7.69 from 97 votes.
