0:00:02 > 0:00:04Across the nation architects are building,
0:00:04 > 0:00:06designing and transforming the homes we live in...
0:00:06 > 0:00:08One day I'm going to live in a house like this
0:00:08 > 0:00:09and not just do it for others.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11We're following some of those leading the way
0:00:11 > 0:00:13in groundbreaking design.
0:00:13 > 0:00:16Their jaw would drop if they saw that.
0:00:16 > 0:00:17I can't believe it.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23We'll be with them every step of the way as they battle with builders,
0:00:23 > 0:00:25blue prints and the clients who hire them.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29You've got a very strange understanding of the word "today".
0:00:29 > 0:00:30Whoa, whoa, whoa!
0:00:30 > 0:00:32LOUD CRASH
0:00:32 > 0:00:33That's not good.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35- It's like working with the Chuckle Brothers.- Ho, ho, ho!
0:00:35 > 0:00:38We're with them as they draw on their seven years of training
0:00:38 > 0:00:40to solve everyday problems...
0:00:40 > 0:00:43Quick word in his ear, make sure there's no more mishaps.
0:00:43 > 0:00:46He's come in on an angle and ripped up the road
0:00:46 > 0:00:49but he's now ripped his exhaust pipe off.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51Oh, man!
0:00:53 > 0:00:54I've said many prayers.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56That's amazing!
0:00:56 > 0:00:59That's a pretty incredible difference, isn't it?
0:00:59 > 0:01:01The fixings alone cost 17 grand.
0:01:04 > 0:01:08All in the name of making the properties we dream of a reality.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26Today, architect David Blaikie designs a room with a view
0:01:26 > 0:01:29as part of a Midlothian house extension...
0:01:29 > 0:01:33This sort of wide format window like that captures it rather nicely,
0:01:33 > 0:01:34- doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36..but a tight budget...
0:01:36 > 0:01:38Every penny we can save.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43..and an over-enthusiastic owner proves problematic.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45And the whole lot just came crashing down.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49And in the New Forest, strict regulations
0:01:49 > 0:01:52are not the only challenge for architect Wendy Perrin.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55The bespoke mobile home she's designing,
0:01:55 > 0:01:58turns out to be less mobile than anticipated.
0:02:00 > 0:02:03Oh, gosh, it's sliding all over the place.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13Ten years ago, Jacqui and Kenny Lorraine
0:02:13 > 0:02:17fell for the charm of this former railway house
0:02:17 > 0:02:19in Howgate in Scotland.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21They love the rural setting of their home,
0:02:21 > 0:02:22but since they've had two kids,
0:02:22 > 0:02:24they've discovered a snag with the house.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26For the two of us it was all right,
0:02:26 > 0:02:29but as soon as critters started arriving...
0:02:31 > 0:02:34It's just too small. It is literally just space.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37This house didn't come with one cupboard, closet,
0:02:37 > 0:02:39anywhere to put anything.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42I've got no love for this house as it is at the moment.
0:02:42 > 0:02:46If I could have knocked it down and started again I would have.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48They want to increase their living space
0:02:48 > 0:02:51and make the most of the stunning views on their doorstep,
0:02:51 > 0:02:53so they've asked architect David Blaikie
0:02:53 > 0:02:55to design an extension.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58What's sort of extraordinary about this project is that the
0:02:58 > 0:03:02original building is a tiny little two bedroom, two-roomed building
0:03:02 > 0:03:05that used to be a stop on a railway line.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08It wasn't a station - it wasn't big enough to be a station,
0:03:08 > 0:03:10so it's called a stop.
0:03:10 > 0:03:14In the 1960s, it was extended at the back.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16Very, very poor quality,
0:03:16 > 0:03:18no insulation in it whatsoever.
0:03:18 > 0:03:21We're then coming to the kitchen.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23So a much bigger kitchen,
0:03:23 > 0:03:27a nice sufficient horseshoe of kitchen units across here.
0:03:27 > 0:03:30And then we're giving them a new sitting room which is on
0:03:30 > 0:03:33the southwest side of the building, it looks out into their garden.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36It's a bigger room than their existing sitting room
0:03:36 > 0:03:40by quite some way, but it's just going to focus on the garden
0:03:40 > 0:03:43with the sunshine coming in. It's going to be beautiful.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47David's planning a radical modern extension that will double the size
0:03:47 > 0:03:51of the house and contrast with the original old stone.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55It will give them a large new kitchen-diner and living space.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58The build is scheduled to take four months
0:03:58 > 0:04:01and they aim to complete all the work for £90,000,
0:04:01 > 0:04:05which includes the cost for a new kitchen and architect's fees.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Jacqui and Kenny are calling this an austerity extension.
0:04:08 > 0:04:11They have a tight budget and big ideas,
0:04:11 > 0:04:13so compromises have had to be made.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18An example would be the glazing that had been put down in the plans.
0:04:18 > 0:04:20It was all going to be timber-framed,
0:04:20 > 0:04:24aluminium-clad windows and we were getting quotes back for that.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28To do the whole house, some of them were about £18,000 to £20,000.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32Uh, and when we started having these discussions about how can we
0:04:32 > 0:04:37cut the costs back down, we found out obviously if we did the glazing
0:04:37 > 0:04:40in uPVC, our windows would come down to £6,000 to £8,000.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43So we're going with uPVC.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46With all the details of the budget ironed out,
0:04:46 > 0:04:48the build gets under way.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Head contractor Stephen starts to put together the timber frame
0:04:51 > 0:04:52on top of the foundations.
0:04:52 > 0:04:56David's design starts to take shape immediately.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59While work to create the extra living space
0:04:59 > 0:05:00is forging ahead outside,
0:05:00 > 0:05:03life indoors with two kids and two dogs,
0:05:03 > 0:05:06next to a muddy, noisy building site, isn't easy for Jacqui.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09The kitchen is basically halved with the partition
0:05:09 > 0:05:12and obviously we've lost the family kitchen table
0:05:12 > 0:05:15so we can't sit down and have a meal. We can't sit down in here at all.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18The washing machine and the dishwasher were never in here.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21They were in the utility room which we don't have any more.
0:05:21 > 0:05:23Erm, so yeah,
0:05:23 > 0:05:27it was everything we had just has been dumped into this area.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30I have had smaller kitchens,
0:05:30 > 0:05:34to be fair. I have had smaller kitchens but not quite as cluttered.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37There won't be anything pokey about Jacqui's new kitchen.
0:05:37 > 0:05:41The foundations for it are already down and architect David has come
0:05:41 > 0:05:44to site to explain how his design will keep their build on budget.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46Did I tell you about the overhanging detail
0:05:46 > 0:05:48that we've got on the building?
0:05:48 > 0:05:51The point of it is there's less foundations, less brickwork so
0:05:51 > 0:05:54it's cheaper down there and you've still got this bigger room up above.
0:05:54 > 0:05:55- How does that sound?- Yep.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58The other thing it does, because it's dark brick
0:05:58 > 0:06:00and it's underneath a sort of shadow line like that,
0:06:00 > 0:06:04it's going to make the timber clad and the zinc parts look as if
0:06:04 > 0:06:07they're floating off the ground so that's playing a wee sort of game
0:06:07 > 0:06:11against the stone building which is sitting heavily on the ground.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14- Yes. Very good, yes. - A bit of fun there.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18I should have told you about that before, shouldn't I?
0:06:18 > 0:06:20You're the client, aren't you?
0:06:20 > 0:06:23To get everything they want from their home whilst staying in this
0:06:23 > 0:06:26dream location, this enterprising family have come up with
0:06:26 > 0:06:28a creative solution to help them save cash.
0:06:28 > 0:06:32Jacqui and Kenny have got quite a restricted budget.
0:06:32 > 0:06:34We knew that from the outset.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38So we spent a bit of time with the preferred contractor, Stephen,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41looking at elements of the project that Kenny
0:06:41 > 0:06:43could actually carry out by himself.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Kenny is an enthusiastic amateur,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48I think you'd describe him when it comes to building works.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51And he's certainly not scared to get his hands dirty, which is great.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54It's the first time I'll have done anything like that,
0:06:54 > 0:06:57certainly even in terms of knocking down a wall, I've never done that.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01I'm hoping I'm not going to learn by too many mistakes.
0:07:01 > 0:07:02Saving money is one thing,
0:07:02 > 0:07:05but when owner Kenny and a group of his friends decide to take
0:07:05 > 0:07:11on the demolition of the old kitchen wall, things go very, very wrong.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19For the past 20 years, Mel Matthews has lived on a stunning five acre
0:07:19 > 0:07:24plot of land in the heart of the New Forest in a mobile home.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26It can get very cold at night in here,
0:07:26 > 0:07:30so I'm not relishing spending too many more nights here.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33She's had enough of this draughty way of living
0:07:33 > 0:07:36but she loves the plot so much, she doesn't want to leave.
0:07:37 > 0:07:40The trouble is she's only allowed to replace her mobile home
0:07:40 > 0:07:42with another mobile home.
0:07:43 > 0:07:46Undeterred, she's asked award-winning architect
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Wendy Perring to produce plans for a bespoke two-bed structure
0:07:49 > 0:07:53that will comply with strict New Forest regulations.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57The Mobile Homes Act is very, very strict.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59It's got to comply with certain dimensions.
0:07:59 > 0:08:04Wendy has designed a mobile home like you've never seen before.
0:08:04 > 0:08:09Because of the site, we went back to complete, total and utter simplicity.
0:08:09 > 0:08:14It is a box but it's a very beautiful, simple box.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16The building has to be built in sections
0:08:16 > 0:08:20and the last act has got to be the coming together of the sections.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23We've tried to replicate the wood.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25And we're doing something quite unusual here
0:08:25 > 0:08:30in that we're putting oak on the floor and oak on the ceiling as well.
0:08:30 > 0:08:35It will give the building a very solid, crafted feel
0:08:35 > 0:08:39and for Mel, this was very important.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42This is a truly mobile home,
0:08:42 > 0:08:45so architect Wendy has also had to decide on and design the kitchen,
0:08:45 > 0:08:50bathroom, floors, fixtures and fittings from the get-go.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53Not only that, Wendy wants the project
0:08:53 > 0:08:55to be as energy-efficient as possible.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58We are going to try and achieve Passive House certification
0:08:58 > 0:09:00on this building.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Now that's something that's incredibly hard to do.
0:09:03 > 0:09:07There are hardly any buildings in this country that are Passive House
0:09:07 > 0:09:10and there certainly aren't any that have been built in sections
0:09:10 > 0:09:13and joined together because one of the things that you have to achieve
0:09:13 > 0:09:15is great air-tightness.
0:09:15 > 0:09:18A Passive House means lower bills,
0:09:18 > 0:09:21it's more environmentally friendly and much more sustainable.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24This is the ultimate eco mobile home.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27It will be 65ft long and have a large kitchen-diner,
0:09:27 > 0:09:31a living room, two bedrooms and an office.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34Mel has a budget of £350,000.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37It will take 12 weeks to build in a factory in Yorkshire,
0:09:37 > 0:09:41before it's transported to site, complete with windows, doors,
0:09:41 > 0:09:43floors, kitchen and furniture.
0:09:44 > 0:09:46It's early December
0:09:46 > 0:09:50and the foundations for the new mobile home have gone in.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53Wendy, colleague Ricky and Mel are heading to the Yorkshire factory
0:09:53 > 0:09:55to check on progress.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58Generally we just need to check, you know,
0:09:58 > 0:10:02that everything is as we, you know, envisaged.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06It's Wendy's first visit to the factory
0:10:06 > 0:10:11and she's keen to see how her client reacts to the scale of her design.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14- Wow! It's big, isn't it? - It is, yeah.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18It's no wonder Mel is bowled over.
0:10:18 > 0:10:22Her new home is comparable to the size of a Victorian terrace.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25It makes a big difference, seeing it now with the windows in.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27Huge difference.
0:10:27 > 0:10:29It's starting to look like a house.
0:10:29 > 0:10:33But unlike a traditional home, the modular units can be picked up
0:10:33 > 0:10:35and transported anywhere in the world.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39This is one side and this is the other side,
0:10:39 > 0:10:42so this is one unit and the other unit.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46As just one join can affect the energy efficiency of the house,
0:10:46 > 0:10:49and knowing that it has tough criteria to meet, Wendy is keen
0:10:49 > 0:10:54to ensure that the insulation material she's ordered will deliver.
0:10:54 > 0:10:56- So this is the eco bright?- Yes.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59So you're then taping that to the window frame.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01This is taped to the window frames,
0:11:01 > 0:11:04so you get air tightness and a vapour barrier.
0:11:04 > 0:11:07The next big feature on the check list is the windows
0:11:07 > 0:11:10and Wendy discovers a serious problem...
0:11:10 > 0:11:12This particular window here has arrived
0:11:12 > 0:11:17and it is 183mm, so that's about that much too short.
0:11:17 > 0:11:20It's a huge impact because it means the cladding
0:11:20 > 0:11:22can't be finished on the outside,
0:11:22 > 0:11:25but importantly, the walls can't be finished on the inside because
0:11:25 > 0:11:28the weathertight and the airtight membranes have to be sealed
0:11:28 > 0:11:31to the windows in order to maintain the integrity of all those
0:11:31 > 0:11:33so they cannot air test.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36They can temporarily seal it but they can't do the final air tests,
0:11:36 > 0:11:40they can't finish the walls, they can't do the decorations,
0:11:40 > 0:11:44the client can't live in the house so it's pretty major.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47The factory have said it could take months to get a new window -
0:11:47 > 0:11:49disastrous news for Mel.
0:11:49 > 0:11:52I think if we had an eight-week wait for that window,
0:11:52 > 0:11:54that would be quite a problem.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58Especially as she's still living in a freezing caravan
0:11:58 > 0:12:00in ever decreasing December temperatures.
0:12:04 > 0:12:06Near the Pentland Hills in Scotland,
0:12:06 > 0:12:09the timber frame for Kenny and Jacqui's extension
0:12:09 > 0:12:12to their tiny two-roomed railway house has been expertly erected
0:12:12 > 0:12:14by contractor Stephen.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17But before the builders can crack on with the next stage of the build,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20an old exterior wall must be demolished.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24It's a small job for a specialist builder, but to save money,
0:12:24 > 0:12:28owner Kenny and four of his mates have taken the job on themselves.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33- Oh, my God.- Morning, Jacqui.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Good morning, Greg. Are you OK?
0:12:36 > 0:12:37It's all happening.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39What is happening?
0:12:39 > 0:12:41Kenny's destroying my house!
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Destroying the house. I know.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52Jacqui, go and throw the dogs in the house.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54There's dogs, children, builders!
0:12:56 > 0:12:59It's an exciting day for five-year-old Max...
0:12:59 > 0:13:02They're building our new kitchen.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05..and mum, Jacqui.
0:13:05 > 0:13:09As much as we can do, we're going to try and do ourselves because
0:13:09 > 0:13:12the whole thing is obviously just costing a fortune
0:13:12 > 0:13:14so every penny we can save.
0:13:14 > 0:13:18To demolish the wall, each of the lintels must be carefully removed,
0:13:18 > 0:13:20but wearing no hard hats
0:13:20 > 0:13:23and with little respect for health and safety,
0:13:23 > 0:13:25the lads use sheer brute force.
0:13:29 > 0:13:31Their gung ho attitude ends in disaster
0:13:31 > 0:13:34for the newly built timber frame.
0:13:34 > 0:13:35That's a bit of timber broken.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40Just the weight of the lintel, obviously it was another big one,
0:13:40 > 0:13:43it just came down when the single brick that was holding it up
0:13:43 > 0:13:46and the whole lot just came crashing down.
0:13:46 > 0:13:49It was supposed to be a cost-cutting exercise.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52But now the timber frame will have to be fixed.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57It's Monday morning and Kenny and his friends are at work.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01The wall has been cleared and architect David has arrived.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04Head contractor Stephen has had to repair the timber that was
0:14:04 > 0:14:07damaged while he was off-site.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11It was a lintel from here that dropped and smashed all of this.
0:14:11 > 0:14:13Oh, really, wow.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16So we've managed to get it back up.
0:14:16 > 0:14:20- We've put another timber at the back of it.- Uh-huh.
0:14:22 > 0:14:23Wow, so it just sheared the timber.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29It's not going anywhere now.
0:14:29 > 0:14:30With the timber reinforced,
0:14:30 > 0:14:33Stephen and the team continue with the build.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36David is keen to hear what client Jacqui thinks of the space.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39So is it as big as you want?
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Marvellous!
0:14:41 > 0:14:43And David reveals his inspiration.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46When we were designing this, a long time ago now,
0:14:46 > 0:14:49I was thinking about Jacqui peeling potatoes.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54Scrubbing the children's clothes in the sink.
0:14:54 > 0:14:57Shampooing the dogs.
0:14:57 > 0:15:02As they admire the swans. That's always just been our favourite view.
0:15:02 > 0:15:05Incredibly picturesque with the pond in the foreground
0:15:05 > 0:15:08but this sort of wide format window like that just captures it
0:15:08 > 0:15:10- rather nicely, doesn't it?- Yeah.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14Just from the edge of the trees there,
0:15:14 > 0:15:16over the field at the back there.
0:15:16 > 0:15:19- It's gorgeous. - I could peel potatoes...
0:15:19 > 0:15:23You can come round and peel potatoes, that's fine!
0:15:23 > 0:15:26For the final stage of the work on the fabric of the building,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29David's design blends two textures,
0:15:29 > 0:15:30larch wood and zinc.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Owner Kenny plans to apply the zinc finish himself,
0:15:35 > 0:15:37but after the lintel mishap,
0:15:37 > 0:15:39David is keen to keep an eye on his client.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42I'm going to have a word with Kenny and just make sure that
0:15:42 > 0:15:46when he does his final part, he's a bit more careful about it.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49Have a word, quick word in his ear, make sure there's no more mishaps.
0:15:49 > 0:15:53But with overzealous owner Kenny determined to get his hands dirty,
0:15:53 > 0:15:56David needs to be firm to make sure the next phase goes smoothly.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02Architect Wendy Perring is designing a mobile home
0:16:02 > 0:16:05like you've never seen before for her client, Mel.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10Not only will it look amazing, it will be the ultimate eco house.
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Wendy specialises in sustainable architecture
0:16:15 > 0:16:18and today she's on her way to one of her previous designs,
0:16:18 > 0:16:22a house which achieved the coveted Passive House standard.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25- Wendy!- Hi, Liz. How are you doing? - Hello, darling. How are you?
0:16:25 > 0:16:28- I'm good. How are you?- Come in, come in.- Thank you very much.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30- How are things?- OK. Come and have a look.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32Can I just hang this up?
0:16:32 > 0:16:35- It's nice and toasty in here, isn't it?- It is.
0:16:35 > 0:16:38- And the heating hasn't been on today.- Really?
0:16:38 > 0:16:43And the solar gain through the windows has been perfect.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47Wendy started design of Liz's contemporary eco home in 2010
0:16:47 > 0:16:52and completed it in 2013, at a cost of £800,000.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56It's the perfect showcase of what a Passive House should be.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00We've got quite large windows to the outside here which means
0:17:00 > 0:17:05that in the summertime, this will get a lot of solar gain.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08But most importantly, in the wintertime it will get...
0:17:08 > 0:17:12When the sun angle is lower, the sun will stream into this space
0:17:12 > 0:17:14and heat it up naturally.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17And that's one of the quite important elements
0:17:17 > 0:17:20when you're designing for a low energy house,
0:17:20 > 0:17:23is making sure that the spaces face the right direction.
0:17:23 > 0:17:28Liz and her husband generate their own electricity and hot water.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30They recycle waste and rainwater
0:17:30 > 0:17:34and it's all controlled at the touch of a button.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38In here, we have some of the major bits of kit that control
0:17:38 > 0:17:41what's going on in the house.
0:17:41 > 0:17:44So this is the MVHR system,
0:17:44 > 0:17:48which is mechanically assisted ventilation and heat recovery unit.
0:17:48 > 0:17:53So there's pipe-work throughout the house and basically it takes
0:17:53 > 0:17:58warm air from spaces like the kitchens and the bathrooms
0:17:58 > 0:18:02and re-circulates that to cooler spaces, but mixes it with fresh air.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06So it's constantly changing the air throughout the house and making
0:18:06 > 0:18:12sure that it's fresh but it's taking heat that would otherwise just be
0:18:12 > 0:18:17surplus to requirement and taking it to areas where it can be beneficial.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20Wendy is passionate about creating low energy homes
0:18:20 > 0:18:22but knows they come at a cost.
0:18:22 > 0:18:27I think there's absolutely no question that the more
0:18:27 > 0:18:30bells and whistles that you put on a building, the more expensive
0:18:30 > 0:18:34it becomes, but one of the really nice things is that insulation
0:18:34 > 0:18:37is relatively affordable and so we always encourage our clients
0:18:37 > 0:18:41to think about the fabric of the building first.
0:18:41 > 0:18:46And in terms of payback times, they're coming down
0:18:46 > 0:18:49and energy prices are going up so there's no doubt about it
0:18:49 > 0:18:55that it is becoming more affordable to build more sustainably,
0:18:55 > 0:18:57but it is more expensive.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01Fulfilling the criteria for a sustainable low energy home
0:19:01 > 0:19:03is proving challenging for Wendy's current project
0:19:03 > 0:19:05just 20 miles down the road.
0:19:05 > 0:19:10The challenge with Rufus Lodge is it is a mobile home
0:19:10 > 0:19:14so it has to conform to the Caravan Act so whenever you've got
0:19:14 > 0:19:20a building that's only allowed to be 20m long by, you know, 6m wide,
0:19:20 > 0:19:24you cannot go building walls that are a metre in depth.
0:19:24 > 0:19:28So we've had to look at different ways of insulating,
0:19:28 > 0:19:30different types of insulation
0:19:30 > 0:19:33that achieve those standards without being terribly thick.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35We've looked at the windows.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39We've got amazing windows that are thermally efficient
0:19:39 > 0:19:43and Mel's been absolutely fantastic at just encouraging us
0:19:43 > 0:19:49to do that and she really believes in it as well which is really important.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Back in the New Forest, Mel's pioneering new mobile home
0:19:52 > 0:19:56fell badly behind schedule when one of the windows was made too small.
0:19:56 > 0:20:00Finally, eight weeks after Mel was due to have her new home delivered,
0:20:00 > 0:20:02she gets news it's ready.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05But then the worst winter in hundreds of years strikes
0:20:05 > 0:20:07and hurricane-force winds and rain batter the site.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10You'll notice a difference with all the trees that have gone.
0:20:10 > 0:20:13- It's incredible.- Seven trees in one night.- One night?
0:20:13 > 0:20:16The terrible weather has churned up the access road -
0:20:16 > 0:20:19bad news for the cranes and lorries that need to deliver and place
0:20:19 > 0:20:21the sections of mobile home.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24So the lorries will come in.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26Straight up onto trackways.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29We'll lay trackways to protect the ground.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31And they're worried about the length of it?
0:20:31 > 0:20:33Is that why we're coming up a bit,
0:20:33 > 0:20:35- cos they're worried about grounding? - Yes.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38We're going to build that up temporarily with those sleepers
0:20:38 > 0:20:40- so they won't bottom out. - Right, OK.
0:20:40 > 0:20:42All we can hope is that in the next three weeks, it dries up enough.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46After all this effort it will be an awful shame to get stuck in the mud.
0:20:46 > 0:20:47Yeah.
0:20:47 > 0:20:48Finally, after all the delays,
0:20:48 > 0:20:52the day arrives for the delivery of Mel's new mobile home.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59- Are you excited?- Very excited. So the crane's all set up now.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02- Look, you can see it behind the trees here.- It's huge.- Yeah.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04So not long now.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07The new house, complete with floors, kitchen and furniture,
0:21:07 > 0:21:11is travelling 270 miles from the factory in Yorkshire in sections
0:21:11 > 0:21:13and the first one has just arrived.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28Mel's widened the road and laid tracking to give the lorries
0:21:28 > 0:21:32enough room to access the site, but this is a 20-tonne lorry
0:21:32 > 0:21:35carrying half a house and it's not going according to plan.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45Oh, gosh. He's sliding all over the place.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47The lorry can't move forwards
0:21:47 > 0:21:49or backwards.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Oh, wow.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55- That's what they weren't expecting. - No. Slippage.
0:21:55 > 0:22:00We've got a bit of a dilemma because the truck actually can't go back
0:22:00 > 0:22:03any further because he's right on the edge of the stream here.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05If the truck rolls back in any way then...
0:22:05 > 0:22:08possibility of getting stuck in the stream
0:22:08 > 0:22:11so that's not an option either.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14Finally, Mel's neighbour steps in and tries to tow the lorry.
0:22:26 > 0:22:28ENGINE STRAINS
0:22:32 > 0:22:34Can't get any traction.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38- Yeah! - CHEERING
0:22:42 > 0:22:44Big relief, that's the first one in.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46And now we've done a little bit of trimming
0:22:46 > 0:22:48so the next one should be a lot easier.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54With the first section finally on site,
0:22:54 > 0:22:56the crane can lift it into position.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59It's a precision job and every millimetre counts.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Right. I suppose positioning it is the tricky thing.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05- They've got to get it just right. - They've got to be exactly right.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13I'm glad they're doing it, not me.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23- Yeah, no, it's down. - It's on there, isn't it?
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Oh, it's really dark.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40First glimpse of the bathroom, Wendy, look.
0:23:40 > 0:23:43- Well, half a bathroom. - That is so bizarre!
0:23:43 > 0:23:46Seeing a house she's designed in sections gives Wendy a unique
0:23:46 > 0:23:49opportunity to look at the very fabric of the building.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53Within the floor construction in here we can see we've got the floor
0:23:53 > 0:23:57finished which is this lovely engineered oak
0:23:57 > 0:24:03and so you can see only the sort of tops, 7mm, of actually solid timber.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06And we've got lots and lots of insulation so the heat
0:24:06 > 0:24:10from the underfloor heating is again being radiated up through the floor.
0:24:10 > 0:24:13Not that this building will need very much heat at all
0:24:13 > 0:24:16because the walls are so well insulated.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19They exceed current building regulations by three times,
0:24:19 > 0:24:21which is incredible.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25So basically you'll be able to heat this building by lighting a candle
0:24:25 > 0:24:29and the body heat of the occupants, which is pretty impressive.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33And as the first section settles into its new home, the next arrives,
0:24:33 > 0:24:37just like a jigsaw they must fit together perfectly.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40It's an anxious time for Wendy and assistant Ricky.
0:24:53 > 0:24:55Placing each section takes all day,
0:24:55 > 0:24:59but at last Mel and Wendy are able to step inside the mobile home.
0:24:59 > 0:25:03Oh, it's fabulous. Much, much better than I ever dreamt it could be.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06It's great and it's not even finished yet!
0:25:06 > 0:25:09The final joining and finishing of the mobile home
0:25:09 > 0:25:11will take another two weeks.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15Thank you so much for the keys to my new house.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17That's quite all right, madam.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Three weeks later, the build is finished.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28Where there was once a draughty old caravan,
0:25:28 > 0:25:30there's now a state-of-the-art home.
0:25:34 > 0:25:37Wendy is back with colleague Ricky to see if Mel is happy.
0:25:41 > 0:25:43Mel, it looks amazing. It's fantastic.
0:25:43 > 0:25:45It's transformed, hasn't it?
0:25:45 > 0:25:47It's incredible.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50You would never guess this was a mobile home with its huge windows,
0:25:50 > 0:25:53spacious sitting room and open-plan kitchen.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56The bedrooms and bathrooms feel totally luxurious.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59It just feels so big, you know, it's great.
0:25:59 > 0:26:02And the fact that you can see...
0:26:02 > 0:26:04- that works, doesn't it?- It's lovely.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07You can see the trees down the end.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11- It's like having a really large painting that's alive.- Hmm.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21That's the new Muvman chair, yes. Muvman stool.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25But your view is too amazing. I wouldn't get any work done.
0:26:25 > 0:26:29Mel's old cold bedroom is no more.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31- Wow!- It suddenly opens up again.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35- The bed! The bed is amazing. - Isn't it beautiful?
0:26:35 > 0:26:39Not only is this £350,000 mobile home beautiful,
0:26:39 > 0:26:42but Wendy has achieved the ultra energy efficient
0:26:42 > 0:26:44Passive House standard she hoped for.
0:26:44 > 0:26:47In fact it is one of the most airtight houses in Europe
0:26:47 > 0:26:50but it has taken a huge amount of work.
0:26:50 > 0:26:55In fact, it's probably the most complicated build we have ever done
0:26:55 > 0:26:57and one of the most time consuming.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59When you think about the actual size of it,
0:26:59 > 0:27:02how much has actually gone into it is huge by everyone...
0:27:02 > 0:27:04Every single thing has been drawn
0:27:04 > 0:27:06and probably drawn ten times.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10And also, when we started the production process in the factory
0:27:10 > 0:27:12it was a bit like being on a rollercoaster.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14There was no way to get off.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16So when we had a query come in, you had to deal with them.
0:27:16 > 0:27:20There was no sort of, "Oh, well, I'll leave that till next Tuesday",
0:27:20 > 0:27:23because by next Tuesday, they would have, you know, built something.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26Not only is this mobile home eco friendly,
0:27:26 > 0:27:28but it should also have longevity.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32There's no reason why this house, even if it's not mobile,
0:27:32 > 0:27:34will not be here in 100 years' time.
0:27:34 > 0:27:39It has been a long battle and it's quite scary.
0:27:39 > 0:27:42You make all those selections, it's all that planning,
0:27:42 > 0:27:44as we've said, over years,
0:27:44 > 0:27:47and then suddenly it's all becoming a reality around you.
0:27:47 > 0:27:49Today has been great because it's the first day
0:27:49 > 0:27:52when you see everything clean and sort of moving stuff in
0:27:52 > 0:27:56and it's tidy and now it's really starting to look lovely.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Next time on Building Dream Homes,
0:28:02 > 0:28:04will architect David have kept Kenny under control
0:28:04 > 0:28:07as he gets to grips with the zinc cladding?
0:28:07 > 0:28:10The zinc itself is soft and easy enough to work with
0:28:10 > 0:28:13but you only get one shot at doing it and if you get the cut wrong
0:28:13 > 0:28:17or an angle wrong, you can probably ruin a whole section.
0:28:17 > 0:28:20And in Poole, the construction of an enormous home
0:28:20 > 0:28:22falls behind as bad weather strikes.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24It hasn't stopped raining,
0:28:24 > 0:28:26which has obviously caused problems on the site.
0:28:26 > 0:28:29I think delay-wise for the client,
0:28:29 > 0:28:32would probably go to around about two, two and a half months.