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0:00:19 > 0:00:22- Welcome to the 04Wal archives.
0:00:22 > 0:00:24- We've now reached 2004...
0:00:24 > 0:00:29- ..and a collection of striking homes - hiding behind ordinary facades.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31- That only adds to the surprise.
0:00:32 > 0:00:36- We'll travel from Carmarthenshire - to Cardiff via Hong Kong!
0:00:36 > 0:00:38- First, let's visit Mold.
0:00:39 > 0:00:44- Wood and Japan are Tim Baker's - main inspirations in his Mold home.
0:00:45 > 0:00:48- His work as a theatre director - has taken him all over the world.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51- His travels - have influenced his home.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58- I wanted a really simple house.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03- I demolished as many walls - as possible...
0:01:03 > 0:01:06- ..to do away with the idea - of living in rooms.
0:01:06 > 0:01:09- We wanted to have - an open living space.
0:01:11 > 0:01:16- What inspired you - to open up the house?
0:01:16 > 0:01:19- I was sitting on a beach - while on holiday in Turkey.
0:01:20 > 0:01:23- I built a wooden model - of my ideal house.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26- I just took it from there.
0:01:28 > 0:01:33- There are Japanese pieces - on the walls throughout the house.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38- You rarely get the chance...
0:01:39 > 0:01:44- ..to see how people live - on the other side of the world.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47- I fell in love with Tokyo and Japan.
0:01:48 > 0:01:53- I wanted a taste - of what I saw there in my house.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56- It's a fusion of two cultures.
0:01:56 > 0:02:01- There's something very simple - about the way the Japanese live...
0:02:02 > 0:02:04- ..and the way they set things out.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07- I tried to keep things simple - and clean.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33- You use this part of the room - as a lounge.
0:02:34 > 0:02:37- There are numerous pieces of wood - in here.
0:02:37 > 0:02:39- They're natural sculptures.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43- Yes, if there is a theme - to this house...
0:02:44 > 0:02:46- ..it is the worship of wood!
0:02:46 > 0:02:47- I love wood.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51- I have always enjoyed - working with wood.
0:02:51 > 0:02:56- Lately, I've delighted in finding - natural pieces of sculpture.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00- This is an example - of a piece of wood I cut.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04- It's gorgeous.
0:03:04 > 0:03:05- It's lovely.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11- A lot of the things in here - aren't permanent fixtures.
0:03:11 > 0:03:16- They're free-standing - and I can move them around...
0:03:16 > 0:03:18- ..or move them out of the way.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21- This is the cooking and dining area.
0:03:23 > 0:03:29- People will be surprised to see - that you use barbecues indoors.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33- Yes, this is another Japanese thing.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36- There may well be two themes - to this house.
0:03:36 > 0:03:40- The worship of wood - and the worship of eating!
0:03:42 > 0:03:43- I really enjoy eating.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46- We cook things in a particular way.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50- We adopt Japanese methods - in the kitchen.
0:03:50 > 0:03:55- We prepare bite-size things - such as prawns in a sauce...
0:03:55 > 0:03:58- ..and we cook them at the table.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02- You don't use unconventional methods - all the time...
0:04:03 > 0:04:06- ..because you also have - a conventional cooker.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11- You have all the Japanese - cooking paraphernalia in here.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15- I'm fortunate in that I travel - quite extensively with my work.
0:04:15 > 0:04:18- I look out for these items.
0:04:36 > 0:04:41- Do you see an ordinary - Carmarthenshire semi-detached house?
0:04:41 > 0:04:46- Looks can be deceptive - and that's definitely true here.
0:05:03 > 0:05:08- Wyn and Linda Davies-Williams - have transformed Clydfan.
0:05:09 > 0:05:14- Their artistic backgrounds - spawned this eclectic, summery home.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20- How long have you lived here?
0:05:20 > 0:05:22- How long have you lived here?- - We've been here for six years.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27- We've owned the house - for the past 17 years...
0:05:27 > 0:05:30- ..but we only moved in - six years ago.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33- Were you scared - to cross the threshold?!
0:05:33 > 0:05:36- No, we lived in Bristol - for nine years.
0:05:38 > 0:05:40- We were lucky - to have bought it when we did.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45- We wanted to move from Bristol - and were lucky to have it.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48- We knew how we wanted it to look.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52- We wanted plain, white walls.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54- We wanted to transform it.
0:05:57 > 0:05:59- It was a dark, old house.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02- I like old things, - but it was overwhelming.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06- Have you made - any structural changes?
0:06:06 > 0:06:11- Yes, we built an extension - and knocked down a few walls.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14- Some of them were load-bearing!
0:06:14 > 0:06:16- HE LAUGHS
0:06:16 > 0:06:20- The kitchen was too small, - so we had the extension built.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24- Nothing much has changed upstairs.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31- We know what we like and I have - a keen interest in interior design.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36- I cut out pictures and ideas - from magazines and keep them.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38- I'm a bit of an anorak, really!
0:06:49 > 0:06:53- Who has the last word - when it comes to the artwork?
0:06:55 > 0:06:56- You'd better answer that.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58- You'd better answer that.- - I tend to choose the paintings.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03- I come home sometimes and Wyn - will have put something up.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07- I tell him I'm not keen on it - and he says, "OK, you choose!"
0:07:07 > 0:07:11- Yes, I have the last word - on the artwork!
0:07:12 > 0:07:16- Linda has the ideas - and I try to realize them.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20- This comes from a man - who hung a frying pan on the wall!
0:07:20 > 0:07:22- It was a grill pan, actually.
0:07:22 > 0:07:24- It was a grill pan, actually.- - And it looked good on my wall!
0:07:24 > 0:07:25- No, it didn't.
0:07:25 > 0:07:26- No, it didn't.- - Yes, it did.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32- This is where - you entertain your guests.
0:07:33 > 0:07:34- Are you a keen cook?
0:07:36 > 0:07:37- I give it my best shot.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42- Wyn created this shelving unit - to house all your bits and bobs.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45- Yes, I told Wyn - I wanted pigeonholes.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50- I drew a plan of what I had in mind - on a piece of paper.
0:07:51 > 0:07:56- Wyn built the shelves - under his father's supervision.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01- Do the display items change?
0:08:01 > 0:08:03- Yes, I change it constantly.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07- I have a clear-out, - then I pick up some new stuff.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10- Why is this cat upside down?
0:08:10 > 0:08:15- I don't think it can stay upright, - so Wyn hung it upside down.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24- Is there any benefit to collecting - what can only be called trash?
0:08:24 > 0:08:26- Various images.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28- It's quite kitsch.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33- It's quite trailer trash!
0:08:35 > 0:08:36- It clearly appeals to you.
0:08:36 > 0:08:36- It clearly appeals to you.- - Yes, because it's colourful.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38- Yes, because it's colourful.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41- This is the lounge.
0:08:41 > 0:08:42- This is the lounge.- - Yes.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46- It was the back room - and it originally had a pantry.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- Thankfully, - we got rid of the pantry.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54- It created more space, - and gave the room an open feel.
0:08:56 > 0:08:59- I wouldn't expect - to see a candelabra in here.
0:09:00 > 0:09:04- Design-wise, it belongs - to a more elaborate period.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08- Why does - your eclectic collection work?
0:09:08 > 0:09:11- I like old things - and I like new things.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13- They can work well together.
0:09:14 > 0:09:15- All you need to do...
0:09:15 > 0:09:19- ..is strike the right balance - between the two.
0:09:37 > 0:09:41- Sion Edwards lives a short distance - from central Hong Kong...
0:09:41 > 0:09:43- ..close to the new airport.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47- He lives somewhere up there, - in that nest of flats.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51- When did you move - to Hong Kong, Sion?
0:09:51 > 0:09:53- About 14 years ago.
0:09:53 > 0:09:54- What brought you here?
0:09:58 > 0:10:01- I lived in New Zealand - for three years.
0:10:02 > 0:10:07- I won a university scholarship - to study landscape architecture.
0:10:09 > 0:10:14- I stopped off in Hong Kong - on my way back to London.
0:10:14 > 0:10:19- Someone suggested - that I could find work here.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23- I came here for a week - and I'm still here, 14 years later!
0:10:24 > 0:10:29- You have clearly taken - to life in a tower block.
0:10:31 > 0:10:33- Was it a shock to the system?
0:10:33 > 0:10:37- Yes, when I first moved here.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42- You must adapt and get used - to living in fairly small rooms.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45- There's very little - storage space here.
0:10:45 > 0:10:50- You need places to put furniture - that you only use occasionally.
0:10:50 > 0:10:54- You only need some things - for a few days at a time.
0:10:54 > 0:10:58- You have to adjust in order to live - in a flat such as this.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02- It's completely different - to living in a house.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08- Life in Hong Kong - revolves around your work.
0:11:10 > 0:11:15- Most people only use their flats - as places to sleep.
0:11:15 > 0:11:17- They don't use them - as places to relax.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21- They don't host dinner parties.
0:11:22 > 0:11:27- Flats are used differently - to how they are used in Britain.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30- There's limited room...
0:11:30 > 0:11:36- ..so space has to be used - as efficiently as possible.
0:11:36 > 0:11:42- Is this where you dine - when you invite friends round?
0:11:42 > 0:11:47- Yes, we invite people to dinner - from time to time.
0:11:48 > 0:11:49- It's a striking table.
0:11:49 > 0:11:51- It's a striking table.- - This is an office desk.
0:11:51 > 0:11:56- It was designed by Norman Foster, - or Lord Foster as he is now.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03- It was designed by an architect. - I like it because it's quite open.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07- You can see the framework - and that appeals to me.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09- These are 1960s chairs.
0:12:09 > 0:12:15- They were designed - by the American Charles Eames.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- I like the fact - that they're very light...
0:12:19 > 0:12:23- ..compared with - the heavy chairs opposite.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26- These are leather chairs.
0:12:28 > 0:12:29- They have two legs.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32- The rear leg is like a steel fin.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36- These chairs were designed - by Philippe Starck of Paris.
0:12:39 > 0:12:43- It's almost like a museum, - or an art gallery!
0:12:43 > 0:12:46- It isn't supposed to be - like a museum!
0:12:46 > 0:12:48- We use everything.
0:12:51 > 0:12:56- I've tried to collect pieces - whose designs interest me.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03- You have a wonderful view from here.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07- Yes, we look out - on Sunset Peak and Lantau Peak.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15- We have lots of typhoons in summer.
0:13:15 > 0:13:20- You can see waterfalls - cascading down the mountain.
0:13:21 > 0:13:26- This is the spare bedroom, - which is used as a dressing room.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29- The bathroom is neat and tidy.
0:13:29 > 0:13:33- This is the only bedroom - that's used as a bedroom.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36- The bed is plain and simple.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40- This is the only souvenir of Wales - in this flat.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42- It came from Melin Tregwynt.
0:13:43 > 0:13:46- He sleeps under a bit of Wales - every night.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50- The lampshade - is a brass mosquito net.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54- It diffuses the light - in a very interesting fashion.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57- That's it - - plain, simple and efficient.
0:14:11 > 0:14:16- I moved to Tung Chung because - I wanted to move out of the city.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19- I lived in the city - for seven or eight years.
0:14:19 > 0:14:23- Effectively, I've moved - to the countryside!
0:14:25 > 0:14:27- A country cottage!
0:14:27 > 0:14:29- Yes, this flat - is my country cottage.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34- Will you move to another country - when you retire?
0:14:34 > 0:14:37- Yes, it would be hard - to retire in Hong Kong.
0:14:37 > 0:14:39- It's too expensive.
0:14:39 > 0:14:42- I'd prefer to move away from here - when I retire.
0:14:43 > 0:14:48- I may move back to Wales, - or I may go back to New Zealand.
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0:15:04 > 0:15:04- 888
0:15:04 > 0:15:06- 888- - 888
0:15:09 > 0:15:12- Welcome back to 04Wal - and to two urban homes.
0:15:12 > 0:15:17- One is a flat owned by Marc Rees - and the other a terraced house...
0:15:17 > 0:15:19- ..but both are palaces.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48- I was attracted to the flat - because it was built in the 1960s.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51- It reminded me very much of Berlin.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56- I lived in a similar flat - in Berlin for 18 months.
0:15:57 > 0:16:00- My flat in Berlin - was older than this one.
0:16:00 > 0:16:05- It was a socialist flat, - in the centre of East Berlin.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09- I thought of Berlin - when I saw this flat.
0:16:10 > 0:16:15- It was possible to create - a small corner of Berlin in Cardiff.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18- I have fantastic views of the city.
0:16:24 > 0:16:29- Artist and performer Marc Rees - has lived and worked in Berlin...
0:16:29 > 0:16:34- ..The Netherlands, - Canada and South America.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38- As a result, his home - has an international feel.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48- I wanted to create - some sort of personal signature.
0:16:50 > 0:16:54- The 1970s influenced me - because that's when I grew up.
0:16:55 > 0:17:00- I didn't want to create something - that was too retro or too nostalgic.
0:17:02 > 0:17:07- I made it feel personal by pairing - certain things with other objects.
0:17:07 > 0:17:09- It's a mixture of things.
0:17:09 > 0:17:12- It's modern retro.
0:17:12 > 0:17:16- I use the term 'modern retro' - for what I've created here.
0:17:17 > 0:17:22- There are classic pieces here - and contemporary pieces too.
0:17:24 > 0:17:29- I wanted to complete the project - within four weeks of moving in.
0:17:29 > 0:17:31- I managed to do that.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35- I knew exactly - what I wanted to achieve here...
0:17:35 > 0:17:39- ..and I was determined - to reach my goal quickly.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43- Some people spend years - getting their houses right...
0:17:43 > 0:17:47- ..but it's a small flat and I knew - that I could do the work quickly.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11- I'm really, really happy here.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16- I think that I've created - something eccentric and unique.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19- It's really, really personal.
0:18:49 > 0:18:54- This is Pontcanna, - Cardiff's answer to Notting Hill.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58- It's a cafe area - for sophisticated people.
0:18:59 > 0:19:01- It's where Griff Rowland lives.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11- We were here - four and a half years ago.
0:19:11 > 0:19:16- You had almost finished this room - and the kitchen back then.
0:19:16 > 0:19:21- Has the character of the house - changed since we last saw it?
0:19:22 > 0:19:28- Yes, I'm sure that it has changed - - because I've matured, perhaps.
0:19:30 > 0:19:31- I hope so, anyway!
0:19:33 > 0:19:36- It was a great party house.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42- I wouldn't even consider - having a party here today!
0:19:42 > 0:19:44- I'm not saying - that I don't want guests...
0:19:45 > 0:19:47- ..because I often - have people to dinner.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51- In the past, I didn't care - if someone spilt wine...
0:19:51 > 0:19:54- ..but I'd have a fit - if someone did it now!
0:20:00 > 0:20:04- I've certainly adopted - more traditional tastes.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07- I didn't think - it would happen to me.
0:20:07 > 0:20:12- I wanted things - that I could live with long-term...
0:20:12 > 0:20:15- ..but it doesn't mean - that they have to be boring.
0:20:15 > 0:20:20- I know that I can live - with this design for years to come.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27- It's a mixture of the contemporary - and the traditional.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31- I was infatuated - with the colour white.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36- People use white - to make rooms appear bigger.
0:20:37 > 0:20:42- There's no point trying to make - a terraced house something it isn't!
0:20:43 > 0:20:46- Cardiff terraced houses - are cosy, narrow houses...
0:20:47 > 0:20:50- ..so I may as well introduce - the colours I like.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54- I've chosen - fairly dark, warm colours.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01- The house is more sedate - than the last time you saw it.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05- It plays an important role - in my life.
0:21:39 > 0:21:44- Of all the rooms, this one - makes the biggest statement.
0:21:44 > 0:21:49- Would you miss this room - if you moved?
0:21:49 > 0:21:54- Yes. It was designed - around the way I wanted to live.
0:21:54 > 0:21:56- There was a scullery there.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59- I had the chimney knocked through.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05- It allows me to cook - and socialize at the same time.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10- It works really well for me.
0:22:10 > 0:22:14- It's a pleasant room, - both in winter and in summer.
0:22:33 > 0:22:35- A lot of people ask me...
0:22:35 > 0:22:39- ..whether I'm going to move - now that this is finished...
0:22:39 > 0:22:43- ..assuming that the point of buying - a house is doing it up and moving.
0:22:44 > 0:22:46- I like living in this area...
0:22:46 > 0:22:50- ..and I love the house - as it is today.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52- It gives me a lot of pleasure.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58- It's taken so long to get it right - that it's high time I enjoyed it.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45- S4C subtitles by Eirlys A Jones
0:23:45 > 0:23:46- .