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Looking out at Central London from here,
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it's hard to understand how
you could possibly add to it.
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00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:29,360
Where can you build in amongst
all of that, eh?
4
00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:32,639
But there are some really gutsy
individuals out there
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00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,639
in the cracks and the crevices,
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00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:39,640
looking for plots of land to build a
home on.
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00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,920
No matter how small those plots are.
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00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,439
London is one of the world's
greatest cities
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that has evolved over millennia.
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It's an organism which feeds, moves,
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00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:17,400
and houses a growing population
of nearly 9,000,000 people.
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The city's growth
springs from the energy,
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00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,479
the creativity of those
that live here -
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00:01:24,480 --> 00:01:28,480
like 26-year-old design engineer Joe
Stuart.
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I've always been fascinated by
making things,
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00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:34,279
and seeing how things work.
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00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:38,280
If you can make something better or
design it better, then why not?
18
00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:41,759
I've had lots of ideas,
but there's always been a...
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00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:44,439
either a funding constraint or a
priority constraint.
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00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:46,319
What's great is that this
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is really the first opportunity
where the funding's in place,
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00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:53,120
the timescale's in place, and it's
about just going ahead and doing it.
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Joe's now challenged himself to
design a new home,
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a house for himself and his Swedish
girlfriend, Lina Nilsson.
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00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:05,399
It's a chance to own the property in
a housing market
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00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:08,759
that many believe is out of control.
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00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:12,559
You don't have to pay rent to
someone else, you can
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00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:16,560
build something that's not too
expensive, and actually find a place
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00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:21,120
or make a place that's beautiful,
is good quality, and is yours.
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00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,599
Joe and Lina know both work
full-time, and spend close
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to £20,000 a year on renting
a small flat in west London.
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00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:35,079
The cost of doing the build,
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00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:37,799
although there is the time involved
in doing it, is still going
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to be much cheaper than buying
the equivalent property.
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00:02:41,360 --> 00:02:43,599
It's a big thing were going to do
together. Yeah.
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Building a home together where we
can live. Yeah.
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00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:50,480
It's going to be exciting.
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00:02:52,240 --> 00:02:55,719
After a painstaking search,
Joel and Lina scraped
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00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,720
enough money together to buy
an old workshop in east London.
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00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,879
Just three miles from the
skyscrapers of Canary Wharf,
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00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,880
this is an area rife for regeneration.
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00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:11,279
But their plot is tiny.
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That's it, is it? Just the length of
those three fencing panels?
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00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:15,799
Yeah. Oh, wow.
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And a little bit extra at the
moment, while we're doing the works.
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00:03:18,640 --> 00:03:21,239
Yeah. It's a whole nine and a half
metres by four metres.
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00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:24,719
Nine and a half by four?
Yeah. That's...
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00:03:24,720 --> 00:03:26,679
small. What was this place?
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00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:28,399
It looks like there was a building here?
50
00:03:28,400 --> 00:03:31,559
Yeah, originally it was a coffin
workshop.
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00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:35,479
We're digging the whole plot down to
about tjhree and a half metres.
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I've designed it so it's on half floors.
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00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:39,759
You've designed it?
I designed it.
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00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:43,239
We've got what's officially
the smallest two-bedroomed house
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00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:44,959
possible in London.
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Based on the new London regulations.
The design guide?
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Yes.
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00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:51,879
Small does not mean easy,
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00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:55,880
and Joe and Lina have never
attempted anything like this before.
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00:03:57,520 --> 00:03:59,479
What do your mates say about this
project?
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00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:01,079
They say we're crazy sometimes,
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00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:03,719
but I've always dreamt about
building my own house.
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00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:06,679
I love creating things.
I mean, in your culture it's normal.
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00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:08,439
Yeah, it is. But I don't have the
skills,
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00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:10,959
but luckily enough, I have Joe.
I pretend to have the skills.
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00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:12,679
You're so passionate about it.
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00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:15,599
You do so much research, which also
means it takes a little longer,
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00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:19,600
just to make sure that
it's going to work.
69
00:04:19,920 --> 00:04:23,920
So how do you fit a two-bedroom
house on such a tiny footprint?
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00:04:25,240 --> 00:04:28,159
To start, Joe's putting a third of
it underground.
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00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,999
He wants a three metre deep basement,
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00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:35,000
the exact size of the site, poured
in reinforced waterproof concrete.
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00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:40,040
That'll require high
levels of engineering accuracy.
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00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,719
Joe's designed his own
insulated brackets,
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00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:47,720
which will support two floating
concrete floors.
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00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:52,439
The top two thirds of the building
will be made from structural
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00:04:52,440 --> 00:04:55,159
insulated timber panels,
made off-site,
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00:04:55,160 --> 00:04:59,160
and then precisely
assembled in east London.
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00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,919
The structure will then get even
more insulation on the outside,
80
00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,999
before a covering of cedar cladding.
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00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:08,959
Inside, this highly engineered,
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00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:12,559
and insulated building is
a very smart layout.
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00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:16,359
Basement storage, a workshop,
two bedrooms, two bathrooms,
84
00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:20,360
a study, and a snug, which leads
up to the full-length kitchen
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00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:24,480
living room are squeezed onto three
floors and three half floors.
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00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:33,000
The top floor will be a single
kitchen living room crowned
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00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:37,480
with a full width slanted window to
wash this space in light,
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00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:42,560
and provide access to
a small roof terrace.
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00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:50,040
This house might turn out to be
cramped and compromised -
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00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:54,480
or it might just be a new exciting
model for building on tight
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00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:59,000
small spaces in one of the most
expensive cities in the world.
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00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:02,679
So how much is it going to cost,
then? To build.
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00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:04,559
About 160,000.
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00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,839
Oh, including your basement?
Including the basement.
95
00:06:07,840 --> 00:06:09,079
That's pretty good.
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00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:11,759
You would do a lot of the
work yourself as well,
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00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:12,959
that brings down the price.
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00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:15,399
Yeah, so it could be less
than that, it could be more.
99
00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,079
OK, I'm not holding you to it.
An arbituary figure. It's all right.
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00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:20,319
Yeah. And how much was the site
itself?
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00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:21,959
It was 73.
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00:06:21,960 --> 00:06:24,079
Which anywhere is a bargain.
103
00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:26,599
It certainly didn't feel like that
when I bought it, though.
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00:06:26,600 --> 00:06:28,559
Definitely. It was the biggest risk.
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00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:32,560
A lot of money for not a lot of
space. Yeah, wow.
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00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:38,159
Joe's giving himself just one year
to finish this house,
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00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:40,079
and is investing £50,000 -
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00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,079
every penny he has.
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00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:44,839
The majority of the funding will
come from his parents,
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00:06:44,840 --> 00:06:48,319
who have such faith in their son
they've remortgaged
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00:06:48,320 --> 00:06:51,039
the family home in the Midlands.
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00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:53,319
We've been quite happy to help Joel out,
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00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,799
because it's easier for us to sport
him in lending in the money -
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00:06:56,800 --> 00:06:59,239
rather than him getting a building loan.
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00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:03,240
We trust Joseph to commit to
something he knows he can complete.
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00:07:05,480 --> 00:07:07,439
It'll be quite an achievement.
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00:07:07,440 --> 00:07:09,799
Yeah.
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00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:11,679
Joe has designed this building.
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00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,439
He's done all the calculations.
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00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:16,679
He's project managing. He's the main
contractor.
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He's the client.
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00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,079
He's everything. And he's going to
be labouring,
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00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:21,839
and working on the site as well.
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00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,840
Now, that is in most circumstances
is a bit of a recipe
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00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:31,159
for some form of minor disaster.
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00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:32,839
But here...
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00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:34,239
I'm not sure.
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00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:38,240
I mean, never underestimate
the energy, the dynamism of youth.
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00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:47,319
It's early autumn,
and at last, this shoe box design
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00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:51,320
on a shoestring budget can
take its first steps.
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00:07:51,440 --> 00:07:54,039
When I was discussing this with my
engineer,
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00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:57,079
you were saying the most difficult
part of the build,
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00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,279
of the whole house, was the basement.
134
00:07:59,280 --> 00:08:03,280
The most difficult part of the
basement was doing the excavation.
135
00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:08,239
Basement construction in London will
always present risks.
136
00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:11,319
The risks of damage to neighbouring
properties,
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00:08:11,320 --> 00:08:15,320
the uncertainty of what lies beneath
the surface.
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00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:20,040
Joe has entrusted his excavation
to Phil Sacre - a basement expert.
139
00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:25,720
This is a bit of a new challenge to
put a basement the size of a postage
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00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:29,119
stamp on a piece of land the size of
a postage stamp.
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00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,719
We've normally got a lot more space.
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00:08:31,720 --> 00:08:33,239
With excavation,
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00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,719
there are a standard methods that
are pretty common practise.
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00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,720
Just have a mile from Joe's site,
these methods are fully understood.
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Crossrail is one of Europe's
largest holes.
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00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:49,760
So this is not how to dig a big
hole in the ground.
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Get your mechanical digger and just
start taking big chunks of it out,
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cos if you do, the deeper you go,
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00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:03,040
the more likely it is to
collapse in on itself.
150
00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:05,719
There you go.
151
00:09:05,720 --> 00:09:09,720
So what people do, ordinarily, is to
take a steel ring.
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00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:12,999
In this case, it's a cake tin.
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00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:17,000
But, in the real world, it's lots
of sheets of steel interconnected
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00:09:17,240 --> 00:09:21,240
locked together
and vibrated into the ground.
155
00:09:21,400 --> 00:09:25,400
It's then a fairly straightforward
matter of then digging out
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00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,999
the ground within that ring.
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Then build your concrete wall
inside this,
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00:09:34,160 --> 00:09:36,639
and if you're really clever,
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00:09:36,640 --> 00:09:40,640
you can take your shuttering and
maybe even remove it.
160
00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:42,039
Ta-da!
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00:09:42,040 --> 00:09:45,359
But only if you've
formed your concrete walls first.
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00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:48,159
Because Joe's site is so small,
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00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:52,160
Joe and Phil are taking the unusual
step of not using steel shuttering.
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00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:55,999
The site is so tight,
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00:09:56,000 --> 00:09:59,839
to get the minimum accommodation
required in London, the client
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00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:03,840
could not lose anything to temporary
supporting of the basement hole.
167
00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:08,559
Phil's worried every inch the site
will need to be excavated to
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00:10:08,560 --> 00:10:12,560
reach the full 83 square metres of
living space required by planning.
169
00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:16,639
The normal form of constructing a
basement would have prevented the
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00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,599
whole project from going ahead.
171
00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:23,600
The hope is that the dry earth walls
will support themselves.
172
00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:29,639
The soil has been sent
away for analysis and we are told
173
00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,959
will be stable for long enough,
but the challenge is going to
174
00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:36,960
be that we keep it stable throughout
the duration of the build.
175
00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,639
It can be dangerous. It's one of
those jobs you don't want to be
176
00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:43,159
hanging around, and you get it
done before the weather comes,
177
00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:45,839
because that's
when the sides can cave in.
178
00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:49,840
As the dig to the full depth,
Phil discovers that three metres of
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00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:55,080
dry earth is sitting on a layer of
wet silt and clay.
180
00:10:55,280 --> 00:10:59,280
We've dug slightly into clay, that
means we've effectively dug a pond.
181
00:10:59,680 --> 00:11:03,199
This could well destabilise
the dry earth above.
182
00:11:03,200 --> 00:11:05,799
Two weeks into this risky excavation,
183
00:11:05,800 --> 00:11:09,319
the exposed walls begin to weaken.
184
00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:13,320
Yeah, if you dig a bit there!
185
00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:18,280
I think we'll leave it like that,
thanks!
186
00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:24,240
By early November, the excavation is
put under more pressure.
187
00:11:24,440 --> 00:11:27,239
This time by the weather.
188
00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:29,679
Phil needs to crack on.
189
00:11:29,680 --> 00:11:32,559
Steel mesh and wooden
formwork are hastily put up,
190
00:11:32,560 --> 00:11:36,560
so the concrete walls can be poured.
191
00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:41,720
THUNDER RUMBLES
192
00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:52,279
By the next morning,
the earth slips have stopped,
193
00:11:52,280 --> 00:11:56,199
but now Phil has a new problem.
194
00:11:56,200 --> 00:12:00,199
The wooden formwork holding
the concrete has been moved.
195
00:12:00,200 --> 00:12:03,119
Unfortunately,
although I'd propped the stop ends,
196
00:12:03,120 --> 00:12:07,120
I hadn't propped
the roof from moving away.
197
00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:12,360
So what's left is out of plum
198
00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:17,240
by 250mm over two metres.
199
00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:19,479
That is a lot.
200
00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:23,480
This is a very wonky wall that needs
to be fixed.
201
00:12:27,880 --> 00:12:30,439
Six weeks since work began,
202
00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:34,399
Joe and Lina are paying a visit to
side with Joe's parents.
203
00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:38,400
Just watch where you put your feet.
204
00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:42,520
It's clear there are more
problems with the walls.
205
00:12:43,240 --> 00:12:46,919
There's a gap here, because this has
gone out in the middle here.
206
00:12:46,920 --> 00:12:50,279
Looks like it's bowed behind.
207
00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:53,199
It's not quite uniform and straight
and...
208
00:12:53,200 --> 00:12:56,359
Yeah.
209
00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:59,079
So the contracter you've
got for digging this hole,
210
00:12:59,080 --> 00:13:01,119
how's he performing for you?
211
00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:03,479
Erm...
212
00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:06,039
I wasn't expecting that.
213
00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:10,040
Somehow, I can't see it being
done in two weeks.
214
00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:14,640
I'm worried that stuff is not going
to plan, but I trust Joe.
215
00:13:14,960 --> 00:13:18,599
It will be fine.
216
00:13:18,600 --> 00:13:22,600
Joe wanted this project to be
a learning experience.
217
00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:26,399
It's just taught him
his first painful lesson.
218
00:13:26,400 --> 00:13:35,000
Urgh!
219
00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:47,239
Joe and Lina have been stuck into
their east London project
220
00:13:47,240 --> 00:13:51,240
for two months now.
221
00:13:51,560 --> 00:13:55,560
Which has meant two months
of headaches with their basement.
222
00:13:55,680 --> 00:13:58,839
The excavation didn't go as we were
led to expect it to go.
223
00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:02,279
We were told the sides would stand
up and they didn't.
224
00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:05,439
And from then on it was a firefight.
225
00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:09,440
Joe and his basement contract,
Phil, have now parted company.
226
00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:13,880
Oh, I was definitely disappointed
that I didn't finish Joe's basement.
227
00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:20,080
So, Er...
228
00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:24,200
My word. I have seen some
holes in the ground but this is...
229
00:14:24,560 --> 00:14:28,560
This is spectacularly shambolic,
isn't it? Yes. And not save.
230
00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:35,480
Can we go down? Yeah. This is
hard hat territory, isn't it?
231
00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:42,680
This is a bit soft and pliable,
this concrete.
232
00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:47,040
This is where they broke it back
because it was so bad.
233
00:14:48,880 --> 00:14:52,119
Another couple of hundred mil...
Leaning right in.
234
00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:56,120
Right to this line here. And that
bow over there that wall,
the Hoover Dam over there.
235
00:14:56,320 --> 00:14:59,479
You can live with that?
I think, if...
236
00:14:59,480 --> 00:15:02,199
My preference would be to start
again but realism.
237
00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:05,559
To rip it all out?
Yeah, the realism is you can't.
238
00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:08,279
When all this is covered up,
you will have forgotten about it,
239
00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:10,879
eventually. The X-ray will
disappear. You will forget.
240
00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:14,159
Yeah, it can be made good.
241
00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:17,599
With so many issues to fix,
and a third of the basement still
242
00:15:17,600 --> 00:15:21,600
to dig, finding a new contractor
will take time and money.
243
00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:27,880
What are the financial consequences
of this? I have paid in stages.
244
00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,519
Which is the upsetting side of things.
245
00:15:30,520 --> 00:15:34,119
Because the stages haven't been
completed to spec.
246
00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:38,120
So, I have lost 30 grand on this.
So...
247
00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:47,320
This pregnant wall here.
Who would want that in their house?
248
00:15:48,720 --> 00:15:51,959
All that can be made good,
it can be sorted
249
00:15:51,960 --> 00:15:55,960
and in the end it will be
super-strong and enormously heavy
250
00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:00,720
and well built but it will have just
cost them a lot of angst and money.
251
00:16:03,760 --> 00:16:07,760
And I feel for them.
252
00:16:10,640 --> 00:16:14,640
Joe and Lina search for a new
contractor over a long winter.
253
00:16:17,720 --> 00:16:21,279
I can feel that Joel is feeling the
pressure. He has been very stressed.
254
00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:25,280
For me, it is a bit worrying too.
I feel a bit helpless.
255
00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:30,080
It takes three months of searching.
256
00:16:32,600 --> 00:16:36,600
But in the early New Year,
this project has new energy.
257
00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:38,919
The entire site is different.
258
00:16:38,920 --> 00:16:41,159
Just the way everything is managed,
259
00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:44,279
there are eight people in there working.
260
00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:48,280
It is going to be plum, a correctly
built basement now rather
261
00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:52,199
than something that was going to be
difficult to work with.
262
00:16:52,200 --> 00:16:53,959
It is a nice thing to be involved with.
263
00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:56,479
Joe is a nice guy to work for,
especially
264
00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:58,279
when someone is building their own home.
265
00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:00,999
This is his baby
and he wants it to be right.
266
00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:04,319
Joe is spending
over ?80,000 on this basement
267
00:17:04,320 --> 00:17:08,320
but now with the problems fixed
it will be the right shape and size.
268
00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:12,679
What they will do is lift this
framework up now they have this
269
00:17:12,680 --> 00:17:16,680
to brace against and finish it out
to the top by the middle
of next week.
270
00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:22,320
A plastic sheet acts as a drip
tray and extra waterproof barrier.
271
00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:26,919
Through this, Joe will fix his two
basement floors using
272
00:17:26,920 --> 00:17:30,920
insulated brackets that he has
designed with a structural engineer.
273
00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:35,720
So these are the brackets we will be
fitting those this coming week
274
00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:39,840
so it is interesting times, no-one
has seen these be used before.
275
00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:48,000
In five weeks, Joe's muddy
hole has been transformed.
276
00:17:48,480 --> 00:17:52,119
Complete with two suspended floors.
277
00:17:52,120 --> 00:17:54,719
Joe's ingenious little
brackets will allow him
278
00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,559
to fit a layer of insulation
between the wall
279
00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:01,560
and the concrete floor preserving
as much heat as possible inside.
280
00:18:04,080 --> 00:18:06,999
I have been doing
this for about 25 years
281
00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:09,199
and I have never seen
anything like this.
282
00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:12,719
Normally this concrete slab would be
connected into that wall
283
00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:16,119
so what they have got here is five
tonnes of concrete all
284
00:18:16,120 --> 00:18:20,120
sitting on these plates that
balance on these little brackets.
285
00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,839
Pretty amazing.
286
00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,679
I don't know what it's going to be
like when you have the house-warming
287
00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:30,680
party inside, everybody jumping up
and down at the same time.
288
00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:35,240
After nine months of struggle,
Joe has his engineered basement.
289
00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:43,039
The rest of this project should be
a much simpler prospect
290
00:18:43,040 --> 00:18:46,079
and most of the work has all
ready been done.
291
00:18:46,080 --> 00:18:48,439
In Scotland.
292
00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:52,440
Welcome to the world of
structurally insulated panels.
293
00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:56,279
Otherwise known as SIPS.
294
00:18:56,280 --> 00:18:59,199
Everything is done in the factory,
everything is thought out before.
295
00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:00,879
Everything is cut to the right sizes
296
00:19:00,880 --> 00:19:04,439
and you when you come to site,
it is just a case of putting
it all together.
297
00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:07,199
It is building by numbers almost.
298
00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:11,200
Insulation foam is sandwiched
between sheets of sterling board
299
00:19:11,360 --> 00:19:14,599
and the panels precisely cut
and profiled to Joe's drawings.
300
00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:15,799
I don't know about you
301
00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:18,559
but I am really looking forward
to seeing this. Yeah, yeah.
302
00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:22,560
I have spent 20 years waiting to see
a ready-made house in a factory.
303
00:19:23,600 --> 00:19:26,239
I hope it lives up to expectations then!
304
00:19:26,240 --> 00:19:30,240
Look at that.
305
00:19:30,320 --> 00:19:33,839
Whoa. This must lift your spirits,
doesn't it?
306
00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:37,840
After all those months
of concrete and mud.
307
00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:42,080
You must be relieved to see this.
Yeah.
308
00:19:42,120 --> 00:19:45,479
Yeah, it is a lot cleaner
and crisper and straighter.
309
00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:47,799
Bigger, as well.
310
00:19:47,800 --> 00:19:50,799
We are not just here
to admire Joe's house.
311
00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:54,800
We are also here to learn
how to build it.
312
00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:58,559
F1 11 and F1 12 we are going
to fit them today.
313
00:19:58,560 --> 00:20:01,439
Joe wants to manage
the assembly of the SIPS himself.
314
00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:05,440
Take the top here, locate it
onto the soil plate like that.
315
00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:10,280
A decision could save him
over ?10,000.
316
00:20:10,320 --> 00:20:14,320
And you and I lift up, Joe.
317
00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:18,239
Having no experience of using
these panels before...
318
00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:22,240
You tilt it back on the head a wee
bit. I will pull it in here.
319
00:20:22,320 --> 00:20:26,320
This is an important lesson
from the experts. OK, that is us.
320
00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:30,800
And then you drop
it in like that. It is in. Bingo.
321
00:20:35,680 --> 00:20:39,479
So, this house is
growing in an eruption of foam
322
00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:42,439
and chipboard out
of the plains of Persia.
323
00:20:42,440 --> 00:20:46,440
The thing is it still
has to come its windows, cladding
324
00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:50,480
internal installation, plasterboard,
first fix, second fix, plumbing.
325
00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:53,559
The lot, yeah.
And it is in the wrong place.
326
00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:57,560
It is 444 miles in the wrong place.
327
00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:04,319
With the SIPS panels set for delivery,
328
00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:08,199
Joe and Lina make some domestic
changes east London.
329
00:21:08,200 --> 00:21:11,799
They have moved closer to site
and halved their rent,
330
00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:15,800
a good move financially because Joe
has taken another important step.
331
00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:18,879
In order to focus on the house,
332
00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:22,880
I have left work so it means
I can be 100% house as it were.
333
00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:27,839
It is all on me now.
334
00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:30,879
Time to shine!
335
00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:34,599
He has employed a cheap makeshift
team of mates to help
336
00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:38,600
assemble the SIPS.
337
00:21:38,720 --> 00:21:42,720
This is a house on the back of a lorry.
338
00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:46,039
Yeah, excuse me, ladies.
339
00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:48,959
Sorry, we're just coming around here.
340
00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:52,960
Five tonnes and ?27,000 worth
of SIP panels have journeyed
341
00:21:53,520 --> 00:21:54,959
south from Scotland.
342
00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,719
Easy, peasy!
343
00:21:57,720 --> 00:22:01,559
To be greeted by a beefy
tele-handler. Sorry, mate.
344
00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:05,560
You're going that way, aren't you?
Swing it out if you want.
345
00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:14,359
Whoa! Whoa!
346
00:22:14,360 --> 00:22:18,360
What you doing? That's all right.
347
00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:23,559
Stop!
348
00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:27,560
Tip it back. It is damaged
the corner. That is the only one.
349
00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:33,319
That's all right.
We can fix it. It's fine.
350
00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:35,679
The team now proceed with
a little more caution.
351
00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:38,959
To me a bit more, Jim.
352
00:22:38,960 --> 00:22:41,279
Just stop.
353
00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:43,519
To me.
354
00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:47,520
And up. Whoa. Stand up.
355
00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:54,159
That is one way of doing it.
Everyone save? I'm learning.
356
00:22:54,160 --> 00:22:58,160
I'm learning.
Just don't do a third one!
357
00:22:58,720 --> 00:23:02,720
Watch yourself on the steels.
358
00:23:04,360 --> 00:23:07,959
Unpacking done.
359
00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:17,000
It is like a scene from
Carry On Camping or something!
360
00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:24,719
It's summer in the city.
361
00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:27,759
Almost a year into
his East London project,
362
00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:31,199
for the first time
Joe is properly running his site.
363
00:23:31,200 --> 00:23:34,679
Hopefully, a week from now
everything that's here
364
00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:35,919
will be in here.
365
00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:38,839
Relying on what he learnt
at the factory in Scotland,
366
00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,559
Joe takes lead in piecing
together his SIPs.
367
00:23:41,560 --> 00:23:44,879
So, glue on this inside edge here
and all of these inside edges.
368
00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:48,880
Mind you, it seems to me experience
isn't always a prerequisite
369
00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:52,319
for working with the system.
370
00:23:52,320 --> 00:23:56,320
Give it a push to the bottom.
371
00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:02,279
He gave himself a week,
372
00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:04,959
and eight days later
he's fixing the roof,
373
00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:08,960
admiring his new view.
374
00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:13,639
Now we're at the top of the house,
you can see most of London, really.
375
00:24:13,640 --> 00:24:17,640
That's not a bad view...that way!
376
00:24:18,360 --> 00:24:21,639
With the full structure up,
it's possible to see if such
377
00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:25,640
a small footprint can really
deliver a comfortable, usable space.
378
00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:32,280
In through the front door
into the lobby of the building.
379
00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:37,480
Downstairs to the semi-basement.
380
00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:42,480
Not a big space,
but big enough for a double bedroom
381
00:24:42,520 --> 00:24:46,520
and down another layer
to Joe's man cave.
382
00:24:48,160 --> 00:24:51,679
This remarkably now looks
absolutely plumb and true.
383
00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:55,680
Up, then, to the...first floor.
384
00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:01,200
And tucked around here, Lina's office.
385
00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:03,879
Now, up to the snug.
386
00:25:03,880 --> 00:25:06,359
It looks very snug at the moment
because it's quite dark.
387
00:25:06,360 --> 00:25:09,119
But there is over there, look,
an enormous window.
388
00:25:09,120 --> 00:25:11,359
Up the metal staircase to the top floor
389
00:25:11,360 --> 00:25:12,839
which is the, sort of,
390
00:25:12,840 --> 00:25:16,639
sofa-eating-cooking
living area, really -
391
00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:18,479
one big space.
392
00:25:18,480 --> 00:25:20,639
And, again, it looks
a little dark at the moment.
393
00:25:20,640 --> 00:25:23,399
That's because the plastic
is covering this opening,
394
00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:25,959
which is going to be one huge skylight.
395
00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:28,999
All of this fitting
onto this tiny, tiny footprint.
396
00:25:29,000 --> 00:25:31,679
This is, sort of...
This is the miniature house
397
00:25:31,680 --> 00:25:35,680
which keeps on giving.
398
00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:39,759
You've given up your job,
you've committed yourself thoroughly
399
00:25:39,760 --> 00:25:41,759
to project, you've moved house.
Yeah.
400
00:25:41,760 --> 00:25:44,559
You're the boss. Or are you the
boss? It says you're the boss.
401
00:25:44,560 --> 00:25:45,959
She's still the boss.
402
00:25:45,960 --> 00:25:48,439
I'm just encouraging
you to follow your dreams.
403
00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:50,439
As soon as Joe decided to leave his job,
404
00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:54,319
he was so much happier just because
this is what he dreams about.
405
00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:56,839
So you're keeping body
and soul together, presumably?
406
00:25:56,840 --> 00:25:58,959
I mean, you're earning money still.
407
00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:01,559
Yeah, but..
At the moment we're all right,
408
00:26:01,560 --> 00:26:03,959
but I'm going to have
to ask Lina to support me
409
00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:06,319
if it takes longer than I expect.
410
00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:08,959
So we're hoping that Christmas,
or just after Christmas,
411
00:26:08,960 --> 00:26:12,079
that we can be moving in and
maybe doing the finishing touches.
412
00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:14,959
It depends how many changes we make.
413
00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:18,959
Just make sure he doesn't change
his mind too often, would you? No.
414
00:26:18,960 --> 00:26:21,879
Simplicity will be key if Joe and Lina
415
00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:25,239
are to finish this building
before the New Year.
416
00:26:25,240 --> 00:26:26,879
But by the end of the summer,
417
00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:30,880
Joe hasn't been able to resist
tinkering with his design.
418
00:26:31,480 --> 00:26:35,480
That is the thickness of the wall
that you bought from Scotland.
419
00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:38,599
I mean, that's a SIPs wall.
420
00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:41,039
On top of that you just stick your roof
421
00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:43,679
and then you can skin the
outside and skin the inside.
422
00:26:43,680 --> 00:26:47,439
What you've done is you've stuck
a four inch timber on the outside
423
00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:50,159
and another one, a three inch one,
on the inside. Yep.
424
00:26:50,160 --> 00:26:51,919
In order to do what?
425
00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:53,919
That's to get to the thermal barriers
426
00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:55,919
we need to be very highly efficient.
427
00:26:55,920 --> 00:26:58,879
So you end up with
a wall of conventional thickness,
428
00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:02,880
which is completely insulation.
429
00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:07,320
It's not just the walls,
Joe's also upgraded his windows,
430
00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:11,680
which are super thick
and triple-glazed.
431
00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:16,439
This new drive for
high performance will have big
432
00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:20,440
implications for this tiny house
and its tiny budget.
433
00:27:22,120 --> 00:27:26,120
Eric here has ordered
his pie with mash and liquor,
434
00:27:28,560 --> 00:27:30,279
which is correct, it's traditional.
435
00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:32,599
It's understood in these
parts of the world.
436
00:27:32,600 --> 00:27:34,039
I, on the other hand, of course
437
00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:36,439
have gone for chips
which is far more controversial.
438
00:27:36,440 --> 00:27:38,919
It's a bit like Joe's project
because he started out with
439
00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:41,319
a scheme which was really
straightforward -
440
00:27:41,320 --> 00:27:43,479
a simple home for him and Lina.
441
00:27:43,480 --> 00:27:45,799
It was small and affordable.
442
00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:49,800
What he's got is a building that's
now being driven by another agenda.
443
00:27:51,120 --> 00:27:52,719
Anything to do with this house,
444
00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:54,399
if you can do it better, then why not?
445
00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:57,119
I think if you're not pushing the
boundaries and trying new things,
446
00:27:57,120 --> 00:27:58,999
then where are you going
to get the innovation
447
00:27:59,000 --> 00:28:02,679
within the building industry
and within design in general?
448
00:28:02,680 --> 00:28:06,680
By early autumn, Joe's design skills
are tested as he grapples with
449
00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:10,960
the engineering of the very big roof
window for the top of the house.
450
00:28:11,320 --> 00:28:13,919
Not happy with it
being triple-glazed,
451
00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:17,920
Joe wants it quadruple-glazed,
which will make remarkably heavy,
452
00:28:18,400 --> 00:28:22,400
maybe even difficult to open for
access up onto the roof.
453
00:28:23,680 --> 00:28:27,680
So, if we were to say we will try
and reproduce this detail...
454
00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:32,480
..like so, I don't think
that will be necessary.
455
00:28:32,880 --> 00:28:36,559
A site meeting with a glazing
supplier might give Joe
456
00:28:36,560 --> 00:28:40,560
his window on paper but it
won't be delivered until December.
457
00:28:41,600 --> 00:28:44,559
This new resolve for high
performance has put an end
458
00:28:44,560 --> 00:28:47,799
to a Christmas deadline.
459
00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:50,759
As much as I'd love to have been
in before Christmas, I've got to
460
00:28:50,760 --> 00:28:53,879
be realistic with the circumstances.
They changed, I have to adapt.
461
00:28:53,880 --> 00:28:57,039
It's not how I would run
a project going forward, no,
462
00:28:57,040 --> 00:28:59,079
but that's because
I've learnt from this project
463
00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:03,080
and because I know more now
than I knew yesterday.
464
00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:07,959
Joe's new ambition
isn't just costing time,
465
00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:11,359
it's costing money, too.
466
00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:15,360
With ?30,000 left
of their 160 grand budget,
467
00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:19,760
he has to pull in favours
wherever he can.
468
00:29:19,960 --> 00:29:23,039
This is George. George is my
neighbour who very kindly
469
00:29:23,040 --> 00:29:26,039
is letting me have power to the site
470
00:29:26,040 --> 00:29:30,040
so we can crack on
and light during the winter.
471
00:29:30,240 --> 00:29:34,240
Exactly, so you can finish it!
472
00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:40,200
A long wait for a complicated
roof window means Joe can focus on
473
00:29:41,120 --> 00:29:44,399
over-complicating other
aspects of this tiny house,
474
00:29:44,400 --> 00:29:47,079
like the cladding.
475
00:29:47,080 --> 00:29:49,559
Hours and hours spent
on the computer boils down to
476
00:29:49,560 --> 00:29:53,560
a small piece of cardboard
with some numbers on it.
477
00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:58,600
With the help of two friends,
Joe's revised his cladding design.
478
00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:01,359
Once made of uniformed pieces,
479
00:30:01,360 --> 00:30:05,360
Joe now wants a pattern made up
of varying widths and lengths.
480
00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:08,519
With this there's more of a process
481
00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:12,520
but it's sort of celebrating the
joint rather than trying to hide it.
482
00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:16,880
A job that could have taken
a week, will now take four.
483
00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:24,240
And for most of that, Joe works alone.
484
00:30:25,200 --> 00:30:28,119
I don't have a very lavish life.
485
00:30:28,120 --> 00:30:32,120
I get up, I come here,
I work, I go home, I sleep.
486
00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:37,800
By early November,
winter begins to bite.
487
00:30:37,840 --> 00:30:41,840
Working 15 hour days, Joe's
learning that ambition has a cost.
488
00:30:42,840 --> 00:30:45,559
Lina's support has never been more
important.
489
00:30:45,560 --> 00:30:47,479
How was your day?
490
00:30:47,480 --> 00:30:49,159
I'm tired and hungry.
491
00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:51,159
What did you do today?
492
00:30:51,160 --> 00:30:52,839
I put some more cladding up.
493
00:30:52,840 --> 00:30:56,039
It sounds like not a lot,
but, yeah, it was busy.
494
00:30:56,040 --> 00:30:58,439
He's very passionate about this project.
495
00:30:58,440 --> 00:31:00,279
I think he's getting a bit frustrated
496
00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:03,239
when stuff is taking a bit
longer than he wants it to.
497
00:31:03,240 --> 00:31:07,240
Every little task takes
usually double or triple the time.
498
00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:16,559
After a gruelling 14 months
since work began,
499
00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:20,560
at long last this building gives
Joe his first glimpse of a finish.
500
00:31:22,160 --> 00:31:25,039
It feels great now the cladding's on.
501
00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:28,079
95% of the nails
I've hammered home myself.
502
00:31:28,080 --> 00:31:32,080
So, it feels like quite a personal
accomplishment, I think, at the end.
503
00:31:33,560 --> 00:31:37,519
Two weeks before Christmas,
and the roof window Joe's been
504
00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:41,359
dreaming of for three
months arrives on site.
505
00:31:41,360 --> 00:31:44,719
That's the opening section...
506
00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:46,239
..coming up.
507
00:31:46,240 --> 00:31:49,519
This glass is about
twice as good as all the other
508
00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:51,519
glass I've got in the house.
509
00:31:51,520 --> 00:31:54,319
And all the other glass is about
twice as good
510
00:31:54,320 --> 00:31:57,519
as the glass in most people's houses.
511
00:31:57,520 --> 00:32:00,879
So, this is the magic glass.
512
00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:04,359
200 kilos of the latest eco-glazing
technology
513
00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:07,599
is positioned with millimetre precision.
514
00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:11,600
Just keep coming down.
515
00:32:12,280 --> 00:32:15,839
Now it means that the whole house
is going to be, like, insulated
516
00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:19,840
and airtight
because all the windows are in.
517
00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:28,920
Six months behind schedule and now
all work has ground to a halt.
518
00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:34,879
It's nice to just design for design
519
00:32:34,880 --> 00:32:38,880
but it's the real world and, yeah,
money is unfortunately a drag
520
00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:41,959
on things and you've got
to find it finish.
521
00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:45,599
I've probably depleted pretty much
the entire original budget
522
00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:47,519
to get where we are now.
523
00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:51,520
But I'll find a solution and I've
just got to be confident in that.
524
00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:56,119
To keep things moving,
Joe turns to Lina for support.
525
00:32:56,120 --> 00:32:58,359
The project starts out as a simple idea,
526
00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:00,039
you two building a home
527
00:33:00,040 --> 00:33:01,959
that's relatively
affordable in East London.
528
00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:04,679
It's grown into something
that's far more adventurous.
529
00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:06,879
You've put some money in as well?
Yep.
530
00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:09,359
So how much is that now? ?25,000.
531
00:33:09,360 --> 00:33:11,639
OK, so you've got an investment
in the project, a stake.
532
00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:14,359
Everything is taking
much longer than we thought.
533
00:33:14,360 --> 00:33:17,519
I try to push stuff
to go faster but it's difficult
534
00:33:17,520 --> 00:33:20,279
because I love him and I can see
it's really painful for him
535
00:33:20,280 --> 00:33:23,279
to compromise on certain things.
So...
536
00:33:23,280 --> 00:33:27,280
You have needs too, though.
Yeah, definitely.
537
00:33:28,280 --> 00:33:30,839
But that will have to wait
till the house has done.
538
00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:34,840
You're putting all that on hold,
are you?
539
00:33:36,520 --> 00:33:38,639
Despite Lina's cash injection,
540
00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:42,640
by April this house is
still a long way from finished.
541
00:33:43,280 --> 00:33:46,319
You were meant to be
living here at Christmas.
542
00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:48,519
Times change. How are you? Not bad.
Yourself?
543
00:33:48,520 --> 00:33:51,319
Yeah, I mean, look,
it's fabulous from the outside.
544
00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:53,759
Beautiful. Thank you.
But it's not finished.
545
00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:54,879
What have you been doing?
546
00:33:54,880 --> 00:33:57,239
It's a little bit harder,
I think, than I thought
547
00:33:57,240 --> 00:34:00,519
just working a bit on
your own sometimes.
548
00:34:00,520 --> 00:34:02,199
So, yeah, things take a bit longer.
549
00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:04,199
"It's a bit harder than I thought".
Yeah.
550
00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:06,839
Inside, this house is obviously
not complete.
551
00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:09,439
The fundamentals are all missing -
552
00:34:09,440 --> 00:34:12,479
electrics, plaster, stairs.
553
00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:15,839
I think there's no excuse
for falling short and if you know
554
00:34:15,840 --> 00:34:19,199
there's a better solution,
what do you have to do to get there?
555
00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:22,519
But I don't want to fall at the last
hurdle, if you know what I mean?
556
00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:24,239
Yeah, that isn't the problem.
557
00:34:24,240 --> 00:34:26,799
The problem is that you keep
making new hurdles for yourself.
558
00:34:26,800 --> 00:34:29,199
Yeah, there's been
some compromises in time
559
00:34:29,200 --> 00:34:31,719
and where we're living and everything.
560
00:34:31,720 --> 00:34:34,359
I think the house that I was
planning to build for 160
561
00:34:34,360 --> 00:34:36,879
is not the house that I've built here.
562
00:34:36,880 --> 00:34:40,880
Two years ago, Joe hadn't planned
to install the latest high-pressure
563
00:34:41,240 --> 00:34:45,240
misting sprinklers or a cutting edge
low energy heating
564
00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:48,159
and hot water system.
565
00:34:48,160 --> 00:34:51,119
Throughout the summer progress is slow,
566
00:34:51,120 --> 00:34:55,120
but still Joe's commitment is steadfast.
567
00:34:56,440 --> 00:35:00,359
Part of the frustration is I can see
what this can all become if it's
568
00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:01,999
all done exactly as I want it,
569
00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:06,000
and I think it's
about staying true to that.
570
00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:10,119
The real question is will
Joe's vision for this house
571
00:35:10,120 --> 00:35:19,000
ever become reality?
572
00:35:30,680 --> 00:35:34,680
It's been just over two years
since I first met Joe and Lina
573
00:35:35,160 --> 00:35:38,999
and heard about their plans
for a tiny two-bedroom house
574
00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:42,159
with a big pioneering spirit.
575
00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:43,999
Now I want a different perspective
576
00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:47,199
on one of East London's
smallest buildings.
577
00:35:47,200 --> 00:35:49,319
Oh.
578
00:35:49,320 --> 00:35:51,159
Will you look at that?
579
00:35:51,160 --> 00:35:53,279
What a skyline.
580
00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:57,280
This part of London in the East End,
200 years ago, it was just fields.
581
00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:02,320
It grew, effectively, as housing
to support the docks as they grew,
582
00:36:04,440 --> 00:36:07,519
and then it was an area
that became heavily bombed
583
00:36:07,520 --> 00:36:08,959
during the Second World War
584
00:36:08,960 --> 00:36:11,239
to the extent that there are big holes
585
00:36:11,240 --> 00:36:14,439
that have since been plugged
with social housing programmes
586
00:36:14,440 --> 00:36:15,919
of the 20th century.
587
00:36:15,920 --> 00:36:18,119
And in amongst all of that,
588
00:36:18,120 --> 00:36:22,120
the occasional little
shining example of something new,
589
00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:27,039
of regeneration.
590
00:36:27,040 --> 00:36:31,040
There's Joe's house.
591
00:36:31,640 --> 00:36:33,719
This is all very tidy.
592
00:36:33,720 --> 00:36:35,399
And neat.
593
00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:39,399
And so is this house.
594
00:36:39,400 --> 00:36:43,400
Very tidy, very polished.
595
00:36:44,040 --> 00:36:48,040
Very nicely detailed.
596
00:36:49,440 --> 00:36:53,440
It may be small,
but this building packs some punch.
597
00:36:54,520 --> 00:36:57,919
The contrast of sleek cedar
against Victorian brick
598
00:36:57,920 --> 00:37:00,559
is genuinely exciting.
599
00:37:00,560 --> 00:37:04,079
This is young, trendy,
sustainable housing,
600
00:37:04,080 --> 00:37:08,080
what you might call box-fresh.
601
00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:11,039
Hey, Joe.
602
00:37:11,040 --> 00:37:12,919
How are you doing?
603
00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:14,719
Yeah, I'm very well.
Good to see you again.
604
00:37:14,720 --> 00:37:16,759
I'm all the better
for seeing you and this place.
605
00:37:16,760 --> 00:37:18,799
Hi, Lina. Hi. Nice to see you.
And you.
606
00:37:18,800 --> 00:37:19,999
Look at this.
607
00:37:20,000 --> 00:37:24,000
I just hadn't expected it to be so
precisely polished in the way it is.
608
00:37:24,800 --> 00:37:26,639
All of this new tarmac,
609
00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:28,159
who paid for this?
610
00:37:28,160 --> 00:37:30,879
this was a collection of, you know,
the landlords... And you.
611
00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:33,879
..and homeowners and myself here.
Everyone.
612
00:37:33,880 --> 00:37:35,399
And then who paid for the wall then?
613
00:37:35,400 --> 00:37:38,199
So, that was done with the council.
So all these guys benefit.
614
00:37:38,200 --> 00:37:39,439
Exactly, yeah.
615
00:37:39,440 --> 00:37:42,119
I think it would have been quite
rude to have just done my place
616
00:37:42,120 --> 00:37:45,039
and not really look at
the residents and surrounding area.
617
00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:48,839
It feels safer to come in here and
we all get to know each other now,
618
00:37:48,840 --> 00:37:51,319
we talk to each other,
so good community.
619
00:37:51,320 --> 00:37:54,479
Well, regeneration always starts
with individuals. Yeah. Yeah.
620
00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:56,719
So, well done. Nice job. Thank you.
621
00:37:56,720 --> 00:37:59,279
From the outside, it's actually shrunk
622
00:37:59,280 --> 00:38:00,919
cos it had scaffolding on it
for so long.
623
00:38:00,920 --> 00:38:03,319
It's shrunk back to
its correct perimeter, hasn't it?
624
00:38:03,320 --> 00:38:05,759
Yeah, it was almost
on the same land again borrowed.
625
00:38:05,760 --> 00:38:07,759
I really want to know how big it is
on the inside.
626
00:38:07,760 --> 00:38:09,279
Come and have a look, then. Come on.
627
00:38:09,280 --> 00:38:12,159
Or small for that matter.
THEY LAUGH
628
00:38:12,160 --> 00:38:15,719
Come on in.
629
00:38:15,720 --> 00:38:19,519
What a light building.
630
00:38:19,520 --> 00:38:23,520
White walls, open staircases
and natural light
631
00:38:24,440 --> 00:38:28,440
make this building seem to expand
as soon as you cross the threshold.
632
00:38:29,720 --> 00:38:32,559
No longer a drawing or a building site,
633
00:38:32,560 --> 00:38:35,439
Joe and Lina have made a real house.
634
00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:37,999
It's funny, every time I've stood
on one of these mezzanines,
635
00:38:38,000 --> 00:38:41,079
I kept thinking to myself, "Surely
this isn't big enough to live on,"
636
00:38:41,080 --> 00:38:45,080
and yet, actually, we are in
a really generous-sized hallway.
637
00:38:46,080 --> 00:38:49,839
And your staircase, it's
very minimal. Do you like it? I do.
638
00:38:49,840 --> 00:38:51,319
It's very white too.
639
00:38:51,320 --> 00:38:54,039
It's also got holes in it
to let the light through.
640
00:38:54,040 --> 00:38:57,359
The open, flowing interior fools you
into thinking
641
00:38:57,360 --> 00:39:00,599
this building is much bigger
than it really is.
642
00:39:00,600 --> 00:39:04,600
An illusion that continues upstairs
in Lina's office.
643
00:39:04,720 --> 00:39:07,599
That is very clever.
644
00:39:07,600 --> 00:39:10,119
The area that's defined is
about five feet by four feet,
645
00:39:10,120 --> 00:39:12,439
it's titchy, but it's great.
646
00:39:12,440 --> 00:39:13,999
There's plenty of space, yeah.
647
00:39:14,000 --> 00:39:16,759
It's almost suggesting more space
than there is.
648
00:39:16,760 --> 00:39:19,879
And ceilings that you can't touch.
649
00:39:19,880 --> 00:39:22,839
The master bedroom is
also tall, full-width
650
00:39:22,840 --> 00:39:24,959
and just big enough to be civilised
651
00:39:24,960 --> 00:39:28,639
thanks entirely to the way
Joe's designed the storage.
652
00:39:28,640 --> 00:39:30,199
That's a key thing, isn't it? Yeah.
653
00:39:30,200 --> 00:39:34,039
Make your fitted furniture
full-height for storage... Yeah.
654
00:39:34,040 --> 00:39:36,999
..but also, then, make it a wall.
655
00:39:37,000 --> 00:39:40,119
For all the complications
Joe has brought to this building,
656
00:39:40,120 --> 00:39:44,120
the finished space is
elegant, simple and even generous.
657
00:39:45,120 --> 00:39:47,479
As though it could have been
slotted together
658
00:39:47,480 --> 00:39:51,480
with a rubber mallet
and an Allen key in just a few days.
659
00:39:51,680 --> 00:39:55,559
I just love the choice of spaces,
and choice of views, really.
660
00:39:55,560 --> 00:39:59,319
Do you know what? It is -
it's not uncomfortably warm,
661
00:39:59,320 --> 00:40:02,719
it is just really, really pleasant
this building. It's not...
662
00:40:02,720 --> 00:40:05,679
It keeps the heat in it, doesn't it?
663
00:40:05,680 --> 00:40:08,239
Yes, I mean, the maximum
heat demand, I think, in the winter,
664
00:40:08,240 --> 00:40:11,399
is about 650 watts
which is almost nothing.
665
00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:15,400
That's very... Yeah, exactly, very,
very low and super insulated. Yeah.
666
00:40:18,040 --> 00:40:19,279
Wow.
667
00:40:19,280 --> 00:40:21,919
That is one complicated view, isn't it?
668
00:40:21,920 --> 00:40:25,319
As you come up the building,
the views get less constricted
669
00:40:25,320 --> 00:40:28,039
and it sort of takes you
somewhere else, you know?
670
00:40:28,040 --> 00:40:32,039
Yeah, the most, I think,
dramatic view is probably
the one on the next floor.
671
00:40:32,040 --> 00:40:36,040
Oh, yeah, yeah, from the sky.
The skylight, yeah.
672
00:40:36,280 --> 00:40:40,280
But meantime, there's a room
which is remarkable.
673
00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:45,600
Great, isn't it?
Really generous kitchen.
674
00:40:46,320 --> 00:40:47,839
This is the point in the house,
675
00:40:47,840 --> 00:40:51,599
the only point where you get to
sort of really see the full width,
676
00:40:51,600 --> 00:40:55,600
almost the full length of the place.
Yeah. Oh, yeah. It's not subdivided.
677
00:40:56,160 --> 00:40:58,439
What's interesting is
that as you come up,
678
00:40:58,440 --> 00:41:00,279
the spaces get more interesting.
679
00:41:00,280 --> 00:41:02,319
They get bigger, each one gets bigger.
680
00:41:02,320 --> 00:41:05,959
That is bigger than the two rooms
on the previous landing. Yeah.
681
00:41:05,960 --> 00:41:08,359
And, at the same time,
the windows get larger,
682
00:41:08,360 --> 00:41:10,039
they take in more sky
683
00:41:10,040 --> 00:41:11,879
until you end up with this view,
684
00:41:11,880 --> 00:41:15,399
which is like tiny house,
view to infinity.
685
00:41:15,400 --> 00:41:19,319
The whole idea was that it was
a crescendo to this space.
686
00:41:19,320 --> 00:41:21,719
That's one of the beauties of
this house,
687
00:41:21,720 --> 00:41:24,239
is that it's all bespoke.
688
00:41:24,240 --> 00:41:26,599
It means it's everything we want,
really.
689
00:41:26,600 --> 00:41:29,959
Wow.
690
00:41:29,960 --> 00:41:33,960
This small house has two bathrooms -
one off the hall
691
00:41:34,600 --> 00:41:36,839
and a wet room in the basement,
692
00:41:36,840 --> 00:41:39,999
the basement that was such a challenge.
693
00:41:40,000 --> 00:41:43,759
Down here, hides the subterranean
spare bedroom,
694
00:41:43,760 --> 00:41:46,959
and in the depths...
695
00:41:46,960 --> 00:41:50,960
The hallowed ground of the workshop.
696
00:41:51,360 --> 00:41:55,360
This is a place with potential,
creative potential. Exactly.
697
00:41:56,120 --> 00:41:59,039
Are you past the horror?
698
00:41:59,040 --> 00:42:00,959
I've moved positively forward from it.
699
00:42:00,960 --> 00:42:02,879
It was horrible at the time.
700
00:42:02,880 --> 00:42:06,880
Yeah, you can dwell on it or you can
build the rest of the house.
701
00:42:09,600 --> 00:42:12,239
Both inside and out,
702
00:42:12,240 --> 00:42:14,679
Joe's fastidious eye for detail
703
00:42:14,680 --> 00:42:18,680
and uncompromising attitude
to quality is in evidence.
704
00:42:20,640 --> 00:42:24,640
There's no hint this is the work
of someone learning on the job.
705
00:42:25,920 --> 00:42:29,199
The impact of this house
will not only make itself felt
706
00:42:29,200 --> 00:42:31,039
on the local community,
707
00:42:31,040 --> 00:42:35,040
but also undoubtedly on the future
of the young man that built it.
708
00:42:38,280 --> 00:42:41,399
You started out with kind of
a whole different agenda here.
709
00:42:41,400 --> 00:42:44,479
It was about making yourself
a simple house
710
00:42:44,480 --> 00:42:46,399
that you could both enjoy and live in.
711
00:42:46,400 --> 00:42:47,839
You thought you'd carry on working
712
00:42:47,840 --> 00:42:49,759
and who knows
where the future would lead you.
713
00:42:49,760 --> 00:42:53,760
You gave up your job, you became
entirely focused on this project,
714
00:42:53,880 --> 00:42:55,999
you altered what it was meant to be.
715
00:42:56,000 --> 00:42:57,279
It's all been reactive,
716
00:42:57,280 --> 00:42:58,919
so it has been designing it
as we go along
717
00:42:58,920 --> 00:43:02,359
rather than having
this predefined design.
718
00:43:02,360 --> 00:43:06,360
There's also, though,
the element of overcompensation.
719
00:43:06,640 --> 00:43:10,399
Having not got the groundworks
where you wanted them to be,
720
00:43:10,400 --> 00:43:12,519
with the rest of the project
it seemed to me
721
00:43:12,520 --> 00:43:14,599
you really wanted to, kind of,
super perform.
722
00:43:14,600 --> 00:43:18,600
This is a project where
I've compensated for the issues
723
00:43:18,720 --> 00:43:20,879
and also then been rather creative
724
00:43:20,880 --> 00:43:23,119
in going, "Well, how do I find
what I want?"
725
00:43:23,120 --> 00:43:27,120
And I think it had to be in this
sort of detailed and sort of
long-winded approach.
726
00:43:29,280 --> 00:43:31,679
So, yeah, it's been tiring at times,
727
00:43:31,680 --> 00:43:35,199
but every time I look at it
and try think, "Was it worth it
or was it not?"
728
00:43:35,200 --> 00:43:37,919
It's a resounding
"Yes, it was worth it."
729
00:43:37,920 --> 00:43:41,920
Joe was always saying this is about
him learning how to build a house,
730
00:43:42,160 --> 00:43:45,439
and there's more layers to it
and there's more things to do
731
00:43:45,440 --> 00:43:48,279
and you feel like the list is
just becoming longer and longer,
732
00:43:48,280 --> 00:43:50,239
but we managed to get here in the end,
733
00:43:50,240 --> 00:43:52,599
we managed to finish everything.
734
00:43:52,600 --> 00:43:55,879
Lina, you're the partner in this,
735
00:43:55,880 --> 00:43:57,679
but you're also the investor,
736
00:43:57,680 --> 00:43:59,879
you're the backer to an extent.
Yeah.
737
00:43:59,880 --> 00:44:01,559
As are your parents.
738
00:44:01,560 --> 00:44:05,079
Do you feel that you have supported
an indulgence?
739
00:44:05,080 --> 00:44:07,079
Joe has worked so hard on the house.
740
00:44:07,080 --> 00:44:09,199
It hasn't felt like it's an indulgence.
741
00:44:09,200 --> 00:44:10,839
I sometimes turn around and say to him,
742
00:44:10,840 --> 00:44:12,839
"You don't have to do this
if you don't want to.
743
00:44:12,840 --> 00:44:15,479
"We can find another solution,"
but he wants to.
744
00:44:15,480 --> 00:44:19,480
Do you feel an equal sense of ownership?
745
00:44:20,680 --> 00:44:22,919
LINA AND JOE LAUGH
746
00:44:22,920 --> 00:44:26,519
I think because Joe has put
90, 95% into the house,
747
00:44:26,520 --> 00:44:29,399
I will say it's Joe's house
but it's our home.
748
00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:31,359
How much did it cost in the end?
749
00:44:31,360 --> 00:44:32,599
We probably...
750
00:44:32,600 --> 00:44:34,119
It's probably about 250 all in.
751
00:44:34,120 --> 00:44:36,519
As opposed to 160, which is
90,000 over which is...
752
00:44:36,520 --> 00:44:38,279
Well... Come on, yeah, it is.
753
00:44:38,280 --> 00:44:39,959
I was expecting I was a bit low,
754
00:44:39,960 --> 00:44:42,679
but I wasn't expecting to stretch
quite so far.
755
00:44:42,680 --> 00:44:45,719
This way of building isn't
the most affordable way of doing it,
756
00:44:45,720 --> 00:44:49,239
but for what we've got here,
could we afford to buy it?
757
00:44:49,240 --> 00:44:51,079
Absolutely not.
758
00:44:51,080 --> 00:44:53,719
It's been a longer journey
than we both expected,
759
00:44:53,720 --> 00:44:57,720
but I think it now gives us
a bit of a framework
760
00:44:58,280 --> 00:45:00,439
to look at what we want to do.
761
00:45:00,440 --> 00:45:04,440
With this house we managed to create
a dream together... Yeah.
762
00:45:05,040 --> 00:45:07,199
I think it's galvanised
our relationship.
763
00:45:07,200 --> 00:45:09,999
It's really sort of added
another layer. Yeah.
764
00:45:10,000 --> 00:45:13,959
And, yeah, I'd do it again with her
if she wanted to.
765
00:45:13,960 --> 00:45:15,319
Would you?
766
00:45:15,320 --> 00:45:19,320
If I can stay here whilst
you're building the other house.
767
00:45:21,640 --> 00:45:23,719
You know, we should
stop measuring houses by
768
00:45:23,720 --> 00:45:26,159
the number of bedrooms
and bathrooms they've got
769
00:45:26,160 --> 00:45:28,839
and measure, instead, their energy.
770
00:45:28,840 --> 00:45:32,399
By which I mean the human energy
that goes into making them.
771
00:45:32,400 --> 00:45:36,400
Cos this place, you see, is only
the powerful little space capsule
that it is
772
00:45:37,360 --> 00:45:41,360
thanks to all the genius
and the design ideas
773
00:45:41,520 --> 00:45:44,039
and the passion and the commitment
774
00:45:44,040 --> 00:45:48,040
and the time spent building it
by Joe and Lina,
775
00:45:48,640 --> 00:45:51,239
by their collaborators, their friends.
776
00:45:51,240 --> 00:45:55,240
And now this place is poised
to give it all back,
777
00:45:55,800 --> 00:45:58,999
to change Joe and Lina's lives,
778
00:45:59,000 --> 00:46:01,439
to improve where it is,
779
00:46:01,440 --> 00:46:03,999
to actually, perhaps,
make a contribution
780
00:46:04,000 --> 00:46:06,959
to the wider regeneration
of this part of London.
781
00:46:06,960 --> 00:46:10,599
What an extraordinary potential it has.
782
00:46:10,600 --> 00:46:14,600
Powerful, big ideas can come
in small packages.
783
00:46:23,560 --> 00:46:26,479
A friend came round and said,
oh, he's building a cathedral
784
00:46:26,480 --> 00:46:29,039
cos cathedrals take
more than one generation to build
785
00:46:29,040 --> 00:46:30,959
and I thought, "Oh, nice."
786
00:46:30,960 --> 00:46:32,279
HE LAUGHS
787
00:46:32,280 --> 00:46:34,719
Ed is very much at the hilt of the house
788
00:46:34,720 --> 00:46:37,279
and mine is very much more the land
and the animals.
789
00:46:37,280 --> 00:46:40,079
I just can't resist experimenting
with pretty well everything,
790
00:46:40,080 --> 00:46:41,439
that's sort of my nature.
791
00:46:41,440 --> 00:46:43,719
Do you think that
Ed is going to deliver? Yes.
792
00:46:43,720 --> 00:46:46,439
Absolutely. You say that very
confidently. I am very confident.
793
00:46:46,440 --> 00:46:48,480
Wow. This is spectacular.
67438
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