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Kevin McCloud Revisits The First Ever Grand Designs Project, Has It Stood The Test Of Time?

Channel 4 Homes

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Presenter Kevin McCloud follows some of Britain's most ambitious self-building projects, as intrepid individuals attempt to design and construct the home of their dreams.

On a nostalgic revisit to the first ever Grand Design, from back in 1999, Kevin finds out if Tim and Jules are still flying high in their timber-framed home on the cliffs above Newhaven. (Grand Designs
Newhaven Revisit 2024)

First Shown: 30th October 2024.

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20 Comments

@latheofheaven1017 1 year ago

Compared to so many later projects, it's so lovely to see this one is a human-scale home, made to be lived in, not some kind of stark, public library sized architectural 'statement' made only to be looked at.

@halanielf 1 year ago

Ohh, this made me cry.. loved to see how everything changed or not changed with the passage of time... children grew up, parents grew older, the landscape got livelier but the house stayed the same 😊

@MsZumoman 1 year ago

What a beautiful fairy tale dream. They really grew it into something special

@ChristineSmith-tj2qq 1 year ago

So refreshing to see a great down to earth family in their beautiful home. Compared to the concrete and glass monstrosities that some of the later series have shown. Really enjoyed this.

@armstrongcatherine 1 year ago

I think i love it even more because they left it alone. No more crazing redecorating. Just live and love in the house

@geoff-hou 1 year ago

What a great demonstration of the passage of time - its effect on people, buildings, nature. Lovely stuff - more please.

@RosablueHandMade 1 year ago

Such a warm tale. Lovely couple. Gorgeous life, well lived. Congratulations!

@artywolve 1 year ago

I grew up watching grand designs, and I think this has to be one of my favourite episodes ever. It's amazing to me how exactly the same this couple was after 25 years, as remarkable as how much the land had changed. The way they went from being "not gardeners" to raising a forest on their doorstep, and fully shaping the place they made their home is really beautiful.

@matty506 1 year ago

Using the £30k equity he had from selling that massive house! Oh what a different world.

@annA48126 1 year ago

Quite magical. Their story will stay with me a long, long time.

@SianyaD 1 year ago

I can't quite believe that 25 years + have gone by since I watched the story of this build unfold. My toddlers of the time have also become fully fledged adults. It's a beautiful home, and hopefully, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren while enjoy it for decades to come.

@roroblyn9023 1 year ago (edited)

This is so beautiful… the way they went from ‘not gardeners’ to being all about the garden, embracing their spot and helping it flourish, creating a forest… and the way this shaped their children’s lives ❤ a beautiful slow, rooted life. We all need a bit of this.

@yasnyne 1 year ago

Is so good to see the baby Tiger as an adult. I am definitely checking out his book.

@Wiki7202 1 year ago

that initial 30,000 in 1998 is the equivalent of £67,463.89 today (January 2025)

@lorraineyoung102 1 year ago

The tree top canopy is just amazing! Just magical to now find the house surrounded by all the trees that they have planted! 🥰

@JazzFunkNobby1964 1 year ago

Thanks for the revisit 25 years later. I remember the show first time around.
I cannot believe how they managed to surround themselves in a forest in such a short time. It's amazing to me. Can you imagine the same place with a manicured lawn surrounding it? Yuk.
To me the outside living areas of the home are what makes this build special. The kids being able to sleep outside on the verandas, etc must have been a magical upbringing for them.
Thanks to C4 Grand Designs, made my day watching this.

@exploretheobvious 1 year ago

To see them after 25 years was remarkable. The neighbourhood grew quite a bit but it’s still an amazing spot thanks to the jungle like environment. Brilliant!! Kevin a gentleman as always.

@j377yb33n 1 year ago

I think it's kind of jarring looking back at '99 when you could have someone running a hangliding school by the sea able to put up a decently sized newbuild. Granted, old house to sell with it, but a lot has changed

@blinkym21 1 year ago

This was such a heart warming episode. To be able to experience the passage of time, not just for the structure of their home , but for the whole family was truly beautiful.

From a newly wed young couple with eyes full of fresh dreams and hopes ,all the way to their more mature years. They look so peaceful and content on what they have achieved as well as who they have become.❤️