IT IS great to see Kevin McCloud back on TV3 with a new series of Grand Designs at 7.30 on Thursday nights and the latest episode was an absolute gem.
We got to meet Peter and Chard Berkin of Milton Keynes and witness the building of Peter's dream home - an ambitious round house with a single-story bespoke frame.
Peter, an English GP, and Chard, a Thai alternative medicine therapist, were at odds over the project from the start because Chard did not like round houses and was determined to exercise strict financial control over the project.
"He is crazy, I want to kill him" she said and described the team he had assembled to help with the build as "too old and too slow".
"You do love him don't you?" asked McCloud.
"Yes of course I do," she replied.
Peter had another project on the go - an aeroplane he had been building for five years and both his wife and the presenter suggested that the house was really an extension of his workshop which was allocated its own annex as part of the build.
"I threatened to burn his plane and he said he would kill me" Chard told McCloud matter-of-factly.
As the house came together with eco-features like a moulded polystyrene base, wool insulation, solar panels and sedum turf on the roof, Chard began warming to the house and helped Peter to apply the timber cladding to the exterior.
McCloud described Peter Berkin as "one of the great British eccentrics" and marvelled at his design capabilities.
Incorporating cement board and steel reinforcing the round structure was achieved by interlocking 2060 pieces of wood.
"It is an amazing feat of aeronautical design" said McCloud.
While the Berkin's House was being built, 74 houses were erected on the section next door which rather spoiled their view although that did not dampen Peter Berkin's enthusiasm.
Chard was most interested in showing off the produce from her impressive garden and the glittery laminate she had specially ordered for the new kitchen.
"Are you happy here now?" McCloud asked her.
"Peter is happy here" she replied "It will take some time for me."
The build ended up costing 40,000 ($85,000) which was Peter's target budget while Chard was aiming for 20,000.
Savings and the proceeds from the sale of their previous house covered the entire cost of the project and enabled Peter to retire.
Despite their opposing views about the house, Peter and Chard were the first Grand Designs home builders I have seen who did not appear to "haemorrhage money" as McCloud is fond of saying.