1 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:06,160 I've been picked up from airports in taxis before but never had to go to a jetty to be picked up by a boat. 2 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,200 'He's Piers Taylor, an award-winning architect.' 3 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:19,240 This building is so tactile and just rich, materially. 4 00:00:19,240 --> 00:00:20,400 Woo-hoo-hoo! 5 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:22,400 'And she's Caroline Quentin, 6 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:25,240 'acclaimed actress and passionate property developer.' 7 00:00:25,240 --> 00:00:27,560 Ah, I've been expecting you, Mr Bond! 8 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:34,480 'We've been given the keys to some of the most incredible houses in the world...' 9 00:00:34,480 --> 00:00:37,120 It's chock full of surprises, isn't it? 10 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:38,640 SHE SCREAMS 11 00:00:38,640 --> 00:00:40,640 '..to discover the design, innovation, 12 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:44,760 'passion and endurance needed to transform architectural vision 13 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:46,640 'into an extraordinary home.' 14 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:49,960 If this was Hollywood, I'd be snogging you now. 15 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:53,320 'Together, we'll be travelling the globe...' 16 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:56,600 - Oh, look down there! - I would, but I'm trying not to kill us. 17 00:00:56,600 --> 00:00:57,720 You look ahead. 18 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:01,000 '..meeting the architects and owners who have taken on the challenge of 19 00:01:01,000 --> 00:01:04,720 'building unconventional homes in demanding locations.' 20 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,760 Just another day on the wing of a 747. 21 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:11,760 'Whether it's navigating the logistics of constructing a house on top of a 22 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:13,160 'remote mountain...' 23 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:18,400 Why would you build a house where you can only get there by cable car? 24 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,880 '..negotiating the ancient trees of a fragile forest...' 25 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:23,880 You never see a building this close to the trees. 26 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:25,200 That's six inches away. 27 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:27,800 '..having a sea view whilst perched on the edge of a 28 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:30,320 'dramatic coastal shoreline...' 29 00:01:30,320 --> 00:01:33,880 I'd love to know how you actually built this on what appears to be a sort 30 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:35,040 of vertical cliff face. 31 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,560 '..or excavating the earth to build a home deep underground.' 32 00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:41,920 There is always a moment when you feel fear. 33 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:44,080 Nature is never to come back the same way. 34 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:46,600 No-one had ever built something like this before. 35 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:47,760 It's a tightrope you walk. 36 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:49,520 It can go spectacularly wrong. 37 00:01:56,720 --> 00:02:01,080 Soaring high above sea level, remote mountain living offers peace, 38 00:02:01,080 --> 00:02:04,120 tranquillity and stunning vistas. 39 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:07,920 You don't come across views like that more than once in a lifetime. 40 00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:11,320 It is somewhere that, once seen, it would never be forgotten. 41 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:14,640 But building a home at altitude exposed to the elements, 42 00:02:14,640 --> 00:02:17,360 often with no running water or even roads, 43 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,680 is an endurance test only the bravest take on. 44 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:22,240 How on earth did you get... 45 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:25,040 ..this house up a mountain? 46 00:02:26,720 --> 00:02:30,520 Piers and I will be travelling from the Southern Alps of New Zealand to 47 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:32,360 the peaks of the Swiss Alps. 48 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:37,880 This is a building that you need to be able to batten down the hatches of. 49 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:42,920 - It's an antidote as well to the frilly oompah houses all round, isn't it? - Yeah, I think so. 50 00:02:42,920 --> 00:02:46,000 And from the heat of the desert ranges of Arizona 51 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:48,000 to the coastal mountains of California... 52 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:51,480 ..discovering what it takes to design, 53 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:56,600 build and live in the world's most extraordinary mountain homes. 54 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,560 At any point, did you think, I've made a terrible mistake here, 55 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:00,760 - I've employed a madman? - I did. 56 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:02,040 Did you? Did you? 57 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,680 - Did you? - At which point? - When it was too late. 58 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:07,960 THEY LAUGH 59 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:18,600 The first stop on our mountainside adventure 60 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:20,880 takes us to the City of Angels. 61 00:03:25,440 --> 00:03:27,520 But we're not here to see the sights. 62 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:34,760 Piers and I are leaving Downtown LA behind and winding high into the 63 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:36,880 Santa Monica Mountains, 64 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:41,560 where one home owner built her dream home from the most unthinkable reused 65 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:42,720 building material. 66 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:52,040 OK, hang on. Oh, no. 67 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:53,720 That's wrong. 68 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:54,840 California, we're here. 69 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:57,080 Or over here? 70 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:00,120 You're looking at Arizona, aren't you? 71 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:03,080 The woman who owns this house and has built this house 72 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,720 spent years looking for the right plot of land. 73 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:08,440 - She did. - I mean, 15 years. 74 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:11,200 - 15 years. - But she did look all over the world. 75 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,840 All over the world, as long as it was within an hour of a city. 76 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,440 She obviously thinks she's found the place to be, 77 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,560 with views of the sea and the mountain. 78 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:21,680 - It's living the dream, isn't it? - Living the dream. 79 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:27,600 The owner of our first mountainside retreat wanted a building with 80 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:32,120 feminine curves that would sit lightly on this coastal mountain range. 81 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:39,040 So her architect looked to the skies and found inspiration in the most 82 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:40,480 unlikely of places. 83 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,560 The house we're going to see is a proper statement. 84 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:49,600 It's a proper statement and, what's clever about it 85 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:53,600 is that it's crazy but it's still, I think, 86 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:55,560 architecturally really fascinating. 87 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:01,760 And when it comes to making a statement, it doesn't get any bigger than this. 88 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:04,600 # All the leaves are brown 89 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:06,800 # All the leaves are brown 90 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,000 # And the sky is grey... # 91 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:13,880 Built from the wings and tail fins of a disused Boeing 747, 92 00:05:13,880 --> 00:05:17,560 this award-winning house is one of a kind. 93 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:20,240 # On a winter's day 94 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,360 # I'd be safe and warm... # 95 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:24,160 - There it is. - SHE GASPS 96 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:26,000 # If I was in LA 97 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,760 # If I was in LA 98 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:30,320 # California dreamin' 99 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:32,240 # California dreamin'... # 100 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:34,240 You've got to be happy with that. 101 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:36,840 - Extraordinary! - Let's have a look at this. 102 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:40,800 Oh! 103 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:47,440 SHE LAUGHS 104 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,400 - I think we're here. - Yeah. Are you impressed? 105 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,680 I think I'm awed by how beautiful it is being here. 106 00:05:54,680 --> 00:05:57,400 - Yeah, yeah. - This is so quirky. 107 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:01,320 It's lovely seeing the wings against the sky, the thin edges. 108 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:03,640 - It's outrageous, actually. - It is, it is. 109 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:09,920 So, how does an architect go about acquiring a disused Boeing 747? 110 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:15,040 Well, in the middle of the Californian desert, there's a graveyard of 111 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:16,680 retired aeroplanes. 112 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:20,640 Once her architect had convinced her, Francie, 113 00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:24,040 a retired Mercedes-Benz dealer and the owner of this house, 114 00:06:24,040 --> 00:06:28,480 spent less than 50,000 on a decommissioned Boeing 747. 115 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:33,120 Using precision laser technology, 116 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:36,320 the wings were then removed and used to create the roofs of this 117 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:37,840 unconventional house. 118 00:06:40,840 --> 00:06:42,960 I like being under the wing. 119 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,840 - Me too. - I think it's really comforting. - Yeah. 120 00:06:45,840 --> 00:06:47,680 It is like a bird's wing, in a way, isn't it? 121 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:50,480 This would also encourage the breeze across it. 122 00:06:50,480 --> 00:06:53,560 You could open those windows at the back on a really hot day because 123 00:06:53,560 --> 00:06:56,720 - aircraft wings are designed to bring air under them. - Yeah, yeah. 124 00:06:56,720 --> 00:06:59,120 - So this would be naturally ventilated. - Yeah. 125 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:02,760 And actually, planes, remember, are the best engineered things in the world, 126 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:05,920 so everything is beautifully made, beautifully put together, 127 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:08,160 incredibly durable, the best materials. 128 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,240 I mean, architects are obsessed by nuts and bolts and fixings and how things 129 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,680 are made. It is a beautiful, beautiful thing. 130 00:07:14,680 --> 00:07:17,040 But, at the same time, it looks quite home-made, doesn't it? 131 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:18,400 It does. All the little squares. 132 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:20,080 - Yeah, surprising. - What's the metal? 133 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:23,400 - Aluminium. - So little squares of aluminium just sort of riveted together? 134 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,640 Yeah, well, it would have been patched, actually, and repaired over the years. 135 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:28,600 They were used for 40 years or something. 136 00:07:28,600 --> 00:07:32,960 The concrete in this, and the metal, going up to the wing. 137 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:34,480 That works. 138 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:38,240 It does. I mean, it's designed so that the glass is the thing that, by and large, 139 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:40,520 touches it, so you always see the shape. 140 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:44,160 At ground level, 141 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:49,120 this eccentric building blends seamlessly into the mountainous landscape. 142 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:52,400 But, from the air, the shape of the wings is clearly visible. 143 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:58,040 There was a real risk that pilots could confuse it for a downed plane. 144 00:07:59,520 --> 00:08:03,880 So the project had to be registered and cleared with 17 government 145 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:07,000 agencies, including Homeland Security. 146 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:09,520 I want to go on that wing now. 147 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:10,720 I think we should. 148 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:13,200 - I'm going to leap up. - Show-off! 149 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:17,680 Here we go. Just another day on the wing of a 747. 150 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:19,200 Just enjoying ourselves. 151 00:08:19,200 --> 00:08:21,240 - Taking flight. - Striding out. 152 00:08:21,240 --> 00:08:23,040 Cor! 153 00:08:23,040 --> 00:08:25,120 It's quite spectacular, isn't it? 154 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:27,960 I mean, this is incredible, really. 155 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:30,880 And actually... Oh, wow, it's quite bouncy here. 156 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:32,680 SHE LAUGHS 157 00:08:32,680 --> 00:08:34,120 Piers, stop it! 158 00:08:36,400 --> 00:08:37,440 SHE SQUEALS 159 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:38,840 We're going to have to get in sync. 160 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:39,880 SHE SQUEALS 161 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:41,960 THEY LAUGH 162 00:08:42,960 --> 00:08:48,000 With two wings, two tail fins and a 55-acre plot to play with, 163 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:51,080 the architect was able to create a main house and a guesthouse 164 00:08:51,080 --> 00:08:52,520 for the owner. 165 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:57,920 The 747 wings are the perfect curvilinear design to float on top of the 166 00:08:57,920 --> 00:09:02,240 two buildings to maximise the views while providing a roof which requires 167 00:09:02,240 --> 00:09:03,840 minimal structural support. 168 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:12,800 Concrete rear supporting walls were built into the hillside and enclosed 169 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:15,520 with panoramic glass facades, 170 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:18,640 allowing light to enter the living spaces throughout the day. 171 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:24,360 The wings were then positioned on top of steel frame supports and secured 172 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:26,480 where the engines were previously mounted. 173 00:09:31,320 --> 00:09:33,800 I love it outside but, Piers, let's go in. 174 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:35,000 - Let's go. - Let's go in! 175 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:46,080 Stepping inside this two-bedroom home, 176 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:49,840 you immediately get a sense of how effective the wings really are. 177 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:52,840 - It's great. - Yeah. 178 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:54,520 It's actually almost better inside 179 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:57,400 - cos its reads as an abstract bit of art up there. - Yeah. 180 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:01,160 That's a great view up there, isn't it? 181 00:10:01,160 --> 00:10:03,320 - It's lovely, yeah. Lovely. - Like a mini... 182 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:07,480 like a little mini invitation to go upstairs and see up there. 183 00:10:11,440 --> 00:10:15,400 And there's more creative use of recycled plane parts. 184 00:10:15,400 --> 00:10:18,360 This section of the fuselage has been turned into a hatch, 185 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:20,760 through from the study to the kitchen. 186 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:22,840 - It's nice from the back, isn't it? - Very nice. 187 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:25,160 Seeing all those rivets, and so on. 188 00:10:27,240 --> 00:10:31,640 Heading upstairs takes you above the wing to the master bedroom. 189 00:10:31,640 --> 00:10:33,960 - It's beautiful. - This is my best bit. 190 00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:35,400 - Me, too. - Is it? 191 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:37,520 Well, you get a view, and the plane, 192 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:40,840 and you're right under these two tail fins. 193 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,040 - Look at this. - Yeah! 194 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:51,160 It's a set, isn't it, really? 195 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:53,680 - Yeah. - It's not actually real mountains. 196 00:10:53,680 --> 00:10:57,040 It's a very well painted backdrop from a Hollywood movie. 197 00:10:57,040 --> 00:11:00,400 It is, and looking out, and seeing the wing at the end, 198 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:02,680 it's so surreal, isn't it? 199 00:11:02,680 --> 00:11:06,200 I don't think I'd ever tire of looking at those mountains. 200 00:11:11,560 --> 00:11:14,560 - Hi, hi, hi! - Lovely to meet you. 201 00:11:14,560 --> 00:11:16,800 Lovely to meet you. Thank you so much. 202 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:19,480 After interviewing over a dozen architects, 203 00:11:19,480 --> 00:11:22,720 the person Francie entrusted with building on her mountainside plot 204 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:27,240 was Californian architect, and now friend, David Hertz. 205 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:31,520 So you've been having some fun here. 206 00:11:31,520 --> 00:11:33,280 We have. 207 00:11:33,280 --> 00:11:37,520 Francie's brief was to create a tranquil eco-friendly home. 208 00:11:37,520 --> 00:11:41,560 And the inspiration for the design came to David at 30,000 feet. 209 00:11:43,120 --> 00:11:47,800 I was flying and I was looking out at the wing and thinking about 210 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,920 what to do to float a roof 211 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,760 and then it occurred to me why try to build a wing, 212 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:56,480 when you could appropriate a wing. 213 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:59,680 I wanted something that was feminine 214 00:11:59,680 --> 00:12:04,720 and it seems that having a wing is not feminine at all. 215 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:08,760 However, once it's detached from the plane, 216 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:11,320 it becomes an entity unto itself 217 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:14,160 and there's beautiful curves to it. 218 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:15,840 They're very subtle. 219 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,200 It's a brave leap, though, 220 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:22,480 to have the idea but to actually in reality then say to someone, 221 00:12:22,480 --> 00:12:25,880 "OK, David, go and bring those wings up the mountain." 222 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:29,000 At any point did you think, I've made a terrible mistake here, 223 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:30,240 I've employed a madman? 224 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:31,720 - I did. - Did you? - Yeah. - Did you? 225 00:12:31,720 --> 00:12:33,600 At which point? 226 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:35,360 Er, when it was too late! 227 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:36,920 THEY LAUGH 228 00:12:39,680 --> 00:12:42,800 The biggest challenge Francie and David had to face was transporting 229 00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:47,000 the wings of the 747 on to the remote mountainside location, 230 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:48,840 1,000 feet above sea level. 231 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:52,280 The majority of the journey was by road, 232 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:54,880 which required a state patrolled escort 233 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:57,120 and the closure of five freeways. 234 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,480 But the roads to Francie's mountain retreat were too small for trucks, 235 00:13:02,480 --> 00:13:04,480 so the final leg of the journey 236 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:07,320 had to be one of pure military precision. 237 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:16,120 One of the largest cargo-lifting helicopters in the world 238 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:19,800 was drafted in to airlift the wings up on to the mountain. 239 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:22,840 There was a lot of risk with the helicopter. 240 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:26,240 I mean, they made it very clear that if in any way 241 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,600 that it started to turn, or catch too much wind, 242 00:13:28,600 --> 00:13:31,080 they were just going to drop it. 243 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:32,840 - They were going to drop it? - Yeah. 244 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:35,920 What was it like as it loomed across, hanging from a helicopter, 245 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:37,840 - coming here? - Well... 246 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:41,800 It was quite a challenge to realise that part of my budget would go 247 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:44,680 towards hiring a sky crane helicopter. 248 00:13:44,680 --> 00:13:46,800 I was like, "Oh, my God!" 249 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:50,360 With all the unknowns, there was huge financial risk. 250 00:13:50,360 --> 00:13:56,640 There was. It was a hell of a lot more than initially I was expecting. 251 00:13:56,640 --> 00:13:59,560 No-one had ever built something like this before. 252 00:13:59,560 --> 00:14:02,000 We are talking about millions of dollars, aren't we? 253 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:03,400 You are. 254 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:05,960 Millions and millions of dollars? 255 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:09,120 Let's just leave it at that. 256 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:11,520 There were a lot of surprises 257 00:14:11,520 --> 00:14:14,960 that brought the cost to the point that it did. 258 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:20,800 I use the analogy, as when you're three-quarters of the way ready to give birth, 259 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:23,280 you can't turn back. 260 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:27,040 - Absolutely. - You can't turn back and you just keep going. 261 00:14:27,040 --> 00:14:30,240 I mean, it sounds exhausting, for everybody involved, 262 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:34,080 but is it worth it, Francie, to go through what you've gone through, 263 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:36,320 to live here? 264 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:38,160 100%, yes. 265 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:40,320 Yes, it is. 266 00:14:40,320 --> 00:14:43,080 It's a phenomenal environment. 267 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:45,680 It's so very, very beautiful 268 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:49,400 and every day is a complete and utter joy. 269 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:51,120 And I feel so lucky. 270 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:52,760 - It is lovely. - Yeah. - It's lovely. 271 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:55,360 - Thank you. - We're not leaving! 272 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,080 That's why I have only one guest bedroom! 273 00:14:58,080 --> 00:14:59,920 THEY CHUCKLE 274 00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:05,800 As the sun starts to drop behind the mountains, 275 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:09,960 what better way to enjoy the view than a sunset wing walk. 276 00:15:09,960 --> 00:15:13,840 # Hey, sugar, take a walk on the wild side # 277 00:15:13,840 --> 00:15:16,800 Thank you so much for the most extraordinary day. 278 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:18,240 It's been really wonderful. 279 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:20,480 A toast, if I may, to the wing house. 280 00:15:20,480 --> 00:15:22,480 To the wing house! 281 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:24,200 - Cheers. - Cheers. 282 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:25,840 Cheers. Woohoo! 283 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:35,000 I think what's really interesting is that despite it being quite a 284 00:15:35,000 --> 00:15:38,080 sensible house in terms of how they describe it, actually, 285 00:15:38,080 --> 00:15:40,240 it's really romantic. 286 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,920 It is, sort of dream come true. 287 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,120 - It is, it is. - By the mountains. 288 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:02,080 The next stop on our architectural adventure 289 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:03,960 takes us 500 miles south-east 290 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:06,760 to the home of the old Wild West. 291 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:11,720 We've swapped the lush coastal mountains of California 292 00:16:11,720 --> 00:16:15,640 for a rugged mountain range on the outskirts of Tucson, Arizona. 293 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:18,640 It might look like a desert, 294 00:16:18,640 --> 00:16:21,320 but we're 2,000 feet above sea level 295 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:24,360 and heading higher into the Tucson mountain range. 296 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:28,400 In this high-altitude environment, 297 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:31,080 temperatures can reach 100 degrees in summer 298 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:33,720 and plummet to freezing in winter. 299 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:38,560 So a house built in these mountains needs to be robust enough 300 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:40,800 to withstand the unforgiving local weather. 301 00:16:43,200 --> 00:16:44,960 It's so hot, it's so dry. 302 00:16:44,960 --> 00:16:46,920 Is your tongue sticking to the roof of your mouth? 303 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:48,600 Yeah. I mean, I'm really hot. 304 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:52,240 The owners of our next mountain home decided to build deep 305 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:54,960 into this arid mountain range. 306 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:57,680 And in order to deal with this extreme environment, 307 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:00,720 used a building technique that's as old as the hills. 308 00:17:02,040 --> 00:17:03,840 It's very exciting, isn't it? 309 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:05,920 The mountains are really rugged. 310 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,480 - There's nothing here. - No, that's just dry earth screed. 311 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:09,920 - A bit of scrub. - Yeah, exactly. 312 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:12,600 - The odd cowboy, the odd outlaw. - It's getting a bit frightening. 313 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:15,200 SHE SINGS: "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly" Theme 314 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:17,000 We're going straight to the mountain, 315 00:17:17,000 --> 00:17:18,200 then we have to go straight up. 316 00:17:21,120 --> 00:17:24,640 Piers and I will be spending the night in this remote mountain home, 317 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:28,320 to discover what it is about this location that made the owners 318 00:17:28,320 --> 00:17:30,320 go to the effort of building here. 319 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:39,240 I cannot imagine choosing to build my dream home here in the mountains. 320 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:40,680 Maybe you're just too English. 321 00:17:40,680 --> 00:17:44,920 For many people, this is super exotic and people fantasise about 322 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:49,080 escaping to the desert and all that fragile beauty. 323 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:52,200 - It's actually getting wilder now, isn't it? - Yeah. 324 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:53,600 I think we're here. 325 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:56,800 I've got a code for it. 326 00:17:56,800 --> 00:17:59,880 Good. Let's get in. I'm so hot. 327 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:02,480 - I can see the building! - What?! - Look. 328 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:06,320 Now a wilderness full of coyotes and rattlesnakes might not be 329 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:09,880 everyone's cup of tea but homeowners and San Diego doctors 330 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:12,920 David and Karen chose not only to build their home 331 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:14,480 in this harsh location, 332 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:17,440 they also plan to retire to these hills. 333 00:18:19,360 --> 00:18:22,720 I've got the key. I've got the key to our retreat. 334 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:24,560 Let's go. I want to get in! 335 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:26,160 - Right! - Look, look, look! 336 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:34,240 Check it out. It's the same colour as the earth! 337 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:36,840 - It's good-looking, isn't it? - Wow! 338 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:38,840 - Let's go. - OK, OK, OK. 339 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:41,120 God, you're so impatient, honestly! 340 00:18:41,120 --> 00:18:43,080 Look at that. 341 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:45,320 Isn't it wonderful, the way you could hardly see it? 342 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:47,440 - I love that. It disappears out of view. - Yeah, yeah. 343 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:49,040 Look at its setting. 344 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:51,160 I would have just had you walk through the desert. 345 00:18:51,160 --> 00:18:53,680 But you can't, because of the scorpions and the rattlesnakes. 346 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:55,080 You've got to have a path. 347 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:57,360 I think we're being funnelled in to that point. 348 00:18:57,360 --> 00:19:00,200 So good buildings, you know instinctively how to get in. 349 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:02,120 So I think THAT is the way in. 350 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:03,720 I don't think you're right. 351 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:09,360 The design for this award-winning house was heavily influenced 352 00:19:09,360 --> 00:19:13,080 by the most important elements of this environment - the weather. 353 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:18,320 The structure was cleverly positioned on an east-west axis, 354 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:22,160 to minimise exposure from the hot sun whilst allowing light and air 355 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:23,880 to filter through the house. 356 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:30,600 The floor plan consists of two main areas for living and sleeping, 357 00:19:30,600 --> 00:19:33,440 each of which opens out onto views of the landscape. 358 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,800 As the house was built on a single storey, and with no connecting 359 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:40,800 corridors, the only way to get between each room 360 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,320 is to step outside into the desert. 361 00:19:45,040 --> 00:19:47,720 The whole design is tied together by this unusual, 362 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:49,840 scattered cube staircase. 363 00:19:52,000 --> 00:19:54,000 Check these out. These are lovely. 364 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:03,520 It's quite graceful, 365 00:20:03,520 --> 00:20:05,520 shallow, slow steps. 366 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:07,240 Yeah, OK. All right. 367 00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:08,760 I mean, I can see they're beautiful. 368 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:10,680 I can see they're really architectural. 369 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:12,200 What do you mean by architectural? 370 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:14,600 Well, exactly... How dare I? 371 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:16,240 I can see they are quite beautiful. 372 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:20,480 They are interesting but I'm not sure, I mean, you know,... 373 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:22,600 Why wouldn't you? Why wouldn't you... 374 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:25,000 I suppose, what I feel is, you know, I'm in my mid-50s 375 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:27,760 and I'm not going to get any younger 376 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:30,720 - and this is tricky to navigate. - Why? They're quite shallow. 377 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:32,920 - Yeah. - They're quite generous. - Yes. - They're quite big. 378 00:20:32,920 --> 00:20:35,080 There are also places that would encourage you to sit. 379 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:37,920 All right, I know, yeah. I'm hearing you. 380 00:20:37,920 --> 00:20:40,080 But the steps aren't the only design feature to 381 00:20:40,080 --> 00:20:42,680 immediately capture our attention. 382 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:44,240 That's charred. 383 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:46,160 Oh, God. It is. I love that. 384 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:48,920 Do you know, rather tragically, Piers, can I tell you something? 385 00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:51,760 Rather tragically, I've actually bought wallpaper like this 386 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:54,560 - for behind my bed. - Fake charred wood. - It's naff but I love it. 387 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:56,640 - This is real charred wood. - I love the look of it. 388 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:58,360 - God, that's beautiful. - He's very excited. 389 00:20:58,360 --> 00:21:00,480 - Check it out! - Yes, I'm checking. 390 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:05,920 It's lovely. It's lovely. 391 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:07,800 Right, here we go. Head up here. 392 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,840 - It leads you in, doesn't it? Beautifully. - It does. I do see it. 393 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:12,240 God, this is lovely. Look at this. 394 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:14,120 This is a front door. 395 00:21:14,120 --> 00:21:15,600 Here we go. 396 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:17,480 I'll give it a tug. Are you ready? 397 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:20,160 - That's quite a door. - Oh, hang on. 398 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:22,360 - OK. Hang on. - It's caught at the bottom. 399 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,040 This is actually fabulous looking, but quite irritating. 400 00:21:26,040 --> 00:21:28,440 Here we go. Here we go. It's going. That's it. I think... 401 00:21:31,360 --> 00:21:33,280 That is a beautiful door. 402 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:36,360 - God, it's nice. - Wow, wow, wow! - I really love that. 403 00:21:36,360 --> 00:21:37,800 I hate ordinary doors. 404 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:40,560 I love it. It's great, isn't it? 405 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:42,760 - Isn't it beautiful? - Piers... - It's beautiful. 406 00:21:51,400 --> 00:21:52,720 Piers, it's so nice. 407 00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:55,520 It's so nice. God, it's nice! God, it's nice! 408 00:21:55,520 --> 00:21:56,800 God, it's nice. 409 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:01,000 It's beautiful. 410 00:22:03,160 --> 00:22:05,040 Do you know what I really love about it? 411 00:22:05,040 --> 00:22:08,680 You've got the desert and the mountains on either side and yet, 412 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:12,880 this house just enhances it and doesn't take away from it. 413 00:22:12,880 --> 00:22:15,680 I think that's so wonderful. 414 00:22:17,800 --> 00:22:20,640 Preserving the natural beauty of these mountains 415 00:22:20,640 --> 00:22:22,920 was key to the design of this home. 416 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:26,760 The owners' desire was to embrace rather than exploit 417 00:22:26,760 --> 00:22:28,880 this fragile landscape. 418 00:22:34,800 --> 00:22:36,880 This is where the desert starts, here, you know. 419 00:22:36,880 --> 00:22:38,520 I'm in the house, I'm in the desert. 420 00:22:40,680 --> 00:22:42,640 Oh, it's beautiful, Piers. 421 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:45,040 Because it's so hot here, Piers, I mean, 422 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:48,040 I don't think I've ever been as hot as I am at this minute, actually. 423 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:51,320 But when this is open, presumably the breeze just canters through the house. 424 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:53,760 Yeah, right the way through. But, also, things like this, 425 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:57,040 so this is all about shade, so I guess this sun will never, 426 00:22:57,040 --> 00:22:59,400 ever get to here, ever. 427 00:23:02,120 --> 00:23:04,680 But it's not just the clever positioning of this house 428 00:23:04,680 --> 00:23:08,120 that makes living in these extreme temperatures bearable. 429 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:11,760 The walls are made from rammed earth, 430 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,280 a building technique which has been used for centuries 431 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:16,400 as a way of naturally cooling houses. 432 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:21,800 A wooden framework is built on site, 433 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:25,400 then soil from the desert, combined with water and a small amount of 434 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:28,360 cement, is poured into the wooden moulds 435 00:23:28,360 --> 00:23:30,880 and then rammed down to form a tightly packed 436 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:32,320 series of solid layers. 437 00:23:35,480 --> 00:23:39,960 These high thermal mass walls absorb the heat during the day and release 438 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:43,200 it at night, reducing the need for air conditioning or heating. 439 00:23:46,120 --> 00:23:49,200 It's always great to see how a building is made 440 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:53,000 and this is so legible. 441 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:55,080 I mean, you can see all the moulds, 442 00:23:55,080 --> 00:23:57,640 see where the moulds were plugged in, 443 00:23:57,640 --> 00:24:02,240 see the shape and depth of every lift of this rammed earth. 444 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:06,680 I think for many British people, this is a slightly strange building, 445 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:09,120 because it's so unlike the buildings that we know. 446 00:24:09,120 --> 00:24:11,120 But the buildings that we know in England, 447 00:24:11,120 --> 00:24:15,040 grew up out of a tradition of having parapets and roofs and gutters 448 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:17,200 to keep the rain away from the building, 449 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:21,360 and detail and ornament to add a certain kind of relief. 450 00:24:21,360 --> 00:24:25,040 But here, this is a building that totally makes sense 451 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:26,480 for where it is. 452 00:24:26,480 --> 00:24:28,800 It's a building that's really tuned to its climate. 453 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:32,120 It doesn't rain, so there's no need for any relief at all. 454 00:24:32,120 --> 00:24:35,200 Any applied ornament would just be ridiculous, when actually, 455 00:24:35,200 --> 00:24:38,240 this building is so tactile and... 456 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:42,120 Just rich, materially. 457 00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:47,880 The two bedrooms Piers and I will be staying in 458 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:50,480 are to the left of the living area. 459 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:55,440 But with no connecting corridor, there's only one way to get to them. 460 00:24:55,440 --> 00:24:57,640 Right. OK. 461 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:00,760 Fabulous steps. 462 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:02,520 Um... 463 00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:04,080 This is form over function. 464 00:25:04,080 --> 00:25:05,440 I don't care what he says. 465 00:25:05,440 --> 00:25:07,080 This is just ludicrous. 466 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:10,120 Actually, this is too big a leap for me, this one, I think. 467 00:25:10,120 --> 00:25:11,400 Oh! 468 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:13,360 Yeah, excellent. 469 00:25:13,360 --> 00:25:15,560 SHE GROANS 470 00:25:15,560 --> 00:25:17,560 It's actually like the Giant's Causeway. 471 00:25:17,560 --> 00:25:19,440 Unfortunately, I'm not a giant. 472 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:35,280 It's not like this house to have a stiff door, is it? 473 00:25:37,880 --> 00:25:39,520 It's nice. 474 00:25:40,760 --> 00:25:42,120 Overlooking the mountains, 475 00:25:42,120 --> 00:25:45,000 this minimalist bedroom doesn't need any curtains 476 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:48,160 but luckily for us, owners Karen and David 477 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:50,160 have left us a gift. 478 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:52,800 If the moon is too bright, 479 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,600 please use the sleep mask. 480 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:58,800 It may seem a bit creepy, sleeping in a fishbowl, 481 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:00,200 but don't worry. 482 00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,000 Nobody lives in the house up the hill! 483 00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:05,560 That's so sweet, because it's meant to be really reassuring, 484 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:07,840 but it's actually made me really terrified! 485 00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:11,080 I didn't even know there was a house on the top of the hill. 486 00:26:16,320 --> 00:26:21,560 This is a truly stylish and beautiful bathroom. 487 00:26:21,560 --> 00:26:25,120 This has been chosen, I mean, very, very carefully. 488 00:26:25,120 --> 00:26:26,520 It's beautifully cut. 489 00:26:26,520 --> 00:26:29,920 It's so well tiled, this room, it's unbelievable. 490 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:31,680 It's like glass. 491 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:34,440 And then it mirrors the colour from outside, 492 00:26:34,440 --> 00:26:38,560 brings that landscape in and yet, I notice, if you want to, 493 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:40,280 you can open that window, 494 00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:45,400 so you can be having a bath in the desert and the mountains. 495 00:26:45,400 --> 00:26:47,960 You can't really get a better view than that. 496 00:26:51,920 --> 00:26:54,840 As the sun starts to drop behind the mountains, 497 00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:57,720 Piers and I get the chance to discover what it's really like 498 00:26:57,720 --> 00:27:00,640 to live in this extraordinary environment. 499 00:27:00,640 --> 00:27:03,160 I've got a little surprise for you. 500 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:05,200 Sounds ominous. Have you been hunting? 501 00:27:05,200 --> 00:27:08,560 Yeah! I'm going to skin a rabbit for you, boy! 502 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:11,800 - I'll have my sandwich. - All right. 503 00:27:13,360 --> 00:27:17,840 The owners built this home looking for an escape from their busy working lives. 504 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:21,200 And it's easy to see what's so attractive about this kind of 505 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:22,800 mountain living. 506 00:27:24,000 --> 00:27:28,800 Not many buildings allow us to be this relaxed in it, this quickly. 507 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:31,200 I've lived in houses for years and felt less relaxed. 508 00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:33,440 Me too, me too. Do you want another one of these? 509 00:27:33,440 --> 00:27:35,440 Please. No, it does. 510 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:39,360 It really, it's very welcoming, very easy to use. 511 00:27:39,360 --> 00:27:41,200 - Really easy to use. - Yeah. 512 00:27:41,200 --> 00:27:44,000 This is their evening every day. 513 00:27:44,000 --> 00:27:45,800 I mean, how extraordinary is that? 514 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:49,520 I've never been anywhere like this in my life. Have you? 515 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:52,920 It's so different, yet, it fits in so beautifully. 516 00:27:52,920 --> 00:27:55,840 I love it and I think this is one of the finest houses 517 00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:58,840 I've ever seen and I'm very excited about staying here. 518 00:28:16,920 --> 00:28:18,800 Oh, God! It's so nice! 519 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:22,680 Ah, God, it's lovely! 520 00:28:24,560 --> 00:28:26,920 - Ah! - Bliss! 521 00:28:26,920 --> 00:28:28,280 Bliss! 522 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:35,520 After our first desert shower, we're meeting the owners, David and Karen, 523 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:39,240 to find out the challenges they faced building this mountain home. 524 00:28:39,240 --> 00:28:41,200 Hello. How lovely to meet you. 525 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,320 - I'm Karen. - So lovely to meet you. - Piers, hi. 526 00:28:43,320 --> 00:28:46,040 I feel like I know you already a bit because we've stayed in your house 527 00:28:46,040 --> 00:28:48,080 - and I think it must... - Hi, Karen, I'm Piers. 528 00:28:48,080 --> 00:28:50,520 ..have something of you about it, I feel. 529 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:54,360 David has had a lifelong connection with this mountainous desert 530 00:28:54,360 --> 00:28:57,440 and 12 years ago, found this virgin plot of land on which to build 531 00:28:57,440 --> 00:28:59,360 the house of his dreams. 532 00:28:59,360 --> 00:29:02,960 So I have been in love with the desert, having grown up here. 533 00:29:02,960 --> 00:29:06,840 And living in San Diego, I was driving back frequently 534 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:12,440 to see my parents and I was driving to the beautiful Sorrel preserve and I said, I need to get some land. 535 00:29:12,440 --> 00:29:15,400 I visited a neighbour here, had dinner, 536 00:29:15,400 --> 00:29:18,400 and he realised how passionately I was attached to this land. 537 00:29:18,400 --> 00:29:22,000 He called me up one night and said, "Would you like to be my neighbour?" 538 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:24,280 So I said, "Yes. 539 00:29:24,280 --> 00:29:25,720 "Is the lot as good as yours is?" 540 00:29:25,720 --> 00:29:29,000 It's better. I said, "Fine, I'll be over to buy it." 541 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:32,080 That was Thursday night. I'll be over to buy it on Saturday. 542 00:29:32,080 --> 00:29:35,280 David employed local architect Cade Hayes, 543 00:29:35,280 --> 00:29:39,160 who is passionate about building houses which respect the natural environment. 544 00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:41,320 It's a huge responsibility. 545 00:29:41,320 --> 00:29:45,600 I mean, this being untouched, virgin landscape, 546 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:49,080 to put a building in here, that in theory, could spoil it. 547 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:52,400 I said, I really want to keep this land, sort of like we've dropped 548 00:29:52,400 --> 00:29:55,360 the house down. I want it to fit perfectly into the land 549 00:29:55,360 --> 00:29:57,640 and I thought he got that perfect. 550 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:04,240 Cade's plan took great care to cause minimal disruption to the fragile 551 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:07,440 ecosystem that exists here and, during the build, 552 00:30:07,440 --> 00:30:09,640 only three cacti had to be moved. 553 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:14,680 Such is the importance of the natural vegetation, 554 00:30:14,680 --> 00:30:17,280 that a fine is imposed if any cactus is removed 555 00:30:17,280 --> 00:30:19,920 without carefully replanting it. 556 00:30:22,560 --> 00:30:25,920 The construction people were very careful about the environment. 557 00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:29,280 We tried to save every bit of native vegetation that we could. 558 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:31,920 It's a large structure but the desert all around you 559 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:33,960 is still very happy that you're there. 560 00:30:33,960 --> 00:30:35,360 If I did anything right... 561 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:38,360 ..finding a very... 562 00:30:38,360 --> 00:30:43,920 A brilliant young architect and then letting him do what he does. 563 00:30:43,920 --> 00:30:46,800 Whilst Piers is getting the lowdown from David, 564 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:49,000 I'm keen to find out from Karen 565 00:30:49,000 --> 00:30:52,640 the true cost of building a home in the desert mountains. 566 00:30:52,640 --> 00:30:56,880 I've renovated lots of houses with my husband and we've almost... 567 00:30:56,880 --> 00:30:58,720 - With your husband? - Well, you know, he... 568 00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:01,520 Like you agreed, like, "Honey, let's do this together 569 00:31:01,520 --> 00:31:03,320 "and we're going to agree on this?" 570 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:06,160 We decide we are going to do a project and then we fall out. 571 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:08,120 There are always things that drive me mad. 572 00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:10,800 Have there been problems like that with you and David? 573 00:31:10,800 --> 00:31:13,920 Well, there's a little pause of silence there, 574 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:16,600 because I had to compose myself a little bit. 575 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:18,000 OK! 576 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:22,400 The house was completed, I think, 2013 and at that point, 577 00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:26,000 I stopped by to see it when it was all furnished and photographed 578 00:31:26,000 --> 00:31:28,680 and it looked really beautiful and then we went home 579 00:31:28,680 --> 00:31:31,040 and we kind of looked at the cheque book, and I went, 580 00:31:31,040 --> 00:31:32,880 "Oh, my God! What did we do?" 581 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:37,160 So we didn't really come for a year. Then we finally had the energy... 582 00:31:37,160 --> 00:31:39,240 You didn't come because you'd overspent? 583 00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:41,560 We overspent. We just were exhausted. 584 00:31:41,560 --> 00:31:44,240 I'm quite interested. That's a long time not to come to a house. 585 00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:47,040 I was kind of thinking about killing my husband, but... 586 00:31:47,040 --> 00:31:49,680 OK, so you weren't angry with the house, you were angry with David? 587 00:31:49,680 --> 00:31:52,000 I was kind of, well, kind of angry in general. 588 00:31:52,000 --> 00:31:53,400 Yeah, yeah. I get it. I get it. 589 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:56,080 I was going to kill him, but I needed... We were too much in debt, 590 00:31:56,080 --> 00:31:59,720 so we needed him to be able to continue to work and I was thinking, 591 00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:02,520 that it would also look better if I got the life insurance and then 592 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:05,040 - I killed him. - And the house. It would look awful, wouldn't it? 593 00:32:05,040 --> 00:32:08,160 - Yeah. - So you didn't come, then you decided you had to come back? 594 00:32:08,160 --> 00:32:10,560 We just decided, OK, and we did it. 595 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:13,560 We're going to make it work. We're going to come back and enjoy it. 596 00:32:13,560 --> 00:32:17,320 That was probably one of the low points of the house experience. 597 00:32:17,320 --> 00:32:20,160 - Why? - Well, during the year we weren't coming, 598 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:24,600 the door was open about this wide, the lights were popping on and off, 599 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:27,600 the bugs were coming through the open door at night 600 00:32:27,600 --> 00:32:28,960 to feast on the light, 601 00:32:28,960 --> 00:32:32,400 and then there were some rodents that also found their way in 602 00:32:32,400 --> 00:32:35,800 to enjoy the toilet water. They love it in here! 603 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:39,200 You have been through a lot. 604 00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:42,280 It's cost you a lot of money. It's been quite a journey for you but 605 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:46,040 arriving here today, what do you feel when you see the house? 606 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:47,960 Do you have any fondness for it? 607 00:32:47,960 --> 00:32:51,040 There are more ups than there are downs these days, which is really nice. 608 00:32:51,040 --> 00:32:53,240 The house is understated. 609 00:32:53,240 --> 00:32:55,160 It doesn't really... 610 00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:59,920 It's not flashy. It's not trying to impress you with fancy ornateness, this and that. 611 00:32:59,920 --> 00:33:01,960 It's just to blend in and be in harmony in this 612 00:33:01,960 --> 00:33:04,000 incredibly harsh environment. 613 00:33:04,000 --> 00:33:06,880 I think the beauty of the desert has just really, 614 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:08,800 really started to take hold of me. 615 00:33:14,680 --> 00:33:16,440 Thank you so much for looking after us. 616 00:33:16,440 --> 00:33:18,400 We have had the most wonderful time in your house. 617 00:33:18,400 --> 00:33:21,200 - It's been great. - It's been our great pleasure. - Take care. - Bye-bye. 618 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:22,800 Bye, darlings. Bye-bye. 619 00:33:29,280 --> 00:33:33,400 It's an amazing house, but I don't think it's been particularly easily won. 620 00:33:35,240 --> 00:33:39,200 Do you think? I mean, cos David seems in love with it. 621 00:33:39,200 --> 00:33:43,040 I think he is in love with it but I think that doesn't necessarily mean 622 00:33:43,040 --> 00:33:45,520 - the journey's been easy for the whole family. - Mmm. 623 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:50,440 Do think it's been the problem child for them? 624 00:33:50,440 --> 00:33:52,040 Yeah. 625 00:33:52,040 --> 00:33:54,120 They've been through some stuff. 626 00:34:01,400 --> 00:34:05,000 Our next house takes us to the other side of the world and to a country 627 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:07,360 famous for its rugged, mountain scenery. 628 00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:16,680 We've landed in the South Island of New Zealand 629 00:34:16,680 --> 00:34:19,280 and are heading to a home nestled in the wilderness, 630 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:22,760 half an hour's drive from the nearest town of Wanaka. 631 00:34:26,720 --> 00:34:29,480 All my life, whenever people have spoken about the South Island, 632 00:34:29,480 --> 00:34:32,160 they talk about it as sort of a bucket list place, 633 00:34:32,160 --> 00:34:34,440 one of the most beautiful places in the world. 634 00:34:34,440 --> 00:34:36,080 - And it is. - It's extraordinary. 635 00:34:36,080 --> 00:34:38,960 The clouds on the top of the mountains. 636 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:41,680 - And so little building, Piers, that's what I'm noticing. - Nothing. 637 00:34:43,840 --> 00:34:47,400 This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is fiercely protected 638 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:49,400 by New Zealand planning laws. 639 00:34:51,080 --> 00:34:55,160 So much so that any opportunities to build here are extremely rare. 640 00:34:56,840 --> 00:35:00,360 But, 12 years ago, when a plot of land came up for sale, 641 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:03,760 home owners Mark and Susanna jumped at the chance to fulfil 642 00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:07,160 their dream of living in this remote mountain range. 643 00:35:09,360 --> 00:35:13,160 But the hurdle of securing the land was only half the battle. 644 00:35:13,160 --> 00:35:17,000 They had to find an architect who would embrace the challenge of designing 645 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:20,080 them a home that will be camouflaged within their surroundings. 646 00:35:23,560 --> 00:35:26,440 It's a lot to ask of an architect, isn't it? 647 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:30,960 To say, look, I've been in love with this thing for my whole life, 648 00:35:30,960 --> 00:35:34,600 this has been a dream for me and then to say to them, 649 00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:38,840 now create the perfect house for this environment that I adore. 650 00:35:38,840 --> 00:35:41,760 But if they can't do that, then, no-one should be building. 651 00:35:41,760 --> 00:35:45,120 People shouldn't be littering little houses in beautiful landscapes, 652 00:35:45,120 --> 00:35:49,080 they really should be understanding how precious this is. 653 00:35:49,080 --> 00:35:50,920 This landscape is so fragile, 654 00:35:50,920 --> 00:35:54,040 once you've spoilt it, it's gone for good. 655 00:35:54,040 --> 00:35:55,840 And we're here, we're here! 656 00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:03,000 Wonderful, isn't it? 657 00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:14,360 It's quite a subtle little thing, isn't it? Nestled down here. 658 00:36:14,360 --> 00:36:16,080 Which I'm pleased about. 659 00:36:16,080 --> 00:36:20,680 Because I was rather dreading it might be something rather big and ostentatious, but it isn't. 660 00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:26,520 That roof absolutely follows the line of the mountains. 661 00:36:26,520 --> 00:36:29,280 It's rather lovely, isn't it? It almost disappears, doesn't it? 662 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:35,600 Taking on the challenge of designing a building to fit within the 663 00:36:35,600 --> 00:36:38,240 landscape, the architects took inspiration 664 00:36:38,240 --> 00:36:41,920 from the triangulated geometry reflected by the mountains. 665 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:48,160 They combined that with the unusual sculptural forms found in origami 666 00:36:48,160 --> 00:36:51,160 to create this truly unique structure. 667 00:36:55,120 --> 00:36:56,560 That's extraordinary, isn't it? 668 00:36:56,560 --> 00:36:58,120 - Yeah. - Hunkered down. 669 00:36:58,120 --> 00:37:00,000 It all kind of blends in, doesn't it? 670 00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:05,000 The architects carefully selected building materials with colours and 671 00:37:05,000 --> 00:37:07,960 textures which would disguise the house within its environment. 672 00:37:10,680 --> 00:37:13,560 The wooden cedar cladding and concrete window frames 673 00:37:13,560 --> 00:37:16,640 were inspired by the surrounding trees and mountains 674 00:37:16,640 --> 00:37:19,560 to create a weathered camouflaged. 675 00:37:19,560 --> 00:37:21,440 I mean, really beautiful. 676 00:37:21,440 --> 00:37:24,160 Some of the nicest cladding I've seen, actually. 677 00:37:24,160 --> 00:37:26,640 So not too much glass, then. That was a stipulation. 678 00:37:26,640 --> 00:37:30,800 Not too much glass, no metal and the timber goes on the roof, as well. 679 00:37:30,800 --> 00:37:33,200 It is a very low-lying building. 680 00:37:33,200 --> 00:37:36,080 It probably is semi-invisible from a distance. 681 00:37:36,080 --> 00:37:38,400 I imagine it's almost completely invisible. 682 00:37:38,400 --> 00:37:39,760 I mean, it really does... 683 00:37:39,760 --> 00:37:42,640 It's camouflaged absolutely into the landscape. 684 00:37:43,920 --> 00:37:46,000 Right, here we are, through the church door. 685 00:37:46,000 --> 00:37:48,320 This reminds me of Liverpool Cathedral, this door. 686 00:37:51,560 --> 00:37:54,120 Inside, you truly get a sense that you're wrapped in a 687 00:37:54,120 --> 00:37:57,240 three-dimensional origami structure. 688 00:37:57,240 --> 00:38:01,200 There are unconventional angles almost everywhere you look. 689 00:38:01,200 --> 00:38:04,080 As well as creating a beautiful internal space, 690 00:38:04,080 --> 00:38:06,960 there's a real purpose to this innovative design. 691 00:38:08,640 --> 00:38:11,960 The angled roof juts out of the ceiling, allowing light to enter the 692 00:38:11,960 --> 00:38:13,720 building in a variety of ways. 693 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:17,360 Look at this. 694 00:38:17,360 --> 00:38:18,920 Look at the sun now. 695 00:38:18,920 --> 00:38:22,840 Here I am, right at the furthest point in the house from the light. 696 00:38:22,840 --> 00:38:25,840 And the sun is flooding in across the cedar. 697 00:38:25,840 --> 00:38:28,040 Look at it. It's beautiful. 698 00:38:28,040 --> 00:38:29,680 It changes it. 699 00:38:29,680 --> 00:38:31,440 - It does. - A lot, actually. 700 00:38:31,440 --> 00:38:34,360 Not even subtly, the room changes quite dramatically. 701 00:38:34,360 --> 00:38:36,480 Doesn't it? Because of the sunlight. 702 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:41,080 - It's incredible. - It's lovely looking through into different spaces. 703 00:38:41,080 --> 00:38:42,920 That cut-out upstairs. 704 00:38:42,920 --> 00:38:44,800 - That's amazing! - It's great. 705 00:38:44,800 --> 00:38:46,920 I don't think there's any glass there, either. 706 00:38:46,920 --> 00:38:50,280 I think that's just another portal, another way in. 707 00:38:50,280 --> 00:38:52,120 Actually, you know what that's really about, 708 00:38:52,120 --> 00:38:54,880 that is about getting that view when you're upstairs. 709 00:38:59,080 --> 00:39:02,360 - Some view, isn't it, Piers? - It is. 710 00:39:02,360 --> 00:39:04,160 This is my favourite type of building 711 00:39:04,160 --> 00:39:05,960 that has daylight from the back, 712 00:39:05,960 --> 00:39:08,520 sunlight from the back and view that way. 713 00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:13,280 I really do feel protected from the drama and the weather 714 00:39:13,280 --> 00:39:14,800 by this big cut-out. 715 00:39:15,920 --> 00:39:20,080 This is a very cleverly constructed home built to protect its occupants 716 00:39:20,080 --> 00:39:21,840 from the blistering heat in the summer, 717 00:39:21,840 --> 00:39:24,240 and howling snowstorms in the winter. 718 00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:28,320 It's no wonder this house is christened The Cloak, 719 00:39:28,320 --> 00:39:31,240 or to give it its Maori name, Te Kaitaka. 720 00:39:32,800 --> 00:39:36,080 I can see why this guy fell in love with this exact piece of land 721 00:39:36,080 --> 00:39:38,640 because you don't come across views like that 722 00:39:38,640 --> 00:39:40,080 more than once in a lifetime. 723 00:39:40,080 --> 00:39:42,280 You would remember it, you would fall in love with it 724 00:39:42,280 --> 00:39:46,040 and you would want to come back and stay and raise a family here, 725 00:39:46,040 --> 00:39:47,600 which is what he's done. 726 00:39:47,600 --> 00:39:51,080 It is somewhere that once seen it would never be forgotten. 727 00:39:51,080 --> 00:39:52,640 I'll never forget it. 728 00:39:54,760 --> 00:39:56,520 The peace is lovely. 729 00:39:56,520 --> 00:39:59,320 - Here we are, love. - Oh, God, shattered! 730 00:39:59,320 --> 00:40:00,920 Thank you. 731 00:40:00,920 --> 00:40:02,880 Thanks. 732 00:40:04,640 --> 00:40:07,400 While Caroline takes in the mountain air, 733 00:40:07,400 --> 00:40:10,240 I want to examine how this house pulls off the difficult trick 734 00:40:10,240 --> 00:40:14,200 of bringing in light without relying on huge amounts of window space. 735 00:40:15,400 --> 00:40:19,280 This is an extraordinary site but, in many ways, 736 00:40:19,280 --> 00:40:22,040 it's quite a tricky site because the view is there 737 00:40:22,040 --> 00:40:23,880 and the sun is there. 738 00:40:23,880 --> 00:40:26,520 And, in this climate, you need the daytime sun 739 00:40:26,520 --> 00:40:31,480 so the section is the thing that tells you all about this building. 740 00:40:31,480 --> 00:40:37,600 What the section here is, is really just two beautiful pavilions, 741 00:40:39,000 --> 00:40:41,600 one sitting above the other. 742 00:40:41,600 --> 00:40:46,040 The problem with that is that the bedroom one is shielding 743 00:40:46,040 --> 00:40:47,280 the living one. 744 00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:52,480 All these architects have done is pick up a bit of roof, like this. 745 00:40:55,440 --> 00:41:00,360 And what that does is allow the sunlight to enter 746 00:41:00,360 --> 00:41:03,680 right the way into the heart of the house. 747 00:41:03,680 --> 00:41:08,920 What they've done at the view side is make a shaded 748 00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:14,000 veranda, really, to allow you to always see the view. 749 00:41:14,000 --> 00:41:18,120 That shows that architecture isn't about making strange shapes 750 00:41:18,120 --> 00:41:20,000 or trying to think of a concept, 751 00:41:20,000 --> 00:41:24,880 it's just looking really hard at the view and daylight and then 752 00:41:24,880 --> 00:41:27,120 making sense of it with a building. 753 00:41:28,520 --> 00:41:32,680 This house gives up more and more of itself as you delve into it. 754 00:41:32,680 --> 00:41:36,240 The internal use of concrete throughout creates a cave-like 755 00:41:36,240 --> 00:41:38,320 and remarkably cosy feel. 756 00:41:40,240 --> 00:41:42,160 This is a lovely room. 757 00:41:42,160 --> 00:41:45,120 A little den, study, or something. 758 00:41:45,120 --> 00:41:46,520 Little family room. 759 00:41:46,520 --> 00:41:47,840 More of this lovely concrete. 760 00:41:47,840 --> 00:41:51,160 I love the way you can see how the concrete was formed 761 00:41:51,160 --> 00:41:53,000 in the planks of wood. 762 00:41:53,000 --> 00:41:55,080 You still see the shape of it here. 763 00:41:55,080 --> 00:41:57,040 It looks just great with the mountains. 764 00:42:01,680 --> 00:42:06,480 This cedar staircase takes you up to the two master bedrooms, both with 765 00:42:06,480 --> 00:42:08,480 spectacular mountain views. 766 00:42:11,560 --> 00:42:15,400 There's no question that is the most beautiful view but, for me, 767 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:18,960 one of the most exciting things about this house is the story of it. 768 00:42:18,960 --> 00:42:21,920 Mark saw this land as a young man 769 00:42:21,920 --> 00:42:24,200 and he stuck with that dream 770 00:42:24,200 --> 00:42:28,360 and he's managed to build his house, his dream house 771 00:42:28,360 --> 00:42:32,680 right here looking at the view he's always adored. 772 00:42:32,680 --> 00:42:35,320 And that must be the definition of a dream home. 773 00:42:35,320 --> 00:42:37,000 Your dream come true. 774 00:42:38,880 --> 00:42:41,760 The two architects who designed this house are based in Auckland 775 00:42:41,760 --> 00:42:43,280 on the North Island. 776 00:42:43,280 --> 00:42:45,680 - Hi, guys. - Hey. 777 00:42:45,680 --> 00:42:48,920 Gary Lawson and Nicholas Stevens are award-winning architects. 778 00:42:48,920 --> 00:42:52,440 How did you deal with the responsibility of building 779 00:42:52,440 --> 00:42:54,520 in this extraordinary place? 780 00:42:54,520 --> 00:42:57,520 I remember when we first came to the site, 781 00:42:57,520 --> 00:42:59,720 we actually came out on a boat. 782 00:42:59,720 --> 00:43:05,560 We saw this gorgeous landscape which reminded us of almost like fabric 783 00:43:05,560 --> 00:43:07,360 draped over rocks. 784 00:43:07,360 --> 00:43:10,040 In that, we saw an idea for the house. 785 00:43:10,040 --> 00:43:14,720 In the mountains, you see triangles. You don't see perpendicular angles. 786 00:43:14,720 --> 00:43:17,160 You don't see verticals and horizontals. 787 00:43:17,160 --> 00:43:19,920 So, we wanted to architecturalise that kind of idea 788 00:43:19,920 --> 00:43:22,640 and through origami is how we came to that. 789 00:43:22,640 --> 00:43:26,680 And the interior, particularly, feels like the most exquisite bit of furniture, 790 00:43:26,680 --> 00:43:31,680 which is crafted beautifully out of extraordinary materials. 791 00:43:31,680 --> 00:43:33,720 Tell me a little bit about that. 792 00:43:33,720 --> 00:43:37,280 Well, we wanted to create the sensation of being 793 00:43:37,280 --> 00:43:39,680 a little bit like being in a cave. 794 00:43:39,680 --> 00:43:43,680 We took the whole faceted geometry of the rocks around and we 795 00:43:43,680 --> 00:43:47,680 created an architecturalised version, especially around the fireplaces. 796 00:43:47,680 --> 00:43:53,040 Each of those fireplaces was cast in a precast yard in one piece. 797 00:43:53,040 --> 00:43:57,400 By going to a precast yard, we could ensure that the product 798 00:43:57,400 --> 00:44:00,720 would be top-notch and then transported to site. 799 00:44:00,720 --> 00:44:06,120 But transporting these huge concrete precast elements to such a remote 800 00:44:06,120 --> 00:44:09,360 location presented its own problems. 801 00:44:09,360 --> 00:44:13,160 Poor roads and bad winter weather caused huge delays. 802 00:44:14,680 --> 00:44:17,920 Gary and Nicholas employed a small team of builders who were willing to 803 00:44:17,920 --> 00:44:20,320 work in such an inaccessible location. 804 00:44:21,920 --> 00:44:24,800 Consequently, the house took three years to complete 805 00:44:24,800 --> 00:44:28,960 but the level of craftsmanship that these builders brought to it is second to none. 806 00:44:31,720 --> 00:44:34,760 In New Zealand, there is a real resourcefulness 807 00:44:34,760 --> 00:44:37,240 amongst builders and there is that... 808 00:44:37,240 --> 00:44:40,560 It is a bit of a cliche but there is a can-do 809 00:44:40,560 --> 00:44:43,720 Kiwi attitude to making stuff and, look... 810 00:44:43,720 --> 00:44:47,000 This builder would never have made a building exactly like this 811 00:44:47,000 --> 00:44:48,480 and he cared so much. 812 00:44:54,520 --> 00:44:58,920 I think for the last 150 years or so, we've really struggled to know 813 00:44:58,920 --> 00:45:01,960 how to build beautiful buildings in landscape. 814 00:45:01,960 --> 00:45:05,200 I think this building is a really good model in terms 815 00:45:05,200 --> 00:45:08,480 of how to do it. It's a complex building but, actually, 816 00:45:08,480 --> 00:45:10,680 it does some very simple things. 817 00:45:10,680 --> 00:45:13,520 It makes a series of spaces that are beautifully lit 818 00:45:13,520 --> 00:45:15,640 with fantastic atmospheres. 819 00:45:19,040 --> 00:45:20,960 I do love these materials. 820 00:45:20,960 --> 00:45:24,520 They're beautiful. This rock, look at it. 821 00:45:24,520 --> 00:45:27,200 Only an architect would call grass "materials." 822 00:45:27,200 --> 00:45:28,920 THEY LAUGH 823 00:45:33,400 --> 00:45:36,320 The last leg of our architectural mountain discovery takes 824 00:45:36,320 --> 00:45:37,960 us a little closer to home. 825 00:45:46,240 --> 00:45:48,800 Piers and I are in the Swiss Alps, 826 00:45:48,800 --> 00:45:50,600 heading towards Mount Rigi 827 00:45:50,600 --> 00:45:53,360 where two architects took on the challenge of building 828 00:45:53,360 --> 00:45:56,600 a holiday home perched on the side of a mountain. 829 00:45:59,240 --> 00:46:03,280 Soaring at 1,665 metres above sea level, 830 00:46:03,280 --> 00:46:07,440 this house takes in breathtaking views but has to withstand 831 00:46:07,440 --> 00:46:11,520 some of the harshest winter weather Mother Nature can throw at it. 832 00:46:13,800 --> 00:46:16,200 I'm quite excited about how we're getting there. 833 00:46:19,400 --> 00:46:23,040 Do you know something? This is a first for me. I've never been in a cable car before. 834 00:46:23,040 --> 00:46:24,640 Have you not? Because you hate heights? 835 00:46:24,640 --> 00:46:27,680 Because I've never wanted to go in a cable car before. 836 00:46:27,680 --> 00:46:30,120 - You might love it. - I won't love it. 837 00:46:30,120 --> 00:46:31,560 - I will. - I don't know. 838 00:46:36,840 --> 00:46:38,400 Oh, here we go. 839 00:46:38,400 --> 00:46:40,520 Oh! That's the thing I don't like. 840 00:46:40,520 --> 00:46:43,000 - It's why don't on fairground rides. - I love this. 841 00:46:47,520 --> 00:46:51,920 Why would you build a house up a mountain where you can only get 842 00:46:51,920 --> 00:46:55,240 - there by cable car? - There's a sense of being away, being apart, 843 00:46:55,240 --> 00:46:58,200 being in nature that is really exaggerated 844 00:46:58,200 --> 00:47:00,880 when you can only get there by cable car, 845 00:47:00,880 --> 00:47:04,040 or, you know, a really inaccessible way. 846 00:47:05,240 --> 00:47:08,800 This was going to be the greatest view ever. 847 00:47:08,800 --> 00:47:10,960 There's absolutely nothing. 848 00:47:10,960 --> 00:47:15,440 It's like someone's smeared duck fat all over the windows. 849 00:47:21,360 --> 00:47:22,880 Made it! 850 00:47:24,320 --> 00:47:26,560 Here we are! It hasn't got any better, the rain, has it? 851 00:47:26,560 --> 00:47:29,360 This is just the beginning of our mountain journey, Piers. 852 00:47:29,360 --> 00:47:31,840 - Have you got some Kendal Mint Cake? - Of course I have! 853 00:47:31,840 --> 00:47:33,560 What sort of woman do you take me for? 854 00:47:33,560 --> 00:47:36,720 I've got Kendal Mint Cake and lipstick. 855 00:47:36,720 --> 00:47:39,440 That's all a woman needs up a mountain. 856 00:47:39,440 --> 00:47:42,760 It doesn't take us long to reach the remote mountain village. 857 00:47:44,000 --> 00:47:47,320 The house we're heading to is a contemporary take on the traditional 858 00:47:47,320 --> 00:47:50,360 chocolate-box chalets which sprinkle this area. 859 00:47:53,360 --> 00:47:56,320 This bespoke holiday home is owned by four friends 860 00:47:56,320 --> 00:48:00,080 who shared the cost of building on this steep mountainside slope. 861 00:48:03,240 --> 00:48:06,120 Luckily, two of the owners are architects and embraced 862 00:48:06,120 --> 00:48:09,360 the challenge of building in this remote location, 863 00:48:09,360 --> 00:48:13,680 where the closest town is a 15-minute cable car ride down the mountain. 864 00:48:14,800 --> 00:48:16,600 What are your first impressions, Piers? 865 00:48:16,600 --> 00:48:18,920 I like it. It looks well made, well detailed. 866 00:48:18,920 --> 00:48:21,280 And really easy to use. 867 00:48:21,280 --> 00:48:24,440 While deceptively simple from the outside, 868 00:48:24,440 --> 00:48:27,640 this innovative house was designed with real purpose. 869 00:48:28,680 --> 00:48:31,880 Its unique hexagonal shape creates the stability needed 870 00:48:31,880 --> 00:48:33,640 to cope with strong winds. 871 00:48:34,800 --> 00:48:38,000 A two-storey prefabricated wooden structure sits on top 872 00:48:38,000 --> 00:48:41,160 of a deep, concrete foundation. 873 00:48:41,160 --> 00:48:45,040 A chimney with a steel core runs right through the centre of the building, 874 00:48:45,040 --> 00:48:46,920 anchoring it to the mountain 875 00:48:46,920 --> 00:48:49,840 and distributing heat throughout the house. 876 00:48:49,840 --> 00:48:52,720 The living areas and four bedrooms are uniquely shaped 877 00:48:52,720 --> 00:48:54,840 to fit into the six-sided structure. 878 00:49:00,160 --> 00:49:01,760 This is the front gate. 879 00:49:01,760 --> 00:49:03,120 Ah! There we are, Piers. 880 00:49:03,120 --> 00:49:05,360 - I love this. - Good man. - Watch the string. 881 00:49:05,360 --> 00:49:08,480 - That's electric. - The cows aren't allowed in but we are. 882 00:49:08,480 --> 00:49:11,400 I think that's the best gate I've ever seen. 883 00:49:11,400 --> 00:49:13,080 Are we going the right way, Piers? 884 00:49:13,080 --> 00:49:16,240 This is a building that you need to be able to batten down 885 00:49:16,240 --> 00:49:20,600 - the hatches of. - It's an antidote to the frilly oompah houses around it. 886 00:49:20,600 --> 00:49:23,520 Yeah, I think so. Yeah. 887 00:49:23,520 --> 00:49:25,160 Here we are. 888 00:49:27,240 --> 00:49:28,920 It smells nice. 889 00:49:28,920 --> 00:49:31,640 - It smells woody. - It does. - And it is warm. 890 00:49:33,000 --> 00:49:34,560 This wood is so beautiful. 891 00:49:34,560 --> 00:49:39,040 I mean, the lovely golden light you get, even on a grey day. 892 00:49:39,040 --> 00:49:44,320 I suppose that's the real proof of a good building, 893 00:49:44,320 --> 00:49:48,560 is can it look wonderful even when the weather is dismal? 894 00:49:48,560 --> 00:49:50,280 - And it can. - And it does. 895 00:50:01,160 --> 00:50:02,800 What a great space. 896 00:50:04,520 --> 00:50:06,240 I like it. 897 00:50:06,240 --> 00:50:08,960 - Like it. - What a beautiful space. 898 00:50:08,960 --> 00:50:10,720 I mean, that light is beautiful. 899 00:50:10,720 --> 00:50:13,320 - I love this. - I think it's almost better that it's misty. 900 00:50:13,320 --> 00:50:15,080 Oh, it's lovely! 901 00:50:18,200 --> 00:50:22,000 I do feel like I've been bathed in this honey-coloured glow. 902 00:50:23,240 --> 00:50:27,360 These prefabricated plywood walls are a clever touch. 903 00:50:27,360 --> 00:50:30,240 They're not only cost-effective but also enhance the light 904 00:50:30,240 --> 00:50:32,040 in every room throughout the house. 905 00:50:33,200 --> 00:50:36,760 It's very, very warm. Very relaxing. It's smells that... 906 00:50:36,760 --> 00:50:39,640 That's smell of the wood is so lovely and I can imagine the smell 907 00:50:39,640 --> 00:50:41,960 - of a wood fire. - You know, as an architect, 908 00:50:41,960 --> 00:50:45,880 there are very few houses I can actually even bear to be in 909 00:50:45,880 --> 00:50:49,240 because I either feel claustrophobic, or I feel oppressed. 910 00:50:49,240 --> 00:50:52,040 But, actually, this is a beautiful house to be in. 911 00:50:52,040 --> 00:50:56,520 The simple combination of wood and concrete throughout this space helps 912 00:50:56,520 --> 00:50:58,360 give the house a unique atmosphere. 913 00:51:00,000 --> 00:51:03,480 There's often a sense that to make something good it has to be complex 914 00:51:03,480 --> 00:51:09,000 but this house is just a really good, well-structured space, 915 00:51:09,000 --> 00:51:12,560 made out of something beautiful and that's about it. 916 00:51:19,840 --> 00:51:22,160 I see the wood theme continues. 917 00:51:22,160 --> 00:51:26,040 I've never been in a room with as much wood in as this, 918 00:51:26,040 --> 00:51:30,040 unless there's actually been some burning coals in the corner 919 00:51:30,040 --> 00:51:31,760 and I've been sitting in a towel. 920 00:51:31,760 --> 00:51:33,560 Because it is like a sauna. 921 00:51:34,800 --> 00:51:36,400 But it works here. 922 00:51:36,400 --> 00:51:39,560 And I don't know why it works, maybe it's to do with the light, 923 00:51:39,560 --> 00:51:42,600 maybe it's to do with the size of the spaces. 924 00:51:42,600 --> 00:51:46,280 You know, you're very aware when you're walking round that this is, 925 00:51:46,280 --> 00:51:48,600 sort of, ideal for where it is. 926 00:51:48,600 --> 00:51:52,200 This works a dream because the light bounces off all the different 927 00:51:52,200 --> 00:51:54,360 angles and it's beautiful. 928 00:51:54,360 --> 00:51:58,560 This angular aesthetic continues on the outside. 929 00:51:58,560 --> 00:52:02,640 The six-sided irregular shape creates a clever optical illusion 930 00:52:02,640 --> 00:52:06,520 to make it seem smaller than its 242 square metres. 931 00:52:07,640 --> 00:52:09,800 I think if you stumbled upon this building in the mist, 932 00:52:09,800 --> 00:52:12,760 you might think it was a Swiss mountain hut. 933 00:52:12,760 --> 00:52:14,240 And it looks tiny. 934 00:52:14,240 --> 00:52:17,520 I know it's a cliche to talk about buildings as sculptural 935 00:52:17,520 --> 00:52:20,760 but this one really is because, as you move around it, 936 00:52:20,760 --> 00:52:24,560 more and more of it is revealed to you and from every angle 937 00:52:24,560 --> 00:52:26,640 it's completely different. 938 00:52:26,640 --> 00:52:31,320 And, now, along the side, we can see its really beautiful shape. 939 00:52:33,560 --> 00:52:37,880 The only thing that's missing from this house so far is the view. 940 00:52:37,880 --> 00:52:41,680 So, I've come up with a challenge for my architect friend. 941 00:52:41,680 --> 00:52:44,440 Piers, I think we should have a little drawing competition 942 00:52:44,440 --> 00:52:48,680 to see who can most accurately predict what the view really is. 943 00:52:48,680 --> 00:52:51,480 You're going to find some brilliant way of doing it, aren't you, 944 00:52:51,480 --> 00:52:54,680 with just a single ballpoint pen and a bit of actorly charm. 945 00:52:54,680 --> 00:52:56,200 Yes, I am. 946 00:52:56,200 --> 00:52:58,840 So, get over it. Ready, set, go! 947 00:53:05,960 --> 00:53:07,640 - One minute left, Piers. - All right. 948 00:53:18,720 --> 00:53:21,280 - We're done. - What's amazing is we have drawn the same thing. 949 00:53:21,280 --> 00:53:23,000 We've drawn the same thing. 950 00:53:23,000 --> 00:53:25,320 - Basically. - I think mine's better than yours. 951 00:53:25,320 --> 00:53:27,480 I think this window is set up architecturally. 952 00:53:27,480 --> 00:53:30,240 - That's what I'm trying to show. - You've got a very jealous nature. 953 00:53:30,240 --> 00:53:32,840 It's just a better drawing. Get over it. 954 00:53:32,840 --> 00:53:37,480 This is an intimate-sized space and all there is is you and the... 955 00:53:37,480 --> 00:53:40,480 Piers, Piers, Piers. There's a bit of view coming. 956 00:53:43,760 --> 00:53:45,440 - Can you see it? - I can. 957 00:53:45,440 --> 00:53:47,640 - Just down there. - Just breaking. Just breaking. 958 00:54:07,240 --> 00:54:08,800 That's extraordinary. 959 00:54:08,800 --> 00:54:10,440 Can you believe it? After all this. 960 00:54:10,440 --> 00:54:12,760 Now the view is revealing itself to us. 961 00:54:12,760 --> 00:54:15,280 I'm glad it's now. Because we've loved the house already 962 00:54:15,280 --> 00:54:17,680 and now we can actually see why it was built. 963 00:54:17,680 --> 00:54:21,200 Do you think we would have loved the house as much if we'd seen this when we started? 964 00:54:21,200 --> 00:54:22,840 Yeah. 965 00:54:22,840 --> 00:54:27,240 - I do, as well. - And, now, spread before us, that's amazing. 966 00:54:27,240 --> 00:54:31,000 That looks like a Japanese watercolour, isn't it? 967 00:54:31,000 --> 00:54:34,400 - It's fantastic. - It is like some special effects thing that 968 00:54:34,400 --> 00:54:36,840 - Hollywood's putting on for us. - Yeah. 969 00:54:39,520 --> 00:54:41,960 I still think it looks more like my picture than yours, though. 970 00:54:41,960 --> 00:54:43,480 Nonsense. 971 00:54:44,720 --> 00:54:46,960 Nonsense. PIERS CHUCKLES 972 00:54:46,960 --> 00:54:48,400 He's so competitive. 973 00:54:48,400 --> 00:54:49,720 Even about nature. 974 00:54:53,440 --> 00:54:56,200 Owners and architects, Andreas and Gabrielle 975 00:54:56,200 --> 00:54:59,600 created their mountain holiday home as a place to retreat to, 976 00:54:59,600 --> 00:55:01,680 high above the clouds. 977 00:55:01,680 --> 00:55:05,800 Rigi actually is like an island, the mountain. 978 00:55:05,800 --> 00:55:08,920 - Yeah. - The fog is like a lake, you know. Like a sea. 979 00:55:08,920 --> 00:55:12,000 And it's like you would live on the sea. 980 00:55:12,000 --> 00:55:16,880 Sometimes, people stay under the fog for weeks and, 981 00:55:16,880 --> 00:55:19,440 up here it's beautiful weather. 982 00:55:19,440 --> 00:55:22,080 We came up in a cable car. 983 00:55:22,080 --> 00:55:27,000 How on earth did you get this house up a mountain? 984 00:55:27,000 --> 00:55:31,760 In Switzerland, it's usual to build in such places with a helicopter. 985 00:55:31,760 --> 00:55:34,960 So, we decided to make a prefab house. 986 00:55:34,960 --> 00:55:39,880 When you prefabricate the house, they do it, this prefabrication, 987 00:55:39,880 --> 00:55:44,280 earlier. Then, in one day, they bring this whole element, 988 00:55:44,280 --> 00:55:48,000 the whole wall is one element, with the helicopter here. 989 00:55:48,000 --> 00:55:50,680 The house was done in one day, actually. 990 00:55:50,680 --> 00:55:52,160 The main house. 991 00:55:52,160 --> 00:55:53,600 - One day? - One day. 992 00:55:54,760 --> 00:55:57,200 Although this irregular-shaped house is a departure 993 00:55:57,200 --> 00:56:00,000 from the traditional chalets around it, 994 00:56:00,000 --> 00:56:03,000 Gabrielle and Andreas designed this structure to withstand 995 00:56:03,000 --> 00:56:04,800 the harsh winter weather. 996 00:56:04,800 --> 00:56:08,760 You can get really strong winds from here. 997 00:56:08,760 --> 00:56:11,400 And when you have only one wall, 998 00:56:11,400 --> 00:56:15,000 then it's quite difficult to stabilise the whole wall. 999 00:56:15,000 --> 00:56:19,680 But when you make it like this, you know, then it's stable. 1000 00:56:19,680 --> 00:56:22,480 That was also a reason to do that. 1001 00:56:22,480 --> 00:56:24,880 It's stabilised the whole house. 1002 00:56:24,880 --> 00:56:26,600 It stiffens it. Yeah. 1003 00:56:26,600 --> 00:56:30,120 Actually, the locals were very impressed about our entrance 1004 00:56:30,120 --> 00:56:33,560 because it's very well protected. 1005 00:56:33,560 --> 00:56:38,160 In winter time, the wind comes here and blows all the snow away. 1006 00:56:38,160 --> 00:56:40,600 Even the way is always clean. 1007 00:56:40,600 --> 00:56:42,600 - Is it? - Yes. - Because of the wind. 1008 00:56:42,600 --> 00:56:44,640 That's the reality, dealing with weather. 1009 00:56:44,640 --> 00:56:47,680 If you get that right, everything else is secondary. 1010 00:56:47,680 --> 00:56:51,360 Do you ever find it hard, when you have guests to come and stay, 1011 00:56:51,360 --> 00:56:53,520 is it ever hard to get rid of them? 1012 00:56:53,520 --> 00:56:55,200 It is, yes. 1013 00:56:55,200 --> 00:56:56,640 ALL LAUGH 1014 00:56:56,640 --> 00:56:59,040 Because everyone loves the place 1015 00:56:59,040 --> 00:57:01,080 and they don't want to leave. 1016 00:57:01,080 --> 00:57:02,960 It's exactly like that, yes. 1017 00:57:02,960 --> 00:57:05,080 There's no better place, I think. 1018 00:57:05,080 --> 00:57:06,680 Yeah, I think that's right. 1019 00:57:14,080 --> 00:57:16,080 - Thank you very much. - Thank you so much. 1020 00:57:16,080 --> 00:57:18,720 - It was a pleasure. - Thank you very much indeed. 1021 00:57:18,720 --> 00:57:20,840 - Thank you so much. - Thank you. 1022 00:57:22,920 --> 00:57:26,720 I've learnt a lot today. I've learnt a lot about you, in a way 1023 00:57:26,720 --> 00:57:29,200 because I've learnt a lot about architecture and I've learnt 1024 00:57:29,200 --> 00:57:32,320 it's not about rooms, it's not about spaces, 1025 00:57:32,320 --> 00:57:34,720 it's not even about where the windows are, or what 1026 00:57:34,720 --> 00:57:35,920 the surfaces are like. 1027 00:57:35,920 --> 00:57:39,400 It's how a place feels. It's about atmosphere. 1028 00:57:39,400 --> 00:57:43,040 And that, really, more than anything, is what we all strive for. 1029 00:57:43,040 --> 00:57:45,800 Everything else is secondary to that one thing - 1030 00:57:45,800 --> 00:57:47,720 atmosphere. 1031 00:57:58,720 --> 00:58:02,280 Next time, Piers and I will be exploring some of the most 1032 00:58:02,280 --> 00:58:05,120 extraordinary forest homes in the world... 1033 00:58:05,120 --> 00:58:07,440 You never see a building this close to the trees. 1034 00:58:07,440 --> 00:58:09,480 I mean, that's six inches away. 1035 00:58:09,480 --> 00:58:12,200 ..to discover how architects have overcome the challenges 1036 00:58:12,200 --> 00:58:15,080 of building homes in these fragile habitats. 1037 00:58:15,080 --> 00:58:18,560 It's a tightrope you walk. It can go spectacularly wrong.