Tonight | Grand Designs: New Zealand on ABC and ABC iview

Grand Designs: New Zealand on ABC – Esther Perriam is New Brighton born and bred and is absolutely devoted to the Christchurch seaside suburb.

A few years ago, she, and her husband Josh, bought a section just opposite the beach and have been waiting for the right time to build their dream home for their young family.

Their longed-for home is going to need some smart architecture to make the most of the section because, at just under nine metres wide, there’s not a lot of room to move.

Esther, who works for a company providing resources to the elderly, met their architect at a conference and he’s utilizing tilt slab construction in his design which will maximise every square metre on their long, narrow site.

The house will feature a large living space at the front, with the private bedrooms at the back, connected by a long-glassed corridor and a large outdoor area snugly situated between the two.

Once the house is closed in, Esther’s father will be taking over as lead builder and Josh will be taking leave from his job in freight logistics to be his second in charge.

But just one thing – Josh is barely acquainted with an electric drill and doesn’t know his flashings from his floor plans.

So, the question remains, will this self-confessed novice hammer hand be a help or a hindrance to his father-in-law, their project and ultimately, their very tight budget?

Production credit: Hosted by Tom Webster. Based on the format “Grand Designs” devised by Talkback Thames, a FremantleMedia company.

Grand Designs: New Zealand on ABC and ABC iview – Thursday 21 March, 2024 at 8:30pm