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Construction is really hard.
2
00:00:03,920 --> 00:00:07,719
Whether it's a road or
a skyscraper or a house,
3
00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:11,720
it has to happen outside
in all kinds of weathers.
4
00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:14,559
So you want to give yourself
an easy time, don't you?
5
00:00:14,560 --> 00:00:17,639
You want to make sure the planning
process is relatively smooth,
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that you choose a level and reliable
piece of ground to build on,
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00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:27,079
that you have enough money
in the bank to pay for it all.
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If you don't have these things in
place, do not expect an easy ride.
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The Peak District National Park
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is a prehistoric limestone landscape
11
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that is filled with folklore
and strange archaic traditions,
12
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such as well dressing.
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Well dressing
is the ancient Derbyshire art
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of sticking petals on clay
to make a design.
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It sounds bizarre, but it goes back
a long way in this village.
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Two of the Peak District's
finest well dressers
17
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are Fred and Saffron Baker.
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For them, this ancient pastime holds
a lot of personal significance.
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It is also where I met Saffron,
many years ago now.
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I used to insist, when I was a
child, that I put in the last petal.
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And my first impression of her
wasn't good.
22
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HE CHUCKLES
But, er...that changed!
23
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But ancient ephemeral arts
24
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aren't the only contribution
Fred and Saffron want to make
25
00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:02,080
to this community.
26
00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:06,680
They are also planning something
a little bit more permanent.
27
00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,679
Well, this is the dale
where I grew up.
28
00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:13,559
I spent my whole childhood here,
one way or another.
29
00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,399
And this is now where
I'm going to build a house.
30
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Two, three, go!
31
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It's been Fred's dream forever
to build his own home.
32
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It's all the children have known.
33
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But now it's our project.
34
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He might have the ideas, but it's
not going to happen without me.
35
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That one's mine!
36
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That was mine, actually!
37
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OK!
38
00:02:34,280 --> 00:02:38,280
A few years ago, Saffron and Fred
spent close to £100,000
39
00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,439
on an old dairy
just outside Bakewell,
40
00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,279
in the village
where Fred's ancestors
41
00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:47,439
have lived for generations.
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This is the site!
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Very undeveloped. Right on the edge.
44
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I mean, this is the last bit of land
45
00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:56,599
before open countryside, yeah?
Yes.
46
00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:58,639
And you've got this little hut
47
00:02:58,640 --> 00:03:00,679
and that remnant
of a building there.
48
00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,599
So is this where you build?
Is this what you do?
49
00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:07,600
No, no. So the building
is basically over there.
50
00:03:07,920 --> 00:03:09,719
Good Lord!
51
00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,359
People may have built on this site
up by the road,
52
00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:17,360
but no-one has dared to take on
this steep hillside.
53
00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,399
Getting machinery onto this site
and storing materials...
54
00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:23,119
Yeah, that will be a challenge.
55
00:03:23,120 --> 00:03:25,479
..is going to be
logistically challenging, isn't it?
56
00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:28,079
You've got one way in,
one way out, it's a slope.
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00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:30,719
Every structural engineer that
I have stood here with
58
00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:33,639
has sucked their teeth and gone,
"Oh, really? Are you sure?"
59
00:03:33,640 --> 00:03:36,839
It's like, "Well, yes, we have
designed the house for this site."
60
00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:39,759
The difficulty is actually
building it. Yeah, building it!
61
00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:41,519
Well, it's been difficult
in planning,
62
00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:43,479
so building it
is going to be a piece of cake.
63
00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:45,599
How long were you in planning
to get it? Seven years.
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Good grief!
65
00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:49,639
Well, I was in my 30s
when I started this process.
66
00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:51,119
I was 50 this year.
67
00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,159
But we didn't have a plan B.
We had no plan B.
68
00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:55,319
So you just kept pushing?
Yep. So we just kept at it.
69
00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:57,359
Fred is an ecologist
70
00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,039
and he and Saffron
run a successful consultancy
71
00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,639
helping big companies fulfil
their environmental obligations.
72
00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:07,640
It's critical their house
reaches the highest eco standards.
73
00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:10,759
One of the things
that I'd always wanted to do
74
00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:12,479
was to build an earth-shelter house
75
00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,319
and this plot was absolutely ideal.
76
00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:19,320
The whole ethos of the build
is that it should be sustainable
77
00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,119
and it takes advantage
of its position.
78
00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,519
So its south-facing aspect
79
00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:28,520
meant that we could actually heat it
almost entirely from the sun.
80
00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,039
I mean, listening to you speak,
I can understand
81
00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:34,279
why you kept going
at this since 2003
82
00:04:34,280 --> 00:04:36,719
because of the site, the aspect,
where it faces,
83
00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:38,879
being of the village,
you being of this place.
84
00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:42,880
You know, as you say,
there was no...plan B.
85
00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:48,839
Having got planning permission,
Saffron put her job on hold
86
00:04:48,840 --> 00:04:52,840
to help manage the site with their
main contractor and architects.
87
00:04:53,840 --> 00:04:57,840
Work will begin by excavating
the thick Derbyshire limestone
88
00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,759
to make a huge step in the rock.
89
00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,279
This may be an environmental home,
90
00:05:04,280 --> 00:05:08,280
but there are no hay bales
or mud walls here.
91
00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:12,320
Concrete will form the platform
for the house to sit on.
92
00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:17,360
And more carbon-heavy materials,
like blockwork and steel,
93
00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:20,559
will form the rooms
and the superstructure.
94
00:05:20,560 --> 00:05:24,560
To offset all this, Fred wants
this house to be heated by the sun.
95
00:05:25,680 --> 00:05:28,479
So a wall of south-facing glazing
96
00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:31,759
will allow sunlight in
to warm the concrete foundations,
97
00:05:31,760 --> 00:05:34,479
and then that heat will be
locked in at night
98
00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:38,480
by closing heavily-insulated
timber shutters.
99
00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:40,599
Three modest bedrooms
and two bathrooms
100
00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:44,079
will be tucked into the hill
on the lowest floor.
101
00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:48,080
But it's the middle floor where
this house really will open up.
102
00:05:48,280 --> 00:05:51,119
The main living spaces
will be drenched in light
103
00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:55,120
and will take in some spectacular
views across the valley.
104
00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,239
The kitchen, snug and family room
of the middle floor
105
00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:02,039
will be crowned by
the smallest floor at the top,
106
00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,679
which will house
Fred's timber-clad office
107
00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:08,680
and a timber bridge
leading to the front door.
108
00:06:09,280 --> 00:06:11,919
Disguised as a traditional
Derbyshire barn,
109
00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:14,039
this small stone-clad top floor
110
00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:18,040
will be the only visible
part of this house from the road.
111
00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:20,599
And all the stone used
to clad the barn
112
00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:24,600
will be recycled from the site
in the local vernacular.
113
00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:28,839
This place has the potential to be
a beautiful home to live in.
114
00:06:28,840 --> 00:06:32,479
But a possible nightmare to build.
115
00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:34,839
So what is the cost of it, then?
116
00:06:34,840 --> 00:06:37,919
At the moment, that isn't set,
there's no fixed contract,
117
00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:39,879
priced contract yet.
118
00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:41,399
We know what we're aiming at.
119
00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:42,719
I know what I can borrow,
120
00:06:42,720 --> 00:06:45,719
when the bank finally get round
to agreeing a mortgage,
121
00:06:45,720 --> 00:06:46,839
and the rest...
122
00:06:46,840 --> 00:06:49,399
What, you mean they haven't yet?
No.
123
00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,559
And the rest of it comes from
the profitability of our business
124
00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:54,999
and our savings as we go along.
125
00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,919
We're going to live in this house
for the rest of our lives
126
00:06:57,920 --> 00:07:00,519
and the key thing is that
we can build the structure
127
00:07:00,520 --> 00:07:03,639
watertight, habitable, etc, etc.
128
00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:05,919
How much, then,
to get you to that point
129
00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:08,279
where you can move in
and you've got a habitable house?
130
00:07:08,280 --> 00:07:10,639
So my target amount is 600.
131
00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:14,239
I can pay for them
to dig the hole in the ground
132
00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:18,240
and then the bank
have to come up trumps.
133
00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:24,960
They have no mortgage and no idea
what this house will end up costing.
134
00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:29,920
Nevertheless, by early September,
the diggers have moved onto site.
135
00:07:30,760 --> 00:07:33,359
We did a bit of a test dig
yesterday,
136
00:07:33,360 --> 00:07:35,319
just to see what was there.
137
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And I looked down into the hole
138
00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:41,240
and I wondered, "What the heck
have we let ourselves in for?!"
139
00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:44,719
Fred and Saffron
have taken responsibility
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00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:46,839
for the excavation themselves,
141
00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:48,999
using two local farmers.
142
00:07:49,000 --> 00:07:53,000
They'll need to remove
over 800 tonnes of hard limestone
143
00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:57,040
before they can start filling it
back up with their new house.
144
00:07:57,640 --> 00:08:00,639
Yeah, I think they're mental,
building it here, really.
145
00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:02,479
But hopefully, it won't rain
146
00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:05,919
and then we'll stay where we are
instead of down in to the dale.
147
00:08:05,920 --> 00:08:08,359
It's our very own quarry!
148
00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:12,360
Look at the size of that!
149
00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:19,799
For the past eight years,
the family have been renting
150
00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:23,759
one of the village's
more traditional houses.
151
00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:26,199
My father always wanted
to build a house.
152
00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:28,159
He never did it.
153
00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:31,599
It was an ambition that I probably
inherited from him.
154
00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:35,600
That's my father up there.
He died five years ago now.
155
00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:39,720
He was always very supportive
of what we were trying to achieve.
156
00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:44,600
That desire to build
goes back a very long way.
157
00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:46,719
I never thought I'd actually do it.
158
00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,599
In fact, I still don't!
159
00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:54,559
The temptation of work, careers
and new homes
160
00:08:54,560 --> 00:08:57,599
means Fred has seen many
of his childhood friends
161
00:08:57,600 --> 00:08:59,399
leave this village.
162
00:08:59,400 --> 00:09:02,959
But his commitment to this place
is constant.
163
00:09:02,960 --> 00:09:04,719
As is that of his mother,
164
00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:07,359
who still lives in the house
both she and Fred grew up in.
165
00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,359
Fred is treading in
a venerable path here
166
00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:12,799
of family members
who have built houses, yeah?
167
00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:15,279
His grandfather built this.
Yes, yes.
168
00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:18,599
Now Fred is building his house up
the hill. He's doing his up there.
169
00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:20,999
Which is wonderful.
170
00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,039
I do feel quite proud
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00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:27,040
that he's been able to build
a house in the village.
172
00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:30,759
I mean, all his contemporaries
have had to go away.
173
00:09:30,760 --> 00:09:34,760
The loss of a generation moving out
174
00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:39,120
is...is just so sad.
175
00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:42,479
What do you reckon to the house,
though?
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I don't think it will be a house
that...I will choose to live in.
177
00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:50,720
And I think it's going to be just
a little bit too modern for me.
178
00:09:53,760 --> 00:09:55,759
Their design maybe modern,
179
00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,679
but they are excavating through
ancient limestone,
180
00:09:58,680 --> 00:10:00,879
a seemingly epic task.
181
00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:04,880
Three weeks in, progress has slowed.
182
00:10:06,040 --> 00:10:07,959
It is getting harder,
isn't it, now?
183
00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,439
Unfortunately.
184
00:10:10,440 --> 00:10:13,399
We've got to go down another three
meters into the rock again.
185
00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:15,479
So, obviously,
we're going deeper again,
186
00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:17,319
so it's going to be harder, so...
187
00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:19,879
What would you say, Ben? Are we
halfway yet or not, do you think?
188
00:10:19,880 --> 00:10:21,119
I wouldn't say so, no.
189
00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:24,839
It looks like we have got a lot
further on than we have,
190
00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:28,840
but I don't think we have,
really, now.
191
00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:35,079
Two months into a year-long project
192
00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:37,559
and Fred and Saffron
still don't have the mortgage
193
00:10:37,560 --> 00:10:40,679
they need to start
laying the foundations.
194
00:10:40,680 --> 00:10:44,680
We've had an e-mail conversation
with the broker.
195
00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:49,120
They are wanting to charge me
a vast amount more money
196
00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,959
to continue with the progress
of this mortgage application,
197
00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:53,839
which I think
we are going to have to pay.
198
00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:55,159
That's the way it is.
199
00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:57,559
I've had an e-mail conversation
with Jennifer today.
200
00:10:57,560 --> 00:10:59,759
I'm going to push for them
to actually come to site,
201
00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:01,239
because they can't be that far away.
202
00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:02,879
We spent a whole load of years
203
00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:04,839
talking about how unique
this project is.
204
00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:06,199
But when you talk to the banks,
205
00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:07,999
you've got to tell them
how normal it is,
206
00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:09,919
because they don't want
a unique project.
207
00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:13,920
They want something
that's really easy to understand.
208
00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:18,959
By early December,
the excavation is almost complete
209
00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:22,960
and this project looks
anything but conventional.
210
00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:27,040
The scale is quite breath-taking.
211
00:11:27,840 --> 00:11:31,840
This is just like walking
into a very large Derbyshire quarry.
212
00:11:37,880 --> 00:11:39,479
What a place, hey?
213
00:11:39,480 --> 00:11:41,519
The hole, obviously,
has to be large enough,
214
00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:44,839
excavated large enough, to
be able to fit the building in it,
215
00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:47,719
so they need working space
around the building.
216
00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:51,559
You have to ask, however,
why on earth...?
217
00:11:51,560 --> 00:11:55,560
In building into this kind of
really solid rock,
218
00:11:56,400 --> 00:12:00,400
you could almost just stick
a roof on the top and move in.
219
00:12:01,800 --> 00:12:05,800
It's cost almost 25 grand
to get this far,
220
00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:08,359
but there's no mortgage
and no-one is prepared to lend
221
00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:11,039
on such an unusual project.
222
00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:15,040
By the end of the year,
all work has stopped.
223
00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:17,719
It's just really frustrating.
I just want to get on with it.
224
00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,479
I want to get on with it
and I don't like the fact
225
00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:23,279
that people who don't know
anything about our project
226
00:12:23,280 --> 00:12:25,559
or what it means to us
are making decisions.
227
00:12:25,560 --> 00:12:27,599
We're going to build it.
228
00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:29,279
It might take longer.
229
00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:39,000
A bank is not going to stop me
building this house.
230
00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:48,160
# Rise morning sun
231
00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:54,199
# Rising
232
00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:57,279
# Rise morning sun... #
233
00:12:57,280 --> 00:13:01,079
Fred and Saffron Baker
have spent the past 13 years
234
00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:03,799
dreaming of building an
earth-sheltered house
235
00:13:03,800 --> 00:13:07,800
in the village where Fred grew up,
in the Peak District.
236
00:13:07,960 --> 00:13:10,919
So far, with no mortgage
and no sight of one,
237
00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:14,719
all they have been able to afford
is an enormous hole.
238
00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:17,239
At the moment
we haven't got a project.
239
00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:19,079
It's not done anything
for three months.
240
00:13:19,080 --> 00:13:23,080
And just to be held up at this last
minute is just so frustrating.
241
00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:27,759
Building your own house
is not for the faint-hearted
242
00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:31,760
and it tests your relationship,
absolutely.
243
00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:34,519
We want to live in this house
when we've built it,
244
00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:36,079
we don't want to hate it
or each other.
245
00:13:36,080 --> 00:13:40,080
So we've got to make it work.
246
00:13:49,000 --> 00:13:52,999
Six months in
and the site is still empty.
247
00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:55,239
But there are finally reasons
for optimism.
248
00:13:55,240 --> 00:13:56,839
How's the project?
249
00:13:56,840 --> 00:13:58,439
Well, we're building a house.
250
00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:01,879
How's the finance?
We have some, which is good.
251
00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:03,879
A mortgage? Yes, we did.
252
00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:06,279
We found a mortgage from the people
we should have gone to
253
00:14:06,280 --> 00:14:07,639
right at the beginning.
254
00:14:07,640 --> 00:14:10,999
Sorted it out in three weeks.
Oh, my Lord! How much?
255
00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:12,679
500,000.
256
00:14:12,680 --> 00:14:15,559
When's it start?
We've had the first payment.
257
00:14:15,560 --> 00:14:17,999
You'd think that would be
a champagne moment, wouldn't you?
258
00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:20,999
Well, you'd thinks so! Was it?
We were exhausted.
259
00:14:21,000 --> 00:14:25,000
It was relief,
more than celebration.
260
00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:29,399
The mortgage is a positive step,
261
00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:32,799
but the pressure on Fred and Saffron
is unrelenting.
262
00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:36,800
This is the windows payment here,
I think
263
00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:41,479
Their main contractor has come back
with a construction quote
264
00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:45,480
that's almost a ?100,000
more than they were expecting.
265
00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:47,359
That's still a worrying figure,
though.
266
00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:50,239
I know, I've no idea how we fix it.
267
00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:53,479
To save money, they're going
to have to strip back on finishes
268
00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:57,480
and hope they'll have enough
to make this house habitable.
269
00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:06,680
By late May, and nine months in,
the groundworks team have moved in
270
00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:11,280
and the pouring of this building's
concrete shell can finally begin.
271
00:15:12,760 --> 00:15:16,199
Here is the concrete.
272
00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:19,599
The concrete structure ought to be
finished in three months,
273
00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,399
so Fred and Saffron
might move in by Christmas.
274
00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:24,079
We should be able to see.
275
00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:26,759
He's lining it up
with this hopper here.
276
00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:30,760
Can you see, Billy?
277
00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,039
Almost a decade in planning
278
00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:37,040
and at last there are some signs
of a building.
279
00:15:39,800 --> 00:15:42,079
But this won't be
the first concrete home
280
00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:46,080
to try and bury itself
in the Peak District.
281
00:15:48,520 --> 00:15:52,520
So this is a garden
which is also a house.
282
00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:56,039
A building which inspired Fred
and Saffron.
283
00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:57,719
I say it's a building.
284
00:15:57,720 --> 00:16:01,720
It's not architecture that you can
recognise from the outside, is it?
285
00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,800
It's what the man who built it
called geo-tecture.
286
00:16:11,560 --> 00:16:15,560
Geo is Greek for earth,
and this house is covered in it.
287
00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,599
The man behind this building
is architect Arthur Quarmby,
288
00:16:19,600 --> 00:16:23,600
one of the biggest proponents
of earth-sheltered houses in Europe.
289
00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:30,280
The green exterior is a big contrast
to what's inside.
290
00:16:33,040 --> 00:16:35,759
HE CHUCKLES
291
00:16:35,760 --> 00:16:37,279
What a centrepiece that is!
292
00:16:37,280 --> 00:16:41,280
Look, I know this place looks like
a 1970s film set but,
293
00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:43,799
on the other hand,
it was built then.
294
00:16:43,800 --> 00:16:46,319
The architect who put it together,
Arthur Quarmby,
295
00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:49,119
lived here for 41 years
before he sold it recently.
296
00:16:49,120 --> 00:16:53,120
And it's quite important that
Arthur Quarmby was an inspiration
297
00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:55,319
for Fred and Saffron here
298
00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:59,320
because a lot of the ideas in their
house have taken a lead from here.
299
00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:02,359
They've got these flowing spaces,
300
00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:06,360
a connection between floors through
light wells, big glazed areas.
301
00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:11,199
For Fred and Saffron, this building
doesn't just hold ideas,
302
00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:13,119
it is also where ten years ago,
303
00:17:13,120 --> 00:17:16,319
their dream for an earth-sheltered
house first took shape.
304
00:17:16,320 --> 00:17:18,999
Now, you see this view
across the valley,
305
00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:23,000
this place is where Arthur Quarmby
sat and drew at his table here,
306
00:17:24,480 --> 00:17:27,319
the first iteration of Fred and
Saffron's house. How about that?
307
00:17:27,320 --> 00:17:31,320
I bet, in fact, if I go outside,
there's more of a connection.
308
00:17:32,360 --> 00:17:33,999
Ha-ha! Look at this...
309
00:17:34,000 --> 00:17:38,000
If you were to repeat this elevation
three or four storeys deep,
310
00:17:38,120 --> 00:17:39,439
then you have their home.
311
00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:41,839
This is the prototype, almost,
for what they're building.
312
00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:45,439
You can recognise
the connection between them,
313
00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:49,440
the DNA that they share.
314
00:17:54,360 --> 00:17:57,319
It's hard to imagine
how Fred and Saffron's house
315
00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:59,719
will ever be in keeping
with its surroundings.
316
00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:03,720
At the moment, it looks more like
an underground car park.
317
00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:09,999
Getting to grips
with the steep incline and access
318
00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:13,639
is causing some painful delays.
319
00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:16,839
Probably the hardest thing
on the build is the access.
320
00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:20,840
I would say, on a weekly basis,
we're kind of re-adjusting the ramp
321
00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,799
to work certain areas
and service certain areas.
322
00:18:23,800 --> 00:18:26,319
I would say it's probably adding
about 15% to 20%
323
00:18:26,320 --> 00:18:30,320
above what it would take to build
this traditionally out of ground.
324
00:18:33,800 --> 00:18:37,800
By August, this project
is way behind schedule.
325
00:18:38,240 --> 00:18:41,039
The concrete work should have been
almost finished by now,
326
00:18:41,040 --> 00:18:44,119
but they're not even
halfway through.
327
00:18:44,120 --> 00:18:45,759
Wow.
328
00:18:45,760 --> 00:18:49,760
It's like coming down a scree
on the side of a peak.
329
00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:53,800
Blockwork, lots of steel,
slab, massive formwork.
330
00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:57,639
This isn't a building, this is
a piece of civil engineering.
331
00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,799
Oh, and I can just see
the edge of the timber
332
00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:03,319
that is lining the shuttering.
333
00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:06,519
And that, when it's removed,
is going to leave
334
00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:09,959
a beautiful board-marked finish
on the concrete in the kitchen.
335
00:19:09,960 --> 00:19:12,119
That's the lovely thing
about concrete,
336
00:19:12,120 --> 00:19:15,119
it is a plastic medium
that will take the surface texture
337
00:19:15,120 --> 00:19:19,120
of whatever is holding it
while it sets.
338
00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:26,879
You can't help but be impressed
by the scale of the concrete work.
339
00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:30,880
But for Saffron, the mounting delays
are pure frustration.
340
00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:35,039
It is slower than I would hope.
341
00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:39,040
This stage has probably taken
an extra 20% or 30% longer,
342
00:19:39,280 --> 00:19:41,919
which is quite a long time. Yeah,
you have my sympathy about that.
343
00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:45,519
But you made this rod for your own
backs, it is of your making.
344
00:19:45,520 --> 00:19:48,079
It is. We chose this site,
we chose this site,
345
00:19:48,080 --> 00:19:50,439
it's awkward to develop on.
346
00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:53,599
Getting out the ground is what is
the pain, that's where...
347
00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:56,039
And it's all in the ground, so...
And it's all in the ground.
348
00:19:56,040 --> 00:19:57,879
And the access is outrageous!
349
00:19:57,880 --> 00:20:01,839
What's the financial knock-on from
the delays to the work so far?
350
00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:04,279
Our rent. But now I can see
where the money could go,
351
00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:07,319
I don't want to spend any more.
Yeah.
352
00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:10,639
Fred and Saffron still don't know
if they have enough cash
353
00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:12,839
to fully complete this project
354
00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:15,519
and they've made some brave choices
for the interior
355
00:20:15,520 --> 00:20:17,239
to bring the costs down,
356
00:20:17,240 --> 00:20:21,159
like leaving much of the blockwork
exposed.
357
00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:24,199
This is actually, at the moment,
my favourite bit of the building.
358
00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:26,919
What, this downstairs bit?
This downstairs back corridor.
359
00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:28,319
Oh, yeah?
360
00:20:28,320 --> 00:20:32,320
These walls are sort of more or
less, as is, as they're going to be?
361
00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:33,879
It's a cost issue.
362
00:20:33,880 --> 00:20:37,880
Certainly, initially, we are going
to have bare breeze-block walls
363
00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:40,279
and over time it will evolve.
364
00:20:40,280 --> 00:20:44,280
You've had to use how many cubic
meters of concrete?
365
00:20:44,520 --> 00:20:46,839
185.
366
00:20:46,840 --> 00:20:48,719
That's enough!
Yeah.
367
00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:52,279
And the steel? All of which has
a heavy carbon impact.
368
00:20:52,280 --> 00:20:54,479
That's the bit that hurts, actually.
Does it?
369
00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:58,439
Yeah, there are compromises along
the way and, you know,
370
00:20:58,440 --> 00:21:02,119
I'd have loved to have used
an eco-concrete product,
371
00:21:02,120 --> 00:21:03,519
but actually nobody could do it.
372
00:21:03,520 --> 00:21:07,079
It's standard concrete, admittedly,
and, yeah, that hurts.
373
00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:11,080
So the carbon impact of making all
this steel and all this cement
374
00:21:12,880 --> 00:21:14,679
and resourcing this building
375
00:21:14,680 --> 00:21:17,119
might well be paid back
in how many years, do you reckon?
376
00:21:17,120 --> 00:21:20,559
I think five to ten years.
377
00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:24,199
Exposed concrete walls
aren't typical of many eco-houses,
378
00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:27,359
but Fred wants zero heating bills,
379
00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:31,360
and the use of concrete
will be key in achieving that.
380
00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:34,999
What I am drawing here is a sort
of schematic representation
381
00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:37,319
of Fred and Saffron's house.
382
00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:40,759
Big concrete box
set into the rock behind.
383
00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:44,760
Of course, concrete is a very, very
environmentally-harmful material.
384
00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:48,839
For every tonne of cement produced,
a tonne of carbon's produced.
385
00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:52,559
Nevertheless, it has fantastic
abilities to store heat.
386
00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:55,839
The sun, of course, will beam in,
heat the concrete.
387
00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,799
The difficulty is,
this glass is always
388
00:21:58,800 --> 00:22:00,359
going lose heat at night.
389
00:22:00,360 --> 00:22:02,479
So what's their solution?
It's brilliant,.
390
00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:05,759
It's to build shutters,
391
00:22:05,760 --> 00:22:07,559
which are also
brilliantly insulated.
392
00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:11,079
It should mean, they can stay warm
393
00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:15,080
with no extra energy inputs
into the building at all.
394
00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:20,319
To save money,
395
00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:24,320
by October, Fred and Saffron give
notice on their rented house.
396
00:22:25,880 --> 00:22:28,439
An optimistic move,
because their new home
397
00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:32,440
has only just revealed
its first finished detail.
398
00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:37,239
This is our beautiful board-formed
concrete wall of the kitchen,
399
00:22:37,240 --> 00:22:38,919
and will be lit from the top,
400
00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:42,839
so you'll see all that lovely relief
in it from the timbers.
401
00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:44,279
It's beautiful. I love it.
402
00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:48,159
A glimpse of what's to come.
403
00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:51,519
But this is an unforgiving site.
404
00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:53,159
It can be quite tricky.
405
00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:55,959
A lot of slipping and sliding
and stuff like that with the rain.
406
00:22:55,960 --> 00:22:58,039
To avoid the expense of a crane,
407
00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,319
everything on this site
is now manoeuvred by hand.
408
00:23:01,320 --> 00:23:03,439
I just can't imagine
how they are going to do this.
409
00:23:03,440 --> 00:23:04,759
How are they going to lift it?
410
00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:07,119
Just hold it there, John,
keep it there!
411
00:23:07,120 --> 00:23:08,599
Whoa! That'll do!
412
00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:10,079
It's slow progress,
413
00:23:10,080 --> 00:23:13,559
on a project which is now
three months behind schedule.
414
00:23:13,560 --> 00:23:17,560
There's a whole list of things
to do before it's a proper reality.
415
00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:28,000
I can't tell
when it will feel like our home.
416
00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:36,959
In the heart
of the Peak District,
417
00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:40,960
Fred and Saffron are now 14 months
into their project.
418
00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:46,319
Around 325 tonnes of concrete
419
00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:50,320
have been poured
into their hole in the ground.
420
00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:53,119
Everybody at school's
talking about it
421
00:23:53,120 --> 00:23:57,120
and saying, "Have you got to this
stage yet? Is the concrete in?"
422
00:23:58,480 --> 00:24:01,719
And stuff like that.
423
00:24:01,720 --> 00:24:03,759
They don't ask me anything.
424
00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:06,919
Can I just get the tape straight,
please, mate?
425
00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:10,199
Progress has been slow so,
so to try and save some time,
426
00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,399
the steels for the middle floor
427
00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:15,359
are being measured and cut to size
on site.
428
00:24:15,360 --> 00:24:19,360
5615 is tight,
so you need to take 10mm off that.
429
00:24:20,800 --> 00:24:22,479
But it will only save weeks
430
00:24:22,480 --> 00:24:26,480
on a project that is running
months behind.
431
00:24:30,360 --> 00:24:32,759
Since she's on site every day,
432
00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:36,319
Saffron can enjoy
the occasional big step forward.
433
00:24:36,320 --> 00:24:38,519
Like the steel tray floors,
434
00:24:38,520 --> 00:24:41,599
which have at last enclosed
some of the spaces.
435
00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:45,359
Fred would obviously like to be here
every day,
436
00:24:45,360 --> 00:24:48,039
because it's hard for him
missing out on stuff.
437
00:24:48,040 --> 00:24:51,559
But he's got loads of really
exciting work on,
438
00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:53,799
which is what's paying
for this building.
439
00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:55,679
So that's just the way it is.
440
00:24:55,680 --> 00:24:59,680
Fred only gets to site
in the evenings and at weekends.
441
00:24:59,960 --> 00:25:01,679
Of course, it is right and proper
442
00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:03,919
that you are away earning money
to pay for it.
443
00:25:03,920 --> 00:25:06,519
Well, it's a necessity.
Absolutely.
444
00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:08,359
Yeah, yeah.
445
00:25:08,360 --> 00:25:12,360
It's frustrating because I,
you know, I like to be hands-on.
446
00:25:12,640 --> 00:25:15,719
How are the finances?
I think, budget-wise, we'll hit it.
447
00:25:15,720 --> 00:25:17,639
We've stripped out a lot.
448
00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:19,559
Where have the compromises been?
449
00:25:19,560 --> 00:25:23,560
The compromises have been in
interiors. Right.
450
00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:25,599
Things like plaster, paint...
451
00:25:25,600 --> 00:25:27,119
Yeah, thinks like plaster, paint,
452
00:25:27,120 --> 00:25:31,120
you know, ceilings that we decided
not to put in.
453
00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:34,359
They'll be nothing else
to strip out soon!
454
00:25:34,360 --> 00:25:36,959
We'll be back to this!
Yeah.
455
00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:40,479
What about the insulated shutters?
Are they a luxury that you...?
456
00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:43,519
No, they're not.
No, they are a necessity.
457
00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:45,479
They will be going in.
Oh, OK.
458
00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:47,239
Tat thermal efficiency
of the building
459
00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:50,319
is something that I won't
compromise on. Car park aesthetic.
460
00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:53,199
Car park aesthetic. On the inside,
I think you'll be surprised, Kevin.
461
00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:55,159
Super house functionality.
462
00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:58,839
I think you'll be surprised
by the interior.
463
00:25:58,840 --> 00:26:02,840
Do you reckon? Because I think
I'm looking at most of it already!
464
00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:09,039
The insulated shutters that promise
zero heating bills
465
00:26:09,040 --> 00:26:11,839
are already being hand-made
in Sheffield.
466
00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:14,239
How's it going?
467
00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:18,240
Is this the first one?
This is the first one.
468
00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:22,480
Thick insulation is sandwiched
between two skins of timber.
469
00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:25,559
You don't know how critical this is
for our house,
470
00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:29,560
for how this whole house functions!
471
00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:33,839
It's now late autumn
472
00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:37,840
and Saffron's getting ready to move
house towards the end of the month.
473
00:26:39,040 --> 00:26:42,999
Not into their new home,
but to live with Fred's mum.
474
00:26:43,000 --> 00:26:47,000
We moved in here temporarily whilst
we got planning permission to build.
475
00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:49,159
It was always temporary.
476
00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:50,879
So we have made it home.
477
00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:54,239
We've had, you know, eight,
nine...eight Christmases here.
478
00:26:54,240 --> 00:26:58,240
But not this one!
479
00:27:01,800 --> 00:27:05,800
For over a year, Fred and Saffron
have been given nothing to look at
480
00:27:06,000 --> 00:27:09,279
but rock, mud and concrete.
481
00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:10,879
As their new house takes shape,
482
00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:13,039
we're heading to the other
side of the valley
483
00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:16,599
to get a different perspective.
484
00:27:16,600 --> 00:27:20,239
So this is the first time
that I've come across
485
00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:23,359
to have a look across
the opposite side of the dale.
486
00:27:23,360 --> 00:27:25,919
It looks like a proper building,
you know what I mean?
487
00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:28,679
As oppose to an extended
piece of groundworks.
488
00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:30,719
I can see the finished building,
489
00:27:30,720 --> 00:27:32,239
how it's going to look
490
00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:35,519
and how it's going to blend
into that hillside. Good.
491
00:27:35,520 --> 00:27:37,879
It's the first time I've been able
to see that, actually.
492
00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:41,239
Now the lids are on
and that curve's starting to form,
493
00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:42,839
I can actually see how the whole...
494
00:27:42,840 --> 00:27:44,919
You'll be up here every tea-time,
won't you?
495
00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:47,559
It's probably good for you.
496
00:27:47,560 --> 00:27:50,999
It's good to get the physical
perspective that you get here
497
00:27:51,000 --> 00:27:52,559
in order to understand, you know...
498
00:27:52,560 --> 00:27:54,559
I shall be coming up here
more often. You should.
499
00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:57,519
Yeah, I think we need to walk,
we need to come up here every week.
500
00:27:57,520 --> 00:28:00,199
It's the first time I've seen this
and it is...
501
00:28:00,200 --> 00:28:02,519
Yeah, it's breath-taking, actually.
502
00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:06,520
Yeah.
503
00:28:08,400 --> 00:28:12,400
But Fred and Saffron's new
perspective is short-lived.
504
00:28:13,080 --> 00:28:16,959
A sudden cold snap heralds
the beginning of another winter
505
00:28:16,960 --> 00:28:19,119
and the last concrete pour
for the roofs
506
00:28:19,120 --> 00:28:21,959
has been delayed by almost a month.
507
00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:25,960
By December, the family have had
to move in with their new landlady.
508
00:28:28,040 --> 00:28:31,759
Well, at the moment,
I've got my son and his wife
509
00:28:31,760 --> 00:28:34,879
and their two children
living with me.
510
00:28:34,880 --> 00:28:36,479
Have you done mine?
511
00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:38,799
I've done them.
Yeah, I've done them already.
512
00:28:38,800 --> 00:28:41,239
I did yours last night.
Yeah, I did them last night.
513
00:28:41,240 --> 00:28:45,240
I've learnt to just sort of
bite my tongue.
514
00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:47,639
I would never put a milk bottle
on the table,
515
00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:51,640
even at breakfast!
516
00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:57,279
Today, the roofs go on.
517
00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:59,839
It's taken far too long to get to
this point, but we're here now.
518
00:28:59,840 --> 00:29:02,559
And it's not snowing,
so that's a good thing.
519
00:29:02,560 --> 00:29:06,560
We're essentially six months behind.
520
00:29:06,720 --> 00:29:08,959
So there's been further delay,
521
00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:11,239
mainly because of the groundworks.
522
00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:13,199
In fact, entirely because of
the groundworks.
523
00:29:13,200 --> 00:29:17,200
This will be the final day on site
for the groundworks team.
524
00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:19,439
A job that was supposed to take
three months
525
00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:21,199
has taken close to seven.
526
00:29:21,200 --> 00:29:25,119
Yeah, it's been a difficult job.
Access has been a bit awkward.
527
00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:29,120
We have gone over the programme,
but you can't rush quality.
528
00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:39,159
In the New Year,
the top floor barn goes up
529
00:29:39,160 --> 00:29:43,160
and the first piece of timber
makes its way on site.
530
00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:46,479
This should be a momentous day.
531
00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:50,480
But Saffron's had bad news
from the contractors.
532
00:29:51,080 --> 00:29:53,399
It's not going to be finished
until June,
533
00:29:53,400 --> 00:29:57,400
which has taken me the best part
of two months to accept, I think.
534
00:29:58,720 --> 00:30:00,679
It's difficult to take,
535
00:30:00,680 --> 00:30:04,119
it's knocked the wind
out of my sails a bit, I think.
536
00:30:04,120 --> 00:30:08,119
I think I was expecting to move
out of our rented accommodation
537
00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:11,999
and then feel renewed energy
for this project,
538
00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:13,279
but that didn't happened.
539
00:30:13,280 --> 00:30:16,079
What actually happened was
the stress kind of took hold
540
00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:17,559
and got to me and...
541
00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:21,560
..I've not been able to do
very much, really.
542
00:30:25,760 --> 00:30:29,760
Saffron's difficulty is accompanied
by a harsh winter.
543
00:30:29,920 --> 00:30:33,920
But by April, she and Fred
have restructured their finances.
544
00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:37,999
At last, something positive
has come from all those delays.
545
00:30:38,000 --> 00:30:41,159
Business-wise,
we had a good year last year,
546
00:30:41,160 --> 00:30:45,039
so I'm able to release a little bit
more money
547
00:30:45,040 --> 00:30:48,639
than I thought I was going
to be able to.
548
00:30:48,640 --> 00:30:51,559
Fred and Saffron are also increasing
their mortgage.
549
00:30:51,560 --> 00:30:55,560
In total,
they'll have an extra ?130,000.
550
00:30:57,040 --> 00:31:01,040
That'll get spent on stonework
cladding, an extra bathroom
551
00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:02,479
and some landscaping.
552
00:31:02,480 --> 00:31:04,639
Even so, they're standing by
the decision
553
00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:08,559
to leave much of the blockwork
exposed.
554
00:31:08,560 --> 00:31:12,560
I don't think I would ever choose
to see blockwork.
555
00:31:13,560 --> 00:31:15,719
I'm sure it will irritate me.
556
00:31:15,720 --> 00:31:19,720
But for financial reasons, I'm happy
to make that blockwork attractive.
557
00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:28,840
Fred and Saffron are going to spend
over ?700,000 on this building.
558
00:31:30,920 --> 00:31:33,679
But for the first time, they know
they can afford to finish it.
559
00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:36,879
Tea!
560
00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:40,880
As the windows go in,
there is a new optimism on site.
561
00:31:41,280 --> 00:31:42,919
That's very satisfying.
562
00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:46,920
Well, this is going to be where
I sit and work.
563
00:31:48,920 --> 00:31:52,920
I love it. Absolutely love it!
564
00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:55,359
There's absolutely no way
565
00:31:55,360 --> 00:31:57,919
I could have built this house
without Saffron.
566
00:31:57,920 --> 00:31:59,279
Absolutely no way.
567
00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:03,280
She's taken what was my dream
and turned it into our dream
568
00:32:03,360 --> 00:32:05,239
and made it happen.
569
00:32:05,240 --> 00:32:09,240
I want this office now.
You're out. It's my space!
570
00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:14,559
This project wouldn't have happened
without you.
571
00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:17,519
You found the builders,
you found the architects.
572
00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:20,519
This wouldn't have happened
with out you.
573
00:32:20,520 --> 00:32:24,520
Better get it right, then!
574
00:32:27,440 --> 00:32:31,440
By early summer, this eco-house
has started to produce electricity.
575
00:32:31,840 --> 00:32:34,839
The curved concrete terraces
are taking shape
576
00:32:34,840 --> 00:32:36,399
and the top floor barn
577
00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:40,400
is receiving its remarkable cladding
of napped stone.
578
00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:46,239
How beautiful.
579
00:32:46,240 --> 00:32:50,240
Oak roof, beautiful wall,
which is...
580
00:32:51,560 --> 00:32:53,519
Oh, it's almost engineered.
581
00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:57,319
This is... This is something else.
582
00:32:57,320 --> 00:33:01,159
After a year of seeing nothing
but concrete on this site,
583
00:33:01,160 --> 00:33:04,999
it's a real joy to see
properly-napped,
584
00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:07,599
beautifully-bedded dry stone.
585
00:33:07,600 --> 00:33:11,600
If they can do to the front of the
building what they've done here...
586
00:33:12,280 --> 00:33:15,559
..it's going to be a cracker.
587
00:33:15,560 --> 00:33:19,119
The quaint Derbyshire barn is
sitting on top of a concrete shell,
588
00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:21,879
where the car park aesthetic
is really coming together.
589
00:33:21,880 --> 00:33:24,719
Pipes, tubes, wires, guts.
590
00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:28,079
Yep, arteries.
Some people would loathe this.
591
00:33:28,080 --> 00:33:30,359
Have you got enough money
to finish it?
592
00:33:30,360 --> 00:33:31,639
Yeah, I think so.
Yeah.
593
00:33:31,640 --> 00:33:33,679
We just wanted to get it to a state
594
00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:37,680
where it was going to be as finished
as we possibly could. Yeah.
595
00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:41,840
We're so desperate to get in now.
596
00:33:43,320 --> 00:33:45,239
Over the coming months,
597
00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:47,279
all the new available cash
has been spent
598
00:33:47,280 --> 00:33:49,999
on their kitchen
and bathroom fittings.
599
00:33:50,000 --> 00:33:54,000
Elsewhere,
compromises are still on show.
600
00:33:57,120 --> 00:34:00,959
By mid-summer, the annual well
dressing festival is underway.
601
00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:04,960
Saffron now knows her family are on
the threshold of something new.
602
00:34:05,880 --> 00:34:08,799
This is something that we've
fought for for a long time.
603
00:34:08,800 --> 00:34:12,679
It'll be something,
the beginning of a new life.
604
00:34:12,680 --> 00:34:15,479
So I don't feel like we're racing
to the finish.
605
00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:24,000
I feel like we're kind of trotting
towards the start line.
606
00:34:34,160 --> 00:34:36,959
I've been visiting Fred and Saffron
in the Peak District
607
00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:38,959
for over two years.
608
00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:42,879
It's one of my favourite landscapes
- it's heroic and momentous,
609
00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:46,239
a place to walk, think and dream.
610
00:34:46,240 --> 00:34:50,240
A place where not everything
is as it seems.
611
00:34:51,640 --> 00:34:55,640
Well, that building looks like it's
sort of...a little hut, a workshop.
612
00:34:56,000 --> 00:35:00,000
Absolutely a decoy for what's
underneath it.
613
00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:04,760
The beautifully wrought barn
and porch give no hint
614
00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:08,920
of the struggle that lay beneath.
615
00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:15,399
No suggestion of the buried
concrete fortress
616
00:35:15,400 --> 00:35:19,400
now wrapped in stone and timber.
617
00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:24,319
My word! It looks like a great...
618
00:35:24,320 --> 00:35:28,320
..curving cliff of stone.
619
00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:33,600
All that rubble has been
assembled into this beautiful shape.
620
00:35:34,280 --> 00:35:37,879
What a deceit, hey?
621
00:35:37,880 --> 00:35:41,599
Every stone was dug
out of the ground here, split,
622
00:35:41,600 --> 00:35:45,599
shaped and faced to produce walls
that are unerringly fine.
623
00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:47,759
It's mesmerising work.
624
00:35:47,760 --> 00:35:51,760
It's hard to imagine the sloping
scrap of land that once was here.
625
00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:56,039
Fred and Saffron's patience would
seem to have been rewarded.
626
00:35:56,040 --> 00:35:57,359
Hello!
627
00:35:57,360 --> 00:35:59,999
Oh, it's very good to see you both.
Are you all right?
628
00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:02,119
Yeah, yeah, I am, how are you?
629
00:36:02,120 --> 00:36:06,120
And this is looking just...peachy.
630
00:36:06,160 --> 00:36:10,160
Absolutely great. And from the road,
no indication at all of what's here.
631
00:36:10,760 --> 00:36:13,159
Absolutely nothing at all.
Just a bungalow.
632
00:36:13,160 --> 00:36:15,479
The stonework is particularly fine.
633
00:36:15,480 --> 00:36:18,639
The stone's almost become one thing,
one surface.
634
00:36:18,640 --> 00:36:21,999
I think it's just triumphant.
What's it like inside?
635
00:36:22,000 --> 00:36:24,839
Erm... Is it done? Are you in?
636
00:36:24,840 --> 00:36:27,759
Yes, yes, we're in.
Good! Come on, then. Come on!
637
00:36:27,760 --> 00:36:31,760
Yeah, yeah.
638
00:36:32,120 --> 00:36:34,799
Into the dark corridor.
639
00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:35,999
And into...
640
00:36:36,000 --> 00:36:37,839
Ooh! Into some light.
641
00:36:37,840 --> 00:36:41,840
Oh, into a great deal of light.
642
00:36:45,840 --> 00:36:49,279
This middle floor is open
and bright,
643
00:36:49,280 --> 00:36:51,999
despite those heavy blockwork walls.
644
00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:55,519
Do you know, this is...
645
00:36:55,520 --> 00:36:59,520
..this is very surprising because
I was fully prepared for all the
conduit and the exposing,
646
00:37:00,040 --> 00:37:03,239
but I was not prepared for all
of the timber and that,
647
00:37:03,240 --> 00:37:05,079
all that panelling up there.
648
00:37:05,080 --> 00:37:09,080
There's a lot of very finely crafted
lining of this building
649
00:37:11,240 --> 00:37:12,399
that's gone on.
650
00:37:12,400 --> 00:37:16,400
And the tubes and pipes
everywhere do not exactly...
651
00:37:17,880 --> 00:37:21,639
I mean, OK, it's a raw,
brutalist finish in a way,
652
00:37:21,640 --> 00:37:23,679
but it's not minimal, is it?
653
00:37:23,680 --> 00:37:25,479
I wasn't sure
I was going to like it,
654
00:37:25,480 --> 00:37:28,679
but I like the honesty of it now.
655
00:37:28,680 --> 00:37:31,199
The craftsmen who did
all of this worked
656
00:37:31,200 --> 00:37:33,239
so hard to get this looking right.
657
00:37:33,240 --> 00:37:35,039
You mean the plumber
and electrician?
658
00:37:35,040 --> 00:37:36,799
The plumber and electrician.
Yeah, yeah!
659
00:37:36,800 --> 00:37:39,599
Because, for the first time ever,
their work has been on show.
660
00:37:39,600 --> 00:37:41,519
It's exquisite.
661
00:37:41,520 --> 00:37:44,879
It's sort of semi-open plan.
You're kind of drawn, aren't you?
662
00:37:44,880 --> 00:37:46,119
Yes.
663
00:37:46,120 --> 00:37:49,799
This is your beautiful
staircase down.
664
00:37:49,800 --> 00:37:52,359
And then through to music room.
665
00:37:52,360 --> 00:37:56,360
Music room, spare room.
It's, it's... It's magical.
666
00:37:57,840 --> 00:38:01,559
The exposed blockwork
began as a cost-saving exercise.
667
00:38:01,560 --> 00:38:05,119
It seems to have emerged
as a style of decoration.
668
00:38:05,120 --> 00:38:08,679
I don't know how you feel.
I mean, is this, is this finished?
669
00:38:08,680 --> 00:38:12,479
What's interesting is I didn't think
it was, but now I'm here with it,
670
00:38:12,480 --> 00:38:16,480
I'm seeing it's not a hotel,
this is our home and, actually...
671
00:38:17,840 --> 00:38:19,559
That, up there...?
672
00:38:19,560 --> 00:38:22,239
Yeah, that'll stay. I don't want it
filling. Why would you fill it?
673
00:38:22,240 --> 00:38:24,799
It's a block that got dropped
on its way to being put there.
674
00:38:24,800 --> 00:38:26,119
That's OK.
675
00:38:26,120 --> 00:38:28,799
It's not common, what you've done.
676
00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:32,759
No. It's that juxtaposition
all the time between the personal,
677
00:38:32,760 --> 00:38:35,799
the finished, the polished,
the cherished and the raw.
678
00:38:35,800 --> 00:38:38,799
And it's only when you put them
together that you realise that,
679
00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:41,119
actually, it doesn't really matter
how raw the raw is.
680
00:38:41,120 --> 00:38:44,239
And I do, you know, I walk around
and it makes me excited.
681
00:38:44,240 --> 00:38:47,439
Just looking, whether it's
the stonework outside or the,
682
00:38:47,440 --> 00:38:50,599
you know, the kitchen, the light.
683
00:38:50,600 --> 00:38:54,600
All of those details just bring
a smile to your face.
684
00:38:57,600 --> 00:39:01,600
This semi-open floor has one
slightly cosier concrete snug.
685
00:39:05,360 --> 00:39:08,479
But, upstairs,
on the very top floor, in the barn,
686
00:39:08,480 --> 00:39:12,480
the building becomes fully refined.
687
00:39:13,120 --> 00:39:16,519
Oh, there's no more concrete up
here. In fact, it's all wood.
688
00:39:16,520 --> 00:39:18,599
So this is the only level
that's above ground,
689
00:39:18,600 --> 00:39:22,600
and as you go down,
you go down into the concrete.
690
00:39:24,360 --> 00:39:27,679
I do like the idea of arriving
and immediately being faced
with a bridge.
691
00:39:27,680 --> 00:39:31,680
It's like, there's the portcullis,
there's the draw bridge.
692
00:39:32,520 --> 00:39:36,520
Up here, Fred's contained ply-lined
office captures some pretty
693
00:39:37,040 --> 00:39:39,359
good views across the hills.
694
00:39:39,360 --> 00:39:43,360
What a very nice place to work.
695
00:39:48,240 --> 00:39:51,519
As you descend from the dizzy
heights of the barn at road level
696
00:39:51,520 --> 00:39:53,879
to the lowest level
where the bedrooms are,
697
00:39:53,880 --> 00:39:57,880
the plywood timber linings give way
to more and more solid masonry.
698
00:39:59,880 --> 00:40:01,679
Down here, it's the only place
699
00:40:01,680 --> 00:40:05,399
that you've used stone inside
the building. Inside. Because?
700
00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:08,479
We started off light
and airy up at the top end,
701
00:40:08,480 --> 00:40:10,959
and this is the sleeping room.
702
00:40:10,960 --> 00:40:14,359
So it's enclosed... Yeah.
..cave-like.
703
00:40:14,360 --> 00:40:17,399
This is perhaps the most unfinished,
raw part of the house.
704
00:40:17,400 --> 00:40:20,599
There are three straightforward
bedrooms, each of which enjoys
705
00:40:20,600 --> 00:40:24,600
the views and a splash of luxury
in a polished plaster bathroom.
706
00:40:25,040 --> 00:40:28,199
Concrete aesthetic apart,
707
00:40:28,200 --> 00:40:32,200
this house was never primarily about
how it looks, but how it works.
708
00:40:33,120 --> 00:40:35,879
I have been very
excited to see these.
709
00:40:35,880 --> 00:40:37,599
They're just like bifold doors,
really.
710
00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:40,639
Yeah, they are. They're
bifold doors and... Oh, wow!
711
00:40:40,640 --> 00:40:43,839
..they close up. And they've got
seals? They've got rubber seals?
712
00:40:43,840 --> 00:40:46,959
Seals, and this keeps all
the heat in at night.
713
00:40:46,960 --> 00:40:49,439
What's your big objective here?
714
00:40:49,440 --> 00:40:52,399
The objective here is
a zero carbon house,
715
00:40:52,400 --> 00:40:56,400
so it doesn't take any
energy to run it.
716
00:40:56,720 --> 00:41:00,279
Of course, this house isn't
just for Fred and Saffron,
717
00:41:00,280 --> 00:41:02,559
it's for their children too.
718
00:41:02,560 --> 00:41:05,959
For Billy and Grace,
family conversations about building
719
00:41:05,960 --> 00:41:08,919
and planning have dominated
most of their lives.
720
00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:11,479
What do you think about the house,
though, generally?
721
00:41:11,480 --> 00:41:15,480
I wasn't expecting to see the pipes
and the blockwork from the inside.
722
00:41:16,920 --> 00:41:20,920
It's amazing,
I really like all of it.
723
00:41:21,120 --> 00:41:23,759
Do you feel proud of your parents?
BOTH: Yeah.
724
00:41:23,760 --> 00:41:27,119
Because they're my parents,
and that's what they'll always be.
725
00:41:27,120 --> 00:41:29,679
They've done an amazing job.
726
00:41:29,680 --> 00:41:32,759
It looks really good.
727
00:41:32,760 --> 00:41:36,760
This building has only just
begun to show its charm,
728
00:41:37,120 --> 00:41:39,319
and as the hillside heals,
729
00:41:39,320 --> 00:41:42,719
it will be more and more absorbed
into the landscape.
730
00:41:42,720 --> 00:41:46,720
There is a very obvious hanging
question about this project which,
731
00:41:47,320 --> 00:41:50,239
given the fact that you didn't
know how much it would cost
732
00:41:50,240 --> 00:41:52,919
when you started and had no...
733
00:41:52,920 --> 00:41:56,359
well, not much in the way of money
to pay for it!
734
00:41:56,360 --> 00:42:00,279
How much, do you know,
did it cost to get this far?
735
00:42:00,280 --> 00:42:01,879
It's got a seven in front of it.
736
00:42:01,880 --> 00:42:03,999
A seven, but nothing near an eight?
737
00:42:04,000 --> 00:42:06,159
I would think it's
quite near an eight.
738
00:42:06,160 --> 00:42:08,279
There's a few things to come in
and we've done a lot more
739
00:42:08,280 --> 00:42:10,439
of the landscaping than
we were planning to do.
740
00:42:10,440 --> 00:42:13,919
So, late ?700,000,
nearly ?800,000.
741
00:42:13,920 --> 00:42:16,319
On top of that, you've got land
and fees and extras
742
00:42:16,320 --> 00:42:18,999
and all kinds of mucking about.
Planning, the years it took...
743
00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:20,919
Oh, yeah, no,
you can't quantify that stuff.
744
00:42:20,920 --> 00:42:24,920
So, what, you're getting
on for a million quid or something,
aren't you? Yeah. Easy!
745
00:42:25,120 --> 00:42:27,399
Yeah, well, there's some things
I've never added up
746
00:42:27,400 --> 00:42:30,239
and communicated because you'd just
be terrified, yeah.
747
00:42:30,240 --> 00:42:34,240
I think that's remarkable that you
both accept that it's just money,
748
00:42:35,120 --> 00:42:38,719
because you both believed
that you would get here.
749
00:42:38,720 --> 00:42:42,720
This was something we've planned
and dreamt of doing, you know,
750
00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:46,399
for 16 years.
751
00:42:46,400 --> 00:42:48,679
And we're going to be here for ever.
752
00:42:48,680 --> 00:42:51,439
You know, it's worth it.
753
00:42:51,440 --> 00:42:54,519
All of that was worth it in order
to achieve this one
754
00:42:54,520 --> 00:42:57,119
thing of being able to
stay in this place?
755
00:42:57,120 --> 00:42:58,599
Stay in the same place?
756
00:42:58,600 --> 00:43:01,359
Well, that continuity was
really important,
757
00:43:01,360 --> 00:43:05,360
and that's where it started from,
is wanting to remain in the village.
758
00:43:06,640 --> 00:43:10,279
Do you think that the length of
time and, for that matter,
759
00:43:10,280 --> 00:43:14,280
Saffron's kind of very energetic
role here, has that caused friction?
760
00:43:15,240 --> 00:43:19,240
It has been difficult,
but, you know, relationships,
761
00:43:19,360 --> 00:43:21,879
building houses,
you have to work at it.
762
00:43:21,880 --> 00:43:24,959
I think it's made us stronger.
We couldn't have done it separately.
763
00:43:24,960 --> 00:43:26,839
So it's a keeper? Oh, yeah.
764
00:43:26,840 --> 00:43:30,840
Somebody asked me the other day,
"Are you doing this to sell?"
765
00:43:31,040 --> 00:43:34,079
No, I don't think you quite
understand what we've been
through to get it!
766
00:43:34,080 --> 00:43:38,080
No, this is it,
why would you need to do it again?
767
00:43:44,880 --> 00:43:48,879
Sitting here, it's architecturally
adventurous, it's complex,
768
00:43:48,880 --> 00:43:50,239
it's rich.
769
00:43:50,240 --> 00:43:53,319
To the village, it's a little...
Tiny little barn.
770
00:43:53,320 --> 00:43:55,119
..stone barn, yeah.
771
00:43:55,120 --> 00:43:56,599
So, what is it?
772
00:43:56,600 --> 00:43:59,079
It's our home.
773
00:43:59,080 --> 00:44:03,080
I don't mind how it's
labelled by anybody else.
774
00:44:03,840 --> 00:44:07,840
It's been made with passion
by everybody who's worked on it.
775
00:44:08,720 --> 00:44:12,720
We've got to this point with
determination and positivity,
776
00:44:12,840 --> 00:44:15,559
and I'm really proud of that.
777
00:44:15,560 --> 00:44:18,679
Been over the valley much
to look at it? No.
778
00:44:18,680 --> 00:44:21,159
I have not seen it
from the far side.
779
00:44:21,160 --> 00:44:25,160
We've got to go over and look at it.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, we do.
780
00:44:34,840 --> 00:44:36,439
THEY LAUGH
781
00:44:36,440 --> 00:44:37,919
Look at that!
782
00:44:37,920 --> 00:44:39,799
Wow! It's a great view from here.
783
00:44:39,800 --> 00:44:43,800
That is so exciting,
to see it from this side.
784
00:44:45,120 --> 00:44:48,119
What I want to know, really,
actually, Fred,
785
00:44:48,120 --> 00:44:52,120
is whether you feel this does what
it's meant to do on the lid?
786
00:44:53,800 --> 00:44:55,839
I love it, absolutely love it.
787
00:44:55,840 --> 00:44:59,439
It's given me the wow factor
from this side of the dale.
788
00:44:59,440 --> 00:45:01,959
It's blended in much more quickly
than I imagined it to.
789
00:45:01,960 --> 00:45:05,960
You know, OK, we've worked really
hard at the landscaping, but it has.
790
00:45:06,520 --> 00:45:08,919
We've been building it,
we've got to know how it works...
791
00:45:08,920 --> 00:45:10,559
We got to know it
in a different way.
792
00:45:10,560 --> 00:45:12,639
..and how we relate to it. Yeah.
793
00:45:12,640 --> 00:45:16,640
Home.
794
00:45:27,280 --> 00:45:30,079
You might think it a miracle
that this place even exists,
795
00:45:30,080 --> 00:45:33,039
given its early financial history.
796
00:45:33,040 --> 00:45:37,040
But then, miracles do require faith.
797
00:45:37,400 --> 00:45:41,400
And there was a lot of that here -
Saffron's faith, her absolute
798
00:45:42,040 --> 00:45:46,040
determined belief that this project
was going to get completed.
799
00:45:48,640 --> 00:45:52,640
Her inability to accept that it
would not exist,
800
00:45:53,400 --> 00:45:57,400
coupled with Fred's quieter faith,
801
00:45:57,720 --> 00:46:01,720
his faith in the power of place
and his connection to it.
802
00:46:04,240 --> 00:46:08,240
In the end, it is the architecture
of quiet determination.
803
00:46:19,760 --> 00:46:22,639
We've got what's officially
the smallest two-bedroom house
804
00:46:22,640 --> 00:46:24,439
possible in London.
805
00:46:24,440 --> 00:46:25,839
This is a bit of a new challenge,
806
00:46:25,840 --> 00:46:29,439
to put a basement on a piece
of land the size of a postage stamp.
807
00:46:29,440 --> 00:46:31,639
This is spectacularly shambolic.
808
00:46:31,640 --> 00:46:33,319
Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!
809
00:46:33,320 --> 00:46:35,399
Yeah, I've lost 30 grand on this.
810
00:46:35,400 --> 00:46:37,599
Stand out!
811
00:46:37,600 --> 00:46:40,639
Everything's taking much
longer than we thought.
812
00:46:40,640 --> 00:46:42,639
And you've made it more complex?
813
00:46:42,640 --> 00:47:16,000
Oh, 100%, yeah. Why not?
HE LAUGHS
68602
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