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00:00Great architecture is as much a response to its environment as it is about the
00:15structure itself. I mean, imagine the Sydney Opera House without the harbour.
00:19But what if you wanted to build your home in a location that is so spectacular
00:24it's called Sublime Point. That's a lot to live up to.
00:54Wow, look at the water this morning. It's just glistening, isn't it?
01:09Yeah. Oh, I can't wait to get in.
01:12Are you going to dive straight in? Oh, yeah.
01:15Aussie builder Nick Luisi and British-born TAFE teacher Rachel have been together for 13 years,
01:21with a little help from the internet. I think we were both looking for love.
01:26I'm sure. Is that a dating program? Well, it could be.
01:31The moment I saw her I went, wow, she's a stunner. Oh, you're an idiot.
01:36I did. I said, whoa, looks better than the photos.
01:40They married in 2020 and have been living happily in an apartment in Sydney's eastern suburbs,
01:51but recently felt the call of the wild.
01:54I thought I'd never leave Coogee.
01:56Everyone you knew never thought you'd leave Coogee.
01:59Yeah, exactly. But we said, we need to experience something different.
02:03Oh, look at that. Look at that valley. How green is it?
02:08Jeez. We started going up to the mountains on the weekends.
02:12We found that we actually loved the mountains, and it was just like, wow, let's move.
02:17Let's build a home. Let's build our dreams. Yes.
02:20And we found the perfect block, and that was it. It was just like, bang, we've got to do this.
02:24Look at the trees, the surroundings, the nature.
02:30But you're a beach boy. Was a beach boy.
02:33Now I'm a country bump guy.
02:36But building a place called home has special meaning for Rachel.
02:41There's a lot of heart and a lot of soul going into this because I've had a very tough life.
02:47As a young person, I moved regularly. By the time I was 12, I lived in over 30 foster homes.
02:53And then now it's the first time that I'm building a stable home, but with us together.
03:00Wow. That's phenomenal.
03:02It's grounding us because you can actually think this is our home. This is my home.
03:07This is where we're going to spend the rest of our lives.
03:09OK, I'll race you to the top. Go.
03:12Good thing these two like action-adventure.
03:15How awesome is this track? It's amazing.
03:18Because with Nick on the tools while also running his building company back in Sydney,
03:22I absolutely love it.
03:25It's going to be a wild old ride.
03:28Wow.
03:29Wow, look at that.
03:31Especially with what they have in mind.
03:34This is going to be one of the biggest challenges in my 35-year building career.
03:39Amazing, isn't it?
03:40It's going to be quite exciting, but it's going to be quite stressful as well.
03:43See that ridge there? That's where we're actually building the house.
03:47Yeah, we've got sloping block. We've got bushfire zone. We've got rammed earth. We've got passive house.
03:54It's just got absolutely everything and I'm really pumped for the challenge. I'm just biting at the bit to get started.
04:01And then you've got your wife.
04:03Oh, then I've got my beautiful wife, obviously.
04:07Well, you've got a job to do.
04:09Sure have.
04:10So have you.
04:11I know.
04:13They're not kidding. A very big job indeed. Especially in a location as spectacular as the World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains.
04:25I can't wait to get up there.
04:28Just watch your step.
04:31Where are you taking me?
04:33This is our piece of paradise.
04:35Yeah.
04:36It's a pretty spectacular bush.
04:38This is what we love about it.
04:39Yeah.
04:40How nice and green and lush it is.
04:43And the smell.
04:44All those natural fragrances coming out of the natural bush.
04:51It's a pretty rough hike down the hill.
04:55But it's all for that.
05:01That is so majestic.
05:04And that's what drew us to this place.
05:06Wow.
05:07The view.
05:08Yeah.
05:09It's just amazing.
05:10Wow.
05:11I get it.
05:12Just look at that.
05:13That's why they call it Sublime.
05:14Sublime Point.
05:15Yeah.
05:16It's special.
05:20This whole thing about leaving the beaches for the mountains.
05:23What is it about the mountains that sort of has drawn you here?
05:26My soul feels very relaxed here.
05:28Yeah.
05:29It's a real calm feeling, isn't it?
05:30Mm-hmm.
05:31When I come to the mountains, it's as if my body just transforms and I just sort of go,
05:37I just expel all the stress from the city.
05:39Yeah.
05:40Yeah.
05:41So you're chasing the calm.
05:42What are you going to build here?
05:45Paradise.
05:46What do you know?
05:47You actually called it a TARDIS, didn't you?
05:48I did call it a TARDIS.
05:49One day.
05:50Yeah.
05:51Because you come in from the street and it's very minimalistic.
05:54But then as soon as you open that door, it's just wow.
05:57Because a TARDIS, of course, is bigger on the inside than it looks like from the outside.
06:02Absolutely.
06:03So for people looking in, they have no idea.
06:06And then the dreams are made inside.
06:09As TARDIS's go, I reckon even Doctor Who would be impressed with how much they're packing
06:16in.
06:17Designed by D-Eppy Architects, 600 cubic metres of rock will first need to be carved out to
06:23make space for the two-storey, split-level dream.
06:26The ground floor will be the ultimate entertaining and relaxation space.
06:30Kitchen, dining room, gym, sauna, swimming pool, jacuzzi and sunken lounge.
06:37Nestled within rammed earth walls and looking out to the soaring cliffs to the west.
06:42Upstairs, the views only get better.
06:45A study, four bedrooms, three bathrooms and epic vistas out to the world-famous
06:50three sisters rock formations through huge double-glazed windows.
06:55The whole structure will be wrapped in an airtight passive house layer for thermal efficiency
07:00and a fireproof shell for protection, then clad in black standing seam and rusted steel
07:07to help merge the house into the environment and capture the earthy hues of the rock faces
07:12around it.
07:13This will all be topped off with a sculptural butterfly roof partially cloaked in greenery
07:19to help minimise the house from the street.
07:22For Nick, this project will be a huge undertaking and the icing on the cake
07:26of a 35-year building career, while for Rachel, finally, a home of her own.
07:34Is it like you just waited to put all the challenges into this last big bucket?
07:37Yeah, I think I did.
07:38Yeah?
07:39Stupidly enough.
07:40Bushfire, passive house, rammed earth, quartan steel.
07:43Like, there is an enormous amount going on in just the technical dimensions of this build.
07:48Yeah, I thought I'd throw it all in one basket all at once.
07:51Just, you know, I like challenges.
07:53You sure do.
07:54It's going to be a shack at one point and then it sort of started growing and growing from there.
07:58Well, it kind of did.
07:59The budget's tripled.
08:00Oh, great way to start.
08:01Oh, it's good.
08:02So how much are you going to spend?
08:03We're hoping about 1.8 million.
08:04I think it's pretty generous, but, yeah, you know, you know how it goes when you build.
08:13And you're a builder, so you know this game.
08:15I know this game too well.
08:17Most of my trades have been with me for at least 20 years.
08:20Yeah.
08:21So, calling in some favours.
08:22Asking a few favours, yeah, you know.
08:24A few days of buying them pizza and beer and, you know, buttering them up that way.
08:28Do they know about this?
08:29Oh, of course they do.
08:31How long do you think the build's going to actually take?
08:33Oh, look, I'm...
08:37Oh, look at that look from Rachel.
08:39There is a lot of pressure here already.
08:41Well, Rachel will like it done in, like, three to six months, but 12, I'd say.
08:4512 months.
08:46Yeah.
08:47How's that going to work?
08:48Are you going to be here on site, living on site?
08:49I'm not going to be up here permanently.
08:50I'm going to have to, you know, travel backwards and forwards to Sydney,
08:53because I've got quite a bit of work on in Sydney as well.
08:55Yeah.
08:56So I'm going to have to try and manage it as best possible.
08:58You're going to be on fire.
08:59I will be, yeah.
09:00Yeah.
09:01I'm in my element when I'm under pressure and stress.
09:0411 months from now, let's check in on that.
09:06Yeah, OK.
09:08You'll be a big stress at that point.
09:10I'm going to set my clock.
09:12Tell me, what are you most looking forward to?
09:15Breaking ground.
09:16Yeah.
09:17Right now, breaking ground 100%, that's going to be a huge moment.
09:20Yeah.
09:21Yeah.
09:22We're going to cry when the bulldozer's coming.
09:23It's going to be exciting.
09:24It's happening.
09:25Yeah.
09:27There's no doubt there's a lot of love in the house.
09:31Nick wants to build the home Rachel's always longed for, and it will be the ultimate celebration
09:37of their commitment to each other.
09:40But for me, the success of this project will live or die on whether they can do justice to
09:45this magnificent landscape.
09:47It is, after all, the reason they're here in the first place.
09:52Make no mistake, this will be a huge building, a giant TARDIS for two.
09:57They'll be swimming in space.
09:59They're going to have to work really hard to hide it from the streets and make it cosy
10:04and make it blend seamlessly into the landscape.
10:08It does seem to me that what they want and what they're building are at odds with each
10:12other and may not be very homey at all.
10:15It's the first day of the rest of their lives.
10:28Ooh.
10:29Let's do it.
10:31A day they thought would never arrive.
10:35The site is being cleared so they can finally break ground.
10:39I feel sick.
10:41I just feel sick.
10:42I'm actually shaking.
10:43This has been a long time coming.
10:45Yeah.
10:46How are you feeling?
10:47I've got butterflies.
10:48Look, I'm nervous.
10:49Yeah, yeah, yeah.
10:50It's our dream.
10:51We're actually going to start building our dream home.
10:53Yeah.
10:56We're going to be knocking down a fair few trees cos the site was quite dense,
10:59but we're also keeping quite a few.
11:01That's why we've got the tree protection zone.
11:04Now, once all those trees go, we'll be able to get a real sense of what we've got.
11:11Exciting.
11:13How quick is he chewing through it?
11:14I can't believe it.
11:15It's amazing.
11:16In just five hours of sawing, mowing and mulching, the majority of the site is cleared, ready for
11:17Nick and his team to begin the build.
11:18It looks like a playing field now.
11:19I'm astonished.
11:20I would never have thought it was going to leave it like this.
11:21How do I do this for a living?
11:22Can you believe it?
11:23Can you believe it?
11:24Can you believe it?
11:26It looks like a playing field now.
11:27I'm astonished.
11:28It looks like a playing field now.
11:29I'm astonished.
11:30I would never have thought it was going to leave it like this.
11:31And I do this for a living.
11:32Can you believe it?
11:33We can see the view now, finally.
11:34I knew there was a view there and we were going to capture it.
11:35I knew it was going to be good, but I didn't think it was going to be this good.
11:36Awww.
11:37Look at that.
11:38It's insane.
11:39Look at that.
11:40It's insane.
11:41Look at that.
11:42It's insane.
11:43It looks like a playing field now.
11:44I'm astonished.
11:45I would never have thought it was going to leave it like this.
11:48And I do this for a living.
11:50Can you believe it?
11:52We can see the view now, finally.
11:55I knew there was a view there and we were going to capture it.
11:58I knew it was going to be good, but I didn't think it was going to be this good.
12:02Awww.
12:03Look at that.
12:04It's insane.
12:05You can see now why we decided to pick this spot.
12:10So it's incredible.
12:12We're very, very, very, very happy.
12:18Their excitement about progress on site is short lived.
12:24Over the weeks and months that follow, the excavation is extremely hard going as 600 cubic
12:31trees of rock is slowly gouged out of the site.
12:38I'm actually in the deepest part of the excavation.
12:42This is where my holding tanks are going to go for all my water.
12:46We're going to have 22,000 litres in here.
12:49We can flush toilets with them, water in the gardens, filling up the swimming pool that
12:53we're going to be digging next door to this.
12:55I'm actually just making sure that we are at the right levels below here, because you
13:00only get one shot at this.
13:01And once the tanks are in, that's it.
13:04Pulling them back out is going to be a nightmare.
13:06Nick!
13:07Hello there!
13:08Where are you?
13:09I'm down in the hole.
13:10You've finally got your man cave!
13:13That's it.
13:14Just take your time.
13:15Yeah.
13:16Does my bum look bigger than this?
13:19How deep is this?
13:20Probably about three and a half metres below our finished ground floor level.
13:25Wow, look at that.
13:27Is this clay?
13:28It's more sandstone than clay.
13:30But it's not a hard, hard sandstone, which has been good for us.
13:31It's really beautiful.
13:32It is.
13:33It's all these beautiful textures and colours.
13:34Yeah.
13:35We should keep some.
13:36Oh, there's plenty to pick.
13:37We're only halfway there.
13:51I haven't been here for a while.
13:56And it's changed dramatically.
13:58But every stage has got a story.
14:01I mean, who would have thought that hole would be so beautiful?
14:04And this is massive.
14:05This is just our water tank.
14:07So, but look at it.
14:08Look at the colours and the textures.
14:11I just feel really lucky.
14:14This is exciting.
14:16The scale of this house is certainly starting to hit home.
14:20The sauna, just here.
14:22You're in the dining room, back into the media room.
14:25Then we've got the pool right in front of us here.
14:28That's pretty good.
14:29It's going to be pretty stunning, isn't it?
14:30For a pool that I'm never going to use.
14:32Well, true, you're the one that wants a pool.
14:36And then you never go swimming.
14:39Am I supposed to be diplomatic or not on this one?
14:44She's a bit of a non-swimmer.
14:46But she wants a pool.
14:48I get that Nick wants to build Rachel the dream home she's never had.
14:53But at what cost?
14:55Are you still nervous?
14:57Whenever I start a new project, the nerves are always up,
15:00even though we're the clients.
15:02It's still quite nerve-wracking.
15:04Because you can be pretty tough, you know.
15:05I'll be your best critic.
15:06I'll be your best critic.
15:07You can be pretty tough.
15:08Yeah, well, it's a monster job.
15:11A monster job, yeah.
15:14I didn't expect him to be nervous, but it's his own home.
15:18He's passionate.
15:19I mean, he's passionate about all jobs.
15:21But he just wants to get it right, of course.
15:30It's now seven months into their 12-month project.
15:35And they're only just pouring the 180 square metre lower ground floor slab.
15:42Everything about this job is bigger and more difficult than expected.
15:46And today, the elements are against them.
15:50Oh, well, the fog hasn't lifted at all today.
15:52Now we've got rain, typical of the mountains.
15:54You know, let's just hope it doesn't really start bucking down, that's all.
15:58Because it just becomes miserable for everybody to work in.
16:05But the weather isn't dampening Nick and Rachel's spirits.
16:09Looking good.
16:10Are you happy with it?
16:11Yeah.
16:12Oh, my God, it's amazing.
16:16The form's starting to take shape.
16:17You know, we'll be able to walk on this this afternoon.
16:19And, um, yeah, just start to feel the perspective of it all.
16:24I'm loving it.
16:25I mean, I've seen plenty of concrete pools before,
16:27but when you're doing your own house, it's different.
16:30You get really excited about it.
16:32And I'm feeling really excited.
16:34Really excited.
16:35Yeah.
16:44Two weeks later, the slab is set and the boys are on a roll.
16:49Starting work on the structural walls.
16:55It's just going really fast.
16:56You can actually start to see a house evolving and get a sense of the size of this project.
17:01Um, it's actually quite big.
17:06We're actually surprised at how big it's going to be.
17:09We were expecting a big house, but it's, yeah, it's a big house.
17:15Today, they're filling the plastic structural walling that surrounds the base of the build with concrete.
17:21We've used this product, um, because it's a lot quicker than using, um, conventional brickwork.
17:28And it's got fire rating properties because we're in a flame zone area.
17:32It's taken us a week to get these walls up.
17:35If we had used conventional masonry walls, we'd still be laying blocks today.
17:42Overseeing the poor is foreman Tarek Youssef, who's worked with Nick for many years in Sydney.
17:47Go on, go on, go on, go on.
17:49All right.
17:50We've got 26 cubic metres of concrete booked.
17:52Dinsal mix specifically.
17:53The concerns that you have with the dinsal walls is that the concrete doesn't flow smoothly through it.
17:58You get honeycombing and things like that.
18:00You always have the concern of a blowout no matter what you pour, small or big.
18:03So we've got boys down the bottom, one up the top with a vibrator.
18:06Some of the boys tapping the walls to ensure that the concrete's just consistently flowing through it
18:10and to make sure that it goes by as smoothly as possible.
18:16Wow, look at the view today.
18:17It is a beautiful view.
18:19Cockletoos are out as well.
18:20Oh yeah, they're all up in the tree behind us somewhere, making a lot of racket.
18:24They're squawking more than you do.
18:26Three hours later, the formwork is almost done, with not a blowout in sight.
18:36They've filled it up to the top.
18:38We've put in some cog bars in so that the wall now can tie into the slab.
18:44It's gone really well.
18:45And the sun is shining.
18:47And so am I.
18:48As the weeks roll on and the mercury starts to drop, Rachel's doing what she can to help
19:03out on sight, waterproofing the formwork joints.
19:07And this is a precautionary measure because when we backfill to here, there's no going back.
19:17You can imagine if there was a leak, it would be catastrophic.
19:22And I like to get involved as well.
19:25Except I can't reach because I'm a short arse.
19:33Couples will paint together, stay together.
19:35Isn't that right, Rachel?
19:36That's true.
19:37If you put that in the middle, then we'd potentially stay together.
19:40While Rachel and I are doing this over the next few days, we're probably saving around
19:47about $6,000 to $8,000, which is, you know, money we can spend elsewhere.
19:52And it's actually nice being able to work together with Rach.
19:56It's a good bonding experience, actually.
19:59There she goes.
20:04But perhaps you can have too much of a good thing.
20:09You said we had to do two coats, didn't you?
20:11Of this, yeah.
20:12Oh, gee.
20:13Wow.
20:14Don't start with the old G, Rach.
20:28But the fun and games are short-lived.
20:32The following few weeks are hard going for Nick, up to his neck in below-ground insulation
20:37and drainage works.
20:39Last week was a killer of a week.
20:42It really took it out of me.
20:44I didn't expect it to take it out of me, but it was a big process.
20:47Today, we're going to be using a big five-tonne excavator to backfill.
20:51But he can't just throw it in there because it'll damage the drainage cell.
20:55But he's going to have to gently sort of sprinkle it like you'd sprinkle fairy dust
21:00on some fairy bread or something like that.
21:04Nick left home in Sydney at 4am and has been busy prepping the site, ready for the excavator's
21:107am arrival.
21:15But 7am comes and goes.
21:19Hey, Joey, it's Nick.
21:21We're still waiting on the excavator.
21:23Can you give me an update?
21:24Because I've got the plumber booked in for tomorrow as well.
21:27So I really need this done.
21:28If you can get back to me, cheers. Bye.
21:30Still no excavator.
21:39Hey, Joey, it's Nick.
21:40It's two and a half hours now and the excavator still hasn't shown up.
21:44Can you let us know what the ETA is?
21:47I'd really like to know.
21:49Well, the excavator should have been here at 7am.
21:52It's almost 10am now, so three hours have passed.
21:55So I'm just sort of going around doing a few odd jobs.
21:58It's a little bit frustrating when, you know, someone says they're going to be here at 7am
22:02and they're not, but what do you do?
22:04It's a waiting game.
22:07And that waiting game goes on and on.
22:14What do you do?
22:16Live in hope.
22:20This is mountain time.
22:21It looks like the backfill is on the back burner.
22:38Not ideal when Nick is trying to manage other jobs at the same time.
22:42Not only am I building my own home, but I've actually got a couple of projects here in Sydney,
22:52quite big ones, which require a lot of my time as well.
22:57The two fans are here.
22:59Oh, you've got a fan there.
23:00Oh, sorry, the motors are up there.
23:01Yeah, we've got them.
23:03So, typical day could be, start off at the two jobs in Sydney, head up to the mountains,
23:09two hour drive and, you know, plug in on there, and then do the big 360 and come back again.
23:14So, you can imagine the fuel bill at the end of the week as well as the tolls.
23:18Oh my God, don't get me started on the tolls.
23:22We're just going to go quickly through the set outs with the installers
23:25and then I'll be able to head off up to the mountains.
23:29All that time in the car and also, you know, just juggle trades, materials.
23:34You know, there's nights that I wake up and I'm thinking about all three projects
23:37because I've got to make sure they're all running smoothly.
23:40That's going to be the front face of the lift.
23:42Okay, so you're going to put the power point up there?
23:44Yeah, it's up there.
23:45Now, where he's positioned these, I don't know where he's going to get those
23:48because they're in no man's land.
23:50That's all glass, yeah.
23:51I want to really see my home progress as well, but the clients do take priority.
23:55Don't let Rachel hear that because, you know, they are actually paying for the bills.
24:00By the end of the week, I'll tell you, I am absolutely spent, you know?
24:04Like, I get home and Rachel will look at me and go,
24:07Oh my God, look at you.
24:08It looks like you've aged, you know, 10 years this week.
24:11And that's how I feel.
24:29Nick and Rachel's plan to build a home that's at one with the landscape
24:32is proving harder than it sounds.
24:36But it can be done to remarkable effect by embracing the elements from which it was born.
24:43I'm here in beautiful Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales, at a place called Robinson's Run.
24:50This is a spectacular property, but this place was born out of disaster.
24:55About five years ago, the original 1970s brick house went up in flames in the disastrous 2020 bushfires.
25:03But from the ashes, this remarkable home emerged.
25:08Embedded in the landscape with giant, fireproof, rammed earth walls, the 500 square metre house,
25:20designed by Bennett Marauder Architects, sits very comfortably in its environment.
25:25All glass, zinc cladding, timber and stone.
25:28It's got to look and feel Nick and Rachel are after in the Blue Mountains.
25:33And it's purpose-built to withstand anything Mother Nature can throw at it.
25:41From the moment you walk through the oversized and very cleverly designed front door,
25:46using reclaimed timber and glass, the main space here feels so reassuringly substantial.
25:52I love this rammed earth, all this weight and warmth.
25:57The space itself has a very different sound quality.
26:00There's a little bit of a reverb here which gives it an acoustic texture.
26:05Then these timber beams over our head, all working in concert with these blade concrete columns here
26:10to create a grain and a rhythm to the room.
26:13And all of that's designed to help us feel like we've got our backs to the earth
26:17and protected by all of this while our eyes are lifted up to the sky there
26:22above that dramatic ridgeline.
26:31Set over three levels, all four bedrooms are window boxes to the view.
26:36With the main, perched like an airy on top of it all.
26:54And when friends come to stay, well, there's space galore.
26:59Behind the main house, the stone and glass guest accommodation
27:03only adds to what is the perfect blend of earthy materials used to maximum effect,
27:08with fortress-like pragmatism.
27:16In an echo of the past, burnt trees dot the escarpment as a subtle reminder
27:21of the devastating fire that once tore through here.
27:27This whole property is a very thoughtful response to a very real threat.
27:32And it is big, but it's built big to house a large and extended family.
27:38And it cost a lot, six million dollars to build.
27:41But here, size mattered and money was not such an obstacle.
27:45I'm not sure that's the case with Rachel and Nick.
27:48They say they want cosy, but they're building big,
27:51and with materials like this, that can get very expensive very quickly.
27:55Especially in this building market.
27:57It's now July, 11 months since Nick and Rachel started what was to be their year-long
28:16project.
28:17To state the obvious, they're not moving in any time soon.
28:19Right, up, push.
28:21Right, models in.
28:22The weather's continuing to play havoc with the schedule.
28:26Rain one minute, a howling gale the next.
28:27Don't let it slide off.
28:28The wind has just gone absolutely crazy.
28:29I'm literally holding my hat on.
28:30We're supposed to be doing a concrete pour today on the spaceship.
28:33Well, it looks like a spaceship, but it's actually the roof garden to the TARDIS.
28:35But let's see what the weather's got in store for us.
28:36up, push.
28:37The weather's continuing to play havoc with the schedule, rain one minute, a howling gale
28:43the next.
28:44Don't let it slide off.
28:46The wind has just gone absolutely crazy, I'm literally holding my hat on.
28:52We're supposed to be doing a concrete pour today on the spaceship, well it looks like
28:57a spaceship but it's actually the roof garden to the TARDIS.
29:01But let's see what the weather's got in store for us.
29:08It's making building up here quite challenging.
29:12It's not blowing, it can be pelting down with rain.
29:16You know, people turn up and then they say, well, it's too windy or too wet or too cold
29:22and then they disappear on me.
29:27Either that or they don't appear at all.
29:3110.30 on site, definitely.
29:34OK, cool, thanks.
29:36Bye.
29:37Bye.
29:38Nah, the concrete finishes are running late.
29:43They're not going to get here until quarter past ten, apparently.
29:46So, this time we've got concrete pump here, concrete delivery is ready to go but now we
29:53haven't got the finishes.
29:54It's always something, never a dull moment on this job, never.
29:59Nick might claim to thrive on stress, but this workload is pushing him to the brink.
30:07I'm on the shovel, I'm concreter today, as well as builder, as well as homeowner, as well
30:12as everything.
30:13I'm jack of all trades, master of none they say.
30:16Start from the top then.
30:18Just don't over vibrate it so it slides down.
30:21OK?
30:22This is all too much concrete in here.
30:24We've got to dig it out.
30:252.7, 30, 50.
30:26Do that set out.
30:27All right, because I don't want to waste sheets.
30:29No.
30:30Because they're expensive.
30:31You want to use full sheets without cutting strips.
30:33How's Nick travelling?
30:34I think it's been a challenge.
30:37Do you want a level?
30:39I've got one in the shed otherwise.
30:42He's on the ball constantly, doesn't stop.
30:46Things moving, changing, so Nick's feeling it to be honest, yeah.
30:51He's feeling the pressure.
30:53That's problem number one.
30:54Now I'll go to problem number two.
30:56Ah, look, stress-wise, I have my good and bad days.
31:01Oh, .
31:02Like a little bit, a little bit.
31:05Um, we are slightly behind in the build.
31:08I would have liked to have been a little bit more progressed, but you've just got to
31:13roll with the punches.
31:16Budget-wise, tracking's pretty good, but it's starting to climb now.
31:20Our original estimate was 1.8 mil to do this.
31:24Um, it's definitely heading north of that.
31:27Uh, by how much?
31:28I can't tell you at this stage, but it's definitely heading north of that.
31:33Look, the cost of materials has gone up 30 to 40% since we first started, but we want
31:38to see the project finished.
31:4130 to 40%.
31:44That's a terrifying amount.
31:46Something's got to give.
31:48A couple, actually.
31:49And they're big.
31:52Um, so, unfortunately...
31:54Oh, no.
31:55..the rammed earth at the back, we're gonna have to lose it.
32:00Really?
32:01Yeah.
32:02Yeah.
32:03The quote's come in and it's over double.
32:05It's $110,000 for that amount of wall, which is just way out of budget.
32:10Okay.
32:11Way out of budget.
32:12And also...
32:13Oh.
32:14Yeah.
32:15The Quartain steel.
32:17We're gonna have to cut back on the amount that we use around the windows.
32:21What does that mean?
32:22Well, the two larger windows.
32:23Yeah.
32:24We're gonna have to substitute that with a fibre cement finish.
32:28Okay.
32:29And a Quartain paint.
32:30Paint?
32:31Yeah.
32:32It looks really, really good.
32:34I've seen it on some buildings.
32:36So we're going from steel to paint.
32:38We're gonna have to rein in the costs.
32:39Yeah, I know that.
32:40Otherwise we're not gonna be able to finish it.
32:41Yeah.
32:42That's disappointing news indeed.
32:47The more earthy elements they strip away, the less the house blends into the environment.
32:52I'll take your word for it.
32:54And I can't help thinking if it wasn't so big, the costs would be less and so would the compromises.
33:01Okay.
33:02Yeah.
33:12In better news, one thing they're not giving up is plans for energy efficiency.
33:19Nick's spent countless hours studying online videos about passive house design.
33:26And today he's putting those learnings to the test.
33:30What's up, Luke?
33:31Oh.
33:32The wind's coming straight in now, isn't it?
33:33Yeah, it's everywhere.
33:36Big house.
33:38Massive.
33:39Today we're planning to start to wrap the building with our passive house membrane.
33:44So if we probably start on this side.
33:46Yeah.
33:47Basically passive house is an airtight envelope on the inside of your house and also a water permeable
33:53barrier on the outside of the house.
33:56We're going for full passive house certification and when you get that, our house will basically
34:01maintain a certain temperature all year round without too much fluctuation.
34:06I think you've got to try and get around the corner to the steel post.
34:10But with howling gusts of 40 kilometres an hour, conditions couldn't be much worse.
34:19Hold on, hold on.
34:20I can't help you.
34:21This wind, man.
34:22What's going on today?
34:23So just like...
34:24Yeah, this is no good.
34:25Too windy?
34:26Well, we'll see what happens.
34:27Try and do the staples vertical.
34:28Yeah, vertical only.
34:29But you've got to stretch the bottom.
34:42You've got to push.
34:43Yeah, nah.
34:44It's like a sail.
34:45It's like a sail, mate.
34:46It's like a sail.
34:47It's like a sail, mate.
34:53The wind is not our friend.
34:55Not today.
34:56Not today.
34:58Yeah, I just think it's too dangerous.
35:00Because as we're trying to install,
35:03the wind's getting behind it and blowing,
35:05it can knock us off, knock one of the guys off.
35:08Okay.
35:10And as we get up higher, it's going to get worse.
35:13Alright, let's wrap it up then.
35:15Wrap it up, cover it.
35:17Looks like it's not going to happen today.
35:21Yeah, it's just too windy, which is a real shame.
35:27Poor Nick.
35:28He can't win a trick.
35:30Every day that's lost has a huge knock-on effect to the schedule.
35:34And it's not just the thermal wrapping that's moving at snail's pace.
35:38The house is hard up against thousands of hectares of dry, dense forest, and bushfire is an ever-present threat.
35:51Installing fire-rated protective boards is essential, but maybe not today.
35:56We're hoping this morning we'll be able to get up and seal some of the joints so that the flame can't get through there.
36:01But it's far too windy to get up on the roof and have a crack at getting up there and putting any more boards down.
36:06Oh, shit.
36:07We've got, honestly, scaffold boards on the far corner flying up in the air with the gusts of wind, and all our thermal barriers are starting to tear.
36:14So we're going to have to go through it and take all our joints and fix up all the work the wind's done and the damage and start again.
36:20Holy .
36:26Ah, it's frustrating, to be honest, because we just don't seem to get a really good straight run at it.
36:32We've got the manpower here, we've got the material here, but, you know, the wind's just way, way too intense.
36:37Like, I go through these sort of frustrations all the time with builds, but being our own place, it's quite, you know...
36:45I think it affects you a little bit more.
36:48Nick and Rachel are now 18 months into what they hoped would be a 12-month build, and they haven't even started on the interiors yet.
37:17It's looking very promising.
37:19Nice low profile.
37:21I'm keen to see how their love affair with the mountains is holding up.
37:25How are you doing?
37:26Good to see you.
37:27Good to see you.
37:28I've seen you again.
37:29Yeah, you've got smiles on your faces, that's nice.
37:30That's good.
37:31Yeah?
37:32Let's go and visit the three sisters.
37:34If they're still there.
37:36Oh, they're there.
37:37They're there.
37:38Whoa!
37:39That's just magic, isn't it?
37:40This is why you're here.
37:41That glass is framing that extraordinary outlook.
37:45Magic.
37:46On entry.
37:47How nice is that?
37:48It's a pretty generous space you've got here, though.
37:51It's huge.
37:52It's quite big, yeah.
37:53And then diving down into this beautiful void.
37:55Yeah.
37:56And there's the pool.
37:57It made the cut.
37:58It made the cut.
37:59I thought that might have been a casualty.
38:02And then around to the sunken living room, right?
38:05Yeah.
38:06Okay.
38:07So the whole thing is really starting to feel like it's buttoning up, which means you can
38:12really crack on with the finishes.
38:13Correct.
38:14On the inside, yeah.
38:15Which is good, because you're actually six months behind schedule, aren't you?
38:19Mmm, yeah, I know.
38:20Yeah, let's talk about that, shall we?
38:22Why?
38:23Oh, weather.
38:24Uh-huh.
38:25And getting contractors up here has been really difficult.
38:28So it's not like building in Sydney?
38:29No.
38:30Totally different.
38:31It's a very different kind of dynamic around the amount of trades available.
38:34Yeah.
38:35Exactly.
38:36And how many would actually want to travel up here as well?
38:38Yeah.
38:39Okay.
38:40I didn't expect it to be as difficult as I found it.
38:41Yeah.
38:42The house is big.
38:43There's a lot of space here.
38:44There is.
38:45Yeah.
38:46Is it too much?
38:47Look, for me, it's bigger than what I expected.
38:48Right.
38:49To be honest.
38:50Um...
38:51But you wanted four bedrooms?
38:53I did want four bedrooms, yeah.
38:54No, I did.
38:55But they didn't have to be, you know, 30 square metres.
38:58It's still going to be homely.
39:00Yeah, alright.
39:01Yes.
39:02Prove it to me.
39:03Okay.
39:04What sort of colours are we talking about?
39:06We're bringing outside in, so, um, chocolate brown, oranges and blues.
39:11Oof.
39:12I know.
39:13Let's just say, that's bold.
39:14Look, no.
39:15Have you had a chat about the colours together, or is this just your decision?
39:18Oh!
39:19Rachel's decision on that one.
39:21Alright.
39:22I'm just trying to get behind the dynamic here.
39:23I'm just trying to get back.
39:24But I'm sure it'll be beautiful when it all evolves.
39:27What about the budget then?
39:29You started at 1.8.
39:30That's in my mind.
39:31Mm-hmm.
39:32Where are you at?
39:33Oh, I'd say at this stage probably 20%.
39:3520% over.
39:36Yeah.
39:37Okay.
39:38It's a good chunk of change.
39:39It is.
39:40There's been a lot of negotiating, renegotiating, trying to pull things back.
39:45Yeah.
39:46Um, yeah, I'm pretty conscious of it.
39:49And we're not there yet?
39:50No, we're not there yet.
39:51I've got to be honest, my worry is that the old 80-20 rule, you know, the last 20% is going
39:57to take 80% of the time.
39:59I hope I'm wrong.
40:00I hope you're wrong too.
40:01Yeah.
40:02I can't help but wondering if they would've built something so big and complex if they
40:14knew what kind of toll it would take, especially on Nick.
40:18After all, this home was all about togetherness.
40:20But for the last year and a half, they've spent more time apart trying to make it all
40:25happen.
40:26And they're a long way from finished yet.
40:32Oh, another day in paradise.
40:48As the weeks roll on, Nick and Rachel are doing everything they can to move the project along
40:54and rain in the costs.
40:55It's mainly around the edges where it sort of sits in.
40:58It's all right.
40:59I don't need the instructions.
41:00Okay.
41:01We're putting down a sealer on top of the concrete here.
41:08We've already done one coat.
41:10So Rach and I will be starting at the top and working our way down, waterproofing the whole
41:15roof garden.
41:16We're at the pointy end of the year.
41:20Christmas is fast approaching and it's always the busiest time of the year for construction
41:25in general.
41:26Building your own home and then managing all the other jobs and client expectations puts
41:31a lot of pressure on me and I'm starting to really feel it, but hey, I'm still standing.
41:37But it's not just work pressures motivating Nick.
41:45This project has always been for Rachael to give her the home she's longed for.
41:50A pretty special day.
41:52I can't imagine what she would have gone through her childhood.
41:57You know, going from one home to another home to another home.
42:00That would have been so unsettling.
42:01So it's really important that this is her first home.
42:05You know, she's been yearning for somewhere to call home for such a long, long time.
42:10And now we're almost there.
42:11I've just got to get this bill finished.
42:13I can just see her face when she walks in the front door and I say, look, Rachael, it's finished.
42:22It's going to blow her mind.
42:43It's now two years since Nick and Rachael started building their mountaintop retreat high above the ancient gullies and impenetrable forest beyond.
42:56Finding paradise has exacted quite the toll.
43:01Month after grinding month of ferocious weather, escalating prices and trade shortages, all in pursuit of a dream called home.
43:10I really hope it's all been worth it.
43:17Look at that.
43:18All those angles and clean ridgeline over there.
43:23That landscape, it's like a runway of greenery.
43:28It's remarkable.
43:40There they are.
43:44Hi.
43:45Hi, Rachael.
43:46Hey, Nick.
43:47It is so good to see you both.
43:48And look at this place.
43:50Amazing.
43:52I love the angles and the butterfly roof.
43:55And I particularly love the green roof you've got going on here.
43:58I know.
43:59It's all working so well, isn't it?
44:00Yeah.
44:01It's blending in nicely.
44:02Absolutely.
44:03You can see the profile from the street and it feels like such a fabulous kind of mystery walking towards.
44:08It's brilliant.
44:09Yeah.
44:10You must be feeling very happy or very relieved or just exhausted.
44:14It's always good when it's the end.
44:16Yes.
44:17Yes.
44:18Definitely.
44:19The end and the beginning.
44:20Yeah.
44:21What's it like inside?
44:22Is this where the whole story changes?
44:24Oh, yeah.
44:25You know it.
44:26Just wait and see.
44:27Keep me hanging.
44:28Let's go and have a look.
44:34Come in.
44:38Oh, look at all this space you've got in here.
44:42It's like this sort of secret.
44:43You've hidden it from the street.
44:45You come in through here and then everything just sort of like, whoa, opens right up.
44:48This is our TARDIS.
44:49Oh, yeah.
44:50It gets bigger the further you go in.
44:52I mean, that feels right.
44:53Yeah.
44:54Yeah.
44:55It's pretty special.
44:56Yeah.
44:57I know.
44:58Yeah.
44:59Good job, Nick.
45:01Fantastic.
45:02And look at the view.
45:03That is never going to get tired, that view, is it?
45:06Never.
45:07Every time you walk through that front door, you go, oh, yeah, there's the view.
45:10I'm home.
45:11That's it.
45:12You know?
45:13Breathe out.
45:16Coming in on street level, then stepping down to the living areas reinforces the sense of being
45:22high on the mountain.
45:23You've got the blue of the pool drawing you through.
45:26Yeah.
45:27I love that blue.
45:28Your gaze follows the land rather than fights it.
45:31And there's so much to see along the way.
45:34Entertainment room, gym, sauna.
45:38And then a last minute addition.
45:41Oh, you've snuck a speakeasy under the stairs.
45:44Yeah.
45:45That wasn't part of the original plan, was it?
45:47No, it just evolved.
45:48There was a void space and we thought, we need to fill it somehow.
45:51And what better way to fill it?
45:53I can only agree.
45:54A thousand percent.
45:55I really like the proximity to the dining table.
45:57Some pretty wild dinner parties in store.
45:59Oh, there will be.
46:00Yeah, for sure.
46:01And then the sunken lounge.
46:02Yeah.
46:03That was always part of the plan, right?
46:05Yes.
46:06That was.
46:07Yeah.
46:08And how are we feeling about this?
46:11This looks pretty great.
46:13Love it.
46:14Yeah.
46:15Love it.
46:16What more can you say?
46:17I was always a little bit nervous that the house was going to feel quite big.
46:19Yeah.
46:20But this sort of strategy here of sinking down, bringing the fire in, the textures and the warmth
46:24that you've created here.
46:26That's all working beautifully to kind of give you that closeness.
46:29Yeah.
46:30That our house up here in the mountains really wants.
46:31It's a comfy zone.
46:32Yeah.
46:33And the kitchen's looking great.
46:35And I like how you kind of brought the dark tones in here to anchor this end of the room
46:39so that it's all projecting out to the view, of course.
46:42Actually standing here, the whole house has this very easy, comfortable feeling about it.
46:47I mean, it's pretty wickedly cold outside.
46:48Yeah.
46:49Here we are standing here in kind of almost summer clothes.
46:51Yep.
46:52So I know you worked pretty hard to get that to work.
46:54Oh, it really did my head in.
46:56Yeah.
46:57Put it that way.
46:58Yeah.
46:59But look, we wrapped the house up really beautifully and it's performing.
47:02Yeah.
47:03Is it true, little birdie tells me, that this ceiling came down three weeks ago because
47:07you weren't happy with it?
47:08I wasn't happy with the ceiling whatsoever and I'm a perfectionist.
47:12Yeah.
47:13Nightmare.
47:14It came down and it had to be redone.
47:15I kind of understand that, the quality control, your own house, all of that I totally get.
47:19How are you feeling about all that?
47:20We should change the subject.
47:22I think I'm just, only just starting to relax.
47:26Yeah.
47:27Only just.
47:28Yeah.
47:29Yeah.
47:30And now I can just start to enjoy it.
47:35And there's a lot to enjoy.
47:39It's not until you step outside, you get a real sense of the size of this place.
47:45If only you could see it.
47:47Look at the weather.
47:50This is mountain weather, isn't it?
47:52Yeah.
47:53But look at all this.
47:55This is pretty extraordinary outcome.
47:57I mean, and you worked so hard for it.
47:59Yeah, a lot of blood, sweat and tears.
48:01Yeah.
48:02I mean, it wasn't an easy build whatsoever.
48:04Exactly.
48:05Different shapes, lines and angles.
48:07Hmm.
48:08It took forever.
48:09It took forever.
48:10Yeah.
48:11But look at the result.
48:12Yeah.
48:13You know.
48:14Amazing.
48:15Next house though?
48:16Square box.
48:17Square box.
48:18Right.
48:19I mean, the idea of all of that animated geometry on that top floor was to sort of break
48:24down the scale.
48:25Yes.
48:26Help it to kind of disappear.
48:27Just sort of blends into the landscape beautifully.
48:28Yeah.
48:29And the whole idea was to emulate the jagged edges of the cliff face.
48:31Yeah.
48:32Yeah.
48:33It does that really well.
48:34You did have Ramderth and Corten in there at one point, which you've swapped out.
48:38Yeah.
48:39I can see the Corten paint, is it?
48:40Yeah.
48:41Yeah, that's Corten paint around the big windows.
48:43Any regrets about that swapping out?
48:45No, it looks fantastic.
48:46It looks amazing, that paint.
48:48Yeah.
48:49It looks like the real thing.
48:50I mean, you're obviously very close to the bush.
48:52I mean, that's part of the beauty of being here.
48:54But it also means you're right in the middle of the very highest bushfire zone, so the flame
48:59zone.
49:00Correct.
49:01You've got lots of pressure and constraints on you.
49:04Yeah.
49:05How are you feeling about all of that right now?
49:06Oh, look, we knew there'd be a premium to it.
49:09Yeah.
49:10It was a bit more than what I expected originally.
49:12What are we talking about?
49:13Around about 20% to the bill, which is quite a lot.
49:15Okay.
49:16That's substantial.
49:17Yeah.
49:18Yeah.
49:19But, you know, you're in this setting and you need to be prepared for it.
49:22So all of this gorgeousness doesn't come cheap.
49:25It's not the old, let's just build a bush shack and be done with it anymore?
49:29No.
49:30Not so much.
49:31No.
49:32A bush shack this certainly isn't.
49:35With four bedrooms upstairs for when family and friends come to stay, it's like being
49:43perched in the treetops with gobsmacking vistas from every window.
49:48No wonder it's called Sublime Point.
49:52Guys, congratulations.
49:54This is a major achievement for both of you.
49:57And I know it was a really long journey, a complicated build too.
50:02Very ambitious of you.
50:03It was.
50:04How are you feeling about it now?
50:06You're sitting in it.
50:07Look, it's a load off my shoulders, to be honest.
50:11Yeah.
50:12It's not the biggest build I've ever done, but it's been one of the most challenging.
50:16Yeah, okay.
50:17What was the most challenging element of it then for you in particular?
50:20Being the client, as well as the builder.
50:23Yeah.
50:24As well as the husband.
50:26I mean, Rachel, you've obviously been there through all of this of course as well.
50:30I know that as a young girl you bounced around a lot of different places before you kind of
50:36got settled.
50:37And this feels like you're very grounded.
50:39Is that fair to say?
50:41Yeah, that's fair to say.
50:42What does that all feel like?
50:44I feel very lucky.
50:46I feel really lucky.
50:47It's so special that you did this together.
50:52I think that's probably the soul and the heart of this whole project.
50:55It is.
50:56It's our home.
50:57It's our, well, you know, forever home.
50:58Yeah.
50:59I've always wanted to make sure that she felt at home.
51:00And building a home for us, you know, it was one of the things I really wanted.
51:01And I wanted to show Rachel that, you know.
51:02We're together in this.
51:03And this is, you know, where we're going to spend our life.
51:04Yeah.
51:05And this is where we're going to spend our life.
51:06Yeah.
51:07So let's talk about the logistics of this build.
51:08Oh.
51:09It's our home. It's our, well, you know, forever home.
51:15I've always wanted to make sure that she felt at home.
51:19And building a home for us, you know,
51:23was one of the things I really wanted.
51:25And I wanted to show Rachel that, you know, we're together in this.
51:30And this is, you know, where we're going to spend our life.
51:34So let's talk about the logistics of this build.
51:36Because there's no getting around this.
51:38Because you're in charge of everything.
51:39No, that's right.
51:40So let's talk about how long it took to build.
51:43Because you told me 12 months when I first met you.
51:45Yeah, I think I was ambitious.
51:48That's one word for it, ambitious.
51:50It was double that.
51:53It was, yep.
51:55Why?
51:56Oh, the weather, logistics, trades, the complexity of the build.
52:02Yeah.
52:02Yeah, they all played a major part.
52:04Yeah, yeah.
52:06The other question then is money.
52:07Because time equals money.
52:091.8 million dollars was what you had in mind.
52:12Which is a big number.
52:12Yep.
52:13How much did it cost?
52:14I look, we've gone over.
52:172.150.
52:19Okay.
52:20Not as much as I thought you were going to say, actually.
52:22What would you put it down to?
52:23The structure cost a lot more than what I anticipated at the beginning.
52:27Because the cost of steel and concrete excavation just went through the roof.
52:31And it started getting scary because the cost just started blowing right out then.
52:35Yeah, right.
52:35But we managed to massage it and pair it back without losing the quality of the build and
52:43not to play around with the design at all.
52:45I guess the question though is, is this the house that you both dreamed of together?
52:53It's more.
52:54No, it's absolutely more.
52:56Yeah?
52:56It's this crazy house.
52:58Yeah?
52:58Yeah.
52:59It's bigger than any dream that we've ever had, especially me.
53:05It's spectacular.
53:06Yeah.
53:07Yeah, it's phenomenal.
53:08And I can't wait to just make it feel even more like home.
53:16Together.
53:16They might have gotten more than they came for, but I'm seeing many happy times and lots
53:37of mountain adventures ahead.
53:39Like the ambience, the lighting, the feel.
53:43It's just unbelievable.
53:44I've just overwhelmed.
53:45I'm like, this is wrong.
53:46You can't make me cry.
53:49Cheers, everyone.
53:50Cheers.
53:52Cheers.
53:54Thanks, guys.
53:57Cheers.
54:06As tree changes go, this one came with a massive degree of difficulty, building a home
54:13worthy of this magnificent location, pushed them financially, physically, and emotionally.
54:20But Nick never wavered.
54:22His motivation was to build Rachel a home.
54:26As offerings of love go, they don't come much bigger.
54:29And this one comes with a spectacular view of the three sisters, usually.
54:35If you want to continue the home inspo journey, ABC iview has you covered.
54:49Check out more episodes of Grand Designs Australia, or tune in for The Home Front with Anthony Burke
54:54on Radio National and the ABC Listen app.
55:05Thanks, everyone.
55:09I hope you've liked today Unde necested your Mackie.
55:11Hi.
55:12Goodby Waar.
55:14Where?
55:15Where will the people serve you?
55:16I hope you don't mind.
55:16Yeah.
55:18Come on.
55:19Mm.
55:20Hear him.
55:20On theentestes.
55:21измен.
55:21I hope you can make a stripper.
55:23I hope you're gonna make a next photo.
55:24Up to you.
55:25What?
55:26Ich-
55:26Shouldak.
55:27IshaSam.
55:27It's not me.
55:27On the opposite side, even though.
55:28The first time you're going to get a second photo.
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