Grand Designs Australia

The first time Brendan Moran saw his north Bondi block, it was so steep and inaccessible he didn't bother getting out of the car. But wife Penny was undeterred. She saw the potential in the awkward L-shaped, battle-axe block. Despite being hemmed in on all sides by surrounding houses and with just one skinny laneway in, they reckoned they could squeeze all they needed for them and their four kids on this block by simply going up. 

Four levels should do it, rising 14m in the air with an infinity edge pool, and they're pushing building regulations to get it all in. But excavating this ex-quarry is more complicated than they think. In fact, every stage of the build is hampered by the challenges of the block. It's so tight there's nowhere for the tradies to put anything, and keeping peace with the neighbours is a full-time job. 

With builder and mentor Martin at the helm, Penny dons the work boots and hard hat, and gets on the tools. Her passion is building and she's all over the intricacies of the build as she juggles her life as a tradie with being a mum. After a family holiday to Thailand, she and Brendan return refreshed and inspired to make substantial structural changes they say will make their house even better. From changing the entire entrance to lifting ceiling heights and redesigning the pool to make it even longer and deeper, the complexity of this construction would challenge even the most seasoned builders. 

After numerous council applications and changes that blow their bank balance, and schedule, right out of the water, their spontaneous decision-making threatens to spiral out of control. As costs soar into the millions, there's no guarantee how or when this multi-tiered tower will ever get done.

Building a grand design takes time and more often than not, takes longer than anyone expects. Phil and Ariana have given themselves just two weeks to build their home in Maianbar, in Sydney's south, regardless of the fact they've never built anything before. 

Utilising a build system that has never been used for domestic housing in Australia before, this could either be a new blueprint for construction in this country, or a complete disaster. They've chosen a building method popular in European residential construction - cross-laminated timber which is essentially a flat pack home using wood compressed to be as strong as steel. 

With the design focused entirely on making the water views the centrepiece of the build, the house is put together piece by piece like a giant Meccano set. But with 130-plus timber panels precision-cut in an Austrian factory and installed in a strict order on site, there is no room for error. With Phil drawing on his skills in HR to project manage, will his unrelenting obsession with a strict time frame compromise the integrity of the design?

When Nick and Nicole's brief to their architect Dan Sparkes was a house sympathetic to the dense rainforest surrounding their land, his solution was to build them a tent. The design incorporates a huge, taut translucent sail - normally used in commercial projects - covering a simple rectangular pavilion underneath. It's a brave concept but the true magic of the design lies in the retractable roof, which peels back to showcase the rainforest canopies overhead. 

Nick and Nicole will be able to lie in bed and literally look at the stars. But will this super-engineered tent simply look like a conference centre in the middle of the lush, green rainforest? Whatever happens, Nick and Nicole are prepared to take the risk and be adventurous.