IT'S THAT CLASSIC KIWI SUMMER, ISN'T IT? SPENDING LONG HOLIDAYS IN THE RAIN IN THAT NOSTALGIC HOLIDAY BOLT HOLE WE CALL THE BACH. BUT TO BUILD A NEW BACH JUST METRES FROM THE HIGH TIDE MARK IN THIS DAY AND AGE ` WELL, YOU'RE ASKING FOR TROUBLE, AREN'T YOU? CAPTIONS BY JUNE YEOW AND SARAH MAIAVA. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2016 RELAXED MUSIC GUY MARRIAGE IS A LECTURER AT VICTORIA UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, TEACHING THE ARCHITECTS OF THE FUTURE ABOUT CONSTRUCTION METHODOLOGY. YOUR BUILDING CAN BE WHATEVER YOU WANT, BUT IN MY CLASS, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE IT STAND UP. HE'S HELPED DESIGN LANDMARK BUILDINGS ACROSS THE WORLD, BUT NEVER ACTUALLY BUILT SOMETHING OF HIS OWN. AND AS A TEACHER, HE'S KEEN TO DISPROVE THE OLD ADAGE 'THOSE WHO CAN, DO; THOSE WHO CAN'T, TEACH'. IT'S KIND OF THE BIRTHRIGHT OF EVERY ARCHITECT, OR THE WANT OF EVERY ARCHITECT, TO BUILD THEIR OWN PLACE. I LOVE THE PROCESS OF BUILDING, AND I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY A PITY THAT ARCHITECTS AREN'T ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THAT ALL THE TIME. GUY CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT ALONE, SO HE'S POOLING RESOURCES WITH HIS EXTENDED WELLINGTON-BASED FAMILY ` OH, HANG ON, I NEED SOME MORE THINGS. CAN YOU PASS ME TWO, PLEASE? COUSIN BRIONY ELLIS, AN EVENT MANAGER; HER HUSBAND, ROGER WOOD, A SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR; AND THEIR DAUGHTER MILLA. THEY'RE A TIGHT-KNIT FAMILY, AND FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS, THEY'VE BEEN WORKING ON A DREAM TO BUILD A UNIQUE HOLIDAY HOME TOGETHER. I THINK IT'S A DREAM THAT EVERYONE HAS, IS ABOUT HAVING A BACH BY THE SEA. SO WE DID START HAVING CONVERSATIONS WITH GUY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, 'WELL, WHAT IF WE FOUND THE RIGHT PLACE, 'AND WE COULD ALL GO THREE WAYS?' BECAUSE NONE OF US COULD INDIVIDUALLY AFFORD IT. GENTLE MUSIC IT BEGAN WHEN THEY COLLECTIVELY BOUGHT A SECTION IN PUKERUA BAY, A HALF HOUR'S DRIVE FROM WELLINGTON CITY. IT'S A PLACE OF SPECIAL SIGNIFICANCE TO BRIONY, WHOSE EXTENDED FAMILY HAVE OWNED FOUR BACHES HERE FOR GENERATIONS. WE HAVE A` A LONG FAMILY HISTORY AT PUKERUA BAY. THE BACHES BEHIND ME HAVE BEEN IN THE FAMILY, YOU KNOW, SINCE THEY WERE FIRST BUILT IN THE 1920S BY MY GREAT GRANDFATHER. UM, I'VE ALWAYS FELT LIKE I BELONG HERE. YOU KNOW, IN THE TRANSIENT LIFE THAT YOU LEAD, THE ONLY CONSTANT HAS BEEN PUKERUA BAY. SO, UM, I THINK I'VE ALWAYS, KIND OF, SAID, 'THIS IS WHERE I'VE COME FROM. 'THIS IS MY ISLAND AND MY BEACH.' GENTLE MUSIC ON A CALM DAY, PUKERUA BAY IS MAGNIFICENT, WITH VIEWS OF KAPITI ISLAND. BUT DON'T BE FOOLED. IT'S RENOWNED FOR FEROCIOUS NORTH-WESTERLY STORMS AND A SURGING OCEAN THAT'S FOREVER CHANGING THE COASTLINE. GUY LIKES TO PUSH HIS LIMITS. I KNOW THIS BECAUSE WE WERE STUDENTS AT THE SAME ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL. BUT EVEN I'M SURPRISED AT THE SITE HE, BRIONY AND ROGER HAVE BOUGHT. NO ROAD ACCESS IS THE FIRST OF ITS CHALLENGES. THIS IS IT? YEAH. THIS IS WHERE YOU'RE BUILDING? YEP, IT'S A` IT'S A LITTLE` IT'S A LITTLE CRAZY. IT'S A LITTLE UNUSUAL. YOU'RE IN THE WATER, GUY. (LAUGHS) IT'S LOW` IT'S LOW TIDE, CHRIS. THE WATER COMES HIGHER. WHAT, UP TO THE PATH? SOMETIMES! SO WHERE`? I MEAN, WHAT`? WHAT'S LEFT`? WHAT'S LEFT TO ACTUALLY BUILD ON, THEN? JUST A WEE SKERRICK OF LAND. THE BUILDING PLATFORM IS TINY. WHAT'S MORE, THE SITE COMES WITH A MUCH-LOVED HISTORIC SHED. YEARS AGO, IT WAS AN ICE CREAM STALL. BUT IT'S ALSO RENOWNED FOR A SCENE IN ONE OF LOCAL DIRECTOR PETER JACKSON'S EARLY FILMS, 'BAD TASTE'. SO, SMALL SITE, LOTS OF CHALLENGES, CLEARLY. WHAT WAS THE BIG ATTRACTION, THEN? WELL, IT'S A FANTASTIC BEACH. REALLY REALLY CLOSE TO WELLINGTON, WHERE WE LIVE. LIKE, IT'S ABOUT 20 MINUTES, 30 MINUTES TO GET HERE. BUT, UM, ONCE YOU'RE HERE, YOU KNOW, LIKE, IT'S A MILLION-DOLLAR VIEW. THIS IS A SITE NOT SHORT OF DIFFICULTIES. THE HIGH-TIDE LINE IS ONLY METRES AWAY, AND WITH RISING SEA LEVELS AND A BAY RENOWNED FOR STORMS, IT'S WAY TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT. WHAT ON EARTH WERE YOU THINKING? I MEAN, IT'S LOW TIDE AT THE MOMENT. WHEN HIGH TIDE COMES IN... AND I SEE THESE LOGS WE'RE SITTING ON ` THEY'VE BEEN WASHED UP BY THE TIDE, HAVEN'T THEY? THE BEACH DOES CHANGE. TO BE FAIR, IT DOES CHANGE. IT'S GOT JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT YOU CAN` YOU CAN THROW AT IT. IT'S IN A TSUNAMI ZONE, IT'S A LITTLE BIT UNSTABLE, PERHAPS. LIQUEFACTION. NOT LIQUEFACTION, BUT EARTHQUAKE; SHAKING. YOU COULD IMAGINE. SO YOU'RE TOTALLY IN THE HAZARD ZONE. YEP. WOW. THAT'S THE PRICE OF THE DREAM, REALLY. TO ME IT'S NOT A` I DON'T SEE THOSE AS ISSUES. THEY'RE JUST PARAMETERS. AND FOR ME, IT'S SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT I GUESS. I'VE BEEN LECTURING IN CONSTRUCTION NOW FOR ABOUT 12 YEARS AND TELLING THE STUDENTS, 'THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT', AND SO THIS IS THE PERFECT CHANCE FOR ME TO ACTUALLY PUT MY OWN SKILLS TO THE TEST AND SEE WHETHER I CAN BUILD MYSELF. SO IN THEORY, I KNOW WHAT TO DO. AND I'VE HAD A LITTLE TRIAL RUN ON THE SHED. AND SO NOW IT'S TIME TO PUT THE PEDAL TO THE METAL AND DO IT. BECAUSE THE LAND IS IN DANGER OF BEING WASHED AWAY BY THE OCEAN, GUY PLANS TO PERCH THE HOUSE ON STILTS ABOUT 5M ABOVE THE CURRENT SEA LEVEL. ON TOP OF THIS, HE AND HIS FAMILY WANT TO CREATE ONE HOUSE WITH TWO DISTINCTLY DIFFERENT FORMS. ONE WING WILL BE A TWO-STOREY TOWER, REMINISCENT OF A LIGHTHOUSE, WITH A STUDY AREA, BATHROOM AND SHOWER ON THE GROUND FLOOR AND A BEDROOM ON THE TOP FLOOR. LARGE WINDOWS WILL OVERLOOK THE SEA, AND A POP-OUT WINDOW HAS VIEWS UP THE KAPITI COASTLINE. THE OTHER STRUCTURE IS A SINGLE-LEVEL COTTAGE, WITH A KITCHEN, LARGER BUNK ROOM AND LOUNGE. BOTH BUILDINGS WILL BE CLAD IN CORRUGATED ALUMINIUM, IN A NOD TO THE MUCH-LOVED SHED THAT WILL REMAIN, AND JOINED BY A DECK FROM WHICH ONE DAY THE FAMILY MAY BE ABLE TO DANGLE THEIR TOES IN THE RISING OCEAN. ALL THIS ON A SHOESTRING BUDGET OF JUST $165,000. 165. I'LL HOLD YOU TO THAT. YEAH. DON'T YOU WORRY, I WILL TOO. ALL LAUGH WE'RE` WE'RE DOING THIS ENTIRELY ON SAVINGS, SO THIS IS` YOU KNOW, WE ONLY KNOW` WE KNOW HOW MUCH WE HAVE. AND BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS. YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT. THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH. MAD AMBITIONS. THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. THAT'S RIGHT. AND IN THAT SENSE, IT DOESN'T GET GRANDER THAN THIS. NO. THE ONLY WAY TO BUILD ON THAT SORT OF BUDGET IS TO DO IT YOURSELF. AND WHILE GUY, AT LEAST, KNOWS HIS BUILDING THEORY, BRIONY AND ROGER ARE AS GREEN AS THEY COME. WE COULDN'T AFFORD TO PAY SOMEONE TO BUILD THIS. YOU KNOW, PART OF THE` PART OF THE DEAL, REALLY, IS THAT WE'RE PREPARED TO DO IT OURSELVES. AND, UM, AND WE'VE GOT LOTS OF FRIENDS, SO WE'LL BE CALLING ON THEM. NOT MANY PEOPLE GET THE CHANCE TO BUILD THEIR OWN HOUSE, AND THAT'S QUITE A BRAVE MOVE, IN SOME WAYS, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BUILDING. I'M DEFINITELY GOING TO BE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS. I'M NOT SURE HOW USEFUL I'LL BE, BUT, UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, I CAN MAKE THE LUNCH. (LAUGHS) I THINK YOU'LL BE DOING MORE THAN THAT. THEIR PLAN CAPTURES THE SPIRIT OF OLD-SCHOOL NZ BACH-BUILDING, WHEN YOU COULD COBBLE TOGETHER A CHEAP HOLIDAY HOME IN YOUR DOWNTIME WITHOUT MUCH BUILDING KNOW-HOW. BUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED. BUILDING IS HEAVILY REGULATED, AND GUY HAS ONLY EVER BUILT ` I MEAN, RESTORED ` THE SHED, WHICH IS NOT REALLY A HABITABLE SPACE. INTERESTING SEEING WHAT GUY HAS ACTUALLY DONE HERE, BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, HE'S TELLING ME THAT HE'S HAD ALL THIS EXPERIENCE, AND IT'S ONLY ON THIS SHED. I MEAN, IT'S A` IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SPACE, AND HE'S RESTORED IT WITH A LOT OF FEELING AND CARE, BUT, BOY, IT'S A BIG STEP UP TO BE BUILDING YOUR OWN HOUSE AND MAKING IT CODE COMPLIANT. THAT` THAT'S A BIG ASK. BUT WHAT A FANTASTIC SPACE. IMAGINE SITTING HERE DOING THE DRAWINGS, LOOKING OUT ON THAT VIEW. LOVE TO BE DOING THAT. GENTLE MUSIC IT'S EARLY JANUARY, AND PUKERUA BAY IS IN THE GRIPS OF A HEATWAVE. GUY'S TAKEN SIX MONTHS' LEAVE TO BUILD HIS HOUSE. BUT OVER THE HOLIDAY PERIOD, THE WHOLE FAMILY'S BEEN COMMUTING EVERY DAY AND PUTTING IN SOME SERIOUS SWEAT EQUITY. IN THE FIRST TWO WEEKS, THEY HAVE DUG THE HOLES FOR THE 5M PILES OR STILTS THEY HOPE WILL KEEP THEIR HOUSE ABOVE THE RISING SEAS. OH, CHRIS. GUY. (LAUGHS) YOU'VE BEEN BUSY. OH, YEAH, A LITTLE. GOT THEM` UH, IT'S THE LAST OF THE PILES GOING IN. GOT THEM ALL SUSPENDED AND HANGING HERE, READY FOR THE CONCRETE. HANGING PILES. YEP. IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN ONE OF THESE. DID YOU COME UP WITH THIS? YEAH. THIS IS THE GUY MARRIAGE PATENTED A-FRAME SYSTEM OF PILE HANGING ` UH, VERY ADVANCED (!) (LAUGHS) SO APPARENTLY ALL THE BIG BOYS DO IT WITH LONG` LOTS OF LONG BITS OF TIMBER AND A HUGE AMOUNT OF EXPENSE, AND SO WE HAD TO COME UP WITH SOMETHING, UM, CHEAPER AND SIMPLER, SO I JUST MADE UP THESE TRIANGULAR THINGS, WHICH ARE ALL FIXED IN HERE, UM... DRILL WHIRRS ...AND THEN THAT KEEPS IT NICE AND VERTICAL. BRILLIANT. SO DIY'S STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE AND WELL. YEAH. WELL, IT CERTAINLY IS ON THIS SITE. FOR BRIONY AND ROGER, THE FIRST DAYS OF THEIR BUILDING EXPERIENCE HAVE BEEN ON THE WRONG END OF SHOVELS, BUT TODAY THE CONCRETE IS ARRIVING TO BED IN THE PILES, AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT MILESTONE FOR ROGER. ON YOUR RIGHT HAND. I THINK ONCE WE GET THIS DONE AND OUT OF THE WAY, WE CAN START BUILDING, YOU KNOW? UP UNTIL NOW, IT'S ABOUT SITE PREPARATION AND` AND ALL THE FOUNDATIONS. I KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT, BUT IN FACT, YOU CAN'T SEE A HOUSE HERE YET. LITTLE BIT TERRIFIED, PERHAPS? UH, YEAH. I'M ASSUMING THAT GUY KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING AND THAT WE'VE DONE ALL THE RIGHT THINGS, BUT, UH, GETTING TODAY OUT OF THE WAY WILL BE REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US. WITH NO ROAD ACCESS, THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE 4 TONS OF CONCRETE ON TO THE SITE IS ONE WHEELBARROW AT A TIME. SOME OF GUY'S ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS HAVE COME OUT TO HELP, BUT THERE'S STILL A SPARE WHEELBARROW, WHICH I GUESS MEANS NO EXCUSES. STRING MUSIC IT SHOULD TAKE ABOUT 60 WHEELBARROW LOADS TO GET ALL THE CONCRETE ON TO SITE,... ONE. LAUGHTER ...AND THEY ONLY HAVE AN HOUR TO GET EACH TRUCKLOAD IN THE GROUND BEFORE THE CONCRETE STARTS SETTING. IT'S GONNA BE HARD YAKKA, ESPECIALLY FOR ME. IT'S ONLY FLAT ON THE BOTTOM, CHRIS. (CHUCKLES) THANKS, GUY. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT. SO, WE'VE GOT ABOUT SIX BARROW, AND THERE'S ABOUT A SIX-MINUTE ROUND TRIP, SO A MINUTE AND A HALF WAITING, UH, HALF A MINUTE TO LOAD UP ` SHOULD BE WORKING LIKE CLOCKWORK. WHY ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING THIS? DOES THIS COUNT` COUNT FOR CREDITS? NO, IT DOESN'T. YOU DON'T GET TO DO THIS IN ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL. OH, REALLY? NO. I'VE HEARD A LOT OF BAD STORIES ABOUT ARCHITECTS JUST COMING IN TO A BUILD AND SAYING 'WHY DON'T YOU JUST CHANGE THIS?' LAST MINUTE, AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE NO ONE HAS THAT PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BUILD, SO I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD FOR MY ARCHITECTURAL STUDIES AND` DIVE IN THE DEEP END,... YEAH. ...START SWIMMING AND HOPE THAT YOU FLOAT. YEAH. (CHUCKLES) YEAH. I'VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. I ADMIRE THESE STUDENTS' DEDICATION. THIS IS A SCORCHING DAY, AND IT'S HARD WORK, BUT BY AFTERNOON, THEY'VE HELPED GET ALL THE CONCRETE IN BEFORE IT DRIES. GUY HAS AN OWNER-BUILDER PERMIT. THIS MEANS THAT HE CAN'T HIRE A BUILDER AND HAS TO RELY ON VOLUNTEERS. IT'S ALL ON HIS SHOULDERS IF ANYTHING GOES WRONG. I HOPE HE'S NOT IN OVER HIS HEAD. THE HOUSE GUY AND HIS FAMILY ARE BUILDING IN PUKERUA BAY DRAWS STRONGLY ON HIS COUSIN BRIONY'S MEMORIES OF BACH HOLIDAYS HERE AS A CHILD, BUT SHE AND HER HUSBAND, ROGER, HAVE DISCOVERED ANOTHER STRONG CONNECTION TO THIS PLACE. IT TURNS OUT THAT, UH, MY IWI, OR MY TRIBE, IF YOU LIKE, AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THIS LAND, UM, THEIR IWI AND TRIBE, INTERMARRIED IN THE` IN THE 1930S, UM, AND OUR ANCESTORS ARE` ARE COMMON ANCESTORS BACK IN THE 1860S. NO WAY. YEAH, REALLY. WOW. IT MAKES ME FEEL QUITE SPECIAL ABOUT BEING ON THIS LAND, I SUPPOSE. YOU KNOW, MY` MY RELATIVES WERE, UH` WERE PREVIOUS` PREVIOUSLY LIVED IN THIS PLACE. BOY, IT DOESN'T` IT DOESN'T GET DEEPER THAN THAT. NO, THAT'S RIGHT. THEIR HOUSE IS BEING BUILT ON LAND WITH MAORI TITLES, WHICH MEANS THEY CAN'T SELL IT WITHOUT OFFERING IT BACK TO LOCAL IWI FIRST. WE ALWAYS HAD THE SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY KNOWING IT WAS MAORI LAND, BUT THEN TO ALSO KNOW THAT IT IS ROGE AND MILLA'S OWN WHANAUNGA` THAT'S THE THING, IS THAT` IS THAT IT GETS HANDED ON TO MILLA. IT'S REALLY` REALLY DEEP. WOW. AND` AND I THINK IT'S ANOTHER AMAZING THING IS THAT THAT CONNECTION IS BROUGHT TOGETHER BY US RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW? WE'VE BEEN MARRIED FOR 20 YEARS COMPLETELY UNAWARE OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE CONNECTED TO THE SAME PART OF THIS WORLD. IT WAS MEANT TO BE. YEAH. (CHUCKLES) IT WAS MEANT TO BE. GENTLE GUITAR MUSIC A MONTH INTO THE BUILD AND PROGRESS IS STEADY. THE BEARERS AND BRACES ARE BEING PREPARED READY FOR THE FLOOR TO BE LAID, AND IT'S A REFRESHER COURSE FOR ARCHITECTURE TUTOR GUY, WHO'S MORE USED TO BEING IN A LECTURE THEATRE. SO, NOW I FIND OUT THE REASON WHY PEOPLE DON'T PUT IN DOUBLE STUDS AT 400 CENTRES, COS WHEN YOU'RE FAT, YOU CAN'T GET IN THERE. DRILL WHIRRS GOOD THING THAT I'M NOT FAT (!) THE NOVICE BUILDERS ARE NOW RECEIVING SOME UNEXPECTED HELP FROM THEIR NEIGHBOUR JONNY CLARK. EVERY AFTERNOON HE COMES OVER, UH, TELLS US WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING WRONG, AND HE OFFERS ADVICE AND BEERS AND LETS US USE SOME OF HIS TOOLS FOR FREE, SO, UH` WHICH I'VE PROCEEDED TO BREAK JUST ABOUT EVERY ONE I BORROWED SO FAR, BUT APART FROM THAT, NO, IT'S BEEN GOOD. JONNY'S A CARPENTER WHO'S WORKED ON THE HOBBIT FILM SETS BUT NEVER THOUGHT HE'D START HIS SUMMER HOLIDAY BUILDING ON ANOTHER OF DIRECTOR PETER JACKSON'S FILM LOCATIONS. OH, I'VE KNOWN THE FAMILY FOR A LONG TIME. UM, JUST LIVE NEXT DOOR, SO I WAS CHECKING ON HIS PROGRESS EVERY DAY AFTER WORK AND, UH, SORT OF HAVING TO STOP HIM ON SOME THINGS AND TELL HIM HOW TO DO OTHER THINGS. IT WAS, I DON'T KNOW, WHAT YOU DO FOR YOUR MATES. THE VOLUNTEER KIND OF LABOUR WE CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW` HOW VALUABLE THAT IS, AND HAVING THE EXPERTISE OF JONNY` LIKE, HE'S HERE TODAY. HE'S JUST FINISHED A BIG JOB IN TOWN, AND, YOU KNOW, HE'S DOING IT FOR NOTHING. HE'S OUR FABULOUS NEIGHBOUR, AND WE LOVE HIM TO BITS, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BIT OF EXPERTISE THAT WE REALLY COULDN'T DO WITHOUT. JONNY'S BEEN LIVING IN PUKERUA BAY FOR 10 YEARS, AND HE'S WEATHERED MANY OF ITS STORMS. WELL, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY A VERY SMART IDEA TO BUILD THIS HIGH. UH, I HAD AN OCCASION A FEW YEARS AGO WHERE THE WEATHER CAME THROUGH MY FENCE AND THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR AND LIFTED THE CARPET, AND, UH, THERE WAS LOGS AND DRIFTWOOD INSIDE AND BUGS, AND IT TOOK WEEKS FOR THEM ALL TO BUGGER OFF, YOU KNOW? SO BUILDING THIS HIGH IS A LOOK TO THE FUTURE, I IMAGINE, IN THE EVENTS OF ANY LARGE WEATHER, SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA. NOW THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS ARE OVER, ROGER IS RETURNING TO HIS DAY JOB AND CAN ONLY BUILD IN EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS, WHILE BRIONY AND GUY CONTINUE FULL-TIME ON SITE. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT. JUST CAREFUL OF GUY ` DECAPITATE HIM. DRILL WHIRRS BY THE END OF THE DAY, AND WITH JONNY'S HELP, THE FAMILY HAS ANOTHER REASON TO CELEBRATE BEING 5M ABOVE SEA LEVEL. WELL, I THINK THIS IS AS FAR AS WE NEED TO GO. WE CAN PUT CHAIRS UP HERE. (LAUGHS) THIS WILL BE FINE. WE DON'T NEED A ROOF (!) WE'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD TENT. YEAH. WE'D ONLY BE HERE DURING SUMMER. IT'S GONNA BE PERFECT WEATHER. (CHUCKLES) SO, NO, WE CAN, UH` YEAH, WE'VE GOT A FANTASTIC VIEW, HAVEN'T WE? MEN: CHEERS. (LAUGH) I'M IMPRESSED WITH THE PROGRESS THESE THREE INEXPERIENCED BUILDERS HAVE MADE SO FAR, BUT WITH ROGER BACK AT WORK AND THE STUDENT VOLUNTEERS BACK TO STUDIES, THE FINISH LINE IS STILL A LONG, LABORIOUS WAY OFF. REFLECTIVE MUSIC BY FEBRUARY, THE FRAMING OF THE CABIN WING IS COMPLETE. WHILE IT'S STILL SUMMER, THAT DOESN'T COUNT FOR MUCH IN PUKERUA BAY, SO IT'S A DAY OFF FOR THE TEAM. BRIONY'S USING THE DOWNTIME TO HUNT FOR RECYCLED PIECES. SHE'S HOPING TO RECREATE THE FEEL OF BACHES FROM HER CHILDHOOD. REFLECTIVE MUSIC CONTINUES I LOVE THIS KIND OF OLD STYLE. FOR ME, AND I'M HOPING IT'S GONNA BE SIMILAR FOR GUY ` IT MIGHT BE THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE FOR GUY AS THE ARCHITECT ` BUT FOR ME, THE WHOLE AESTHETIC OF THE BACH IS ABOUT THE, KIND OF, FOUND-OBJECTS THING, AND IT'S` IT'S` THERE'S A BIT OF` IT'S RELAXING, IN A WAY, TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE THINGS DON'T MATCH. WHILE BRIONY IS THINKING RENOVATION, GUY IS THINKING INNOVATION. HE'S COME UP WITH A PLAN FOR THE FLOOR STRUCTURE THAT WILL SEPARATE THE TWO STOREYS OF THE TOWER, BUT SO FAR, HE'S BEING VERY MYSTERIOUS ABOUT IT. I'VE TURNED TO THE CLICK-RAFT SYSTEM,... OH NO. (CHUCKLES) ...WHICH YOU KNOW VERY WELL. I KNEW` I KNEW THAT IF I PUT THAT OUT THERE INTO CREATIVE COMMONS, SOMEBODY WOULD MISUSE IT. THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH, WELL, NOW'S THE` NOW'S THE CHANCE, YOU KNOW? CLICK-RAFT IS A PREFABRICATED KITSET BUILDING SYSTEM I DEVELOPED, BUT I'D NEVER IMAGINED IT BEING ADAPTED TO BECOME THE FLOOR OF GUY'S BACH. IT WORKS BY CREATING A SERIES OF CAREFULLY SLOTTED LENGTHS OF PLY, OR CLICK LEAVES, WHICH FIT TOGETHER A BIT LIKE THREE-DIMENSIONAL KNITTING. IT'S NOT SECRET THAT I'M A BIG FAN OF PREFABRICATION, ESPECIALLY IN A WILD CLIMATE LIKE PUKERUA BAY. IT'S FAR MORE EFFICIENT TO FABRICATE KEY ELEMENTS IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT. SO, BASICALLY, WE NEED TO DO A MODEL OF THIS NEW ITERATION AND SEE IF THERE ARE GONNA BE PROBLEMS. SOME OF GUY'S EX-STUDENTS HAVE AN INNOVATIVE PREFABRICATION COMPANY, AND THEY'VE BEEN HELPING GUY FIGURE OUT HOW TO INCORPORATE MY SYSTEM INTO HIS HOUSE DESIGN. THERE'S GONNA BE TWO CUTS, THE CUT IN THE BEAM AND THE CUT IN THE LEAF, SO THEY'LL BOTH SIT FLUSH. I'M NOT SURE HOW IT'S GONNA CONNECT TO THE TRADITIONAL TIMBER FRAME, BUT IT'S GONNA BE EASY GETTING THESE PIECES TO SITE. I MEAN, THAT'S SO MUCH LIGHTER, AND IT'S BEAUTIFUL. IT'S GREAT. WELL, YOU COULD CARRY THIS YOURSELF, GUY. ABSOLUTELY. (CHUCKLES) THAT'S REALLY COOL. I'M HAPPY WITH THAT. INTRIGUING MUSIC THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND, THE WIND DIES DOWN ENOUGH TO CONTINUE THE FRAMING. WITH THE VOLUNTEERS DWINDLED, GUY'S CALLING IN ANOTHER FAVOUR FROM AN OLD FRIEND. AH, MR MARRIAGE. CHRIS. NICE TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU. WOW. IT IS LOOKING SO IMPRESSIVE. I SEE THAT YOU'VE GOT THE FLAG FLYING. I DO. MY FATHER, WHO DIED LAST YEAR, WAS A VEXILLOLOGIST. HE LOVES FLAGS, AND SO` VEXILLOLOGIST? VEXILLOLOGIST. THAT'S A BIG, NICE WORD. SO HE'S A VEXILLOLOGIST. I'M JUST A JUNIOR. SO I'VE INHERITED HIS FLAGS AND HIS LOVE OF FLAGS, SO TODAY WE THOUGHT WE'D HAVE THE, UH` THE WINGED LION OF VENICE, WHICH IS THE CITY BY THE SEA. UH, IT SEEMS APPROPRIATE, AS WE'RE NEARLY MAROONED BY THE OCEAN. SO, WHAT'S THE PLAN TODAY? PLAN TODAY IS WE'VE GOT TWO WALLS IN THE TOWER TO ERECT. THEY'RE QUITE HEAVY, SO WE'RE GONNA NEED A BIT OF GRUNT POWER, SO ROLL YOUR SLEEVES UP, AND WE'LL GET YOU TO WORK. EXCELLENT. WITHOUT ROAD ACCESS, CRANING AND PRE-NAILED FRAMING IS NOT AN OPTION, SO EACH PIECE HAS TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON-SITE. OH, THAT IS A COSY FIT. < IT'S 17.23�. IT WAS PERFECT. (CHUCKLES) BECAUSE THIS IS A HIGH-WIND ZONE, THE FAMILY HAS TO USE TIMBER THAT IS THICKER AND HEAVIER THAN USUAL ` 140MM INSTEAD OF THE REGULAR 90MM. ONE, TWO, THREE. TIMBER CREAKS BRIONY IS TAKING TO BUILDING LIKE A DUCK TO WATER, AND WHILE SHE'S ON-SITE SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, SHE'S STILL JUGGLING EVENT MANAGEMENT CONTRACTS ON THE SIDE. UH, TOWARDS. YUP. DRILL WHIRRS THE WHOLE PROCESS OF BUILDING THIS THING IS JUST SO SATISFYING, AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY GOT UNDER MY SKIN. IN FACT, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO AFTER WE'VE BUILT IT. (LAUGHS) CAN YOU SLOW IT DOWN? BUILD ANOTHER ONE! YEAH, BUILD ANOTHER ONE. BOTH CHUCKLE THE TEAM'S ENTHUSIASM FOR GOOD OLD KIWI DIY IS PART OF THE CHARM OF THIS BUILD. ON THREE. ONE... (CHUCKLES) TOWARDS ME ABOUT 200. DRILL WHIRRS YUP. AND THE PROCESS IS ORGANIC, WITH THE FAMILY CONSTANTLY TWEAKING THE ORIGINAL PLANS. YOU'RE STANDING IN THE BUNK ROOM, SO OUR, UH` OUR 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND HER 12 FRIENDS ARE PROBABLY GONNA BE CAMPED IN HERE BEFORE TOO LONG. BIG WINDOW ` NOT PART OF THE PLANS. WE FOUND A` A BIG, RECYCLED WINDOW AND THOUGHT, 'THAT LOOKS FANTASTIC.' WE KNEW EXACTLY WHERE IT NEEDED TO GO. I MEAN, WE'VE GOTTA MAKE THE MOST OF THAT VIEW, REALLY, DON'T WE, IN THE` IN THE AFTERNOON SUN, SO` AND I DON'T RECALL THIS DOOR HERE EITHER. NO, THE DOOR WASN'T THERE. I FEEL THAT QUITE A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE THE BEGINNING. YEAH, AND, UH, THAT'S THE ADVANTAGE TO HAVING A` AN ARCHITECT ON THE TEAM, REALLY, ISN'T IT, AND, UH` AND BEING PART OF THE BUILD, SO` AND WE'VE HAD TO CUSTOMISE IT DEPENDING ON WHAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET, SO` AND WE'RE FINE WITH THAT; YOU KNOW, STILL COMPLYING WITH EVERYTHING. IT'S BOLD AND BRAVE BUILDING THIS WAY, BUT I HAVE SOME CONCERNS THAT WITH SMALL STRUCTURES LIKE THESE, SIMPLE, CLEAN DESIGN IS OFTEN MOST EFFECTIVE. WITH FOUR BUILDERS ALL CHIPPING IN IDEAS, MIXING NEW CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES WITH RECYCLED MATERIALS, THERE'S A DANGER THAT THE ELEGANCE OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN MAY GET A BIT FUDDLED. INTRIGUING MUSIC IN PUKERUA BAY, SOME OF GUY'S EX-STUDENTS ARE HELPING INSTALL THE CLICK-RAFT FLOOR IN THE TOWER. THIS HOUSE IS IN MANY WAYS AN ODE TO THE CLASSIC KIWI BACH, BUT WITH GUY'S INTEREST IN BUILDING INNOVATION, IT'S NOW BECOMING A CURIOUS HYBRID OF TRADITIONAL AND FUTURISTIC. INSTALLING THE CLICK-RAFT IS A CHANCE TO TEST NEW IDEAS IN A REAL-LIFE SETTING. HOW DOES IT FEEL JUMPING FROM THE DIGITAL TO THE PHYSICAL? OH, IT'S GREAT, COS YOU ACTUALLY GET TO FEEL HOW THE MATERIAL REACTS, AND SO YOU CAN THEN PUT THAT BACK INTO THE COMPUTER, AND IT CHANGES HOW YOU DESIGN SOMETHING, AND SO YOU CAN REALLY FEEL IT. FEELING THE TENSION AND THE COMPRESSION. > EXACTLY, AND YOU KNOW THE LIMITATIONS OF EACH MATERIAL. WITH NO FASTENINGS OR FIXINGS, THE ENTIRE FLOOR IS ASSEMBLED IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. THE QUESTION NOW IS HOW TO GET IT INTO PLACE. SO, IT'S UPSIDE DOWN AT THE MOMENT. WE'RE GONNA FLIP IT UP,... YEP. ...FLIP IT OVER, WE'RE GONNA PASS IT UP THROUGH TO THESE GUYS ON TOP, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA ROTATE IT. IT IS VERY LIGHTWEIGHT. THIS SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO CREATE AN ENTIRE STRUCTURE, SO I'M CURIOUS TO SEE HOW THE FLOOR RAFT WILL CONNECT TO THE STANDARD TIMBER FRAMING. SO, THEY DON'T LINE UP. NO. THE TRADITIONAL CONSTRUCTION DOESN'T LINE UP. THAT TOP PLATE'S HIGHER THAN WHAT YOU'VE GOT OVER THERE. DON'T BLAME THE TRADITIONAL CONSTRUCTION. (CHUCKLES) SO WE'VE ACTUALLY GOTTA TRIM` TRIM THOSE FIRST TWO` THREE` THREE ONES. WE'VE GOTTA TRIM, UH, PROBABLY 50 MIL OFF THOSE. RIGHT. WE'RE USING CLICK-RAFT JUST TO DOUBLE CHECK THAT THE TRADITIONAL CONSTRUCTION'S WORKING PROPERLY. I NEVER EXPECTED TO SEE MY CLICK-RAFT SYSTEM SOLELY FOR FLOORING, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING WELL. SERENE MUSIC THE PLAN IS TO LEAVE THE BOTTOM OF THE FLOOR EXPOSED TO ENJOY THE CURVED LINES OF THE BENT PLY. IT'S SURPRISINGLY IN KEEPING WITH THE TRADITIONAL TIMBER STRUTS OF THE BACH. COMPLETING THE FIRST STOREY OF THE TOWER WING MARKS GREAT PROGRESS FOR THE TEAM, BUT THE THREAT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER IS NEVER FAR AWAY, AND IN MID APRIL, A STORM SEES ANOTHER DELAY. IT'S A REMINDER THAT WINTER IS FAST-APPROACHING. JONNY, THE FRIENDLY NEIGHBOUR WHO WAS JUST GONNA LEND A HAND, HAS NOW BEEN WORKING FOR FREE FOR ALMOST 12 WEEKS. I WISH I HAD A NEIGHBOUR LIKE HIM. I WAS RAISED TO, UH, UNDERSTAND THAT IF YOU HAD THE ABILITY TO HELP SOMEBODY, YOU HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SO, SO IT'S BEEN NO EFFORT ON MY PART, I DON'T THINK, AND IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO, UH, LEAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MYSELF ON THE BEACH FOR THE FUTURE. INTRIGUING MUSIC ONCE THE STORM PASSES, THE PREVAILING NORTH-WESTERLY CONTINUES TO BARREL INTO THE SITE, MAKING BUILDING NO EASY FEAT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE NOVICES. THE TASK FOR TODAY IS THAT WE'VE GOT TO RAISE THE LINTEL AT THE END, SO IT'S THAT END, UH, GABLE OF THE BUILDING. IT'S THE ONLY PIECE OF STEEL IN THE BUILDING. IT'S WELDED LIKE THAT SO THAT WE CAN GET, UH, A WINDOW RIGHT UNDER THE` THE APEX. RAISING THE LINTEL WILL REVEAL THE FULL HEIGHT OF THE TOWER. THAT'S THE BACKSTAY PROP, SO THAT JUST DRAGS ALONG BEHIND US, SO WHEN WE LIFT IT UP, IT'LL FALL DOWN. IT'LL KEEP THE TOP FROM TOPPLING OVER. BUT NO ROAD ACCESS TO SITE MEANS NO CRANE, SO IT'S ALL HANDS ON DECK TO LEVER THE HEAVY STRUCTURE INTO POSITION. I THINK WE` WE ALL NEED TO PUSH UP ON THE LIFT. YUP. ON THE COUNT OF THREE. UNO, DOS, TRES! CLATTERING YEP, THAT NOISE IS INTENDED (!) CHECK IF THAT'S IN THE RIGHT POSITION AT THAT END. YEAH. SO JUST SCREW IT IN THERE. DRILL WHIRRS THE HIGHEST POINT OF THE HOUSE AND THE WINGED LION OF VENICE NOW SOAR 8M ABOVE SEA LEVEL. FANTASTIC! ESTA MUY BIEN! TEAM, HIGH-FIVE TOGETHER! ARGH! (CHUCKLES) REFLECTIVE MUSIC 18 WEEKS IN, GUY, BRIONY AND ROGER ARE ON TRACK TO MEET THEIR LEAN $165,000 BUDGET, BUT THEY'VE STRUCK A PROBLEM. WHILE MOST OF THE WINDOWS ARE RECYCLED, A FEATURE WINDOW IN THE TOWER PEAK NEEDS TO BE MADE TO ORDER, AND THE JOINERY QUOTE HAS NOW COME IN WELL ABOVE WHAT THEY'D EXPECTED. THE COSTING AT THE MOMENT THAT WE'VE HAD THROUGH OF THE TWO SCENARIOS THAT, UM, GUY HAS HAD COSTED OUT IS JUST PROHIBITIVE, YOU KNOW? IT'S, LIKE, $8000 TO $11,000, AND, UM, THERE'S NOTHING IN THIS HOUSE THAT COST US THAT. I'M NOT SURE WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO. WE COULD` WE COULD REDESIGN THE WINDOW, MAKE IT A SMALL, NARROW SLOT, COS THE VIEW IS MAINLY HORIZONTAL AND` AND LIKE THAT, BUT I DON'T REALLY WANT TO HAVE` BE UP IN HERE WITH JUST A LITTLE NARROW SLOT WINDOW. THE WHOLE BUILDING, THE ARCHITECTURE, IS ALL ABOUT THE VERTICAL. WE JUST HAVE TO THINK CLEVER AND` AND TRY AND FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT WE CAN DO IT. MOST PEOPLE WOULD FIND THE MONEY TO COMPLETE WHAT I THINK IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THIS HOUSE, BUT THE FAMILY'S NOT WILLING TO PUT THEMSELVES INTO ANY DEBT. THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'VE SAVED, AND THAT IS WHAT THEY'VE GOT TO SPEND. FOR NOW, THE DECISION'S ON HOLD, BUT AS THE DAYS GET COOLER AND SHORTER, THERE IS LIMITED TIME TO GET THE HOUSE FULLY CLOSED IN, AND THE WORKLOAD IS STARTING TO TAKE ITS TOLL. I'M` I'M ABSOLUTELY KNACKERED. I'M` I THINK WE ALL ARE. PROFESSIONAL BUILDERS, LIKE JONNY, HAVE GOT UNLIMITED ENERGY. HE'S JUST LIKE AN ENERGISER BUNNY ` YOU KNOW, NEVER STOPS GOING ` BUT, UH, I'M A FAT, OLD LECTURER, AND I GET REALLY TIRED OUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, AND, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO` TRYING TO DO` DO WHAT I CAN, SO IT'S GREAT THAT WE'VE GOT, YOU KNOW, BRIONY HERE AS THE BUILDER'S APPRENTICE WHENEVER SHE CAN, SO WE'RE TRYING TO, UH, YOU KNOW` TRYING TO GET IT DONE ON WHAT WE'VE GOT, BUT THE DAYLIGHT HOURS ARE GETTING SHORTER, AND THAT'S DEFINITELY NOTICEABLE NOW. (SQUAWKS) IN PUKERUA BAY, WINTER STORMS ARE HAMMERING THE FAMILY'S BUILD SITE, AND DESPITE FIVE MONTHS OF BUILDING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, THE HOUSE IS STILL NOT CLOSED IN. SO, FOR THE` FOR THE LAST SEVEN DAYS, WE'VE JUST BEEN HIT BY A SUCCESSION OF` OF MASSIVE STORM FRONTS COMING THROUGH FROM AUSTRALIA ` UH, ONE PER DAY JUST ABOUT. UH, LAST NIGHT WAS PROBABLY THE WORST. WE HAD WINDS OF 140KM/H, AND THEY'VE JUST BEEN BARRELLING IN OFF THE SEA AND HITTING US HERE, SO WE HAD WATER DRIPPING OFF THE CEILING. UH, THE WIND WAS JUST BRINGING THE SPRAY RIGHT THROUGH AND INTO THE HOUSE. GUY, BRIONY AND JONNY ARE WRAPPING THE HOUSE IN A WATERPROOF MEMBRANE TO PROTECT THEIR HANDIWORK. THE TORRENTIAL RAIN IS WHAT IS PROBABLY MORE OF A WORRY TO ME THAN THE SURF AND THE` AND THE SEA COMING ACROSS, BECAUSE WE'RE STILL NOT WATERTIGHT, AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN THE RAIN COMES IN AND POOLS ON THE PLY, AND IT'S THE SAME PLY THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SEALING AT SOME STAGE SOON TO` TO LIVE IN, THEN, UH, THAT'S PROBABLY A GREATER WORRY TO ME THAN ANYTHING. I JUST WANT US TO GET SEALED IN AND READY TO DEAL WITH THE WINTER. ESSENTIALLY, UH, WE'RE A LITTLE BIT UP AGAINST IT NOW, AND, UM, WE'VE REALLY GOTTA JUST GO, GO, GO TO GET EVERYTHING DONE BEFORE THE WEATHER REALLY DOES SET IN. I MEAN, IT'S ALL GOING REALLY WELL, BUT THE RACE IS ON. THE RACE IS ON. GUY NOW ONLY HAS A MONTH OF LEAVE LEFT BEFORE HE RETURNS TO HIS TEACHING JOB, SO THE PUSH IS ON TO COMPLETE THE WINDOWS ON THREE SIDES OF THE COTTAGE, LEAVING ONLY THE SHELTERED BACK WALL STILL EXPOSED. YEAH, THAT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHEN YOU GO TO THE SECOND-HAND SHOP, YOU KNOW? IT'S, UH, NOT ALWAYS EASY TO FIND PRODUCTS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN DAMAGED IN THEIR REMOVAL. THERE'S SOME TIME SPENT IN THE RESTORATION OF THEM BEFORE THEY CAN BE INSTALLED. DESPITE A WEEK OF STORM SURGES, GUY REMAINS ETERNALLY OPTIMISTIC THAT THE STILT DESIGN WILL BE ENOUGH TO KEEP THE SEA AT BAY. BUT IS HIS COUSIN LOSING CONFIDENCE? IT DOES WORRY ME A LITTLE BIT THAT WE'VE SEEN MORE, UM, WAVE SURGES COMING OVER THE PATHWAYS WHILE WE'VE BEEN BUILDING THAN WE'VE PROBABLY EVER SEEN BEFORE, SO (CHUCKLES) MAYBE THIS WHOLE THING ABOUT THE SEA LEVELS RISING, THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING IN IT. (CHUCKLES) THEY CAN'T STOP THE OCEAN, SO THE FOCUS IS SHUTTING OUT THE WIND. INTO ME. BY YOU? INTO ME, YUP. DRILL WHIRRS WHILE GUY HAS DESIGNED THIS HOUSE WITH BRIONY AND ROGER, THERE IS CLEARLY NOW A FOURTH PERSON WITH A PERSONAL STAKE IN IT. JONNY HAS CONTRIBUTED MONTHS OF FREE LABOUR AND IS INCREASINGLY BRINGING HIS IDEAS TO THE TABLE. THIS IS LIKE A WOOD MECCA. WOW. TODAY HE AND HIS UNOFFICIAL APPRENTICE, BRIONY, ARE HUNTING FOR RECYCLED TIMBERS FOR THE KITCHEN BENCH TOP. WHOA. THESE ARE AMAZING. THIS IS THE STUFF. (CHUCKLES) FANTASTIC. THIS IS ALL HEART TIMBER ` AWESOME. SO, UH, YOU HAPPY WITH THAT? YEAH, MAN. COULD WE HAVE TWO? UH, YEAH, OK. TWO. JONNY ALWAYS LIKES TO MAKE SURE EVERY PIECE HAS A STORY, IN A WAY, AND, UM, I LOVE THE FACT THAT THIS HAS GOT HISTORY, AND IT'S OUR` IT'S A NZ STORY, IT'S A WELLINGTON STORY. I LOVE THAT IT'S HAD A LIFE BEFORE THIS AND THAT WE'RE GONNA GIVE IT A NEW LIFE THAT MAYBE MIGHT TRANSFORM IT, YOU KNOW? I JUST LOVE THAT. IS THIS PURIRI? YUP. YUP. WOW. MOST ARCHITECTS WOULD STRUGGLE TO DEAL WITH SO MANY ONGOING CHANGES TO THEIR ORIGINAL PLAN FROM SO MANY PEOPLE. THIS IS AMAZING. THE ORIGINAL PICTURES, THE SKETCHES, THAT GUY DID FOUR YEARS AGO, IT'S PRETTY MUCH WHAT WE'RE MAKING, BUT IT'S THE DETAIL, AND THE DETAIL STUFF IS WHERE WE CAN MAKE CHANGES AS WE GO, AND COMING TO A PLACE LIKE THIS AND FINDING THESE KINDS OF TREASURES, YOU'VE GOTTA RETHINK THINGS. ON MOST BUILDS, IT WOULD BE COSTLY AND LABORIOUS TO HAVE AN ORGANIC APPROACH LIKE THIS. THERE IS AN ADVANTAGE IN BEING BOTH THE ARCHITECT AND THE OWNER, BECAUSE I CAN` I CAN CHANGE THINGS. I LIKE THE FLEXIBILITY OF THAT. IT'S NOT LIKE THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY OF DESIGNING A BUILDING. I KNOW SOME ARCHITECTS ARE PURISTS, AND EVERYTHING WILL BE DESIGNED ON A VERY STRICT MODULE, BUT I THINK YOU NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE. DRIVEN THE ENGINEER A LITTLE BIT MAD, PERHAPS, WITH, UM` WITH SOME CHANGES, UH, BUT THEN, YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT ENGINEERS ARE` ARE FOR. INTRIGUING MUSIC BY MIDWINTER, THE TOWER-WINDOW ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED, AND GUY'S BACK TEACHING FULL-TIME, SO HE'S DOWN TO WEEKENDS TO HELP GET THE HOUSE CLOSED IN. IT IS SO GOOD TO HAVE A ROOF GOING ON, THOUGH. COMING UP. TIM WERNON, ANOTHER EX-STUDENT OF GUY'S, HAS COME ALONG TO LEND A HAND. TIM'S A` A FORMER ARCHITECTURE STUDENT ` A VERY GOOD FRIEND, ACTUALLY ` GOOD` GOOD, UM` GOOD BUILDER, UM, AND HE'S ALSO BUILDING HIS OWN HOUSE, SO HE'S TAKEN A COUPLE OF DAYS OFF FROM BUILDING HIS HOUSE TO COME AND HELP US HERE. UH, HE'S DONE LOTS OF ROOFS ` UH, I HAVEN'T DONE ANY ROOFS BEFORE ` SO, UH, HE KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING, SO I'M JUST` I'M JUST HELPING. THERE'S A LOVELY SENSE OF A LIFE CYCLE ON THIS BUILD. WHILE GUY IS USING THE BUILD AS A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME OF HIS CURRENT STUDENTS, OTHERS HAVE GONE ON TO BECOME EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELD, AND THE TEACHER HAS BECOME THE PUPIL. IT'S GREAT THAT GUY IS, SORT OF, GETTING STUCK IN. GOOD PEOPLE, YOU WANNA, SORT OF, DO GOOD THINGS FOR THEM, AND GUY'S DONE A LOT OF FAVOURS FOR ME TOO, SO IT GOES BOTH WAYS, WHICH IS REALLY GREAT. SEAGULLS SQUAWK WITH THE SEA A PICTURE OF TRANQUILLITY, IT'S EASY TO FORGET THE LURKING DANGERS OF THIS LOCATION, BUT THE FOLLOWING MONTH, THERE'S A STARK REMINDER. TENSE MUSIC A STORM SURGE COINCIDES WITH A KING TIDE, AND THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO BECOMES A REALITY. TENSE MUSIC CONTINUES SO, WE HAD A BIT OF A FLOOD. UH, PRETTY HIGH TIDE, AND, UH, THE FENCE WAS PRETTY DAMAGED BY SOME OF THESE LOGS. THERE'S A LOT OF ROCKS, A LOT OF, UH` A LOT OF SAND AND STUFF WASHED UP INTO THE SECTION UNDER THE HOUSE. NORMALLY, IT WOULDN'T COME UP NEARLY AS` AS FAR AS THIS, BUT, UH, WELL OVER THE PATH, STRAIGHT UNDER THE HOUSE, AND THE, UH` THE RED SHED GOT FLOODED, SO, UH, YEAH, IT'S PROBABLY ANKLE-DEEP IN THERE, WHICH IS NOT GOOD WHEN YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF TOOLS AND` AND ELECTRICITY AND STUFF AROUND, SO A BIT NERVE-RACKING, REALLY. THERE'S NOT A LOT YOU CAN DO TO STOP NATURE. AT ITS MOST FIERCE, THE STOP SENT WAVES CRASHING RIGHT ACROSS THE SITE, TESTING THE STILTS BEFORE THE HOUSE IS EVEN COMPLETE. THE SEA RUSHED THROUGH THE OLD SHED, LIFTING PIECES OF CORRUGATED IRON AND RENDERING THE CARPETS A WRITE-OFF. THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT MOTHER NATURE'S SHOWN WHAT SHE'S CAPABLE OF. ALL THE FAMILY CAN HOPE IS SHE TAKES HER TIME COMING BACK. Sign up to Vodafone's Unlimited Broadband data and home phone with SKY Basic, Here's a deal for everyone who loves the internet and loves sport. Sign up to Vodafone's Unlimited Broadband data and home phone with SKY Basic, and you'll score unlimited SKY Sport for a whole year. You'll also get free SKY installation, free MY SKY and free calling to five NZ mates, so you can talk about sports, sports, sports, sports, sport and sport. CROWD CHEERS Call Vodafone to sign up. LAID-BACK GUITAR MUSIC IN DAYS GONE BY, IT WAS NOT BEYOND THE REACH OF MANY NZERS TO OWN A HOLIDAY HOME OR BACH AT THE BEACH. BUILDING WAS CHEAPER, LESS REGULATED, AND YOU COULD ACHIEVE THE DREAM WITH ALMOST NOTHING. THESE DAYS, BUILDING A SEASIDE HOLIDAY HOME, LET ALONE AN ARCHITECTURALLY DESIGNED ONE, IS REALLY ONLY FOR THE SUPER RICH ` UNLESS YOU'RE CLEVER OR VERY BRAVE. SEAGULLS SQUAWK DISTANTLY GUY AND HIS FAMILY'S LOCATION WAS THE BRAVE PART,... WOW. WONDERFUL. ...BUT THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY STAKED THEIR CLAIM ON THIS CHALLENGING SHORE. HI, GUYS. BOY, THIS LOOKS WONDERFUL. WELL DONE. THANK YOU. WELCOME. CONGRATULATIONS. THANKS, CHRIS. CAN YOU ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU'VE DONE ALL OF THIS YOURSELVES? UH, NO, AND I` WHAT I CAN'T BELIEVE IS THAT WE EVER THOUGHT WE COULD. (CHUCKLES) WE, UM, ADDED UP THE HOURS THE OTHER DAY, AND IT WAS SOMETHING LIKE ABOUT 8000 OR 9000 PERSON HOURS... GOOD GRIEF. ...TO MAKE THIS THING, SO WE FEEL QUITE TIRED (CHUCKLES) IF YOU REALLY WANNA KNOW. GOSH. WHAT AN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT. I LOVE THE WHARF. I LOVE THE FLAG, YOUR WONDERFUL DECK, THIS LOVELY STAIR COMING DOWN. IT'S LIKE CELEBRATING THE CLASSIC KIWI DREAM ` A REAL BACH ON A REAL BACH LOCATION. IT'S WICKED. GUY AND HIS FAMILY HAVE BUILD THIS HOME BEING CLEVER. THEY'VE POOLED THEIR RESOURCES AND USED RECYCLED MATERIALS WITH GOOD DESIGN TO CREATE A WHIMSICAL MODERN-DAY BACH. WHAT HAVE WE GOT IN HERE? OH MY GOODNESS. EVEN THOUGH EACH OF THE BUILDS ARE, YOU KNOW, IN TERMS OF SQUARE METERAGE, QUITE SMALL, THERE'S A REAL SENSE OF... (SIGHS) WHEN YOU COME IN HERE. THE` THE WINDOWS ARE A BIT HIGHER THAN NORMAL, THE STUD HEIGHT IS A BIT HIGHER THAN NORMAL, AND THE ROOF IS A BIT STEEPER THAN NORMAL, AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS MAKE UP A WONDERFUL ROOM. THE TOUCH OF THE NATIVE TIMBERS AROUND THE WINDOWS IS A LOVELY, LOVELY THING. IT GIVES A LOT OF DEPTH AND WARMTH. IT'S A LOVELY COMBINATION OF THE FORMAL AND THE INFORMAL. WE WANTED A SIMPLE SPACE BY THE BEACH, AND I THINK KEEPING THE MATERIALS SIMPLE, PARING IT BACK, NOTHING FANCY... YOU DON'T NEED BIG HOUSES TO HAVE A BACH, YOU KNOW? YOU NEED SIMPLICITY BY THE SEA AND SUNSHINE. I SUPPOSE WHAT INTRIGUES ME IS HOW THAT CONVERSATION HAS GONE BETWEEN THE THREE OF YOU. YOU KNOW, THERE IS THIS SENSE OF A LOVELY, KIND OF RELAXED, INFORMAL SPONTANEITY, BUT THERE'S A CONTRADICTION BETWEEN THAT AND` AND A GREAT AMOUNT OF PRECISION. HA. IT'S FUNNY YOU SAY THAT, BECAUSE, UM, (CLEARS THROAT) I HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OF NOT, UH, CONVERSING ENOUGH AND JUST DOING THINGS WITHOUT TELLING PEOPLE, SO, UM, I'M GUILTY OF THAT, BUT, UH, I THINK THE END RESULT, WE'VE MANAGED TO PULL IT TOGETHER. THIS SPACE IS REMINISCENT OF THE BACHES OF BRIONY'S YOUTH. IT'S PLAYFUL, ALMOST A HUT, CRAFTED FROM RECYCLED TIMBERS AND FOUND MATERIALS, SOME EVEN GATHERED FROM THE SHORE. OH GOSH. THIS IS A LOVELY LITTLE ROOM. THIS IS THE BUNKROOM. NO BUNKS BUT... (CHUCKLES) HOW ARE YOU GONNA LIVE IN THIS HOUSE? WELL, THERE'S` THERE'S THREE ROOMS NEEDED WHEN WE'RE ALL HERE, AND THERE ARE TWO ROOMS, SO IT'S FIRST UP, BEST DRESSED. (CHUCKLES) THAT'S RIGHT. YEAH. OUR DAUGHTER MILLA'S CERTAINLY GOT HER MITTS ON IT. SHE'S` OH, REALLY? IT HAS TO BE HER ROOM. YUP. SHE'S LINED HER BOOKS UP ALONGSIDE THE WINDOW THERE TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, YOU KNOW, HER CLAIM IS STAKED. I THINK THE REALLY IMPORTANT THING IS THAT THIS IS ONE HOUSE IN TWO PARTS, YOU KNOW ` KITCHEN ON THIS SIDE AND BATHROOM ON THE OTHER SIDE BUT LIVING SPACES ALL THROUGH, INSIDE AND OUT. WHILE THE FAMILY INSISTS IT'S ALL FOR ONE AND ONE FOR ALL, TO ME, THE TOWER HAS ALWAYS SEEMED TO HAVE A STRONGER GUY INFLUENCE. I NEVER IMAGINED THAT I'D BE SEEING CLICK-RAFT USED LIKE THIS. EVERYBODY HAS LOVED IT. JONNY BRINGS ALL HIS MATES THROUGH, ALL THE BUILDERS, AND THEY'RE ALL LIKE, 'WHAT?! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT. HOW HAVE YOU DONE THIS?' IT LOOKS GOOD BECAUSE THE PLYWOOD SORT OF DISAPPEARS INTO THE WALL. YEAH. YEAH, I LOVE THAT. I THINK THAT DETAILING IS REALLY ELEGANT. GOSH, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL, GUY. OH. OH MY GOODNESS. WHIMSICAL MUSIC WHAT A VIEW. IT'S NOT BAD, IS IT? (CHUCKLES) THAT WINDOW, YOU KNOW, IT RAISED HUGE DEBATES BETWEEN YOU AND BRIONY AND ROGER. IT WAS GONNA COST SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN YOU THOUGHT. WE GOT THEM FOR THE` FOR THE BEST PRICE THAT WE COULD, AND THEN WE SAVED MONEY ELSEWHERE. I TOTALLY AND UTTERLY FEEL GUY MARRIAGE IN` IN THIS BEAUTIFUL TOWER, YOU KNOW, FROM BOTTOM TO TOP, STUDENT EXPERIMENTS, PERSONAL TOUCHES LIKE THIS THAT` THAT YOU'VE MADE YOURSELF. YEAH. THERE'S A LOT OF ME IN THIS SPACE, BUT WE'VE` WE'VE SORT OF GOT AN AGREEMENT THAT, UH, IT'S WHOEVER GETS TO THE BACH FIRST GETS THIS ROOM. THIS IS THE PRIMO ROOM. YOU KNOW, WE WILL SHARE IT. SO, WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED? WELL, I'VE LEARNED POSSIBLY NOT TO DO THIS AGAIN. (CHUCKLES) THE THINGS I'VE LEARNT ARE JUST UNBELIEVABLY ENRICHING, AND THEY'LL` I'VE CREATED LASTING MEMORIES FOR MYSELF FOR` YOU KNOW, FOREVER. AND LEARNING HOW TO BE A BUILDER ` WHO KNEW? I THINK WE'VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT THE GENEROSITY OF PEOPLE. YEAH. OH, YEAH. YOU KNOW, REMARKABLE, UM, PROJECT WITH PEOPLE JUST ARRIVING AND SAYING, 'LOOK, I'VE GOT TWO DAYS.' WHEN YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE LIKE JONNY, WHO'VE GIVEN US HIS WHOLE YEAR, REALLY, TO HELP US OUT, IT'S, UH` IT'S INFECTIOUS. PEOPLE REALISE THAT THIS IS THE HEART AND THE SPIRIT OF THIS PLACE, AND THEY` IF THEY'RE THAT SORT OF PERSON, THEY WANNA BE PART OF THAT. THE BUDGET ` HOW DID THAT GO? WE'RE ABOUT ON TRACK. WE HAD A BUDGET OF 150. I THINK WE SAID THAT AT THE BEGINNING. WE DID ACTUALLY HAVE A 15% CONTINGENCY IN THAT BUDGET, AND WE'VE SPENT THE CONTINGENCY. (CHUCKLES) JUST ON THOSE TERMS ALONG, I CONGRATULATE YOU. I` I THINK THAT IS AN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT. THANK YOU. THANKS. THANKS. GUY, BRIONY AND ROGER HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE TO THANK, BUT ONE IN PARTICULAR WHO'S WORKED ABOUT 2000 UNPAID HOURS AND LEFT HIS OWN MARK ON THE HOUSE. WHAT PROMPTS YOU TO SPEND SO MUCH TIME TO GO AND HELP SOMEBODY ELSE FOR NOTHING? COS I OPENED MY BIG MOUTH AT THE BEGINNING AND SAID I'D DO IT. BOTH CHUCKLE I'M A MAN OF MY WORD. IT'S BEEN AN HONOUR AND A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, AND` AND I DON'T THINK IT'S AN EXPERIENCE I'LL EVER FORGET. THERE'S RESPECT IN THIS HOME FOR PEOPLE, FOR HISTORY, FOR THE LAND AND THE SEA, BUT THIS PLACE ALSO STANDS ITS OWN GROUND, IMBUED WITH THE STORIES OF HOW IT WAS BUILT AND THE PEOPLE WHO BUILT IT ` GUY, BRIONY, ROGER, JONNY AND THEIR FRIENDS, WHO'VE INDELIBLY ETCHED THEIR COLLECTIVE SIGNATURE INTO THIS RUGGED LANDSCAPE. CAPTIONS BY JUNE YEOW AND SARAH MAIAVA. WWW.ABLE.CO.NZ CAPTIONS WERE MADE POSSIBLE WITH FUNDING FROM NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2016 INDISTINCT CHATTER