A man who spent £800k on one of Grand Designs most memorable homes has revealed he can’t bring himself to watch the show 15 years later.
Architect Richard Hawkes and wife Sophie spent a fortune building Crossways in Staplehurst, Kent.
Inspired by designs dating back to the Middle Ages, it split opinion – with even host Kevin McCloud declaring it ‘lunacy’.
Despite a few hiccups, it eventually took a year to build the property and Richard, 50, said living there has been one of the ‘highlights of his life’.
He told MailOnline: ‘We’re still in the property and we still absolutely love it.
‘It still amazes us.’
Architect Richard Hawkes (Pictured), who splashed £800,000 on one of Grand Designs most illustrious works says he can no longer bring himself to watch the show
It was a ‘world first’ with a dome-shaped roof and its very framework is based on a medieval design, known as timbrel vaulting
Richard and Sophie opted to build a Passivhaus, an energy-efficient building with an arched roof – which is 20metres wide and nine metres high but only 100mm thick
However the outlandish design divided opinion’s with even host Kevin McCloud dubbing it as ‘lunacy’
The ‘world first’ house came with a dome-shaped roof and its very framework is based on a medieval design, known as timbrel vaulting.
It caused shockwaves through the industry when the couple appeared on the hit show back in 2009.
First used in 1382 in Spain, this method uses thin bricks to create a lightweight, durable building.
The arch is less than 5in thick, so wastes no material. Gravel and soil on top, in which flowers will be planted, help weigh the self-supporting frame down, stabilising it.
Not only does the structure do away with the need for materials such as concrete, which are energy intensive to make, it also allows the building to retain heat.
And in his quest to save power, Richard again found traditional methods were best.
He used locally-sourced, old-fashioned clay tiles, in place of brick, as they were more energy efficient.
And the property still plays a huge part in the history of the show, featuring prominently on a special called Grand Designs: 25 Years & Counting broadcast earlier this month.
Richard told Mail Online: ‘It’s been one of the highlights of my life.
‘Appearing on the show has been incredible, even all these years later people come up and say we were on Grand Designs.
‘It’s pretty crazy.
Richard revealed to MailOnline that the family still lived in the property and the absolutely ‘loved it’
It took a year and £800,000 for Richard and his wife Sophie, 50, to build eco-home Crossways, in Staplehurst, Kent
The method, which sues thin bricks to build the lightweight and durable building, was first put into practice in 1382 in Spain
Th arch of the unique home is less than 5in thick, and it packed with gravel and soil on top to help stabilise the self-supporting frame
The structure is waste friendly, as there isn’t the necesity for materials such as concret, which require a lot of energy to make
‘We used to get cyclists going by and stopping and talking about us being on the show.
‘I think the house was considered marmite at the time. People had a lot of opinions. The design and structure and how we had done things divided opinion.
‘I think after these years people’s opinions have changed and there are more fans than not now. But it wasn’t always like that.’
The couple and their son, Oscar, then aged eight, lived in a caravan on site before moving in.
Fame on the show came in 2009 – with Kevin’s infamous ‘lunacy’ comment perhaps giving the impression he was not a fan.
But Richard insists that is not the case.
He added: ‘I think he was very shocked at what we had done and how we had gone about it.
‘He was very taken aback by the arch in particular.
‘But he stayed in touch after the broadcast and has always been very complimentary.
‘Like a lot of people, he has a fondness for the home.
‘People do have a bond and an associated with it and we have always tried to reflect that.
‘Appearing on the show has been incredible, even all these years later people come up and say we were on Grand Designs,’ Richard said (Pictured: The home’s interior)
Inside the unique’s home stylish kitchen designed by architect Richard and Sophie Hawkes
The building took a year and £800,000 to build, and in hindsight at the age of 50 Richard says it has been one of the highlights of his life
The couple have grown several trees outside of the property, built outbuilding and bought more land for greater privacy
‘It’s a special feeling.’
Although they have kept the main elements of the home the same, there have been changes from when they appeared on the show.
The kitchen has now opened into a large space, and outbuildings have also been created.
It also has greater privacy, with trees growing outside and a gate, as well as more land.
Richard added: ‘It wasn’t a case that people were looking all the time. But it has been nice to get a bit more privacy.
‘It’s been a great journey. Things have evolved naturally.’
The couple have kept in touch with other people they have met who have appeared on the show.
And through his own architect company, Richard has arranged for other properties to feature.
But after a long day of looking after other people’s properties, he said, respectfully, the last thing he wants to do is watch the show.
Despite encouraging others to head on the show, Richard revealed it is the last thing he wants to watch after a long day as an architecht
‘It’s been a fantastic journey. But I have to admit I don’t watch it anymore,’ he revealed (Pictured: The exterior of the home)
‘I come home from work as an architect, where I am arranging and talking about other people’s properties all day,’ he added: ‘The last thing I want to do is then watch a television show about the same thing’
An aerial view of their home which featured on the Channel 4 series
He explains: ‘We loved Grand Designs and it will always have a fondness in our lives. It changed them.
‘It’s been a fantastic journey. But I have to admit I don’t watch it anymore.
‘I come home from work as an architect, where I am arranging and talking about other people’s properties all day.
‘The last thing I want to do is then watch a television show about the same thing. I still have opinions when I was watching it.
‘I would sit there disagreeing with them. Then I thought this isn’t what I want to be doing.
‘In the nicest way I cannot watch it. The company and what we have achieved has overtaken it really.
‘But I will always be so grateful. It was amazing. I would highly recommend anybody else to go on it.’
