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Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin explore extraordinary homes built in mountain locations around the world, meeting the owners and architects.

Award-winning architect Piers Taylor and actress and property enthusiast Caroline Quentin explore extraordinary homes built in mountain locations around the world, meeting the owners and architects brave enough to take the challenges on.

Their journey starts in the Santa Monica mountains in California, where one homeowner built her dream home from the most unthinkable reused building material - the wings and tail fins of a disused Boeing 747, which had to be delivered onto the mountain site by helicopter.

Their next stop takes them to the desert Tuscon mountain range of Arizona where Caroline and Piers spend the day and stay overnight in a stunning modern house which is heavily influenced by ancient building methods. The home has an innovative take on traditional rammed earth houses, a centuries-old technique of naturally absorbing the heat during the day and releasing it at night, reducing the need for air-conditioning and heating.

Next, Caroline and Piers go to the other side of the world to New Zealand's South Island. Designed to fit within strict planning regulations, the house was inspired by the surrounding trees and mountains and is camouflaged using wooden cedar cladding to cloak the building and with fireplaces cast in concrete.

The last stop takes them to the Swiss Alps, to a unique alpine chalet. Arriving by cable car, Piers and Caroline discover its hexagonal shape gives it stability in the freezing winter winds while the steel chimney core that anchors the house to the mountain, distributes heat around the house. As the mists clear, an incredible panoramic view of the Alps is revealed.

59 minutes

Last on

Sun 3 Oct 2021 11:00
91热爆 Two

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Clip

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:03

    Cream

    I Feel Free (Album Version)

  • 00:04

    Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

    Red Right Hand

  • 00:05

    The Mamas & the Papas

    California Dreamin'

  • 00:06

    Booker T. & The M.G.'s

    Big Train

  • 00:13

    The Jimi Hendrix Experience

    All Along The Watchtower

  • 00:15

    Lou Reed

    Walk On The Wild Side

  • 00:16

    Link Wray

    Rumble

  • 00:17

    Lucius

    Tempest

  • 00:22

    The Cinematic Orchestra

    To Build A 91热爆

  • 00:23

    Talking Heads

    This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)

  • 00:50

    Tom Walker

    Fly Away With me

  • 00:54

    Brian Eno

    An Ending (Ascent)

  • 00:57

    补濒迟鈥怞

    Warm Foothills

Credits

Presenter Caroline Quentin
Presenter Piers Taylor
Executive Producer Emma Hindley
Series Producer Anna Stickland
Director Ed St Giles

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