Grand Designs viewers hit out at a couple who knocked down an inoffensive bungalow to create ‘the worst house ever’.
Davi and Matt bought the house in Hertfordshire for £800,000 – but decided to knock it down to make way for a contemporary family home with a black flint-clad exterior.
Local residents were furious with the plans but permission was granted – with the couple initially hoping to pay £550,000 for the radical build.
Instead, they overbudgeted by £160,000 and took 17 months to finish their dream home.
Twitter users were left unimpressed after the repeated episode on Channel Four, questioning how they got permission to build it in the first place.
One wrote on Twitter: ‘Why knock down an £800,000 house, build something that overshadows both neighbors and totally knocks them off too? Bet they’re not very welcome there.’
Another wrote: ‘Crikey. It’s a bit ugly. Not really in keeping with the surroundings at all, a bit of a gaudy big lump.’
Another wrote: ‘Worst house ever’, while another wrote: ‘But it’s so ugly.’
Viewers have also generally criticized Grand Designs and the people who go on them.
One wrote: ‘Another oversized ugly monstrosity. Here we go again.’
While another wrote: ‘I’ve never watched #GrandDesigns before. Do these people often run out of money before they put up curtains?’
When the episode first aired in the fall of 2022, it explored the couple’s dream plans.
They wanted a house that represented their nationalities – from Zimbabwe and Australia – with the house featuring a black flint-clad exterior and a projecting skylight.
Davi and Matt bought the house in Hertfordshire for £800,000 – but decided to knock it down to make way for a contemporary family home, complete with a black flint-clad exterior and eye-catching skylight
Grand Designs viewers were left reeling by a couple who knocked down an inoffensive bungalow to create a ‘monstrosity and sore’ property for £710,000 – after going £160,000 over budget.
As is usually the case with a Grand Designs building, the project did not initially go to plan – including two weeks of bad weather at the start which washed out the site
But their plans have “freaked out” residents who insist they are “too different” to their own homes.
Even as construction began in the picturesque suburb, one neighbor told presenter Kevin McCloud: ‘It doesn’t [fit in on the street]. I think it just looks awful.’
The construction work also – perhaps not surprisingly – did not go according to plan. Bad weather at the start of construction washed out the site. The couple also made mistakes – buying windows before the walls were even built.
Parents of two Davi and Matt decided to project manage the construction themselves – even though they were city office workers – and constantly encountered problems.
The property eventually managed to include a bay window, a modern open plan kitchen, a private sculpture garden and ground floor offices.
Yet Matt admitted the stress of the project was ‘still pretty raw’ when he spoke to presenter McCloud after the build was completed after 17 months.
In the end the build cost £710,000 – £160,000 over budget.
The finished house was also slammed on Twitter.
Viewers were very critical and dismissive of the design, which according to one was the worst house ever
The couple wanted to build an ‘Australian and Zimbabwean inspired’ home to reflect their nationalities
However, permission was granted and the duo hoped to complete the new home within nine months, at a cost of £550,000. However, they went £160,000 over budget and took 17 months
![Even as construction began to take shape, one neighbor told presenter Kevin McCloud (pictured left): 'It doesn't [fit in on the street]. I think it just looks awful'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/02/02/10/62685793-11704873-Even_when_the_build_started_to_take_shape_one_neighbour_told_pre-a-76_1675332969329.jpg)
Even as construction began to take shape, one neighbor told presenter Kevin McCloud (pictured left): ‘It doesn’t [fit in on the street]. I think it just looks awful’
Parents of two Davi and Matt decided to project manage the construction themselves – despite being city office workers – and were hit with problems throughout. In the photo: one of the bedrooms
They had to deal with increasing costs, while incorrect dimensions meant that at one point the structure was out. In the photo: another bedroom
Twitter users were left unimpressed after the latest tour of the property, with one writing: ‘Feel sorry for the neighbors who live next to that monstrosity. The bungalow they knocked down looks a lot nicer.’
Previously, when the house was first shown, viewers attacked it in a similar way.
One wrote: ‘How the hell did this get planning permission? It’s huge, blocks out light and view completely for the neighbors, it’s really oppressive. It looks nothing like the surrounding houses.’
Another added: ‘They have devalued their neighbours’ property with that gigantic, extravagant, light-blocking, privacy-invading eyesore. Flat roofs are also a nightmare. They always leak in the end. Epic fail.’
![The TikTok tourist captioned the short clip: 'You [sic] in Paris when the Mona Lisa was stolen' - causing panic - and Google searches - from people who assumed it was true](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/01/10/10/66400491-11618233-The_TikTok_tourist_captioned_the_short_clip_Your_sic_in_Paris_wh-m-22_1673346847523.jpg)
