Taking to the Grand Designs Magazine Theatre stage on the opening day of Grand Designs Live at NEC Birmingham for a talk on ‘25 Years Standing in Mud’, presenter of Grand Designs Kevin McCloud entertained the audience by stripping off layers of clothing and admitting to doing star jumps to keep warm.
Saying he wanted to take the opportunity to talk about how we deal with the coming onslaught of winter, as well as the usual tips he gives out including insulation and draught-proofing, he said whilst taking off six layers of clothing and throwing them into the audience; “Most of the learning I’ve gained from filming for 25 years, which comes from standing outside in rain and snow and mud, is how to stay warm. A mug of tea helps keep your hands warm, but we’ve forgotten how to get dressed in the morning. We’re all wearing t-shirts made of plastic and turning our thermostats up. Layer up and do a bit of movement. I do star jumps when we’re filming.”
Now in its 23rd season, Kevin has been travelling the country filming Grand Designs for 25 years. During his talk Kevin said that the show was dependent on a reservoir of ordinary people building extraordinary homes, “an invisible club of architectural nuts”, and stated that it is the story and the people he encounters that makes his favourite project…“and a good local pub”! On the subject of mud he said; “I hate mud. I really, really don’t like it. I spend my life standing in boots in mud.” But he kept coming back to the energy people put into their buildings, the power of human beings to create things of beauty, the heart-warming human stories, and of the behind-the-scenes family that make the show, some of whom have been working on it since 1997.
The Grand Designs presenter opened Grand Designs Live this morning with a ribbon cutting ceremony, followed by an insightful conversation on the Grand Designs Magazine Theatre with Grand Designers Ruth Grimshaw & Rob Glass who talked about their journey creating their own grand design, Blacking Mill in South Lakeland.
Visitors also flocked to listen to ‘What Does Sustainability Mean to You’ in the Green Living Live Sustainable Future Theatre with Kevin; the Co-Director of Green Grads Michael Czerwinski; and a selection of Green Living Live exhibitors, during which they discussed personal ideology, government policy, corporate responsibility, consumer trends, green-washing, and how sustainability in the construction and design industries is being interpreted, adopted and actioned to have meaningful sustainable impact.
Kevin welcomed Richard Bacon MP to the Grand Design Magazine Theatre in the afternoon for ‘Right to Build’, a conversation on scaling up the delivery of self and custom build homes. Mr Bacon, the MP for South Norfolk since 2001 and self-build advocate, was commissioned in 2021 by Boris Johnson to lead a review on how to scale up the delivery of self-build homes. During the talk he said: “I’m trying to make it possible for everyone who wants to get a serviced plot of land to do so, adding “there is the potential to transform how we do housing in this country. An entire generation has been cut out of the ability to build their own home. Serviced plots of land should be available to all.”
Kevin McCloud also showcased Kevin’s Green Heroes, setting a green example for the industry with his new handpicked selection of revolutionary sustainable innovations. Talking about his chosen designs Kevin said; “These products are the vanguard – they set out the innovations and products of the future.” From the Aura light created from Mycelium – the root of a mushroom that can be combined with a substrate such as hemp to create a completely compostable, carbon neutral material, to the Teule modular roof tile system made from coconut fibre to make green roofs more accessible, affordable, and widely used; and Pureair, a sustainable zero waste air purification system that harnesses the natural power of plants and activated substrates, visitors can view the Green Heroes until Sunday.
Kevin said as the day one of the show closed; “It’s great to be back at Grand Designs Live in Birmingham. The first day has encompassed everything I enjoy about the show – innovation in the shape of my Green Heroes and the wide scope of exhibitors; educational and inspiring content on multiple stages including a trip down memory lane with Grand Designers and my own 25-year journey filming the show; how to combat the onslaught of winter (more layers); a delve into sustainability in construction and design; and Right to Build with Richard Bacon MP. There is something for everyone here.”
Grand Designs Live and Green Living Live are at Birmingham NEC until Sunday 9th October. Tickets are still available from www.granddesignslive.com and www.greenlivinglive.com.
