CHANNEL 4'S 'RESTORATION MAN' NEEDS YOU!

[TigerAspect]

ARE YOU GOING TO RESTORE AN UNUSUAL BUILDING AND CONVERT IT INTO YOUR DREAM HOME?

Architect George Clarke wants to follow your journey and help if he can.

Channel 4’s Restoration Man TV programme is looking for owners of unusual historical buildings in the UK to take part in the series which follows restoration from start to finish and delves into the history of your building.

We are looking for a variety of buildings such as follies, former public toilets, dovecotes, former military buildings, railway buildings, towers as well as any other unusual and interesting projects. We especially want to hear from people who are restoring Grade 1 listed properties.

To apply please contact the Restoration Man team on 0208 222 4042 or restorationman@tigeraspect.co.uk


*permission from admin granted*

 

[FamilyWiggs]

Yawn.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

I'd rather stick pins in my eyes.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

You know what Gareth, I think you might have a TV programme there... at least it has a hint of originality about it; not like the TigerPoo stuff or whatever they're called.

 

[LadyArowana]

I'd rather stick pins in my eyes.

I really don't think that's the best plan. The good news, is that it's not too late to retrain as an ophthalmic surgeon and stick pins ( or lasers ) in other peoples eyes. :lol:

 

[Flyfisher]

Are we being a tad harsh? Isn't it a good thing to have TV coverage of such things?

I know the purists will always be able to pick holes in such programmes but we should remember that they are mainly for entertainment and while we might be interested in a whole programme dedicated to the joys of watching lime carbonate, the audience for such things would probably be measured in three figures!

But as a general awareness exercise, surely it's a good thing? After all, the sorts of properties they're looking for are all likely to be listed so there will be (should be!) a CO involved to ensure that all works are appropriate so what harm can be done?

 

[tobydog]

Hear Hear

 

[88v8]

Hear hear hear.
Even though I would rather it were about restoring a more common or garden house and contrasting it with the crass modernised mess made of adjacent similar houses...

And if - perhaps a big If - the programme makers could find a suitable CO who would demonstrate the positive aspects of their knowledge, that would be helpful at a time when the Govt is trying to reduce the CO's role to an outsourced box-ticking exercise.
Better still if the CO is seen fending off the jobsworth vandals of BC.

Unfortunately, one thing the media in general doesn't do well is detail and nuance, viz the current overblown fuss over the BBC...

What the media seems to want in restoration programmes is arguments, budget-busting overruns, disasters... you could pretty well stick a pin in this forum to find that

Ivor

 

[Moo]

Perhaps PPUKers who have encountered wonderful COs could persuade one of them to nominate a suitable restoration/conservation project in their area that could be used to both entertain and educate?
Of course, Gareth would be ideal, but ........

 

[plasticpigeon]

Yes it's a shame that there are no programs that concentrate on quality restorations of everyday period properties, for example the streets and streets of Victorian and Edwardian houses or the incredible municipal buildings from that era that get treated with such disrespect. It would be nice to present a tasteful alternative to open plan and shiny. But this program at least brings an awareness of traditional materials and sensitive modernisation, and George Clarke seems genuine and not annoying like other presenters on these type of programs.

Has anyone seen Nick Knowles' period features? That seems to be about doing up more normal homes but it isn't on normal telly so I've never seen it.

 

[TheForge]

George Clarke seems genuine and not annoying like other presenters on these type of programs.

Who bought a 200 year old cottage in Dorset and knocked it down after living in it for 2 years because it was 'beyond saving' and built a new house in it's place...

 

[skier-hughes]

Has anyone seen Nick Knowles' period features? That seems to be about doing up more normal homes but it isn't on normal telly so I've never seen it.

I've sen a lot of Nick Knowles It's on Home, so can be seen via Virgin, Sky or online http://uktv.co.uk/home/item/aid/635498

 

[plasticpigeon]

George Clarke seems genuine and not annoying like other presenters on these type of programs.

Who bought a 200 year old cottage in Dorset and knocked it down after living in it for 2 years because it was 'beyond saving' and built a new house in it's place...

That's not cricket. He's still less annoying than Caroline Quentin.

 

[Gareth Hughes]

Perhaps PPUKers who have encountered wonderful COs could persuade one of them to nominate a suitable restoration/conservation project in their area that could be used to both entertain and educate?
Of course, Gareth would be ideal, but ........

Very kind of you, but I'm actually not being filmed, at this very moment, for the Caroline Quentin one (a colleague is appearing instead)

 

[MatthewC]

What really annoys me is when people like George Clarke show that they do indeed understand about breathability and using correct materials in old buildings, but then go and do some awful modern tat regardless. We need people like him to make the point repeatably that you will not produce a lasting restoration to old buildings if all you are doing is to slap multifinish on walls, add dpcs and fit uPVC windows.

These presenters could also educate the watching masses about the permissions you need to do work on listed buildings - so often in this sort of programme this is overlooked to the point of pretending that you can do what you want regardless, which is a totally incorrect message to send out. At least George has had some problems with planning and conservation!

I would have liked one of these TV presenters to have seen what my house - just an ordinary stone house from about 1840 - looked like before I started, but it's mostly done now so wouldn't make good TV!

 

[Flyfisher]

And if - perhaps a big If - the programme makers could find a suitable CO who would demonstrate the positive aspects of their knowledge, that would be helpful at a time when the Govt is trying to reduce the CO's role to an outsourced box-ticking exercise.
Better still if the CO is seen fending off the jobsworth vandals of BC.

That's a very good idea, though I suspect it might be a bit too political. But surely there could be some way in which the programme could show the advantages to the owners of having an expert CO involved in their project? Perhaps TigerAspect could comment on this?

What the media seems to want in restoration programmes is arguments, budget-busting overruns, disasters... you could pretty well stick a pin in this forum to find that

That's probably all part of the 'entertainment' requirement (constraint?).

 

[andrew gayton]

delete.

 

[JoceAndChris]

I agree with the view that Grade 1s are too precious to be tarted and pimped out to crass TV shows whose directors and producers have their own fixed agenda. I'm not at liberty to write about my friend Gareth Malone's career - but if I could...

The angle that the producers think the public want is always on the premise that truth should never get in the way of a good story. This is why I can't read newspapers.

There is good TV on the subject, I won't forget Ruth Watson visiting Plas Teg and the wonderful work of the mad parrot lady on that house. But this idea is just wrong from the outset, you can't do justice to a house within the time scale the TV crews need.

 

[skier-hughes]

Whereas I beg to differ.

 

[Flyfisher]

I agree with the view that Grade 1s are too precious to be tarted and pimped out to crass TV shows whose directors and producers have their own fixed agenda.

Absolutely, but isn't that what the CO and (with grade 1s) English Heritage are there for? The producers might well have their own agenda at the outset but what (good) CO would agree to inappropriate works just because it's for TV?