In this second series of architect, writer and presenter George Clarke’s programme about small builds, he follows a similar format to the first series – each week visiting different small build sites and meeting the people behind these projects. For this series, just like the last one, he takes on his own small build project with the help of his master craftsman friend William Hardie, in which he sets out to build a tree house escape in Keilder National Park.
At Discover Glamping we were huge fans of the first series, as you will already know if you read our series 1 overview. Not only because it showed what inspiration and motivation can achieve when it comes to building somewhere to stay for holidays, work in or live regardless of the amount of space you have available to you; but, also because it highlighted the more offbeat and interesting places where that people are creating for glamping purposes.
Episode 1 – Floating Egg, Aquarium and Campervan
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/george-clarkes-amazing-spaces/4od#3651897
In the first episode he meets an artist who has a peculiar plan to commission a giant wooden egg that floats on the water surface. He plans to use the space for living and working in. Steven Turner plans to spend a year living and working inside the egg, because his artwork is influenced and generally about nature and the natural world.
He also meets a woman who with her partner has recently spent a couple of grand on a 60’s ambulance with a plan to turn it into a campervan for a family of 6 to sleep, cook and eat inside. The major issues of this particular plan is that the couple have no experience renovating vehicles or homes and only have a small square area to work with.
William and George also look at an amazing tree house to get ideas for how they are going to go about their own magical tree house. William makes the good point that when you have a beautiful tree and a piece of stunning architecture beside it, you often find that one takes away from the other, so they both agreed that whatever they build has to add to the overall experience of both elements.
He also went to have a look at a basement that had been turned into a 4800 gallon aquarium in a suburban area of Nottingham.
Episode 2 – Tree Hotel, Cocktail Bar and Beehive
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/george-clarkes-amazing-spaces/4od#3651919
We loved the second episode because George visited a tree hotel situated in the middle of a forest in Sweden. This was part of the research George was conducting for his own tree house build.
He also met a barman who had bought a dilapidated and unused Land Rover that he had plans to turn into a cocktail bar. One of the most interesting things about this episode however, was the couple he met up with who had mortgaged their family home to put money towards an experimental apartment based and inspired by beehives.
Episode 3 – Boat Hotel And Double Decker Retreat
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/george-clarkes-amazing-spaces/4od#3651933
This was a really exciting and inspiring episode because George meets up with a couple who have packed in their jobs and used all their life earnings and savings towards investing and designing a boat hotel. Although it obviously sounds risky, you could tell from watching the show that the couple were excited more than anything about their project.
He also met up with an experienced carpenter who was hoping to convert an old double decker bus into a holiday home and retreat.
Episode 4 – Balancing Barn, Milk Float and Horse Box
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/george-clarkes-amazing-spaces/4od#3651923
At Discover Glamping we loved this episode, particularly because we got a chance to see a stunning 100 ft. long balancing barn, which has half of it hanging over the beautiful countryside of Sussex!
He also met with a couple who had created a glamping style holiday let out of an old 60’s milk float.
There was also the rather inspiring woman that George met who wanted to take an old horsebox and turn it into a mobile home and shop, with the catch being that she only had 500 to spend! Maybe she was not aware about the mobile home listing portals such as ListedBuy (https://www.listedbuy.com/real-estate/mobile-homes/wisconsin) and similar websites where she could have got a readymade mobile home.
We also got to see William and George plan a rectangular shaped pod for their fantasy treehouse.
Episode 5 – Beach Hut and Yo! Home
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/george-clarkes-amazing-spaces/4od#3651913
There were more inspirational tales in the fifth episode when George travelled to the Wirral to meet a couple who were investing all of their life savings into a building project to create the ultimate in relaxing and escapism beach hut.
He also visited a futuristic home called Yo! Home, that has bathrooms and a kitchen hidden from view and a rather jaw dropping double bed that has been designed so that it rises out of the floor and into the ceiling!
William and George take inspiration from this design for their tree house and put together the main rectangular section that will be the main living area.
Episode 6 – Double Decker, Railway Station and Citroen Van
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/george-clarkes-amazing-spaces/4od#3651912
Our favourite thing about this episode was when George visited the supped up double decker that had been converted into a fine dining bar and restaurant. It was amazing to see what had been achieved in such a small space and definitely would give anyone planning a glamping site or small build project workable ideas about what is possible!
He also went to visit a couple who were living in an unused railway station and saw their awesome plans for what they intend to do with the station’s waiting room! He also spent time visiting a French couple living in West Yorkshire who had converted a Citroen van from 1974 in a fine eatery!
Episode 7 – Shipping Container, Caravan and Mobile Cinema
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/george-clarkes-amazing-spaces/4od#3651934
In this episode George meets up with the designer Max McMurdo, who has dedicated his time and talents to creating a classroom using two rusted shipping containers. The use of converted shipping containers to create spaces has greatly risen in popularity in recent years. They can now be used to create accommodation, restaurants, and even classrooms as seen in this episode. If you’re interested in doing something similar, take a look at companies such as BMarko as they have a specific modifications division that can help you to create your dream space. George also visits a 1947 caravan that has been stunningly converted into a beauty emporium and office in the owner’s garden.
By far though, our favourite part of this episode, as we love a good film at Discover Glamping, was when George met up with a couple who had turned a vintage vehicle into their very own mobile cinema business!
Episode 8 – Garden Shed Pub and George’s Tree House
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/george-clarkes-amazing-spaces/4od#3651918
We all love a nice cold and refreshing pint don’t we? Well, in episode 8 George met a man who doesn’t have to leave the grounds of his home to go for a quick one, as he has built an entire pub in his garden shed!
George also gets ready to unveil his ambitious and multifunctional Tree House in Kielder Water And Forest Park.
Episode 9 – George Clarke’s Amazing Christmas Spaces
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/george-clarkes-amazing-spaces/4od#3651920
Just as with the previous series, this episode doubles as a Christmas-themed special, while also being an opportunity for George to catch up with people and projects he has featured throughout the series. He gets a chance to see a man-made stalactite crystal grotto in Surrey and meets a small build hobbyist who has renovated and rebuilt a Victorian flat pack chapel in Shropshire to make a truly magical family holiday home.
He also catches up with the carpenter who created a holiday home out of an old double decker and the couple who transformed an ambulance into a campervan, as well as the hexagonal home inspired by a beehive. We also get to see George and William’s tree house, as well as getting a chance to see the cocktail bar made from a Land Rover!
