The Grand Seminar Theatre gets its teeth into the most pressing issues of the day, taking an interest and debating the challenges designers and the building trade face.
Inspirational debates on housing, sustainability, innovation and regeneration mixed with solid practical information about your pet project ensure that the seminar programme has something for everyone.
BIG DEBATE: The Great British Refurb – where do we go from here?
New government, new policies, but the same commitment to making the refurb of our 26million energy-inefficient homes a priority. Schemes like the Green Deal will help to make eco-refurb affordable, but it is still a question of persuading the public. We are delighted to welcome minister of state for climate change Greg Barker, and Mike Barry, head of sustainable business at Marks & Spencer, to hammer it out with Kevin McCloud and the WWF’s Colin Butfield.
SPEAKERS: Rt Hon Gregory Barker MP, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change: Colin Butfield, Campaign director, WWF; Mike Barry, Head of Sustainable Business, Marks & Spencer Chair: Kevin McCloud
12.15 – 13.00
Meet TV’s Grand Designers with Kevin McCloud
Fresh from the brand-new series of Grand Designs, architect Helen Seymour- Smith and her husband Chris relive the uplifting experience of building their underground Passivhaus in the Cotswolds – the first of its kind in England.
SPEAKERS: Helen and Chris Seymour-Smith Chair:
Kevin McCloud
13.15 – 14.00
Creating new space in your home
George Clarke, architect and star of TV’s The Home Show and Restoration Man, joins architects Paul Acland from Paul+O Architects and Chris Romer-Lee from Studio Octopi, plus Barbara Entwistle, area manager and home improvement specialist from VELUX, to offer practical advice on extending your home. We introduce three approaches to maximising the space in your home.
SPEAKERS:
George Clarke, architect and star of TV's ‘Restoration Man' and ‘The Home Show'; Chris Romer-Lee, Studio Octopi; Paul Acland, Paul+O Architects; Barbara Entwistle, Area manager and home improvement specialist, VELUX. Chair: Aidan Walker, Grand Designs Live seminar programme producer
14.30 – 15.15
My dream eco refurb with Oliver Heath
Green designer and TV presenter Oliver Heath gives a blow-by-blow account of how he successfully transformed his modest Sixties semidetached house into a model eco home.
Architect and presenter of The Home Show, George Clarke puts his creative flair to good use with top tips, creative ideas and inspiring examples of how you can make the most of where you live.
