HOMES SWEET HOMES
Dermot Bannon goes behind the front door to give us a glimpse into the most stunning houses in Spain and Scotland in a new series
Dermot Bannon is hitting the road again to explore architecture and design in Spain and Scotland in the new series of Dermot Bannon’s Incredible Homes.
First up, Dermot travels to the Matarraña region, for what has to be one of the most beautifully designed houses he has ever visited. Christian Bourdais had a dream to create an architectural theme park, and Solo House is the second completed holiday home on this 250 acre site.
From here, Dermot heads to Barcelona to explore the streets and buildings, and meets Joan Clos, who was mayor of Barcelona for eight years. Clos won a RIBA gold medal for his celebrated urban design.
Lucky Dermot has the honour and pleasure of stepping inside one of Gaudi’s incredible apartments in Casa Milà. Owned by the Gaudi Trust, this is the first time Tere Iglasias Rovira, who was born here 72 years ago and has lived here all her life, has allowed cameras into her home.
An hour from Barcelona is the medieval town of Olot, where Dermot meets Michelin-star chef Fina Puigdevall and her three daughters. Designed by architects RCR, Dermot is wowed by the structure of Horizon House, which is lined entirely by corten steel and glass — but is even more wowed by what’s inside.
Dermot doesn’t have to travel too far to his next house. Owned and designed by Arnaud Verjés, Retina House was supposed to be a summer retreat for Arnaud, his wife and young family, but during lockdown, they decided to make it their permanent home.
Finally, Dermot heads to the coast and visits Begur. Here he meets Perry Cantarutti and Alvaro Megias, who show him around their breath taking coastal house.
In a later episode, Dermot takes the high road to explore Scottish architecture. From Edinburgh to Glasgow and the Isle of Skye to the Highlands, he discovers that mother nature plays a huge part in Scottish design.
There’s an 800-year-old castle, kit houses on the Isle of Skye and the quirkiest house in Edinburgh as Dermot finds how Scotland is bursting with incredible historical and contemporary architecture.
■ Dermot Bannon’s Incredible Homes is on RTÉ One tonight at 9.30pm.