Catch up TV
Series 2: 3. Japan
Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin travel to Japan, a country who combines innovation with traditional design. And with land at a premium here, small is definitely beautiful. House one is in Izura, on the coast, two hours east of Tokyo. The owner Hiroshi, a fisherman, lost everything in the earthquake of 2011. His new family home, high on a hillside, is nothing like a fisherman's hut. It is a beautiful V-shaped building entirely made of wood with a dramatic design that echos the trees around it. The house is held high in the air by three large pillars of splayed wooden struts that could flex to withstand an earthquake.\n\nNext stop is Jikka House in Izukogen. Old friends Nobuko and Sachiko wanted to create a retirement home for themselves and a cafe for the local community. Nobuko's son, an architect, came up with five linked tepee-like structures, clad in hundreds of curved pieces of cedar. Set in woodland and full of quirky decor, Caroline describes Jikka as a 'fairy-tale' home.\n\nIn Japan nine out of ten people live in the city, so Piers and Caroline go to Hiroshima to see Optical Glass House. Built beside a busy main road, this unusual home is a peaceful sanctuary. Inside, Architect Hiroshi Nakamura designed a giant 13-tonne wall of optical glass and behind this 'crystal curtain' a beautiful internal garden with trees stretching up to the sky. Changing light and the shadows of silent passing vehicles add to the magic of this oasis. For Piers this house is 'a shrine to beauty and silence.'\n\nThe final property, 'Glass House for a Diver', is on the coast at Etajima. Owner Mr Haragami gave his architect free-reign to design a stunning coastal house. The result is an all-glass building inspired by the chambers of an ants' nest. But the real twist is the choice of rough concrete blocks that surround this delicate home - beauty hidden within a brutal exterior. It is a challenging, glamorous house with spectacular views of the sea from every angle.
Source: BBC 2
Most recent episodes of The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
Series 2: 8. Israel
Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin are in Israel where exciting modern houses are inspired by rich cultural and historical traditions. J-House house is in Herzliya, a millionaire ...
29-03-2023
BBC 2
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
Series 2: 7. Norway
Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin head to Norway, where architecture is influenced by incredible landscapes and extreme climate.\n\nThey begin on Vega Island, 600 km north of Os ...
28-03-2023
BBC 2
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
Series 2: 6. India
Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin travel to India, where traditional architecture meets cutting-edge design in stunning family homes. The first stop is the House Cast in Liquid ...
27-03-2023
BBC 2
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
Series 2: 5. Spain
In this episode Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin travel to Spain, a country with a tradition of flamboyant and fearless architecture. Their journey begins in north east Spain i ...
24-03-2023
BBC 2
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
Series 2: 4. Usa
Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin travel to Florida, USA, to discover how high-end design and a celebrated architectural heritage combine to produce extraordinary homes\n\nCanal ...
23-03-2023
BBC 2
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
Series 2: 3. Japan
Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin travel to Japan, a country who combines innovation with traditional design. And with land at a premium here, small is definitely beautiful. Hou ...
22-03-2023
BBC 2
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
Series 2: 2. Switzerland
Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin travel to Switzerland, where architecture is influenced by neighbouring European countries and dramatic landscapes. \n\nMaison Aux Jeurs is bui ...
21-03-2023
BBC 2
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
Series 2: 1. Portugal
Presenters Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin travel to Portugal to find another four extraordinary homes. They are keen to visit a country that has a reputation for great design ...
20-03-2023
BBC 2
Most popular episodes of The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
Series 2: 4. Usa
Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin travel to Florida, USA, to discover how high-end design and a celebrated architectural heritage combine to produce extraordinary homes\n\nCanal ...
23-03-2023
BBC 2
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
Series 2: 5. Spain
In this episode Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin travel to Spain, a country with a tradition of flamboyant and fearless architecture. Their journey begins in north east Spain i ...
24-03-2023
BBC 2
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
Series 2: 1. Portugal
Presenters Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin travel to Portugal to find another four extraordinary homes. They are keen to visit a country that has a reputation for great design ...
20-03-2023
BBC 2
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
Series 2: 2. Switzerland
Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin travel to Switzerland, where architecture is influenced by neighbouring European countries and dramatic landscapes. \n\nMaison Aux Jeurs is bui ...
21-03-2023
BBC 2
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
Series 2: 6. India
Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin travel to India, where traditional architecture meets cutting-edge design in stunning family homes. The first stop is the House Cast in Liquid ...
27-03-2023
BBC 2
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
Series 2: 7. Norway
Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin head to Norway, where architecture is influenced by incredible landscapes and extreme climate.\n\nThey begin on Vega Island, 600 km north of Os ...
28-03-2023
BBC 2
The World's Most Extraordinary Homes
Series 2: 3. Japan
Piers Taylor and Caroline Quentin travel to Japan, a country who combines innovation with traditional design. And with land at a premium here, small is definitely beautiful. Hou ...
22-03-2023
BBC 2