A pensioner, who “stole the nation’s hearts” when he constructed a groundbreaking flat-pack Huf Haus in Grand Designs 2004 received tributes.
Greta Iredale and David Iredale are the people who built the UK’s first German Huf Haus. This is a home where every component has been preconstructed, and assembled on the spot. It was 16 years ago. Their dream home was built on land that they had purchased in Walton-on-Thames in Surrey.
Their first appearance on Grand Designs was nearly twenty years ago. But viewers were thrilled when Kevin McCloud visited them at a 2019 event.
Huf Haus’ official Instagram page posted the sad news. It included a picture of David, along with the words: “A Tribute to David Iredale.” We regret deeply and share this sad news about David.
David Iredale has been praised for his’stole nation’s heart’ in building a flat-pack Huf Haus at Grand Designs in 2004, which was a groundbreaking invention.
They first appeared on Grand Designs nearly 20 years ago, but viewers were overjoyed when Kevin McCloud visited them in a 2019 (pictured with their Huf Haus)
Yesterday’s news was shared by the official Huf Haus Instagram Page. A photo was taken of David and Greta, from Grand Designs.
“The joyous David and GretaIredale, who built their Huf Haus with GrandDesigns to build their home and stole our hearts,”
Further caption: David will be remembered for his kindness, sense of humor and incredible artistic skills. But, most important, he is remembered as a friend and integral part of the Huf Haus Family.
“Our thoughts are with Greta’s and David’s families.
Following the sharing of the post to Facebook, Huf Haus was inundated with tributes to David.
David and Greta lived for many months in a caravan as their Grand Designs home was being built in 2004
One commenter wrote that it made him feel extremely sad. The episode served to be a real learning experience to those of us who didn’t know anything about HUF HAUS. We send condolences and sympathies to the Iredale family.
Another said: “My favorite grand designs ever Huf Haus. David Iredale, RIP. Greta is my thoughts at this difficult time. He gave everything he had to Greta and the house.
Another wrote, “That Grand Design episode in 2004 inspired my to build my Huf Haus.” Iredale and I share our thoughts.
In 2003, the couple spent 2 days at a German factory deciding the details for their Huf Haus. After that it only took 3 1/2 days to construct on their Walton-on-Thames-owned land.
Flat-pack properties are being constructed; Huf Haus, which is based in Germany saw an increase in sales following the 2004 broadcast.
The couple enjoyed a “good summer” and lived on the grounds while they finished their house.
A medium-sized Huf Haus costs around £500,000 to build and the entire house-building process – from initial designs to builders – is provided by the company.
Once a piece of land is found, the properties usually take three and a half months to complete.
The Huf Haus, a German flat-pack home with pre-fabricated parts, caused pensioners Greta and David Iredale many a headache when they built it back in 2004, in series four of Grand Designs
Greta was seen enjoying the light streaming in from her large windows while relaxing in her living area.
In just three and a half days, the Huf Haus was built. However, the Huf Haus couple lived in their caravan for six months while they finished the house.
When it appeared on Grand Designs in 2004, presenter Kevin McCloud described the home as a ‘German spaceship’, but he was impressed by the ‘most efficient [building] process’ he’d ever seen and the ‘beautiful engineering’ of the finished product.
At the time, Greta, a retired office manager, said: ‘They are so open and there’s so much glass you feel as if you’re living in the garden.
David (84), a retired designer director, recalls the neighbors bringing deckchairs for him to enjoy watching its construction.
The Huf Haus Facebook page received a flood of tributes from David after the post was shared. Many said that the Grand Designs episode was their favorite.
Kevin returned to the couple again in 2019, when he narrowed down his Top Five Picks for Kevin’s Grandest Designs.
They were both already elderly when the build began. However, they seem just as happy with the house in 2019 than they were in 2019, after having spent six months sleeping in a caravan.
David and David shared a touching moment of intimacy, with David confessing that he still feels ‘tingles’ whenever he views the property.