When retired architect Rob and wife Sally purchase a remarkable old dairy farm just outside the NSW town of Mystery Bay, they feel an enormous responsibility to build a home that will do justice to this beautiful and ancient patch of paradise. The challenge – to come up with a design that can not only withstand the elements and celebrate the spectacular views, but also disappear into the landscape!

When music promotor David and doctor Jenny buy a derelict 19th-century semi in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn they have radical plans to demolish the old cottage and create a three story, partially underground, super-modern take on the Victorian terrace. But in this heritage-rich suburb there’s not much appetite for change and convincing the neighbours and the council that their design will fit into streetscape pushes their relationship, the stress levels and their finances to the limit.

When young couple Eloise and Matt decide to leave their busy city life in Melbourne for the peace and serenity in Tasmania it seems like the ideal escape from the city. Having bought a block of land for just $149,000 they have dreams of building a cool and stylish, architect-designed house with spectacular views over Launceston’s Tamar River. But there’s a catch! With only $210,000 to spend and living in a tin shed onsite, Matt plans to do most of the work himself while holding down a full-time job.

Perth couple Angelo and Kasi are obsessed with concrete, particularly in 1950s Brutalist architecture. Known as the ‘ugly duckling’ of design, Brutalism’s geometric, monolithic and ‘blocky’ forms are more common in office buildings than family homes, and the opposite of the Mediterranean-style ‘arched’ homes of Kasi and Angelo’s childhoods. But when they get the drawings back from the architect, they’re in for a surprise that will challenge all their ideas.

Dion and Turi have brave plans for their harbourside heritage home in the Sydney suburb of Greenwich. They want to preserve its Edwardian character while adding a radical new wing with a ramped gallery, a floor-to-ceiling glass-walled pavilion and a brightly coloured lap pool running right up the middle. It’s a daring design but the stakes are high. With a new baby and a limited budget, the pressure is on to get the house finished.

Architectural team Joe and Hayley have spent a lifetime designing other people’s high-end homes. But when they get the chance to build their own dream home on an enormous block in the Brisbane heritage suburb of Ascot the pressure is on to create something modern and masterful, which showcases their talents. Adding to the stress, Joe’s father is one of Australia’s most recognised architects and Joe is keen to do him proud. With a two million plus budget, and an iconic house design they have nicknamed ‘the Boomerang’, Joe and Hayley want to build something remarkable – a modern Queenslander, with its centerpiece a curving, monolithic steel staircase.