Grand Designs

misschrissy (Christine) · #1 15-08-2009, 09:14 PM

Hi everyone this is my first thread, long time reader first time poster.

I admit I've been watching too many episodes of Grand Designs and World's Greenest House so much so I've designed my "dream home", observatory included.

My question is where do I build? I'm not worried about money cause I'll have to win tattslotto to build it, but the question remains if you had the money where would you build? What would be the best for observing on a hillside or a flat plain in the middle of nowhere?

renormalised (Carl) · #2 15-08-2009, 09:52 PM

Hi Christine, welcome to IIS

I'd like to build in place that had good clear skies for most of the year, good transparency and little to no skyglow from town/city lights. Hill or flat wouldn't worry me, although I'd prefer the hill situation. Just feels right and that's where the professionals like to build...and you want it to look professional

Not only that, but a good view from your home, when taken advantage of, will make your house and property worth more than otherwise

. Plus, having a nice observatory with a large dome sitting on a hill/ridge in sight of your house just looks dramatic...and would be a conversation topic, for sure

Octane (Humayun) · #3 16-08-2009, 12:16 AM

The people on those shows are pompous and have more money than sense. I don't know about others but after catching that show on the off-chance left me feeling depressed.

I'd like a simple two bedroom house and observatory on some flat land in Coonabarabran.

Welcome to the forum.

Regards,
Humayun

lacad01 (Adam) · #4 16-08-2009, 04:08 AM

Gday Christine, welcome to the site

Agree with Humayun about that show, shake my head at the amount of money sunk into those projects

Coona would probably be the pick of sites in NSW.
Check out these for a bit of inspiration

(from a US amateur):
http://www.atmob.org/gallery/showimage.php?id=196
http://www.atmob.org/gallery/showimage.php?id=572
http://www.atmob.org/gallery/showimage.php?id=573
cheers
Adam

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #5 16-08-2009, 07:40 AM

Coona would be nice, being surrounded by pro's, but if you want the best place to build it would have to be South East Queensland.
To me it's the best compromise between the Northern and Southern skies.
I have friends up the road who have built their dream observatory on top of a large hill, next to their house. It gives them 360 degree views. I'm so envious of them.

mac (Matt) · #6 16-08-2009, 12:46 PM

I would build in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. The skies are so clear it's being considered for a World Heritage Site:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/env...n-the-sky.html

renormalised (Carl) · #7 16-08-2009, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mac

I would build in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. The skies are so clear it's being considered for a World Heritage Site:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/env...n-the-sky.html

Get in there, quick, before it's too late!!

Jen · #8 16-08-2009, 01:30 PM

to IIS

Well i have built my dream home but no observatory JUST YET that will come later Umm location here the skies are pretty awsome maybe just to be out a little further in the middle of nowhere would be just perfect

KenGee (Kenith Gee) · #9 16-08-2009, 06:29 PM

If money isn't an issue then build your house where ever you want. Build the observatory right next dor to the pro's scopes in Chile, Oh and one next to Keck.

Baddad (Marty) · #10 17-08-2009, 08:15 AM

Hi MissChrissy,

No limitations on a dream? Then have one in Coona', another in Chile, Arizona, WA, SE Qld, etc.

The possibilities create viewing all year round and if one clouds over. Take your Lear Jet to the next one.

Cheers Marty (Dreamin' on)

koputai (Jason) · #11 17-08-2009, 10:14 AM

Hmm, that's the thing isn't it.... where in Aus satisfies ALL criteria?

Dark skies (clear zone on light overlay)
Good altitude (over 1000m)
Good latitude (Nth of about 30 degrees South?)
Reasonable access (not more than two hours from a good size town)
Reasonable cost (....?)

I nearly have the missus convinced, but she'd also throws in 'near the coast'.

Cheers,
Jason.

BLiTZWiNG (Trent) · #12 17-08-2009, 01:41 PM

I used to watch that show. One or two were nice, the rest were just displays of stupidy with too much money.

I've pretty much got my dream house now except... I had forgotten about tall trees and how they have a bad habit of blocking views. The lights of Brisbane give me light pollution too, which isn't much fun, but I guess if I were to get more serious than I am, only a half hour north has some nice hills (glass house mtns) and less light pollution, so yeah, I have it pretty good, but I miss anything that is close to the horizon.

misschrissy (Christine) · #13 18-08-2009, 09:50 PM

Thanks everyone for your warm welcome. There are so many options isn't there and so many variables. I might have to do a driving holiday soon. I love NSW especially Coona but unfort I live in Melbourne

My love of the shows comes down to a couple of things. Firstly I can see how sane I am compared to these people I mean who would spend $3000 on a tap, secondly I can see how creative people are, not that the buildings from the last season of Grand Designs were very creative they all looked Nordic and lastly it's given me the inspiration to finally put pen to paper and design my dream home and I don't mind that Kevin (the presenter) is pretty good looking too

Glenhuon (Bill) · #14 20-08-2009, 07:31 PM

Only be one place in Aus where I would build. WA
Can't get much farther away from crowded and light polluted eastern states.

Someplace about 100kms away from the coast, out in the bush. A solar powered home with its own good water supply and skies as dark as the inside of a cow. TV, who needs it. Just a satellite internet connection and a weekly visit to town for supplies. My idea of heaven on earth

Bill

TrevorW · #15 20-08-2009, 08:58 PM

No TV but I'd have my home theartre

MrB (Simon) · #16 20-08-2009, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenhuon

Only be one place in Aus where I would build. WA
Can't get much farther away from crowded and light polluted eastern states.

Someplace about 100kms away from the coast, out in the bush. A solar powered home with its own good water supply and skies as dark as the inside of a cow. TV, who needs it. Just a satellite internet connection and a weekly visit to town for supplies. My idea of heaven on earth

Bill

stephenb (Stephen) · #17 24-08-2009, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Octane

The people on those shows are pompous and have more money than sense. I don't know about others but after catching that show on the off-chance left me feeling depressed.

I'd like a simple two bedroom house and observatory on some flat land in Coonabarabran.

Welcome to the forum.

Regards,
Humayun

Welcome Christine,

Grand Designs could be a fantastic show, if not for some of the un-friendly enviromental deisgns.

Christine, I had a choice, I would try to choose a location out of Melbourne, north of the divide i.e. Macedon and Dandenong Ranges, to give your self a "buffer zone" from the city lights. I would build a little cottage with an upper balcony attached, for an "open" observing platform, rather than a traditional dome.

When I win Tatts, I'll show you my plans.

Robh (Rob) · #18 24-08-2009, 08:39 AM

Two acres on the Moon.
No atmospheric disturbances, no skyglow and no clouds.
Just dodge the meteors!

Regards, Rob