Grand Designs 2018: 'Insane' giant cob castle to make history? Kevin McCloud finds out

GRAND DESIGNS 2018 presenter Kevin McCloud returned to Devon in tonight's episode, to see how a man got on with his attempt to build one of the largest houses the Channel 4 show has ever seen - but have his efforts been a success?

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Grand Designs is the show that's home to some seriously impressive projects - with many people attempting to take on exciting home design challenges that have rarely, and sometimes never, been done before.

Tonight's instalment followed Kevin McCabe's attempt to make history on the Channel 4 show, as he tried to build one of the biggest houses Grand Designs has ever seen.

The episode saw presenter Kevin McCloud return to the site, seven years after the task first began.

He first started on the enormous challenge of building a cob castle measuring 10,000 square feet back in 2011.

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Building with cob - a mixture of clay, sand, straw and water - Kevin aimed to form two large curved roundhouses.

The two sections were to be connected by glazing and topped with meadow roofs, making a nod at the surrounding Devon countryside.

However, the process required 2,000 tonnes of cob, which had to be mixed and laid during a warm sunny weather.

A revisit instalment from 2013 revealed Kevin had encountered a rather large spanner in the works - due to some of the wettest weather on record.

The efforts saw him attempt to prove cob is a viable material for contemporary architecture.

In a preview of the episode, Kevin tells the Grand Designs star: "I reckon it's going to be the largest cob building on the planet."

Grand Designs 2018: Cob castle house in pictures

Grand Designs 2018: A giant cob castle house features in tonight's episode (Image: CHANNEL 4)

Grand Designs 2018: Kevin McCloud interviews builder in pictures

Grand Designs 2018: Kevin McCloud revisits the build of a giant cob castle in tonight's instalment (Image: CHANNEL 4)

That sounds like a recipe for insanity!

Kevin McCloud

Clearly surprised by the challenge, the 59-year-old presenter then exclaims: "That sounds like a recipe for insanity!"

Find out how Kevin fared in tonight's episode.

Last week, Kevin McCloud was left shocked, after a couple built a concrete bungalow in Lewes, in rural East Sussex.

It took husband and wife duo Adrian and Megan Corrigall 18 months to build their home, spending a total of around £950,000.

But, it seems that Kevin wasn't initially enamoured with the task, as he compared it to a "car park" and "electricity substation".

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Grand Designs 2018: Cob castle house in pictures

Grand Designs 2018: The challenge first began back in 2011 (Image: CHANNEL 4)

And, despite the plans having sparked mixed reviews, Kevin was only later won over by the pair's passion for the project.

Having returned to take a tour of their home, he later said he noted their achievements with the "bold but brutal" architecture.

From its facade to the interior design, the couple kept continuity with the style throughout - opting for grey concrete walls both inside and out.

While Kevin had worried whether the house would feel "homely", Adrian and Megan channelled a sense of minimalism with their choice of furnishings.

Grand Designs 2018 continues tonight on Channel 4 at 9pm.