Grand Designs viewers have slammed a ‘smug’ and ‘arrogant’ naval captain, claiming he had to build the property himself because no one would work for him.
Dorran, 47, and his wife Vereuschka, 50, spent upwards of £1million building an underground house, which is set next to a protected Saxon hill fort near Canterbury.
The couple initially entrusted a building team to create their modern vision, however delays and rising costs meant that Dorran felt forced to take control of the build himself.
But many viewers of the episode have slammed the property – saying it looks like a Teletubbies house – and calling Dorran too much of a ‘perfectionist’.
Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud visited a unique home on last night’s repeated episode.
But on Twitter, viewers slammed the naval officer for his attitude.
One wrote: ‘He built it himself because no body would work for him… simple.’
Another wrote: ‘Dorran… wouldn’t like to work with him on the Oil Rigs at Sea, be tempted [to] throw him in with his perfectionism. Now [sic] wonder builder left, having not seen the level of Doran’s [sic] detail on a build.’
The latest Grand Designs episode focused on Dorran, 47, and his wife’s Vereuschka, 50, one million underground home in Canterbury
With the main window raised above the ground it lets plenty of natural light flood into the house so once underground it still feels like an above ground property
The Channel 4 presenter was impressed by the detail of the build as he explored the modern property with the couple on Wednesday’s episode
Viewers on Twitter were less than impressed both with the property and the attitude of naval captain Dorran
A third wrote: ‘Weird smug **** ran out of cash so had to get Ikea in for the hot tub.’
While a fourth added: ‘The guy’s a total ****. No wonder the builders are giving it neck.’
Others compared the underground property to the M5 services at Gloucester, which is also set in the earth.
While many joked that it was like the Teletubbies house.
Some compared the property to the Teletubies home and also Gloucester Services, which are built underground
The couple began work on the house five years ago.
Dorran promised his wife, who works for a pharmaceutical company, and their three young children that he would complete the job himself.
Dividing his time between the North Sea and the site, Dorran embarked on the huge task and started installing internal walls himself.
In the episode, Dorran said: ‘Once you get off shore there’s no-one there to help you and anything that happens we have to be able to deal with it ourselves.
‘I am quite happy to be able to take on a certain element of risk and deal with it myself, and it is very challenging, that is definite, but it’s a duty to us to get the job done.
‘Otherwise what’s the option, walk away, that’s not what we came here to do, we came here to build a family home.’
The project hit some turbulence and took five years to complete. Initially entrusting a building team to create their modern vision, delays and rising costs meant that Dorran felt forced to take control of the build (pictured before it was finished) himself
In the episode presenter Kevin McCloud was really pleased with the completed project however viewers were less then impressed (L-R Dorran, Vereuschka and Kevin)
An original schedule of ten months soon became measured in years, as Dorran battled with engineering, earth moving and electrics on a giant scale.
Dorran said: ‘I think what I have found is people build things at the foundation and structural phase with this feeling like “oh it doesn’t matter, that’s close enough, that’s fine.”
‘The thing that interests me is the engineering side, the rest of it isn’t necessity, I think I have always been driven, that’s my character and personality, there’s a certain amount of wanting to get things right.’
Their aim was to create an underground eco-property so in tune with its surroundings that, once completed, it will be barely visible to passers-by, with the above-ground area restored to heathland habitat
The modern design inside created a bright and spacious home and colourful modern furniture gave it a unique and stylish feel
The large window peeps out over the valley which allows plenty of natural light to flood into the property to create an open airy space
The kitchen was complete with a large island and modern furnishings complete with dark cupboards which work well in the open bright space
The modern home is flat to the landscape and blends in with the stunning countryside of Kent beautifully, however viewers remarked it looked like the famous Teletubbies home
There are steps down into the underground property and the home is surrounded by many planters on the steps which house flowers and scrubs
Later on in the project, the father-of three revealed he had to quit his job so he could concentrate his efforts on the new home.
The couple also decided not to enlist the help of contractors as they’d rather not take the risk of the build being ‘inaccurate or wrong.’
Dorran said: ‘We decided to invest in ourselves and the ones we can rely on is us, as a team.’
The unique house has an open bright office space for the family to use as well as four spacious bedrooms in the modern property
The master bedroom is flooded with light due to it’s floor to ceiling windows which look out onto the courtyard and seating area
Vereuschka added: ‘Taking on a massive project like this was immense and I have to say, all credit due, he can just pick up anything and turn his hand to it and get it done. This was massive and at times it pushed us to the limits but we have managed to get through it.’
Kevin made the point that the couple are ‘probably used to a level of quality’ that the ‘contraction industry isn’t used to seeing in Britain’ and the couple agreed.
Planners insisted it should be hidden several metres below ground, with one window peeping out over the valley and a subterranean carpark
Initially entrusting a building team to create their one million pound underground home, delays and rising costs meant that Dorran felt forced to take control of the build himself – even installing internal walls on his own
Vereuschka said: ‘When we saw money going out the door and not a lot happening and timelines extrapolating, you tend to get a bit worried.’
Dorran added: ‘We were going to end up spending a lot of money and actually achieving something and if we do achieve it that would be very sub standard and we weren’t going to except that.’
Vereuschka admitted they had spent more than £1million building and perfecting the property but refused to give the total cost.
She told the presenter: ‘We are over but I haven’t totted up the spreadsheet yet.’
When Kevin pointed out that ‘over’ could mean anything from £1.1million to £1.9million, Dorran insisted: ‘It’s not that much. But we have upgraded and I think we actually got a lot more for our money.’
Their aim was to create an underground eco-property so in tune with its surroundings that, once completed, it would be barely visible to passers-by, with the above-ground area restored to heathland habitat.
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