Kicking off the series and setting the bar high was the ‘ZZ (Zig Zag) Top House’ built by Clinton Cole from CplusC Architectural Workshop. Clinton takes us on an impressive tour of the building and emphasises the quality of the material palette, an astounding amount of which is recycled, efficient and low maintenance. Clinton’s 20+ years of experience and talent are evident as the viewers of Master Build are blown away by this Zig Zag House as it blurs the lines between inside and out.

ZZ Top House is a hard act to follow, but ‘The Barn’ did an excellent job continuing to pique audience interest. Todd Knaus from Todd Knaus Constructions, and his Broken Head project was asked to build a “forever home using sustainable materials, and to be as off-grid as possible”. The Barn has many unique elements including a kitchen bench made out of chopping boards from Belgium. Solar panels produce 25KW of power stored in 30KW of battery. We also learn it has two 110,000L water tanks are buried underneath a garden area.

The next project includes a vaulted ceiling, barn doors to the bathroom, a generous island bench, two bedrooms, a rumpus room downstairs, indoor laundry tucked into a space with sliding doors to the outdoors – and the best part, it’s a Granny Flat. Built by Joel Basha from BTM Constructions in Sydney’s northern beaches, this Avalon Granny Flat Apartment uses every bit of space available. Michael O’Donnell, Excellence in Housing Awards Judge for the Master Builders provides some insight into this property, explaining why this home was exactly what he looks for in a granny flat.

Throughout the hour-long episode Tim Ross takes a look at the Master Builders Association NSW and has a chat with Executive Director Brian Seidler who illustrates who the Master Builders Association is, the role of the MBA’s Apprenticeships Department, and a glimpse of the Florence (constructing a new perspective) Magazine brand – celebrating Women in Construction, including the most recent Luncheon held at the Grounds of Alexandria in September.

Episode one ends with a bang when Tim and MBA Judge Andrew Tomkins visit Ravenscourt- a house restoration and renovation in Birchgrove completed by Shaun Taylor at TCM Construction Group. The 1860 Building Ravenscourt sits proudly on the local heritage register and homeowners Liane and Wayne saw it as their legacy to do the right thing and restore this house to make sure it will still be around for another 200 years. Original elements restored expertly by the builders include the sandstone walls, the kitchen ceiling and the fireplaces which had to be dismantled and restored offsite. Detail replication was achieved through studying old black and white photos, and sourcing original materials from around Australia.

(This episode originally premiered on Channel 7 on Sunday, 23 October 2022)