Grand Designs Australia: Season 10, Episode 16

10 - 16: Coober Pedy 'Dug Out', SA

Constructing an Underground Acropolis in the South Australian Desert town of Coober Pedy is an ambitious undertaking - but when Paul Athanasiadis' parents retire, he wants to build them the ultimate 'underground Greek Mansion'. Underground homes are common in Coober Pedy as a way of keeping cool, but there's none of the scale or grandeur that Paul plans for Yannis and Maria's house. But constructing a house under the earth is never easy. As well as the risk of catastrophic collapse, tunnelling into rock-hard ground is a test of time and patience, and when equipment breaks down everything stops. Adding to the stress, Paul is juggling two businesses, being the town Mayor and commuting 850 kilometres to Adelaide to see his own family.