By KATH GANNAWAY
IT’S fair to say that the words ‘amazing’ and ‘celebration’ will feature prominently when Johanna Griggs introduces Warburton’s increasingly famous sculpture house to Better Home and Gardens viewers on Friday night.
The effervescent lifestyle presenter, who has shown viewers some of the most luxurious and modern architect-designed homes over the years, spent a day in Warburton with the creator of the house, world traveller and philosopher Bob Prudhoe.
The Mail featured Bob – affectionately known locally as ‘Boinga Bob’ in the recent Best of Yarra Valley feature touching on some of the history of the house which was originally the station master’s cottage, and later a youth hostel.
Johanna and her crew found plenty to focus on for a story that she said was very much about celebrating life.
“We focus on the people and on design,” she said of their approach to the houses the show features.
“If I had to break this down to one or two things to focus on it would be about letting your imagination go crazy, if you feel the urge and desire to celebrate your life,” she said.
“We spend half our lives looking at architect designed homes that are about learning to blur the line between outdoor and indoor living when they could have come here and spoken to Bob – this is sort of alfresco living at its ultimate,” she said.
One of the exciting discoveries, apart from Bob himself and the sculptural aspects which define every room and view of the house, was the scope of the house of which little of the original cottage is obvious.
“The effort and hours that have gone into making this is just astounding; I think you could be here for a week and still be finding things you haven’t noticed before,” Johanna said as the crew moved from room to room… and across the road where there is an interesting back story to how the project started.
Warburton as a destination also got the tick of approval from Johanna and her crew who stayed overnight in the town, ate locally and were given a friendly welcome.
“We woke up to beautiful views at Oscars, had dinner at Little Joe’s and had so many people stop and chat, I can see why people fall in love with this part of the world,” Johanna said.
The extraordinary house of Boinga Bob, and it’s extraordinary creator, will go to air on Better Homes and Gardens on at 7pm on Channel 7 on Friday 13 September.
