Episode 1/26

@ Cuter Scooter
Monty Don and Whizz now know where to find Fantastic Buildings, as they have been given a free map! Before unfolding it, they read the cover:
Quirk
Whether climbing up ladders or slithering down snakes, your pet is in for a fantastic tour of all that is quirky in architecture and style! Whether it's a house on its head, a twisted spiral of a building or more staid iconic design, your pet will have a hard time choosing which one would be the best to live in!
Cuter Scooter
This fun mode of transport with its simple design makes it so easy and fun to hop on board and vroom off to wherever your fancy takes you! Its distinctive red colour makes it easy to spot when you return from the shops all ready to go back home.

Episode 2/26

@ Beacon of Glass Lights
"When we get back I'm going to go to the library and see if Mrs Eucalyptus can recommend a book about architecture," said Sugar. "I've realised how little I know about it."
Monty Don thought about this. "Good scheme!" he said. "Although—some of these ones we've seen so far, you know, what heading would they come under?"
Beacon of Glass Lights
Do we underestimate the role that colour plays in architecture? Most buildings are neutral in colour and designed to blend in with other equally colourless structures. A design which doesn’t fit in with this standard is very refreshing and lifts the spirits! The coloured glass panels of this facade create an amazing and unique design.

Episode 3/26

@ A different Slant on Things
“Isn't this amazing, Monty Don?” Alastair said, awestruck.
“Yes, you wonder how the architect thought of it!” replied Monty Don.
A different Slant on Things
This is an eye-catching building that lets in a lot of natural light. Its angular blocks are complementary colours, providing the maximum contrast between the orange and blue.

Episode 4/26

@ Lotus Temple
“It's a good job we don't have to climb all these ladders in real life, isn't it, Monty Don?” remarked Penelope.
“Yes, that would be quite tiring," replied Monty Don. "But it would be fun to slide down all the snakes!"
Lotus Temple
This temple in New Delhi, India uses the design of the sacred lotus, nelumbo nucifera, an aquatic plant that plays a central role in the art of Indian religions.

Episode 5/26

@ Zen Interior
"When we get back I'm going to go to the library and see if Mrs Eucalyptus can recommend a book about architecture," said Mochi. "I've realised how little I know about it."
Monty Don thought about this. "Good scheme!" he said. "Although—some of these ones we've seen so far, you know, what heading would they come under?"
Zen Interior
A traditional Japanese interior with a calming view over a still pond.

Episode 6/26

@ Parapluies Joyeux
“Isn't this amazing, Monty Don?” SPARKLES said, awestruck.
“Yes, you wonder how the architect thought of it!” replied Monty Don.
Parapluies Joyeux
Even on the rainiest and greyest day these colourful umbrellas will give a lift to the spirits!

Episode 7/26

@ Utterly Shutterly
Monty Don and George swapped notes on the amazing places they had seen so far.
"Have you seen one you'd like as your own house, Monty Don?"
"Not yet, but they're all incredible in their own way!" said Monty Don.
Utterly Shutterly
Strong colour contrasts give these shutters maximum impact against the background wall.

Episode 8/26

@ Seaside Delight
“Gosh, what do you make of this one, Monty Don?” asked Fancy Face .
Monty Don considered the matter. “Well, it's very striking, I'll say that for it! he replied.
Seaside Delight
These darling terraced cottages painted in shell pink with adorable bay windows are the perfect place to stay during your holiday at the seaside! Take a walk along the promenade and admire the snail-shell street lamps.

Episode 9/26

@ Top Class Glass
Monty Don is enjoying Fantastic Buildings when Puff comes along. "Look! A special prize!" says Puff. Monty Don looks down and sees something valuable. Puff generously lets Monty Don keep it!
Flagstone Patio
Smooth irregular-shaped gray stones make geometric patterns in this lovely flagstone patio.
Top Class Glass
Glass is the top choice for the facades of iconic high-rise buildings! Not only is it super-stylish but it maximises natural daylight which is beneficial for employee health productivity.

Episode 10/26

@ Balcony Alchemy
“Is that us going up a ladder or sliding down a snake, Monty Don?” laughed DAISY.
“Neither—we're just continuing along this road!” replied Monty Don.
Balcony Alchemy
These darling curved balconies adorn the classically arched windows of this canal dwelling which is painted coral, beautifully toning with the red brick of the ground floor below.

Episode 11/26

@ Cobble Wobble
Monty Don was excited to meet up again with Sugar. They both took a moment to admire the amazing scene around them.
Cobble Wobble
Paving with cobblestones, or setts as here, which are regularly sized, flatter cobbles, allows a road to be heavily used all year long. There is the added advantage of immediately draining water, and not getting muddy in wet weather or dusty in dry weather. Shod horses are also able to get better traction on stone cobbles or setts than tarmac or asphalt. The fact that carriage wheels, horse hooves and even modern automobiles make a lot of noise when rolling over cobblestone paving has the paradoxical advantage of warning pedestrians of their approach. In England in former times, the custom was to spread straw over the cobbles outside the house of a sick or dying person to dampen the sound of carriage wheels going over them.

Episode 12/26

@ Interior Chic
“It's strange not having a normal map, isn't it, Monty Don?” said Cheery.
“Yes, but snakes and ladders is always great fun!” replied Monty Don.
Interior Chic
This colourful interior is modern and ultra-stylish! Despite the strong hues and bold floor, the overall effect is uncluttered and relaxing.

Episode 13/26

@ Elevated Entrance
Monty Don opened his rucksack to change his hat. Cherokee could see Monty Don had a large, floppy sunhat, a balaclava, a rain hat, a woolly bobble hat, a beanie, a deerstalker hat and a swimming cap! “Did you bring a fez too?” Cherokee asked Monty Don.
Elevated Entrance
This old-fashioned exterior exudes charm! Steps are not merely the entrance to our houses. In warm, sunny weather we sit on them, watching the world go by, chatting with neighbours, or simply sipping a cold, iced drink. Front steps are the first welcome that guests receive to our house. They need to be sturdy and in good condition, but they don't have to be boring! They should be just as attractive as the rest of our home's exterior. But the aesthetics of front steps are often overlooked by homeowners, possibly because they're so functional.

Episode 14/26

@ Show Window
“I could stay here forever, Monty Don,” said MooDonna. “This is an amazing place!” “Well, you never know what lies ahead, MooDonna. I wouldn't be surprised if the next stop is even better!” said Monty Don.
Show Window
Such über-stylish windows, with an attractive brown and orange stripe design to the walls.

Episode 15/26

@ Little Boxes
While Monty Don paused to drink in the view, Shamika started scrabbling in her rucksack for her portable, foldable camping chair. “What are you doing with that, Shamika?” asked Monty Don. “We’ll need to get going in a minute or we’ll be left behind!”
Little Boxes
Little boxes on the hillside
Little boxes made of ticky tacky
Little boxes, Little boxes, Little boxes all the same
There's a green one and a pink one
And a blue one and a yellow one
And they're all made out of ticky tacky
And they all look just the same
And the people in the houses all go to the university
And they all get put in boxes, little boxes all the same
And there's doctors and there's lawyers
And business executives
And they're all made out of ticky tacky and they all look just the same
And they all play on the golf course and drink their martini dry
And they all have pretty children and the children go to school
And the children go to summer camp
And then to the university
And they all get put in boxes, and they all come out the same
And the boys go into business and marry and raise a family
And they all get put in boxes, little boxes all the same
[Malvina Reynolds, 1962]

Episode 16/26

@ Silver Sails
Monty Don and Mushroom agreed that the variety of environments on their expedition was the best ever! Monty Don and Mushroom exchanged opinions on which their favourite attraction had been so far!
Silver Sails
The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, CA. It opened in 2003.

Episode 17/26

@ A New Twist on Things
Monty Don is admiring some Fantastic Buildings when HapHipHop comes along. "Look! Another special prize!" says HapHipHop. Monty Don looks down and sees it. HapHipHop generously lets Monty Don keep it!
Cobblestone Patio
Rounded gray-blue stones make a bumpy surface in this lovely cobblestone patio.
A New Twist on Things
Moscow International Business Centre. Still under construction, this site contains some of the tallest buildings in Europe. The site is located 2½ miles from Red Square. Before construction began, the site was an industrial zone, where most of the buildings were old factories that had been closed or abandoned.

Episode 18/26

@ Jenga Stack
Monty Don and Ith were entranced at reaching this stopping place and eagerly posed for a picture standing on either side of the new attraction they had just seen!
Jenga Stack
Yikes! This building looks like a stack of coasters piled on top of each other and that one false move could send tumbling!

Episode 19/26

@ Topsy Turvy House
“Do you think the people who wanted this building told the architect what to build, Monty Don?” asked Arvin.
Monty Don pondered the matter while surveying the structure in question. “Well, why would you hire an architect and then tell him what to build?” he queried.
"I think that's very profound, Monty Don. Why indeed?" said Arvin.
Topsy Turvy House
Inverted houses are becoming all the rage! The wooden structure promises visitors a zero-gravity illusion experienced in a safe and family-friendly environment. Take photos of yourself walking on the ceiling, rotate by 180° and post on Petbook!

Episode 20/26

@ Yellow Stick Road
“This design is very ... interesting, isn't it, Monty Don?” asked Sam.
“Yes, yes, I was just thinking that—it's ... interesting... yes," replied Monty Don.
Yellow Stick Road
This contemporary and stylish yellow staircase lets you look up the stairwell right up to the sky above.

Episode 21/26

@ Stair Pair
“Gosh, what do you make of this one, Monty Don?” asked Sir Precious McPrance.
Monty Don considered the matter. “Well, it's very striking, I'll say that for it! he replied.
Stair Pair
Two smart terraced houses with ornate fanlights situated in a residential square. Would you take the yellow door or the blue door?

Episode 22/26

@ Red Telephone Box
“Gosh, what do you make of this one, Monty Don?” asked wiggles.
Monty Don considered the matter. “Well, it's very striking, I'll say that for it! he replied.
Red Telephone Box
Britain's iconic red telephone box was designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, the winning design of a competition in 1924. The telephone box underwent several redesigns in subsequent years.

Episode 23/26

@ Candy Coloured Houses
"This leg of the tour has certainly opened my eyes to the different kinds of architecture all over the world, Monty Don," remarked Rex. "We shouldn't get set in our ways just because it's the only way we've seen it done."
Candy Coloured Houses
A park of delicious candy coloured house facades.

Episode 24/26

@ Geometric Gentility
“Gosh, what do you make of this one, Monty Don?” asked Majestic.
Monty Don considered the matter. “Well, it's very striking, I'll say that for it! he replied.
Geometric Gentility
An apartment block characterised by clean, angular lines and white colour. Residents bring some individuality to their dwellings by growing shrubs on their balconies.

Episode 25/26

@ Stepwell Stairways
Monty Don is considering the merits of another Fantastic Building when Persephone comes along. "Wow! That completes the set!" says Persephone. Monty Don is amazed to have collected all three items!
Brick Road (close-up)
Dark gray bricks make a durable road for light traffic (no motor vehicles allowed). If we allowed vehicles we'd have to charge a toll to earn revenue for maintenance.
Stepwell Stairways
A stepwell in Jaipur, India. Jaipur is the capital of India’s Rajasthan state. Stepwells are wells or ponds in which the water is reached by descending a set of steps to the water level. They are most common in western India.

Episode 26/26

@ Quirk
Monty Don has seen enough buildings to plan his own town, and is tired out. Dschinghis Khan agrees it is time to go home and discuss which building they would most like to live in!
Quirk
Whether climbing up ladders or slithering down snakes, your pet is in for a fantastic tour of all that is quirky in architecture and style! Whether it's a house on its head, a twisted spiral of a building or more staid iconic design, your pet will have a hard time choosing which one would be the best to live in!
Monty Don has completed the quest! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can take part in "Fantastic Buildings"!