Former Block Contestants return to TV with new reno show
Nine has announced Renovate or Rebuild, a new renovation show with former The Block contestants included in the cost.
The announcement:
What do you get when you mix in some reality TV celebrities, the latest in behavioural science insights, and a mission to transform the sustainability performance of the entire housing industry?
You get the new lifestyle TV show, Renovate or Rebuild, that aims to crack open sustainable building options to a broad audience. It combines reality-TV with behavioural science by encouraging Australian homeowners to choose healthier and more energy efficient homes.
Renovate or Rebuild is a 60-minute lifestyle show where two teams compete to convince a family that they have the best solution to providing more space, comfort and reduced energy bills.
Team Renovate believe the family should renovate their existing home, while Team Rebuild think the family should knock down and rebuild.\
In each episode you are taken on a journey through the design process as the teams juggle the challenges of meeting the clients brief and budget whilst aiming to create an amazing design for a home that is stylish, healthy, comfortable but also an energy efficient home.
Along the way they visit amazing homes to get some inspiration before pitching their design to the family.
The two solutions are judged by an expert panel on style, sustainability, and cost but ultimately the decision will come down to the family – will they renovate or rebuild?
The show features an all-star cast of former contestants from Channel 9’s ‘The Block’ (Australia’s most popular reality TV show) and has all the hallmarks of compelling reality TV: it’s fun, with big, bold characters and a healthy dose of competition. What makes it different is its objective, to help homeowners to create more energy efficient, healthy and comfortable homes.
According to the creator and Executive Producer of the show James McGregor, if the Melbourne comedy festival and your favourite architectural design show had a baby with your all-time favourite contestants from ‘The Block’ it would look like Renovate or Rebuild!
The show takes an edutainment approach to teach viewers about important concepts like passive solar design, insulation, energy efficiency and solar energy systems.
“The show is designed to teach you about important features of an energy efficient home, give you some amazing home design ideas and leave you with a big smile on your face at the end of every episode,” James explains.
“We want people to get excited about things like insulation and high home energy ratings the same way they would get excited about a new kitchen benchtop.”
Renovate or Rebuild builds-on research undertaken in the CRC for Low Carbon Living (CRCLCL) in partnership with the NSW Government and the CSIRO.
“Key findings from the CRCLCL’s social research show that sustainability needs to be communicated in a mainstream way for it to be effective. Our goal with this TV show is to demystify the process of building or renovating an energy efficient home by communicating it in an engaging and entertaining format,” James said.
“Over the past 18 months we have all spent more time in our homes than ever. We have all started to notice the flaws in our homes, too cold in winter, too hot in summer, and our energy bills have gone through the roof. We think Australia is hungry for an uplifting fun show that gives them practical ideas on how to live better and we can’t wait to show Australia Renovate or Rebuild.”
The first episode of the eight-week series of Renovate or Rebuild premieres on Channel 9Life on Monday 4th October 2021 at 9pm. From October 11, viewers can tune in from 8:30pm.
Source: Nine media release
