Copper Bottom in the Press
After a lot of hard work, it’s wonderful seeing a property complete on site, which is why we are often a little biased when it comes to SOLID projects. Whilst we believe all our projects deserve to be shouted about, it is fabulous when the press cotton on to just how brilliant they are. The recently completed Copper Bottom in Oxfordshire is one such property. To date, the unique, copper-clad house has been featured in three major publications – and we have a feeling it won’t stop there.
Copper Bottom in Dezeen
Designed by Adrian James Architects – as the home of Adrian James himself – the property has been described as a ‘habitable power station’. Whilst unusual in appearance, the design is not simply for aesthetics, every slope and corner has been carefully considered to enable a high benchmark for sustainability. Dezeen writes ‘Copper Bottom's defining feature is what the studio describes as its "origami-esque" shell. It features an angled roof plane that cantilevers out like a peaked cap to prevent high summer sun from entering the house's big south-facing windows but allowing low winter rays in.’
Architect’s Journal
Dezeen published the highly complimentary article this week and the publication follows December’s articles in the Architect’s Journal and a double page spread in the Sunday Times Home supplement.
The Architect’s Journal writes ‘The external form of the two-storey house on the edge of Oxford has been shaped by Passivhaus principles and is entirely copper-clad to double up as a ‘solar helmet’
Designed by the architect for his own family, Copper Bottom sits high on Harcourt Hill with views over Oxford. Surrounded by a wildflower meadow and overlooking a nature reserve, the home is easily accessible by foot or bike from the city centre.
Designed to be low in embodied energy, the form of the house has been shaped by Passivhaus principles and features a copper carapace that acts as a solar helmet, protecting the glazing from summer sun in the south and lower sun from the east and west.’
The Sunday Times
After thirteen months of building work The Sunday Times asked Adrian’s wife, Sarah, her thoughts and whether or not she misses their city centre home (which was sold to fund the build). The Sunday Times quotes Sarah ‘I would have been very happy to stay there, as I did love being by the river. But this is lovely. I look around and go, oh my God, I live here, that’s amazing.’
‘James finally has his house on the hill. More importantly, he hopes the project will raise the profile of copper in architecture. It’d be wonderful if there was a lot more copper around.’
Read all three articles in full by following the links below and catch up on our SOLID approach to the engineering challenges here. If you are dreaming of your own unique, architectural build, contact the SOLID team to let us help you overcome your structural challenges.
Copper House in the Architect’s Journal
Copper House in The Sunday Times