Called Copper Bottom and designed by Adrian James Architects, this two-story house is intended for studio founder Adrian James and his family. The self-build project consists of a green-patinated copper shell topped with solar panels, forming a “habitable power station.” Located in Oxford, on a sloped wildflower meadow on Harcourt Hill, the four-bedroom home showcases a cuboid form and a sculptural copper carapace that offers protection against the sun while minimizing energy demand. The home is designed with sustainability in mind.
Designer: Adrian James Architects
“The starting points were a compact form, a roof maximizing southerly aspect for solar panels, and an envelope which sheltered the windows from high sun,” said James. “These primary moves established the basics, then it was a case of sculpting this basic form to create something uplifting and resonant.”
The ground floor houses a double-height gallery space, which serves as the heart of Copper Bottom. Alongside this space is an open-plan living and kitchen space with a mezzanine level intended for use as a home office. The upper story includes four bedrooms. One bedroom has an ensuite bathroom and an additional bathroom. What truly makes the house stand apart is its charming origamii-inspired shell. It includes an angled roof plan that cantilevers, offering protection against the summer heat while allowing the low winter rays to enter.
The sides of the home hold space for creased bulges, which accommodate the east and west-facing windows. The top of the house includes two “ears” which serve as ventilation stacks that draw in the cool night air, and remove the hot air that gets collected through the day during summertime. “There are subtle hints of something zoomorphic and something mechanistic, with paired ears and a prow,” said James. “It is really about capturing a sense of dynamism in the form which puts a spring in your step.”
The Copper Bottom House includes 37 photovoltaic panels which have been placed facing the sun. They create more energy than the house requires. This excessive energy makes the Copper Bottom a zero-carbon operation home, while also offsetting the energy linked with its construction. James says they wanted the house to be a habitable power station.
As you enter the home, you are welcomed by a light and spacious space marked by white walls and minimal detailing. The space also includes a big feature wall made using textured stock brick. This wall also serves as a stairway to the mezzanine home office, which contains a wide oak desk and offers views of the garden and the surrounding landscape. The ground floor includes porcelain tiles on the floor, while the upper floor contains joinery and doors made from stained oak. Massive windows provide views of the rolling countryside and the spires of Oxford.
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