Shape matters

Copper Bottom is undoubtably an unusual shape. Architectural whimsy? No, says Adrian, the shape derives from the uses it serves, particularly environmental concerns.

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Climate and carbon: concrete benefits of timber

Why would someone who “blooming loves concrete” choose a timber frame for his latest house? As Adrian explains, it’s all about climate and carbon.

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The house starts to appear

Last week a (very big) crane arrived and started dropping in panels.

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Getting to the bottom of it

Another big day for the project – the pouring of the slab.

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Meanwhile at the timber frame factory…

In our last blog we mentioned that we are using a timber frame at Copper Bottom. In the first house Adrian designed and built for our family, he used a cold-formed steel frame, cutting edge technology a quarter of a century ago. But times have changed, and this time round Adrian has chosen to use a timber frame – he will explain why in a blog post to come (expect lots about sustainability!).

Our first house on the River Thames in Oxford was built a quarter of a century ago using a cold-formed steel frame.

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The View from the Site Hut

Anyone who has been involved in a building project will know that having a good site foreman is key. We are lucky at Copper Bottom to have the absolute best in the form of Mick Bond. I visited site today to have a chat with him about his career and our project.

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A love letter to copper

Our new house, Copper Bottom, will be fully clad in pre-patinated copper. Why? I asked Adrian to explain and he wrote this, pretty much a love letter to copper.

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Action stations

The first actual construction work has happened; Copper Bottom has its foundations.

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Who doesn’t love a photo opportunity with a digger?

Our contractor, GC Interiors, have been clearing and levelling the site.

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Location, location, location

This one is a real Goldilocks site: within comfortable walking/cycling distance of Oxford’s city centre, and yet feeling as if it is deep in the countryside.

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