Details
Location: Oxford
Brick Manufacturers: Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC
Brick Names: Danehill Yellow, Selected Dark
Architect: Adrian James
Brickwork Contractor: GC Interiors
About the project
Positioned at the edge of Oxford’s Green Belt, Copper Bottom is a striking example of holistically sustainable residential architecture. Designed by the architect as his own family home, the house combines sculptural expression with passive environmental performance, establishing a benchmark for sustainable living in the region, if not the country.
Set within a wildflower meadow, the home commands panoramic views over Oxford’s iconic spires and the neighbouring nature reserve. This unique location bridges city and countryside, allowing for an urban lifestyle without reliance on a car. Residents travel by foot or bike, powered by on-site green energy.
At the heart of the design lies a bold copper carapace, whose origami-like form cloaks a simple, efficient internal volume. The house is a compact cuboid with a sloping roof, a geometry optimised for airtightness and energy performance. The shell’s angled planes provide solar protection: generous southern glazing is shaded by a cantilevered ‘peak cap’ roof, while folded bulges to the east and west shield against low-angle sun. To the north, the form softens the massing and shelters entrances, responding with sensitivity to neighbouring properties.
This design-first sustainability approach continues throughout the building. Copper Bottom functions as a habitable power station, with 37 photovoltaic panels producing up to 16kW of solar energy, well in excess of its needs. Energy is stored in a 20kWh battery for use during peak demand or drawn from the grid at night when it is entirely renewable. The home features triple glazing, super-insulated SIP construction, an air source heat pump, and MVHR system achieving 90% heat recovery. Together, these components deliver a building that is zero carbon in use and over time, net positive.
Material choices further reduce the building’s embodied carbon. Shallow foundations minimise concrete use, while the superstructure is entirely timber - carbon-capturing and low-impact. Externally, the cladding is a system of timber trusses and plywood panels beneath a 100% recycled copper skin. The result is a high-performance envelope with architectural presence.
Brickwork plays an essential aesthetic and tactile role. Externally, Freshfield Lane’s Danehill Yellow bricks are paired with the copper shell to contrast the green landscape and reinforce the house’s grounded, crafted identity. Internally, Selected Dark bricks laid in white mortar offer subtle richness and tonal warmth, interacting with light finishes and dark furnishings to create calm, flowing spaces.
Designed for longevity, the home is built with durable, zero-maintenance materials, copper, clay brick, aluminium, and single-ply membrane, requiring minimal intervention over the next century. It is also fully adaptable: step-free throughout, with generous circulation spaces, reconfigurable ground floor, and abundant daylight, making it accessible and comfortable for all stages of life.
Further sustainable features include rainwater harvesting, a biodiversity-focused garden with native species and pollinator planting, rapid 3-phase EV charging, and even a beehive, ensuring that the environmental ethos permeates every aspect of the home.
Sponsored by Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC
As Britain’s Brick Specialists, Michelmersh Brick Holdings PLC unites the best in clay traditions. The Group represents seven of the most recognised premium brands across the UK and Europe: Blockleys, Carlton, Charnwood, Floren.be, Freshfield Lane, Hathern Terra Cotta and Michelmersh, producing over 125 million handmade and machine-made clay bricks and pavers annually. Using modernised production methods that emphasise sustainable building solutions and adhere to the most stringent production requirements, Michelmersh guarantees high quality product standards with a low ecological footprint.
