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The Decagon House, Oxford
Oxford is an architecturally inspiring place to live, but building plots are rare. So when a prime site came up, surveyor Henry Chopping jumped at the chance to build something special. And for once, it's just for himself.
When Henry Chopping, a commercial surveyor, comes across a plot of land in the heart of Oxford, he seizes the opportunity to build a unique home, specifically designed to his own tastes.
But there’s a problem – the plot is tucked away behind a listed wall and strict planning conditions mean that Henry is only allowed to build a house one storey high. Undeterred, he and his architect come up with a bizarre design that makes the most of the plot and available light – a series of glass-fronted decagons.
With a healthy budget of £800,000, Henry is determined to use only the very best of materials; the huge copper roof is inspired by Oxford colleges, the walls - both inside and out - are made from local limestone and the ceilings are supported by giant glulam beams. It’s altogether an eclectic mix of architectural styles.
Henry is a perfectionist, and his determination to get things spot on means the schedule starts to seriously slide. With so much money at stake, and a demanding job to contend with, the build becomes a bigger challenge than Henry had first bargained for. Moreover, with such a mix of styles and materials, nobody’s quite sure whether his house will emerge an ugly duckling or a graceful swan.
