Hazlemere Commercial’s work on the Decagon House bespoke aluminium windows and doors project in Oxford has been featured time and time again in repeats of Channel 4’s series of Grand Designs. The original programme followed Hazlemere’s involvement in the glazing of the stunningly contemporary copper-roofed decagon-shaped house constructed in a garden in Oxford beneath quite a high listed wall.
The contemporary house was built in 2008 for Henry Chopping, a commercial surveyor with an eye for perfection who chose to use only the very best products. Grand Design presenter Kevin McCloud followed the build project from start to finish and remarked on the sheer quality of the materials and craftsmanship that went into making this amazing Grand Designs window project a reality. Window and door manufacturers Hazlemere Commercial, were naturally delighted to be asked to supply and install aluminium windows and doors throughout this highly challenging, but rewarding project for the Decagon House, Oxford.
Hazlemere Commercial manufactured and installed all the aluminium windows and doors for this Grand Designs Decagon House. The house is built on a rare city of Oxford site, hidden behind a listed wall. Due to tight planning restrictions, the property owner was only able to construct a single storey building. With the help of his architect, Henry Chopping came up with an innovative design – a series of interlinking glass decagons. Inspired by Moroccan tents, the design helps to make the most of the sunshine. With copper roofs and limestone walls, the overall building is a real mix of architectural styles.
When it came to the project’s most striking features, the windows, these were supplied and fitted by Hazlemere Commercial. With projects like this that run to tight schedules, it was down to Hazlemere’s team of experienced fitters to ensure they did the job on time and to the highest possible standard – a brief that was of course fulfilled.
Speaking about the Grand Designs Decagon House after it was built, presenter Kevin McCloud said: “This place may not be to your taste, but there’s no denying it’s got real strength of character. It may not be beautiful, but it is fascinating, in fact if it were a spa hotel, I think I’d rather enjoy staying here. If it were a monastery for the brotherhood of bling, it would be my kind of monastery. That’s because any suggestion of personal indulgence here is overshadowed by the craftsmanship. By the quality of the fabric of the building. And it was Henry who commissioned all those craftsmen – who commissioned this building. I think that, in a way, sort of makes him an old fashioned patron. And there aren’t enough of those.”
Decagon House Grand Design Project Case Study
Project – The Decagon House
Location – The Walled Garden, Summertown, Oxford
Building Use – Private Residential Client Chopping Partnership
Products Used – Reynaers aluminium profiling, including bespoke fasteners designed specifically for the project
Value – £38,000 + VAT
