Grand Designs -  Oxford

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, specially 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 glued laminated timber 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.