Unique Circular Garden Rooms, modular school buildings and lodges - Handcrafted in the UK
We’ve recently been engaging with several schools and nurseries about the astonishing benefits of changing the shape of classroom environments to enhance engagement with pupils and further improve school facilities. As a small and passionate team of eco-builders, we are absolutely convinced that there is no better shape to nurture, inspire, engage and support our youngsters than the round.
Of course, it goes without saying that there is nothing more organic and natural than a group of people settling down together in a circle. As hardened “Roundhouse Enthusiasts” we are always on the lookout for scientific research papers which validate our claims that the round is the most natural form of space for human emotional and physical wellbeing. It all starts in our mothers womb!
We have now discovered that some psychologists agree with us; and that a circular seating arrangement may encourage a greater sense of belonging within a group and improve the rates of interaction between people.
Where better to foster these principles than in the classroom?
Of course, the Roundhouse is the most ancient form of architecture known to man… and that blows our mind!
So, our research tells us that the effects on classroom seating arrangements can affect the question-asking behaviour of children. Judging by the dates and origins of these studies, this is clearly an international debate which has been a consideration for psychologists for several decades.
A German study carried out by the Department of Psychology Institute of Housing Research at Otto-von-GuerickeUniversity in 1998 (Marx, Furher and Hartig) stated that:
“Although educational systems are now under intense scrutiny, educators and educational critics tend to ignore two facts. First, classrooms are physical entities as well as organisational units. Second, the physical characteristics of a classroom setting can influence the behaviour of its users.
Awareness of these facts is needed, as efforts to create high quality educational experiences for our children must include consideration of the physical milieu.”
In summary, the study revealed a positive effect of a semicircle seating arrangement on children’s question-asking, and demonstrated an action-zone effect on question asking in the traditional row-and column arrangement. Seating in other than the row-and-column arrangement deserves further consideration as a means to promote children’s question-asking in primary schools.”
According to “Desk Arrangement Effects on Pupil Classroom Behaviour – Peter Rosenfield (Department of Education University of California, Berkeley 1985):
Desks arranged in circles during classroom discussion can facilitate interaction as well as control for off-task behavior of pupils. The results suggest that desk arrangement influences participation, thinking, and appropriate comments, which in turn can have a positive effect on learning.
Teachers who wish to facilitate pupil interaction during discussion sessions would be wise to consider arranging desks in circles. In this study, circles facilitated on-task response as well as on-task out-of-order comment, suggesting that more active participation of students for developmental learning is affected positively by circles rather than row seating.
And one of the most interesting was a Japanese study, Circular seating arrangements: Approaching the social crux in language classrooms (Joseph Falout Nihon University, Japan) claimed that “Abstract Circular seating arrangements can help instil a sense of belonging within classroom communities with overall positive effects on learning, emotions, and well-being.”
Joseph Falout states within his report “I began to understand how circular seating in any classroom context might not only be relevant for learning but crucial for well-being.”
“The circle itself has become a worldwide symbol of unity and strength and simply sitting in a circle promotes the same effect” (Pease & Pease, 2006, p. 339). Social interaction is encouraged by sociopetal spaces, such as a small circle of chairs around a coffee table. Sociopetal spaces can bring people together, excite their senses, endear each one to the others, create an atmosphere of mutual care, and stimulate the entire circle into a social action zone.”
………………………….Well, that’s enough evidence for us!
We’re thrilled and delighted to be building classrooms and modular buildings for UK schools and nurseries.
To be working with cutting edge building techniques on gorgeous buildings whilst actively improving the learning experience for children (and teachers!) around the country is a wonderful feeling; so we will be updating you with the feedback from our unique and uplifting learning environments as the positive feedback continues to roll in from our happy clients!
Until then, happy “Back to School” everyone – and enjoy the Autumn!
From all of us at Rotunda x
Round Garden Rooms: The ultimate creative space
Creative Space – Rotunda Garden Room
This blogpost almost didn’t appear today… I have been suffering from a baffling case of writers block and despite the numerous nudges from our SEO professional and the never ending blog-worthy subjects that have popped into my mind over the last few weeks my creativity had just disappeared! Then, moments ago, I opened a book to wind down for the evening and my creative spark alighted!
Creativity is a delicate creature. Some may say that my creativity is in the spaces I create with my clients; in fact, the birth of the ‘Rotunda’ garden room was a deeply creative process (whilst pregnant and idealistic!) wishing to create round sanctuaries which would benefit both the environment and the human experience.
To be creative isn’t a process which can just be switched on and off like a light switch, and yet, how do musicians and artists manage to work on their creative arts on a daily basis? Perhaps they don’t, perhaps they too need to take a few days or weeks out to re-calibrate their creative minds!
I’ve always maintained that being in the ‘Round’ (whether in a circular garden room or in a yurt) seems to amplify the energy of those activities taking place within it. The years in which I spent working in a roundhouse were without doubt the most productive of my life. Coincidentally, we moved into a rectangular office earlier on this year and I am not enjoying it half as much as I enjoy the round. The buzz seems to be missing; although we are busier than ever it’s a functional and serious busy rather than the excited uplifted feeling one experiences in the round!
Over the last 12 months I’ve been noticing the correlation between all of our clients and how they use their Rotundas… the overwhelming majority are using their round garden room as therapy rooms, meditation rooms, yoga or spiritual purposes. A large percentage are utilising them for arts/music and creativity whilst others treat their Rotunda as a secret hideaway and spare guest bedroom for surprise visitors . The very last few are used as garden offices and one is soon to be used as a family home.
So, creative spaces, therapy rooms and meditation or yoga studios are at the very top of the list….
It is no surprise to me that the calming and uplifting energy of the round is attracting those of us who wish to enhance their ability to heal and create – the cornerstones of our human essence. It would appear that creatives and healers appreciate the benefits that energy and form can bring to your life when everything around you is oh so terribly and absolutely square.
Rhiannon (our business development manager) and I sat down with some dulux colour charts and chose bright vibrant greens, deep oranges and pinks for the rectangular office; this is our first step towards making our space as creative, uplifting and vibrant as possible, irrespective of the unfortunate rectangular shape! We’ve realised that to have a creative space one must rely on colour if not form! (We shall post photos on facebook next week for those of you who follow us on there!)
A creative space is vital, for all of us as human beings. If you have a desire to enhance your creativity or would just like to maintain your current activities in an uplifting and uncluttered space, the Rotunda may be the space in which to thrive.
If you’d like us to design your creative or therapy garden room space for you please do get in touch, we only have two installation slots left for 2014!
…….Let’s create!
Blogpost written by Gemma
How a Garden Room can Improve your Health and Wellbeing
Welcome to our first guest blog-post written by our friend Mr Shaun Rudden, over in Melbourne Australia, hailing the health benefits of the Garden Room!
Shaun is a freelance writer with a passion for the outdoors and has a very interesting spin on the Garden Room! It’s an honour to be publishing his blog on our site!
Take it away Shaun!
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Building a garden room could actually be beneficial to your health. Now, it may sound like a rather ambitious claim, but not so overly ridiculous when we consider the facts. Firstly, let’s face it, although we often make plans to ditch the sofa and TV in favour of outdoor activities, taking in natural light and fresh air on a regular basis is easier said than done most of the time. So, could a garden room be that simple stepping stone to a more rewarding lifestyle?
The Modern Family In the modern day family, it’s not uncommon for both parents to have full-time jobs. Evenings then revolve around the usual household chores, along with preparing dinner and ‘sorting out’ the kids. By the time the little ones are in bed, mum and dad can only collapse on the couch with barely enough strength to reach for the remote control – perhaps a slight exaggeration, but probably not overly far from the truth.
And it’s not just the adults either; we’re losing the ongoing fight to get our children outdoors. Games are nowadays solely played via consoles and interaction is done through Social Media portals, so getting the kids out of their respective rooms is a challenge in itself, let alone out of the house.
Indoor Routines Whether you’re a parent or not, think about your usual weekly routine and the main components that it consists of: Work, gym, supermarket, drinks with friends? For the majority of us, they’re all located indoors; so even when we’re getting out of the house, we’re still breathing stale air and possibly even relying on artificial light.
In fact, some people even have all the apparatus to complete said weekly activities without even leaving their own four walls (save for opening the door to the Tesco Online delivery man).
Convenience is the main buzzword within our lives now; everything can either be delivered to us or is available ‘on-the-go’, so even our need to venture out for the odd errand is also rapidly decreasing.
Why is Being Outdoors Important? There are many benefits for spending time outdoors:
- Our skin creates and supplies our bodies with 90% of its Vitamin D intake, and it does this following exposure to UV light from the sun. Vitamin D helps to prevent some forms of cancer, as well as heart attacks and depression, and the best thing about it – you can get the majority of it for free.
- According to studies, fresh air has been proven to enhance your immune system and heart rate, whilst also giving you more energy and improving your mood levels.
- Lounging in front of the television actually sends the brain into a more dormant state than when you’re sleeping. The same can be said of performing typical yet mundane activities on your computer, such as perusing YouTube videos or Facebook statuses.
- Exercise your brain by engaging in other activities away from the living room.
Benefits of a Garden Room
Although it’s important to get outdoors, as mentioned previously, it might not always be feasible. So what’s the next best thing?
A garden room is the perfect multi-purpose retreat for the whole family, in your own grounds. By transferring your normal daily activities to your garden, you and your loved ones can benefit from brighter and more tranquil surroundings.
The function possibilities of the garden room are endless: The kids can complete their homework there (because if you can’t get them out of the house, perhaps getting them into the garden room is a step in the right direction?), it can be a relaxation area for you, family meals can be livened up outdoors, social gatherings can be hosted there – you get the idea.
Your garden house could even become your garden office if you work from home, or you bring work home with you.
Whilst you’re not exactly in the ‘great outdoors’ by being in your garden house, it’s still a brighter alternative. Unlike a conservatory, it’s also detached from your home, meaning that you can disengage yourself completely from the indoor distractions. It can also be heated, insulated and covered, so you’ll be sheltered from the unpredictable British weather.
Use a garden room as your gateway to a more outdoors lifestyle.
Blogpost written by Shaun Rudden.
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