Timber Frame Roundhouse Eco-home in Cheshire

The dedicated team at Rotunda are busy working away on our largest ever Timber frame Roundhouse eco-home project, based in Lymm, Cheshire.

We’ve been patiently waiting for the right moment to release this exciting information pending the approval of full planning and the initiation of manufacture. The build is presently flying along nicely with the Phase 1 timber-frame wall panels under construction this week. The time has come to celebrate our progress as we look towards it’s completion in March 2020.

For several months now, Philip Kay and Joanna Hayes, co-directors of the firm have been project managing this development, liaising with the client and our contractors to get this project delivered in time and within budget. Philip is in his element of course, (being a property developer and house builder in his early career) he’s now come back to his roots and using his expertise to deliver this exceptional project.

We look forward to updating you as we move along this journey with our client and shall be unveiling the completed project early next year…. watch this space!

Curved Bespoke Seating in a Rotunda

‘A-round’ the side of a Primary School in Cheshire, sits a newly crafted 6m Rotunda. With a shaggy, green wildflower meadow roof and exra-large custom designed windows in every single panel, this is a truly iconic space. Built to provide their pre-school with a secure and inspirational learning space, the Rotunda Roundhouse stands majestically beside the sweeping playing fields with views around the whole site.

The client, The Hollies Pre-school had outgrown their present facilities and urgently needed an additional eco-classroom to provide the pre-schoolers with more space to thrive.

As part of their requirements, they needed storage and seating. The obvious solution was a curved, bespoke system which spans almost 360 ° of the internal perimeter wall. From one side of the entrance door to the other, the custom painted cupboard array sweeps around the room in a seamless, perfectly curved arc which is both breathtaking and functional.

At a guideline price £3,900.00 ex VAT it was an investment which paid dividends in both aesthetics and functionality. Both the client, and all of us at Rotunda were delighted with the finished result.

One of the most frequently asked questions we receive is “How does one fit furniture into a round space?!” To which we usually respond, “we build it!” .

As a firm, we are uniquely fortunate to have a cabinetry workshop in-house. Many of our joiners are skilled cabinetmakers and have honed their craft through several decades. We are delighted to be able to take our clients projects to the next level with exceptional contemporary furniture options. Should you decide it’s now time to embark on your very special Rotunda journey we can and will assist you with bespoke furniture requests.

…. Have a lovely December everyone… 🙂

A Tiny little Wendy House Rotunda

It’s a beautiful Autumn day and the copper hued leaves are glistening in the rain… two children are squealing and laughing as they run in and out of their new Wendyhouse..

But this is no ordinary Wendyhouse… it’s a little Rotunda! Complete with veranda and decking, little cottage style Georgian Windows and a matching door….

You can tell it’s a Rotunda – for the door proudly displays the Mandala Logo, etched into the glass… and up on the roof lies a heavy and vibrant blanket of Sedum, wrapped around the double glazed Rooflight dome.

This was the first prototype of a brand new concept – inspired by our clients….. Thank you so much to our followers who asked that we trial this.

We listened to your request and jumped onboard with your vision; after all, who’s to say a joyful Rotunda can only be available to adults? We agree!

Our clients emailed in to let us know that “The girls played in it for almost two hours today and loved it!” Well, that’s two hours of precious childhood well spent! Getting our kids outdoors is always of benefit and having a safe, child-friendly and fun environment for them to play out their dreams is nothing short of magical.

These are coming in at just a fraction of the cost of a real Rotunda too, at circa £6,000.00 ex VAT, installed. What’s more.. it’s now insulated. So, it’s going to keep our children dry whilst they play outside… given the weather at the moment, that can only be a good thing! We know of two children in the UK who are going to have fun in the garden this winter.. I wonder, who’s next?

Biophilic Design in Modular Eco-Buildings

Biophilic Design in Modular Eco-Buildings: Biophilic design is an approach to architecture that seeks to connect building occupants more closely to nature. Biophilic designed modular school buildings incorporate things like natural lighting and ventilation, natural landscape features and other elements for creating a more productive and healthy built environment for people.

Sadly, and all too obviously, nature-deficit disorder is the idea that human beings, especially children, are spending less time outdoors, and the belief that this change results in a wide range of behavioral problems. Many of the childcare providers and parents we speak to voice their concerns over this problem. One can only presume that the popularity of ‘Forest School’ and ‘Nature Nurseries’ is a direct reflection of our collective desire to get our children more engaged with nature.

An example of one such school is Richard Bonnington in Nottingham – they didn’t wish to explore Forest School in a traditional modular building but instead sought to install a rustic cabin biophilic and curved shape which would inspire and enhance the childrens’ connection to nature.

Where possible, a building should be constructed using materials and textures that reflect or mimic those found in nature. They should maximise exposure to and penetration of natural light and provide for a healthy level of interior air quality. Three of the most critical design elements are:

• exposure to natural light
• physical access to the outdoors
• views of nature

Benefits of natural light is proven role in stimulating serotonin production. Serotonin is vital for several physiological functions including appetite, digestive and sleep regulation.

The Rotunda is the only Modular eco-building for schools which proudly showcases the 90cm (on smaller buildings) & 1.5m diameter (for the larger units) Circular Central Rooflight Dome. The dome, at the very apex of the roof catches sunlight all day long.

If you’re interested in staying one step ahead of the curve for your Primary or Infant school then please do drop us a line, we’ll happily pop over to see you for an informal chat about how this design could work for you and your children.

Sussex Garden-Room August 2019

The first ever Japanese Tea Room Inspired Garden-Room has recently been completed in a beautiful garden in East Sussex.

We were commissioned to re-configure our usual style of garden-room and craft something absolutely beautiful which would sit alongside the lake at our clients nature reserve in Sussex.

Japanese is the flavour of the month it would seem but that’s not the only ‘theme’ you’ll find on the menu. Over the next 12 months, we will be installing a number of buildings into a Yoga Retreat Centre in the Lake District. On this site, we’ll be showcasing other styles of Rotunda… One of which is… Moroccan! The others are a surprise…..

Have a lovely Autumn everyone!

Infant School eco-building complete for Combs

It was the first day back for many school children across the country today; and for us, we were delighted to see the new building in use in the tiny village of Combs, Derbyshire.

Pending the arrival of professional photography over the coming weeks and months we thought it might be best to pop a few photographs of the new school building onto the website for you to see!

Rooflight Dome – 1.5m diameter – that’s 5 foot!

“Registered early years providers must meet the following indoor space requirements: Children under two years: 3.5m2 per child. Two year olds: 2.5 m2 per child. Children aged three to five years: 2.3 m2 per child”

nurseryworld.co.uk – Childcare floor space regulations under scrutiny

We are returning to the school over the course of the next few months to capture some photography and drone footage of this gorgeous building once it’s settled in a little and the infant school have got into the swing of things… we’ll keep you posted.

All in all – an ‘all-round’ amazing infant school teaching space!

Creativity in Schools

Can creativity enrich the health and wellbeing of children in our UK Primary schools?

“The art of drawing which is of more real importance to the human race than that of writing…should be taught to every child just as writing is.” John Ruskin

We’re fortunate enough to become enmeshed in some fantastic discussions with early years facilitators, educators, headteachers and parents about the nature of education in the early years realm. With the recent emergence of Forest Schools in the UK and the subsequent surge of inspirational Nature Nurseries and woodland schools; we have been swept into the wonderful position of being able to design and create magnificent early years buildings.

It’s delightful to be part of a new wave of parent and educators who seek more than just functional space for children. Recently we were fortunate enough to meet the marvellous Dr Katherine Taylor, a passionate Researcher and NHS Child Clinical Psychologist who has held the position of Research Associate at Arts for Health at Manchester Metropolitan University. She states that in her line of work; “We are working strategically to implement arts-led interventions within and around child and adolescent mental health services. We hope to demonstrate that such options are effective, as available evidence indicates that arts-led interventions comprise empowering, safe and cost-effective approaches towards sustainable change in a young person’s recovery.“

Do the arts support mental health? Some historical figures such as John Ruskin, William Morris, Rudolph Steiner and Buckminster Fuller to name but a few; were advocates of creativity for human wellbeing.

There are many contemporary advocates also echoing the same philosophy. One of whom is Dr Clive Parkinson, the Director of Arts for Health at Manchester Metropolitan University; the UK’s longest established arts and health unit. Another notable professional actively engaged in researching the benefits of art and creativity Dr Daisy Fancourt. Daisy’s research focuses on the effects of social and community participation on health, with a particular interest in the effects of arts and cultural engagement.

Reading the blogs and publications of these individuals is inspirational. There can be no doubt that creativity and arts focused activities can be hugely beneficial to wellbeing and with this in mind, should be integrated into our national curriculum at every level.

When we install a Rotunda at a school it’s always very encouraging to witness that we are literally encasing the children in an innovative and unusual creative space. This, we believe; can enhance the creativity of the sessions which take place inside the structure.

But one word of warning. If you are looking for a creative outdoor classroom remember that the quality of the building is paramount to it’s success. There may be cheap modular structures available or outdoor gazebo type structures but who said you need sacrifice quality and comfort for function? You needn’t.

If you select the right building, your creativity can then flow from a place of warmth, security and practicality.

Some schools may miss out on new funding rises

The Education Policy Institute (EPI) has recently published and article “Analysis: ‘Levelling up’- what it really means for school funding” relating to funding pledges under the new Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

PM Boris Johnson has vowed to ‘level up’ school funding, by increasing the minimum level of per pupil funding that primary and secondary schools receive. This would see the minimum increase from £3,500 to £4,000 in primary schools.

The report says: “Almost all schools serving the most disadvantaged communities would miss out. Overall, the average pupil eligible for free school meals would attract an additional £56 under this proposal, while the average pupil not eligible for free school meals would attract an additional £116.

Though these amounts are not necessarily what the school actually receives since that is still subject to the local funding formula – based on the national DfE school level allocations data, around 41 per cent of primary schools and 34 per cent of secondary schools are below the proposed funding floors. We estimate that raising them to that level would cost around £590m for primary schools and £150m for secondary schools.“

But, other sources of funding are now being made available to UK Schools, one of which is the Sugar Tax, which was initiated in 2018.

An article on Funding for Sport.co.uk cites that “Money levied from the soft drinks industry will soon be available for schools to improve school sports facilities and promote healthy living.

The government has allocated money from the levy specifically for:

• School Sports facilities, including pitches, sports halls, gymnasiums and multi-use games areas
• Changing facilities
• Playgrounds
• Kitchens and dining facilities
• Benefits for your academy

Not only can Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) and schools offer children better sports facilities and extra-curricular activities but they could generate revenue by offering evening and weekend use to the wider community.”

We have found that some of our clients have invested in a Rotunda changing room and multi-use school PE/break-out space which sits beside their sports field. This has proved a useful meeting space for local community groups and small yoga classes out of term time which has generated a small amount of rental income for the school.

If you’re keen to design a new outdoor sports space and feel that we could be a good fit please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Combs Infant School Nursery Classroom Building

“Life is a journey. How we travel is really up to us. We can just flow with the tide or follow our own dreams.” Paulo Coelho

Few things lift the spirits more than seeing an inspirational transformation taking place which could enhance the life of hundreds, or thousands of people in the local area. Evolution, in progress.

This teeny tiny little chapel, owned by a Methodist Church and leased out to the local infant school has been a special place for many familes and maintains that romantic image of a village school which really cares about its 24 young pupils.

It truly is, a special place.

Located in a Conservation area of a National Park; it seemed unlikely that the headteacher and the govenors were ever going to be able to expand their little school. The planners rejected every concept thrown at them. A gritty two and half year battle ensued which resulted in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform the parish hall into an iconic and thought-provoking place. One which not only respects and admires the past but also looks towards our future… with the most cutting edge primary school eco-building available in the UK. A perfect juxtaposition of two eras.

Initially refused outright by the Planning officer on the grounds that “the materials and design were not in keeping with other heritage style buildings of the local area“; this unusual style of building was an extremely tough-sell to the Peak National Park.

The school stood firm, fuelled by their conviction to give the children something of real value and refused to accept the planners reccommendation of bricks, blocks, steel and concrete (very high carbon footprint). Instead, they argued that a sensitive site such as theirs should be the first to promote & celebrate progression within architecture and instead install a low-impact, locally constructed eco-building which is crafted from locally sourced timber and lends itself to it’s natural surroundings.

The headteacher and a group of passionate parents took this to committee whereby they made their case and argued that “…architects of the heritage style buildings of which you refer to had no concept of climate change and habitat depletion. We now do. If we are to halt or reverse the effects of both pressing environmental issues we must build for the future, not for our past.”

We all maintained our perspective that “The only buildings the National Park should be concerned with must be the most likely to protect and conserve what we have.”

Fortunately, the National Park agreed with us. Sustainability comes first.

Our children are the generation most likely to experience the effects of climate change and habitat loss. Now is the time to evoke a sense of awe and wonder in our children and give them a connection to the natural world. Curves and contemporary eco-buildings is a good place to start.

So if you are a primary or infant shool and you have a vision or dream for your future development but fear you might not obtain planning approval please don’t give up all hope! The future is in our hands, and our children will most definitely thank us for taking the time to consider, carefully, the environment we’d like to create for them to learn in.

You do not need to flow with the tide. Follow your own dreams. The time is now.

Enjoy the sun!!!

Rotunda on the Isle of Skye

If you’d like to rent one of these fabulous buildings for your site or rural B&B for approximately £200.00 per week please do see our rental page and call in for further information

Looking for WOW? Need to start Now? Rent your Rotunda! From £190.00 per week