The glamping movement which appeared seemingly out of nowhere and caught the UK by storm about ten years ago looks like it’s most definitely here to stay.
The popularity of mini-breaks, weekend tourism trends and Brexit fears are assisting the UK Leisure and tourism industry with a very pleasant boost. Meanwhile, consumers simultaneously delight in the folksy resurgence of ‘Best of British’ which is reflected in the explosion of micro-breweries, artisan markets, crafts producers, small scale organic farmers, manufacturers, creative/design firms and of course the joiners and craftspeople who create the plethora of structures which we all call Huts, cabins, pods or lodges to supply the burgeoning glamping industry.
But are they all the same? Or is there a real difference between these terms?
You may find a Cabin on a more established holiday park, touring park, woodland leisure centre or remote UK location
cabin noun
1. a small wooden shelter or house in a wild or remote area.
The most likely descriptive phrase for a timber-framed and/or modular building. The most common term for glamping buildings.
Buildings you may find in the UK Glamping or Leisure industry which will use this term:
Log Cabin (Log Houses)
BBQ Cabins
Woodland Cabins
Wigwam Cabins (surprisingly, these look nothing like the original native American Indian Wigwams!)
Shepherds Hut – This is an old-fashioned, original style Shepherds Hut from which the modern designs have all stemmed. Contemporary Shepherds Huts are commonly clad in Cedar and boast windows!
hutnoun
1. a small, simple, single-storey house or shelter.
Buildings you may find in the UK Glamping or Leisure industry which will use this term:
Shepherds Hut
pod noun
1. a detachable or self-contained unit on an aircraft, spacecraft, vehicle, or vessel, having a particular function.
We’re actually not sure how the term ‘pod’ ever became synonymous with the domestic garden room & British tourism industry. Still..,. you’ll find this term used to refer to a wide range of structures. Most often, ‘pods’ represent the budget-staycation market and can be found on campsites, hostels, touring parks and even National Trust locations.
Buildings you may find in the UK Glamping or Leisure industry which will use this term:
This is an example of Barrel Pods
Camping Pods
Glamping Pods
Eco-Pods
Log Pods
Barrel Pods
lodgenoun
a small house at the gates of a park or in the grounds of a large house, occupied by a gatekeeper, gardener, or other employee.
As with the Cabin, these are usually timber-framed or modular buildings suitable for long or mid-term stays.
Buildings you may find in the UK Glamping or Leisure industry which will use this term:
Rotunda Holiday Lodge
Safari Lodges (These are canvas structures)
Tree house Lodges
Lakeside Lodges
So, the conclusion?
Well, with the exception of the ‘Huts’ which really only represent one style of building in the UK Glamping industry, (the Shepherds Hut); the other terms all reflect timber-framed, modular or transportable semi-permanent holiday accommodation of varying qualities and style to suit budgets and sites.
So, if you’re looking for a unique building for your site, research your manufacturer extensively and check for quality. Ultimately, a lodge, pod, cabin or hut may very well be on the menu for UK Landowners to choose from but there is one building which stands head and shoulders above the rest. That is, of course, the Rotunda. For that, we can assure you, there is no other.
Were you were one of the lucky ones who managed to drop in to the OM Yoga Show, Mind Body Soul and Vegan Life Live exhibition in Manchester last weekend? I am sure we don’t need to remind you of the highlights of such a fun and inspiring event! Amongst the free Yoga sessions and seminars there was a dazzling array of stands and an incredible amount of really very good vegan food…. and some… interesting vegan food.
We had such a brilliant time meeting likeminded souls that we’re booking ourselves back in for the LONDON event, in London on the 20th of October! So, for those of you who might have missed us and are geographically more local to London, please do keep in touch and look out for us later on in the year!
(And there’s the mighty Philip Kay our Managing Director looking very smiley.)
Not one, but many; and their kind is growing… expanding in defiance of the new technological era. Claiming their place as the new adventurers of the 21st century.
Perhaps you too, are one of them?
This type of human craves wilderness and fresh mountain air. They are intoxicated by the heavy blankets of moss and decomposing leaves in the deepest part of ancient forests, they enjoy the smell of woodsmoke, the sounds and scurrying of birds and wildlife and the crackling of a campfire as the wind whistles through rugged landscapes.
Oftentimes these people find themselves living life as many of us do, working in (god forbid) an office or residing in an urban area. It’s easy to spot the adventurer. You will most probably find them slowly and intently leafing through a copy of ‘Cabin Porn’ or watching Channel 4’s ‘George Clarkes amazing spaces’ in their free time. You’ll see them down at their allotment growing food which most folk would prefer to buy from the supermarket and they may very well partake in hobbies such as pottery (mud, of course!) and just about anything to do with the outdoors.
This is a sweeping generalisation of course. But, we believe this to be true. We also recognise that this breed of person also has a penchant for cabins. Nordic cabins. Rustic cabins. Cabins in the woods, on the hillsides, cabins by fishing lakes or deep in valleys dwarfed either side by mountain crags and just about anywhere that you might find an abundance of moss and lichen.
Well, listen up, cabin-lovers. We have a treat for you. The mother of all glamping cabins has just landed in this physical reality and it’s the ‘James Bond house’ of all glamping cabins. It’s rustic and contemporary, unusual yet familiar and cosy but espansive. We’re presently 70% through the build process and to say that everyone involved is excited is a gross understatement.
The plan, by our client, is to have three (two of which are already on site) unique and impressive eco-lodges for long-term holiday lets (1-2 weeks) sitting on stilts, on a mountainside, in a forest, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.The site is……….. to die for, the view is incredible. Not to mention the wildlife (especially the white tailed eagle……one of which is captured below) is rather impressive.
So, our client, needed *spectacular* cabins……
We designed these units to capture as much of the view as possible. As you can see from this early design sketch, the central ‘Roundel’ is 5.5m in diameter. This serves as the living room and kitchen, we affectionately call this ‘the snug’. Those windows are 1.8m high and sweep around the forward elevation for an unobstructed view.
The bedroom and bathroom areas are provided within the ‘wings’ of the building. With a depth of 3.2m and 2.5m respectively, they are large enough to provide a comfortable and unique space without forgoing any of the unique charm of the Rotunda.
Do you see that long, wide, low-hung window over the bath? This is the view…
And how about a glimpse of those beautifully crafted Accoya bay windows in the snug? Oh…
I bet, the bedroom is starting to look pretty good now too eh?
It’s getting there!
Naturally, the photography will be pheonominal once the project has completed (a little over three weeks away) but we couldn’t help but share the progress with you.
With bookings already being taken for Summer 2018 and 2019 and our client already filling spaces far sooner than they’d anticipated, it’s worth getting in touch ASAP if you’d like to book yourself a little jaunt up to the Hebrides to stay in these spectacular cabins.
Local Councillors mark the official opening of a new eco-building at Richard Bonington Primary School in Nottingham.
On Tuesday the 20th of March CouncillorSandra Barnesand Councillor PeterBarnes were present at the official opening of the new outdoor classroom; the Rotunda Roundhouse eco-building at Richard Bonington School in Arnold.
Sandra cut the red ribbon and gave a heartening and memorable speech to the children and parents to celebrate the official opening of the “The Bonington Burrow”, a new woodland classroom which is nestled into their outdoor forest area. This scheme forms part of a new outdoor learning initiative for nursery children attending forest school sessions. Forest School provision started at Richard Bonington back in 2006 and now the site is well established with many different habitats for the children to explore.
Research shows that this type of experience is effective in helping children develop a love of learning, whilst helping them develop physically and socially. This rotunda is the central hub of their forest school, providing a nucleus; a warm and cozy eco-building to retreat into for a hot chocolate and a story when the weather turns a bit….. well, British.
Mrs Suzanne Campbell (Foundation Coordinator) said “we are thrilled that the school can offer such a rich and positive learning experience to our youngest pupils through Forest School. The School management team and Governors recognise what an important investment the building is to enable us to provide 30 hours of education for our 3-4 year olds, which also benefits working parents. Staff and children absolutely love the new learning environment.”
Whilst all children at Richard Bonington have an opportunity to take part in forest school sessions, the additional nursery sessions are a bespoke provision that provides an outdoor learning experience, in most weather conditions, for nursery children.
This opening followed on from an official visit by their local MP For Gedling, Vernon Coaker, also celebrating the successful launch of this inspiring initiative. Vernon Coaker said “ I visited the Richard Bonington Primary School & their successful childcare provision for 3 – 4 year olds, the Forest School gives these children an opportunity to learn in the outdoors. They have a brand new building called the Bonington Burrow – a great place to learn. ‘It was great to see so many happy children, a fantastic facility and a credit to the school and staff involved “
Children walking past the new eco-building at Richard Bonington School
Gemma Roe, the founder of Rotunda Roundhouses Ltd said “We really enjoyed creating this special space for the Richard Bonington School in Arnold. It’s a safe, warm and inclusive environment for the nursery children, built entirely out of British Timber with a wildflower meadow roof for biodiversity. We’re proud to be working with local primary schools and nurseries to create such unique and inspiring outdoor learning spaces.”
If you’re living in an AONB, Conservation area or National Park it may be advisable to seek out a garden room foundation sytem which is low-impact. Fortunately, there are several options available for your garden room installation.
Today, we’ll be highlighting the benefits of three of our favorite systems:
The Groundscrew by ‘Stop Digging’ – which drives down into the ground
The eco-plinth by Swift Foundations – sits on top of the ground
The eco-base fast fit, also by Swift Foundations – requires the footprint (of the garden room) topsoil area to be cleared by 10cm (100mm)
Ground Screws (https://stop-digging.co.uk/)
Benefits of Ground Screws
Ground screws can be installed anywhere you normally dig to concrete in an upright post or site a prefabricated concrete support. Installation of your garden room foundation system is carried out by their certified installers in a gentle process that does not utilise digging.
Groundscrews minimise any disturbance to the ground where your building will be sited – commonly referred to as ‘pinhole’ footings, they are driven into the ground at itervals creating zero disturbance to tree-roots/lawn/block-paving etc.
They are idea for flood zones as they elevate the building above the ground to a height which is required to avoid flooding
This system can screw straight through an existing wooden deck or through tarmac
Fast and efficient. They come and undertake the work for you – you can then build your garden room straight away
Portable so no site access problems
Promotes air flow underneath your garden room – keeping timbers dry
Height adjustable
Allows access to services underneath your building
The Swift Plinth is a ‘caravan code’ foundation system for garden room buildings and can carry up to 1 tonne per plinth with spans of no more than 2 metres. We find that on sensitive sites, the planning officers like these as they can be uplifted and carried away at the end of the buidlings’ life.
Benefits of the Swift Plinth
No wet mix. Install and start building
Portable so no site access problems
50mm of adjustment in each bracket for easy levelling – great for sloping sites
Allows air flow under your building
Keeps timbers away from ground moisture
Helps prevent splash back onto your timbers
Allows access to services underneath your building
No specialist skills or equipment required for installation
Economic alternative to a concrete slab
These can be installed independently without disturbing the topsoil apart from the ‘grid’ which requires the topsoil clearing.
EcoBase Fastfit can be used as a firm foundation for a wide variety of smaller garden buildings and comes with a permeable membrane, cut to the size of the building’s foundation to suppress the growth of weeds.
EcoBase Fastfit Benefits
Self-fastening connectors – it’s quick and easy to lay
Eco-friendly – made in the UK from 100% UK recycled plastic
Robust – provides a firm strong and long lasting base for your building
Extendable – create a base under any size of garden building
Cost effective – supply and installation costs lower than wet-mix poured concrete
Time-saving – less preparation time, no concrete curing time
Lightweight – for easy carrying and positioning
Simple to use – no specialist tools or equipment needed
Drainage – perimeter can be filled with pea-gravel to produce a French drain and prevent splash back onto the building
Long lasting – rot proof, chemically inert and re-usable
Raised gripping points – ensure building remains in place
This building is installed on a heavy-duty eco-base grid system
Of course, each and every site is different and depending on the size/weight/orientation and location of your building in addition to the soil type may determine what is realistic for your garden room installation.
Other (less environmentally friendly options) footing types usually involve concrete and these are:
Pile and Pad foundations
Raft Foundations
Concrete blocks
Concrete slab
Timber-piles
Strip foundations
It’s always best to check your local builder/groundworks professional or garden room manufacturer which they suggest dependent on your circumstances and budget prior to selecting your foundation system.
Hopefully this has been useful to you, please don’t hesitate to drop us a line on (0161) 2223350 should you have any further queries relating to the installation and design of your unique garden room and we’ll do our best to advise.
“The outer Hebrides…… you say….?” It was with mild disbelief that on a wet and blustery December day in the Rotunda HQ that we echoed those words back to our potential client. The voice on the other end of the phone was chirpy, bright, intelligent and wildly enthusiastic about the details of a unique costal site with special conservation status and a view to make you want to cry, it’s so profoundly beautiful. The fact that she was pushing up against a tight four month deadline, she wanted several glamping units and the site was about as far away as you could get from the rest of the UK Mainland was of little concern to us. We knew that we could achieve her objectives and create these buildings in time and on budget. We just needed to act, quickly.
Being located in the North West of England, we are ideally situated to be able to service the whole of the UK fairly easily. A mere 4 hours drive from Glasgow, and 5 hours from South Devon, Cornwall or Kent. We are, truly blessed.
Once in a while we inevitably end up travelling somewhere a little more exotic. The South of France was one of our furthest jaunts, which we enjoyed immensely.
The opportunity to build Rotunda units in Scotland arises for us each and every year; but yet have we had the opportunity to break off from the mainland and head out to the wild and ancient western isles which stretch out into the Atlantic ocean and have the atmosphere and energy steeped in ancient Celtic history.
This chain of islands form an area of unspoilt natural beauty with spectacular scenery, impressive mountain ranges, moorland, lochs, machair and miles of golden (sometimes sheltered) sandy beaches and turquoise seas.
There are many anthropological sites of special historic interest, most commonly the ‘wheelhouses’ of the pre-neolithic era. These, of course we get very exctied about. How wonderful it is to have come back full circle; building to a similar footprint of which housed our ancient forebearers over 6,000 years ago? We just love that kind of thing.
It’s now March and the two incredibly unique Rotunda glamping units* (*we use that term lightly!) buildings are nearing the final stages of their manufacture – ready to be sent up to their final destination in two weeks time.
If driving non-stop, it would take our installations team approximately 14 hours to reach the site. This includes a 2.5hour ferry journey towards the end. In reality, it’ll most likely take them between 24-36 hours with a stop to rest half-way. But it’s worth it…..
This site is indeed beautiful. As are the two Rotunda glamping units which will sit amidst the trees of a pinewood forest and panoramic views of the ocean.
The Rotunda design is completely bespoke to suit the requirements of the lovely couple who are pioneering this special project. The Rotunda itself is almost completely glazed along the forward elevation, maximising the panoramic vistas for their guests. The bedroom and bathroom segments are created as ‘wings’ with both also boasting large, landscape windows. The bedroom houses a set of french doors which lead out to the viewing platform. Just beautiful.
Of course, there is more to a Rotunda glamping unit than the shape alone. We have compiled four interior design concept boards to assist with the finish of the completed project, an example of one is shown below. Our client enlisted us to design the overall theme and generate colour schemes and design features for each room. Needless to say, these are much more than glamping units. These buildings are self-contained luxury cottages with the finishes and mod-cons of a Four Seasons Holiday lodge.
The unique rustic appeal of the Rotunda and 100% British Timber philosophy makes it feel like cabin in the woods. Each unit is an authentic and inspiring little building with a deep connection and respect for not only the ancient civilisations who spent their lives on these sacred lands but also the land and forests in which they sit.
Bookings are now being taken from June 2018 so please do contact us if you’d like to book a break in one for yourself; this is one Scottish Glamping Experience that trumps all others.
All the best
Rotunda x
Are you wondering what’s available when it comes to garden room heating options? We’ve spent the best part of half a decade trialling, installing and receiving feedback on the myriad of different garden room heating packages available to the garden room industry. All of which, we’ve had success with.
However, we recently happened upon a miracle heating system which is not only efficient and straightforward to install and to maintain but it’s a winner in terms of aesthetics too. This system has simply blown all other garden room heating systems out of the water. The Thermaskirt Skirting Board Heating by Discrete Heat is…. invisible!
garden room heating – thermaskirt
Dubbed “The worlds smartest heating system”, (well, that is a good start for your garden room!) this is a skirting board which provides your heating. How marvellous is this? As far as we are aware, we are the only garden room manufacturer who installs this system as a standard feature and we’ve trialled it on numerous buildings, all with fantastic results. Happy clients and warm, toasty garden rooms is the aim of the game here!
Unlike underfloor heating which can dictate which flooring style you chose and is a nightmare to repair if it fails, this system is accessible, innovative and (above all else) discreet.
ThermaSkirt-e is a revolutionary new form of direct electric heating, designed to replace electric storage heaters and panel radiators, as well as provide a more practical, controllable & reliable alternative to electric under floor garden room heating.
Combines your skirting boards and heating system into one simple, cost-effective package
Creates a more spacious environment by eliminating radiators from walls
Made from an aluminium alloy that is 5 times better at emitting heat than steel
Heats up fast like a radiator but has the comforting feel of underfloor heating when in operation
Connected to a standard 220/240V switched fused supply via a programmable thermostat
Specially developed controls learn the heating characteristics of a room to maximise efficiency
Provides clean, hygienic heat with no grilles, slots or fins to attract and trap dust and bacteria
How is it controlled?
ThermaSkirt-e is controlled by a specially developed electronic thermostat that ‘learns’ the heating characteristics and warm up times of the room to maximise efficiency.
If you would like to see this system in action please feel free to contact us, we’d be more than happy to showcase one of our recent installations. After all, a heating system is for the life of your garden room, not just for one winter. If you’re going to love your garden room for decades to come, an excellent heating system is a good way to start.
There are numerous ways to extend and partition your garden annexe or yoga room & we often extend out in radial ‘wings’ which create wonderfully interesting rooms in respect of their gently sloping ceilings and the beautifully curved walls. We’ve found that more often than not, the ‘wings’ are where our clients choose to house bathrooms, kitchens and bedrooms so the central space can remain open as the jaw-dropping cathedral-esque central feature. The Yoga Room style we build in domestic gardens are dedicated spaces and as such, it’s imperative that the central hub is kept clear for yoga practice.
The final build of 2017 was exceptional. Not only were we commissioned to create a partitioned 13.5m diameter Rotunda yoga room but the pièce de résistance of this structure (apart from it’s size) was the sliding pocket wall which separated the kitchen from the main yoga room.
The sliding pocket wall was conceived by our client, designed by us and then brought into reality by our (genius!) head-joiner Dan who engineered the most marvellous system.
It is suspended above the floor thus enabling us to continue the engineered oak floor seamlessly from the central yoga room into the kitchen. Not only did the Rotunda team manage to complete a perfect prototype first time but Dan also designed fail-safe access points into the skirting boards and upper wall panels of the adjoining ‘pocket’ walls to ensure that one can access the working mechanisms in the future.
It’s smooth, it’s solid and it’s just what the client wished for. A great result all round!
Are you considering a new way of working and think that installing an office in the garden might be a suitable option for you? If so, read on, you might just find another reason to take the plunge in 2018.
Ditch the commute, gain time: If you usually drive over 30mins to work you’ve already gained an hour of time each day by switching to a mere stroll down to your office in the garden. That’s a 5 hour gain each and every week. If making the switch permanently this equates to 260 hours of increased productivity a year. Equivalent to 32.5 full (8 hour) days…. let that sink in for a moment…. 32.5 days a year! This is a golden opportunity to claw back more of your essential time to ensure you’re optimally maximising your diary and your efficiency.
Focus on quality: It’s often true that reducing distractions and placing a greater emphasis on a dedicated workspace can provide you with the opportunity to think clearly and work to your highest potential. Of course, it’s a well-known trait of authors and artists to take themselves off to a quiet haven in which to work; the same is true for a plethora of other professionals. Perhaps you need a dedicated office to enable you to get your next project off the ground/write the article you’ve been sitting on for months, draw up a session plan for your healing workshop or prepare that paperwork for your legal case. Whatever you do, if you’re creative and/or need to use your brain to create work which requires peace and quiet, an office in the garden could be the most appropriate solution for you.
Inspired, healthy environments = increased productivity: There have been papers written for eons by environmental psychologists confirming that our environment is absolutely crucial to our productivity. Most commonly termed as ‘Sick Building Syndrome‘ this is a condition affecting office workers, typically marked by headaches and respiratory problems, attributed to unhealthy or stressful factors in the working environment such as poor ventilation. If you’re working from an office in the garden, you are by very definition submerging yourself into your garden and more often than not in a timber-framed building (check that it’s not built with SIPs panels/filled with polurethane) which have been proven to promote greater health benefits than any other building style! Of course, an office in the garden is a micro-eco-building.
Other factors can also come into play such as:
Potential increase to your property value
Easier to manage your work/life balance – you’ll be near by in case of family emergencies/to manage the school run
Beneficial to your pets. Pop back to walk the dog/feed your goldfish at lunch time rather than wait until the end of the working day
Reduced heating costs – you needn’t heat the whole house if you’re just occupying an office in the garden
If you have any specific questions about how we could assist you with the creation of your dream office in the garden, please do call us on 0161 222 3350 or email .
We are always on hand to run through the specification, timescales and build options with you. 2018 is your year, go for it!
Do you know your softwood from your hardwood? Here’s a small wood fact for you:
“Softwood is wood from trees such as conifers. Opposed to hardwood, which is the wood from trees which have broad leaves that usually change color and die everyautumn. Softwoods are not always softer than hardwoods. Both groups include a variety of wood types that vary in actual hardness. (Balsa is a hardwood but is softer than most softwoods).
Most likely candidates of Softwood Tree varities – spikey. No fruit. Seeds or nuts.
Most probably ‘Hardwood’ trees. Larger leaves. Potential for fruit. Leaves prone to falling off in the colder months.
Softwood makes up about 80% of the world’s production of timber. (Which, can only be a good thing, considering the highly endangered tropical sort are usually Hardwoods!).
We use softwood to create about 90% of the Rotunda building. Graded Structural beams of Redwood (pine) form the structrual timbers in the wall cavity, “Douglas Fir” is usually selected for the windows and doors (Douglas Fir is a softwood but is much harder than many hardwoods) and the cladding is most usually a UK Grown Larch.
Known for it’s durability, it’s beautiful, (almost red-orange) honey-hued finish when it’s freshly sawn and it’s playful and rustic waney (bark) edge; it’s known historically as the timber the Scots used for boat-building as it’s got such a high resin content.
We specify this timber for our cladding to ensure these little eco-buildings are not only weather-protected but blend in to a rural or forest environment as if it’s just grown straight up from the forest floor…
Recently, we’ve been commissioned to install Cedar Cladding on several of our buildings; this stemmed from a personal preference of our clients but has given the Rotunda a sleek, new coat.
Perhaps, like an otter. The sea otter, known for it’s rugged, fluffy and arctic-hardy fur looks remarkably different to the smooth asian short clawed otter, clambering out of the pool after a swim.
What’s the difference in performance? Very little.
We’ve found the lifespan to be more or less identical. The properties of both timbers are excellent. Both have greater resistance to rot and decay than other timbers, due to high resin content and tannins which contain anti-bactericidal and anti-parasitic properties. The antiseptic ingredients protect against fungus, mould and insect infestation… and they are just, decent, hard wearing timbers which look brilliant and do their job perfectly well.
So, which is best for you? Well, if you want fewer knots, a denser grain and more clean lines, we’d reccommend the T&G kiln dried Cedar yurt cladding.
Irrespective of a species initial colouration, all species will have weathered to a near-matching silver-grey appearance after around 5 years.
This is worth bearing in mind, if you’re hoping for your Rotunda to retain that new reddy-orange colourful “just new” look after a few years. It will most likely look like this!
It is possible to treat your timber cladding with a UV protection spray to maintain the same golden & red hues if you are keen to keep the original look in place for some time to come.
We are pretty passionate about timber, trees and of course the magically memorable buildings one can create from such a renewable and beautiful resource. If you have any questions or ideas for a new cladding style please feel free to drop us a line, we’re all ears!
Until next time…
Rotunda x
Could this be the shape of things to come?
On the 8th of December 2017 seated in a magnificent Georgian building against the snowy backdrop of the Peaks, the board of councillors were deep in discussion at their monthly committee meeting. Despite the planning officers decision to refuse it, all voted in favour of the highly unusual circular eco-structure for a local infant school.
Combs Infant School (near Chapel en le Frith) sits within a Conservation area of the Peak District National Park and is led by Headteacher Rosemary Cook. She and her board of governors have finally won a seven year battle to secure an additional building in the grounds of their unique little school. Following two earlier planning applications for traditionally styled buildings, Combs Infant School finally found what they were looking for in the gentle curves of the “Rotunda”. This is a circular eco-building designed and manufactured by Rotunda and is recognised as a forward-thinking modular eco-structure which provides the ideal solution for primary schools with an immediate need for more space.
The proposed classroom is built almost entirely from locally sourced British timber and has a wild-flower meadow on it’s roof. The shape is a major factor in the reduction of energy consumption required to heat it. The magic of pi means that theres’s about 30% less external surface area which in turn reduces the amount of materials required to build it, giving it a double thumbs-up for energy and resource efficiency. A building of this type is one of the first to be championed as a complimentary feature to the Heritage style buidlings that the National Park is famous for and sets a precedent for others to follow… changing the face of our National Parks.
Rosemary Cook of Combs Infant School said “We are all incredibly excited to see this building arrive and we are looking forward to our young children enjoying their learning in such an innovative and inspiring space.”
This building is a reassuring example of how schools and nurseries can work with nature to provide inspiring and nurturing learning environments. A far cry from the modular temporary classroom cabins which many of us remember all too well from our school days!
The trend-setting new building is due to be constructed in April 2018.
Mr Philip Kay, the Managing Director of Rotunda Roundhouses said that “With hedgehog houses built into the floor of the building, bat boxes tucked under the roof eaves and a wild-flower meadow on the roof, there really is no better example of integrating nature and teaching the value of nature within the design and construction of modern school buildings. I believe this is the way forwards for UK schools who wish to build responsibly, efficiently and affordably.”
As the final few days of 2017 gradually rolled in, the Rotunda office has been carefully winding down for the Christmas break and today the workshop and office doors closed for the last time in December as we all headed home, exhausted but elated….(and amidst the mass of Amazon delivery vans!!) to spend Christmas with our families….
It has to be said that 2017 has been a remarkable year, which has seen us travel the length and breadth of the country from Cornwall to Cumberland and Devon to Dumfries… We’ve been fortunate enough to have to met and shared time with dozens of like minded and charming Roundie enthusiasts and pioneers looking to use the Rotunda to expand their homes, businesses or schools and our work this year has paved the way for the Rotunda to continue touching the lives of people all over the UK.
We definitely struck a new record for the submission of planning applications this year; some of them were in National Parks, and won full approval (amazing!!) others are held in the midst of an ‘ecology’ debate with the relevant planning team (bats, toads, newts….) and most of the others have flown through to their approval swiftly, imperceptibly and without mention . It’s been a real adventure & we’re clearly doing something right….!!!
For every site survey and introduction we’ve made this year we’ve had back in equal measure fantastic testimonials, words of appreciation, chocolates, flowers, new friendships and messages of thanks for all the hard work carried out by our incredible joinery team. The skilled team who work tirelessly all day every day crafting these incredible structures are a real credit to this unique little business and it’s their hard work , their tenacity and attention to detail that makes the Rotunda journey so rewarding, for us and our clients alike. Dan and his team in the workshop have been tasked with some weird and wonderful challenges this year, from the creation of a bespoke ‘Oriential’ Rotunda for a top-end boutique hotelier
(The Japanese Roof panels being constructed in the workshop)
to an enormous and complex ‘sliding wall’ pocket door system….. of which rolled steel work and pulley systems saved the day! (Thanks to Dan’s amazing engineering abilities- he really is a genius!)
We’ve had our biggest project ever to date this year, a 13.5m diameter building… what an amazing building that one is.
On site, we’ve been lucky to have our A-Team Graheme, Ryan, Lee and Zack who’ve worked all over the UK in the wind, rain, snow and sleet to get our builds completed on time and within budget to an impeccable standard. The pride and care that they each take with these little round eco-buildings is clearly evident to anyone who sees their work. It’s a joy to visit a completed Rotunda after they’ve left to see a grinning client with a heartwarmingly gorgeous Rotunda! It makes us so proud!
We’ve been back to some areas of the country more than once this year with Glastonbury and Somerset being really popular and we’ve got some incredible projects lined up for 2018 which we’ll sharing with you when they’re built! So, we look forward to returning back to the office on the 8th of January and embarking once more onto this wonderful journey that is Rotunda.
We have most of the early 2018 slots booked up now but we are retaining a few late summer installation slots so it’s not too late to embark on your own special Rotunda journey… feel free to email us up until the 8th of January or call in any time and leave a message… we’re always happy to talk Roundhouses!
Until then, have a VERY, VERY *MERRY *CHRISTMAS!
From all of us, at,
Rotunda Roundhouses!
What are the advantages of round buildings?
For those of you new to this style of building, here are the core benefits of building in the round:
(a) environmental
(b) aesthetic
(c) psychological
(a) From an environmental perspective; round buildings reduce the amount of resources required due to the the simple fact that a circle encloses the largest area for a given amount of perimeter, reducing the amount of material needed (circa 30%).
Given that the planet is being depleted of resources (most notably timber which is the second most highly traded commodity, second only to oil) at an astonishing rate, felling trees to build corners for the sake of it seems illogical to us. This, in turn also makes it the most energy efficient form we could design given that the external surface area of round buildings is greatly reduced. Furthermore, the interior of round buildings boasts fantastic thermal dynamics. (Warm air rotates upwards and drops down in a central column beneath the cool roof light dome independently circulating and maintaining it’s temperature).
b)Aesthetically, curves and circles are a central and distinguishing feature of the natural world and circular buildings are incredibly fitting in a rural or forest environment. Round buildings are in prefect alignment with the current trends of the rural leisure and tourism industry, and satisfies the current demand for more integrated and natural structures which echo the sentiments of luxury glamping sites and holistic enterprises.
The interior of a Round building is spellbinding; the naturally oiled British timber-beams which frame the ceiling panels ascend up at a 20 degree pitch to a 1m wide double-glazed circular roof-light dome which is just not achievable with a rectilinear building. The building is perpetually flooded with natural light which is a distinguishing feature of the Rotunda.
(c) On a psychological level, the circular space is hard wired into our DNA since our ancient ancestors commonly resided in round buildings. As a social or workshop space the circular form is ideal for group work and the gathering of people. Environmental psychologists have been writing papers for decades about the effect of our immediate environment on our well being and we have come to recognise that a Roundhouse is a supportive cognitive environment which seems to connect people to each other and inadvertently, to the roots of our civilisation.
Are you like us? Do you worry about the environment, do you wish to solve a problem, connect people together or do you work as a healer?
As we see it; the box serves as a metaphor for our contemporary society with all of its flaws (resource depletion, separateness and over-commercialisation) whereas the organic and humble form of round buildings reflects upon the early days of humanity and hunter-gatherer communities. Living at a point in time when we are fighting to reverse the damage already inflicted on our planet through deforestation, climate change and the loss of communities it makes sense for us to trace back to our roots and re-discover our passion for the natural world. As a buildings manufacturer we see this as our responsibility; much in the same way that designers and manufacturers work to achieve solutions to problems through their work in other industries.
If you are searching for a building which will serve you in more ways than one please don’t hesitate to get in touch and we can chat about how we could work together to assist you with your plans for future expansion.
It’s no secret that we believe curves and circular environments are hard-wired into our DNA. Not only is this a powerfully visceral and instinctive feeling generated when you spend time in and around curved architecture but this also makes sense on a multitude of practical, holistic and metaphysical levels. The below article by Eric Jaffe explains that there is now more evidence then ever in design circles (no pun intended!) to support our theory that perhaps our sub-conscious actually really prefers curvy buildings.
This below article found on www.fastcodesign.com is a wonderful read by Eric Jaffe – who explains his theory as to why our brains prefer curvy architecture.
“When the great architect Philip Johnson first visited the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, designed by Frank Gehry, he started to cry. “Architecture is not about words. It’s about tears,” Johnson reportedly said. Something about the museum’s majestic curves moved him at an emotional level. Many others must get a similar feeling, because the building is usually ranked among the most important in modern times.
Whether or not Johnson and Gehry realized it, the Bilbao and its swirling façade tapped into a primal human emotional network. Time and again, when people are asked to choose between an object that’s linear and one that’s curved, they prefer the latter. That goes for watches with circular faces, letters rendered in a curly font, couches with smooth cushions–even dental floss with round packaging.
The Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at Harvard Medical SchoolThe Cognitive Neuroscience Laboratory at Harvard Medical School
Recently neuroscientists have shown that this affection for curves isn’t just a matter of personal taste; it’s hard-wired into the brain. Working in tandem with designers in Europe, a research team led by psychologist Oshin Vartanian of the University of Toronto at Scarborough compiled 200 images of interior architecture. Some of the rooms had a round style like this:
Courtesy of Oshin Vartanian
Others had a rectilinear form, like this:
Courtesy of Oshin Vartanian
Vartanian and collaborators slid people into a brain imaging machine, showed them these pictures, and asked them to label each room as “beautiful” or “not beautiful.” In a study published earlier this year, they reported that test participants were far more likely to consider a room beautiful when it was flush with curves rather than full of straight lines. Oblong couches, oval rugs, looping floor patterns–these features got our aesthetic engines going.
It’s worth noting this isn’t a men-love-curves thing; twice as many women as men took part in the study. Roundness seems to be a universal human pleasure.
Beauty ratings were just the first step in the study. The researchers also captured the brain activity that occurred when the study participants in the imaging machine considered the pictures. Turns out people looking at curved design had significantly more activity in a brain area called the anterior cingulate cortex, compared to people who were looking at linear decorations. The ACC has many cognitive functions, but one is especially noteworthy in the context of Vartanian’s study: its involvement in emotion.
So curved design uses our brains to tug at our hearts. Some of us cry outside great buildings as a result. Some of us reach for another brand of dental floss. Some of us, beyond all rational judgment, type in Comic Sans font. “Our preference for curves can not be explained entirely in terms of a ‘cold’ cognitive assessment of the qualities of curved objects,” Vartanian tells Co.Design. “Curvature appears to affect our feelings, which in turn could drive our preference.”
The Bilbao-sized question is why exactly curves give us a visceral pleasure. Some neuroscientists believe the answer may have adaptive roots.
Another brain imaging study, conducted several years ago by Moshe Bar of Harvard Medical School, found that viewing objects with sharp elements–once again, square watches, pointy couches, and the like–activated the amygdala. That’s the part of the brain that processes fear. Bar and collaborator Maital Neta proposed that since sharp objects have long signaled physical danger, human brains now associate sharp lines with a threat. Curves, meanwhile, may be seen as harmless by comparison.
“In other words,” says Vartanian, “we prefer curves because they signal lack of threat, i.e. safety.”
There’s a nice clarity to that explanation, but it certainly has some limitations. The most basic of these is that some sharp lines feel warm and welcoming (see: the New York City skyline, or Ikea furniture) and some curves are plenty scary (see: a rattlesnake, or Nicki Minaj). Not every straight-versus-curve contest is as clear as knife versus spoon. Culture, context, and familiarity can all influence our perception of contour.
It’s also critical to point out that just because people have a natural neural affinity for curves doesn’t mean round design is always superior. If researchers asked people to rate architecture based on functionality instead of beauty, for instance, they might get different results. (In fact, Vartanian says he’s studying that question next.) The Bilbao in all its sinuous glory may bring tears to the eye, but it probably took a very rectangular truck to bring construction material to the Bilbao.”
Eric Jaffe is an editor at CityLab, where he writes about transportation, history, and behavioral science, among other topics, through the lens of urban life. He’s also the author of The King’s Best Highway (2010) and A Curious Madness (2014). Follow him on Twitter.
Is Planning Permission required for Temporary Buildings?
Do you need planning permission for a temporary building? Some of our clients have raised this question over several years, believing that temporary structures don’t need planning but unfortunately regulations stipulate that any building (regardless of it’s construction style) has to have planning approval if it’s in situ over a 28-day period. Full stop.
If one fails to apply for planning permission and this is highlighted by a disgruntled neighbour an enforcement order could be set in place by the local authority to remove or re-locate the building immediately (always possible with a modular structure thankfully!). In most instances, it’s usually possible to apply for restrospective planning permission but that’s a much more stressful approach than tackling it head-on in the first instance!
Who is responsible for making the planning application?
The landowner is ultimately responsible for ensuring that planning permission is sought for the building they are purchasing. Some of our clients prefer to enlist the services of a planning consultant or architect whilst others prefer for us to organise this for them. Each and every planning application is different and local policy will vary dependent on the authority you’re dealing with and whether you happen to be in a Conservation Area, Listed Property, AONB etc. It may also be that you bypass your Local Authority and apply directly to a National Park if you’re in one, for National park authorities and the Broads Authority are also planning authorities.
How would we know whether we’re likely to get planning permission?
You can always apply for pre-application advice prior to submitting your full application. It is often a good idea to meet a planning officer for an informal discussion before you submit an application. Some local authorities charge for this service so it’s worth checking first.
If you can, take some time to consider the below points prior to drawing up your application:
Could there be a negative or positive impact on neighbouring properties and the wider community?
What is the size, layout, external appearance and height of the building?
What is the availability of infrastructure such as roads and water supply?
Is there any impact on parking and traffic? Would the Highways Authority have any reason to object?
Are your plans in alignment with the local development strategy?
Ultimately the planning officer will be looking to minimise impact of the building or structure on the surrounding area. There are heritage and conservation issues to consider, and your Local Authority will have their own policy to follow and they’ll be checking to ensure that any application for development falls within their local policy framework.
How much does it cost to get planning permission?
If you’re using a professional to carry out this service for you, you’ll have to first pay their fees for the generation of the mandatory drawings (elevations, plans, location and block plans) which can be anything from £500.00 to £700.00. In addition, you’ll have the costs towards the paperwork & submission of the application which may be double that again. (So, it’s worth allocating +£1,000.00 for your agent and more if you need the services of a specialist consultant or supplementary reports such as ecology reports).
On submission to the Local Authority, there are fees due on the application itself which you may then either pay directly (or paid on your behalf by your agent or modular buildings supplier). This is usually calculated from the floor area of the proposed building. The fee calculator can be used as a standalone tool, but it is also a step in the online planning permission application process. You can also download a guide to the fees for planning applications in England.
Will the buildings lifespan on-site affect the outcome of our application?
A smaller lease period could make a difference to the planning perspective, but if it’s a conservation area or National Park there may be other factors which hold more weight than it’s temporary nature. It’s best to be specific about the purpose of a building from the outset and be as clear as possible about the timeframe. If you end up receiving a 5 year approval but you then need the building for a longer period, you can re-apply for planning permission at the end of the current term.
If I choose to undertake the application for planning permission myself?
You can submit your application online using the Government’s planning portal – www.planningportal.gov.uk. Here you can register your application, create a site location plan, attach supporting documents and pay for the application fee.
Plans for simple projects can be drawn up by an Architectural Technician or an architect. They will charge you dependent on the size and complexity of the building. See an example below:
Once you have instructed your architect or technician, and received drawings and site plans you may then submit it directly on the Planning portal.
Some of the more complex applications may require specialist reports ie: ecology, bat surveys, archeological, topographical, aboricultural etc. It’s worth bearing in mind that any new dwellings or holiday homes, irrespective of size, are most likely going to be subject to the CIL infastructure levy which is an additional fee (sometimes of several thousand pounds) payable to the Local Authority.
As always, feel free to pick up the phone and call us should you have any questions relating to the requirement of planning permission on a site of yours and we’ll do our best to assist you!
Until then, enjoy the Autumn!
Are you thinking about investing in your very own Roundhouse for the garden?
An Iron Age Roundhouse replica
Whichever style of Roundhouse you choose (yurt / cord wood / Iron-Age, cob or timber-framed Rotunda) ensure it’s a building which will stand the test of time and make sure it’s cool in the summer and warm in the winter with the approprioate heating, insulation levels and glazing. Some elements are dictated by your chosen builder but it’s worth addressing of some of the below key considerations before jumping into any building works:
What are you going to use it for?
A Roundhouse garden room is a great way to create a unique space for activities that you may not be able to accommodate in the home. Do you work from home and like the idea of having a unique and unusual garden office? Or perhaps you’re a therapist and you need a seperate and private space for treatments and/or therapy sessions.
These are some of the most popular purposes for a Roundhouse style garden room:
Music Room
Therapy Room
Granny Annexe
Holiday Lodge
Workshop
Studio
Where are you installing it?
Unlike the run-of-the-milll ubiqutous monolith style garden room – the natural aesthetics of the unique and attractive Roundhouse can either be a fabulous feature as a centre-piece in the garden or can sit back snugly towards the corner (and the void behind it creates a brilliant mini-garden, log-store or garden-equipment-hiding-place.) of your garden. Of course, where you choose to situate your Roundhouse will partly be dictated by what space is available in your garden. If you need to link it to utilities then placing it fairly near the house is best, or it might cost more to connect it.
What finishes would you like?
Each and every Rotunda is built to order and reflects the choices made by it’s owner. So, you may prefer a Sedum (grass) roof if you’re keen on improving the local biodiversity, but if 100% sunlight isn’t possible – perhaps the tiled (terracotta red or grey?) would be preferable. We run through the finishes with you on a site survey, enabling you to choose what suits your garden and your budget.
Windows and Doors
Windows and doors also need to be considered carefully. Of course, a box-like garden room means only one thing, the door on the front of course! But the Roundhouse gives you miles more flexibility. Rotate the building, position the door wherever you like.. and create a path which curves and winds it’s way to the entrance. This will mean thinking about paths and potentially obtrusive plants in the surrounding area.
Size
To be covered in your Permitted Development rights, outbuildings must:
be single storey;
have a maximum eaves height of 2.5m;
have a maximum overall height of 3m (or 4m on a dual pitched roof to the highest point).
and take up less than 50% of your garden
The most popular size by far is the 5.5m Rotunda Roundhouse, this sits snugly in the garden without being too overbearing but is large enough to double-up as a granny annexe or spare room should you need one.
Hopefully this has been useful as a snapshot but please don’t hesitate to contact us should you have any questions relating to the suitability of a Roundhouse style garden room for your home.
Until then, enjoy the Autumn…..!
Might you need to apply for planning permission for your school?
Permitted development rights are a national grant of planning permission which allow certain building works and changes of use to be carried out without having to make a planning application. Whilst a large scale development or extension cannot avoid the process there are some permitted developments that can avoid this delay.
Under the General Permitted Development Order 1995 there are a couple of options available to schools:
An extension up to 25% of the original floor space or 100 square meters, whichever is the lesser, however, there are caveats that can restrict this development and the total floor area is classed as the original school so may already have been used up by previous projects.
For schools owned by the local authority there is an additional allowance of any small ancillary building, works or equipment on land belonging or maintained by them required for the purposes of any function exercised by them. This offers a greater amount of flexibility but more open to interpretation on whether the proposals are an ancillary function.
A local planning authority delivers the planning service for a local area and should always be the first point of contact for any planning enquiries. A local planning authority will have professional planning officers working for them who can offer planning advice, particularly on the interpretation of planning law and planning policy. Some local planning authorities charge for pre-application advice.
If you’re considering an ancillary building for your school (rather than primary use – ie: to be used as a forest school meeting point rather than a formal classroom building) then please don’t hesitate to get in touch for your non-obligation site survey!
We’re often asked whether you can get a self-build mortgage for one of our buildings… and the simple answer is, yes; you most certainly can!
Just click on the link below and have a chat with these lovely chaps at Ecology Building society about your project (be it round or any other form of modular building kit) and you may very well find that the doors to your self-build adventure may open up to you….
It’s not the first time we’ve written in the blog about the popularity of the Rotunda Yoga Studioso please forgive us if we’re rehashing old news, but many of our clients are asking us to design their yoga studios in order to create the ideal environment for yoga, meditation and workshops or exercise classes.
Whether you are a seasoned professional or a trying out a new hobby it’s worth considering which elements are most beneficial to you for the optimum Yoga Studio space in your garden.
Light! Practicing yoga in a dark room may certainly be on your bucket list but for most of our clients, the pre requisite is usually for a bright, airy and expansive light-filled room! We’d recommend looking for a garden room with a rooflight. Some of our yoga studios incorporate a much larger opening dome (2m in diameter) which floods your yoga studio with natural light.
Orient the windows to align with the best view and to a southerly elevation to capture optimum light levels.
The energy of the space – We can confidently state that there is a positive, uplifting energy in the round and this claim has been substantiated by the feedback from all of our clients over the years. Its strange but most definitely true, there is more to this space than shape alone – it really feels incredible. Why this is, we still can’t say. But we love it.
Climate Control – who wants to practice on a cold floor? Or struggle in the summer in a sweltering garden building? When looking at a Yoga Studio for your garden you might like to consider what the ‘U-Values’ of the building are (this is the figure attributed to the thermal efficiency of the building – a requirement of UK Buildings Regulations) and whether it comes with heating options. Our clients prefer the electric underfloor heating mats under a warm oak floor or skirting board heating.
A thermally efficient building should stay as cool in the summer as it does warm in the winter. The high level of insulation deflects the warmth of the sun and keeps the interior of the building beautifully cool. An opening dome can serve as an immediate vent for further air-flow!
The height of the room – Most garden studios in the marketplace at the moment take the form of a ubiquitous box with a flat roof. No doubt this is to get around planning regulations but it doesn’t seem to do much for the aesthetics nor the functionality of the space. If you’re using a garden room exclusively as a yoga studio in your garden it’d be worth considering whether you would invest a little more for a building with a dual pitched or apex/cathedral roof to allow you room for stretching and give the atmosphere of an expansive space in which you can breathe.
The size of the building – are you looking to run classes from your building commercially? The addition of a cafe perhaps? Of course, a garden studio could be anything from a 4m diameter building suitable for one to one classes or could extend to the home gymnasium that we currently have in production for a Yoga teacher in Kent.
All you have to do, is imagine the type of experience you wish to create for yourself and then call us to design your yoga studio for you.
Let the magic begin!
From all at Rotunda x
An early intervention project is underway in Salford (North West England) tomorrow and it’s a rather splendid example of how a City Council and a well-known community charity can come together to support the well-being of school children with mental health issues.
The workshop model called “Mindsteps” is an early intervention, school based series of workshops aimed at young people who have expressed a need for support or have been referred for low level mental health issues such as depression, anxiety by a school, youth worker, parent or social worker.
This course is specifically designed for those young people who are displaying negative behaviours which are often linked to low self-esteem and lack of resilience including anti-social behaviour, low level drug and alcohol use or are offending/ at risk of offending.
Schools often report that a significant majority of young people who are at the risk of underachieving face complex well-being issues, but fall below the threshold for CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services. CAMHS are the NHS services that assesses and treat young people with emotional, behavioural or mental health difficulties).
The first of such workshops is being delivered tomorrow by the Groundwork MSSTT charity (Groundwork Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Tameside and Trafford Ltd.) as part of a wider project to address mental health issues with our young people.
A group of young people from inner-city Salford will be experiencing activities such as;
Barefoot Walking
Building Shelters
Fire Making (with the mandatory hot chocolate & marshmallows of course!)
Natural Paint Making
Meditation
Through exploration, activity based, experiential learning and one to one/group discussion; young people will learn to identify triggers, factors and indicators of their own mental health & well-being needs, and indeed, that of their peers. Areas covered include:
Brain Chemicals – What they are and how they can affect your mood
Maslow’s Hierarchy – What do you need to feel good?
Attachment Assessment – To gain a basic understanding of the young persons attachment style in order to best respond to their individual needs.
Essentially, the activities in the workshops are designed to give young people the tools to deal with stressful situations themselves in with “achievement coaching” (based on a tried and tested Groundwork model)by a qualified/experienced youth worker and by positive experiences, using the outdoor environment as a therapeutic tool to improve their well-being.
We’ve blogged in the past about the ‘Forest Schools’ concept, adopted by an ever-increasing number of Schools all over the UK. This could be the next step towards alleviating our young people from some of the mental health issues they may be facing, by using the natural environment and therapeutic outdoor activities to assist them with their understanding of their own well-being / challenges and the road to recovery.
To Groundwork MSSTT and NHS Salford Health Innovation Fund (total fund of £250,000.00 available, for such projects – apply here), we salute you. That’s one fabulous project. Forest school – amplified!
If any of our website viewers know of other groundbreaking new initiatives such as this one, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and let us know; we love to spread positive news about how we can best serve our school children.
Were you were one of the lucky ones who managed to drop in to the OM Yoga Show, Mind Body Soul and Vegan Life Live exhibition in Manchester last weekend? I am sure we don’t need to remind you of the highlights of such a fun and inspiring event! Amongst the free Yoga sessions and seminars there was a dazzling array of stands and an incredible amount of really very good vegan food…. and some… interesting vegan food.
This is a sweeping generalisation of course. But, we believe this to be true. We also recognise that this breed of person also has a penchant for cabins. Nordic cabins. Rustic cabins. Cabins in the woods, on the hillsides, cabins by fishing lakes or deep in valleys dwarfed either side by mountain crags and just about anywhere that you might find an abundance of moss and lichen.
The site is……….. to die for, the view is incredible. Not to mention the wildlife (especially the white tailed eagle……one of which is captured below) is rather impressive.
Local Councillors mark the official opening of a new eco-building at Richard Bonington Primary School in Nottingham. 
Mrs Suzanne Campbell (
If driving non-stop, it would take our installations team approximately 14 hours to reach the site. This includes a 2.5hour ferry journey towards the end. In reality, it’ll most likely take them between 24-36 hours with a stop to rest half-way. But it’s worth it…..
This building is a reassuring example of how schools and nurseries can work with nature to provide inspiring and nurturing learning environments. A far cry from the modular temporary classroom cabins which many of us remember all too well from our school days!
As the final few days of 2017 gradually rolled in, the Rotunda office has been carefully winding down for the Christmas break and today the workshop and office doors closed for the last time in December as we all headed home, exhausted but elated….(and amidst the mass of Amazon delivery vans!!) to spend Christmas with our families….
Schools often report that a significant majority of young people who are at the risk of underachieving face complex well-being issues, but fall below the threshold for CAMHS (
