Happy New Year from Rotunda

2020 is a very special year for us. Those of you who might follow numerology would most likely know that the number 22 is a master number – the most powerful of all of the numerology numbers. It represents the master architect, or builder.

It is with this knowledge, that we celebrate the arrival of this monumental year. We are both delighted and honoured to design and construct each and every Roundhouse for our clients. For this to us, symbolises the construction of a new world. The type of world we would like to see our children inherit. The circle is symbolic of connectedness, togetherness, oneness and organic life.

Those who know us well, will know that we are wildly enthusiastic about the circle. For us, the Roundhouse is not just a building, it’s our desire to connect ourselves and our clients to the world again through our work. As the bird weaves its nest and fox digs its burrow. The circle cocoons and nurtures us and every other species on this planet. It’s antithesis, the box – is an unnatural construct which is the physical embodiment of our contemporary world and illustrates just how disconnected we are from our natural habitat. We build to re-address the balance. For how can a circular building be so forgotten when it is the very structure which our ancestors started building over 6,000 years ago? For every Roundhouse we install, we are replacing what could have been another box. To replace the box with a circle is to bring a shift in mentality to our civilisation. Taking us from a hierarchical society which is OUT of alignment with nature to a more collaborative and considerate society which is IN alignment with nature. Wow, and we feel so blessed to be able to do this for and with our clients – it’s immeasurably satisfying work.

For this, we celebrate. To be part of this shift in consciousness and to assist with the creation of a new world which conserves, enhances, empowers and protects our planet and people is truly humbling.

It is due to the enormous success of 2019 that we can look towards 2020 with excitement. Last year was a mammoth year for us. We constructed £1.2million worth of Rotunda Roundhouses last year. Our projects consisted of:

• The largest eco-classroom ever constructed for a school in Derbyshire
• Five luxury eco-lodges on a Glamping site in Bude, Cornwall
• Two eco-classrooms for a school in Kent
• A 5 bedroom eco-home (under construction – due to complete March)
• A gorgeous Japanese Themed Writing-den by a lake in Sussex
• Several en-suite eco-lodges for 4/5* independent hoteliers
• A eco-nursery building for a Playgroup in Cheshire
• A nurture building for a Primary School in South Yorkshire
• An eco-building on a nature reserve for the Hampshire Wildlife Trust
• En-suite Rotunda units on the Isle of Skye
• Three self-build packages for independent high-end rural B&B’s

2020 is set to be a record year for us with:

• A stunning garden room in Sussex which is 50% curved glass (!)
• Numerous eco-classrooms for schools all over the UK
• A yoga-retreat building in Market Harborough
• Steiner School educational buildings and nurseries
• Eco-Lodges in the Outer Hebrides
• Three Eco-Homes for private self-build clients in England

Our company is expanding and the popularity of the Rotunda Roundhouse looks set to continue. This can only mean one thing – people all over the UK are choosing a brighter future, a more holistic alternative to the mundane and are literally stepping out of the box.

So. Thankyou – all of you, for being part of this amazing journey. Let’s bring the circle back into the forefront of our existence and come together to celebrate our natural world and our place within it – as guardians of this planet, not destroyers.

Have a wonderful 2020!

Lots of love,

Rotunda x

5 things to look for in an eco-classroom

If your school or preschool is considering an eco-classroom (Sometimes referred to as an ‘outdoor classroom’) there are 5 things we think you might need to know before embarking on your journey:

CARBON FOOTPRINT: That the road miles of the eco-classroom are minimal, reducing the carbon footprint of the whole project. This includes the materials your builder has sourced from their suppliers. Naturally, the distance the building has to travel to you from the factory is also a huge consideration IE: If an eco-classroom really is eco in it’s nature it should not be shipped over to the UK from abroad and the raw materials should be sourced locally (and as close to the manufacturers factory as possible).

INSULATION: eco-Classrooms should be insulated to above Buildings regulations standards and exceed the regulations for thermal properties. This should be a natural or inert material. Most Garden Room companies and building firms specify Celotex or Kingspan insulation boards as dictated by Building Regulations. As effective as this is for thermal purposes, these boards are extruded polyurethane foam core which is a known carcinogen and can release dangerous toxins into the air. You will most likely find alternatives such as sheeps wool, hemp, mineral wool and 100% recycled consumer goods (plastic bottles) or textile options.

ACOUSTICS: With children making memories and most likely, a lot of noise, it’s worth considering a structure which has great acoustics! The level of soft furnishings and insulation you have fitted in your building will also make a significant difference to the way the building performs acoustically. Sound boards can be mounted on the wall if you’d like to further dampen the sound and reduce noise within the building.

GLAZING: Natural Light is critical. But, more windows are not necessarily the best way to achieve this. Too much glazing can drive down your insulation levels and reduce the effectiveness of your thermally designed structure. An experienced architect will always advise you to specify a building which is designed to capture the maximum level of solar gain, IE: windows positioned on the South and East elevation and fewer windows on the North elevation. All glazing units should be double or triple glazed, Argon filled and Low E rated to best support the eco-classroom thermally.

HEATING & COOLING: A superbly insulated and well-considered eco-classroom should maintain it’s temperature all year round and an eco-building would always be more thermally efficient than a traditional brick built classroom. However, heating may still be required in the winter and if you’re keen to reduce the energy consumption of your eco-classroom you should have an eco-classroom which can come integrated with either Infra Red heating panels, Ground Source Heat Pump, Air source Heat Pump or Underfloor Heating. Similarly, a quick-fix cooling system for the winter such as an opening rooflight system or windows which open for cross-ventilation (on opposing sides of the room) are also a mu

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.