Unique Circular Garden Rooms, modular school buildings and lodges - Handcrafted in the UK
One definite perk of investing in a Rotunda Garden Room is that you have the opportunity to create your own unique space from the moment that you start engaging in conversation with us! The creative process behind each and every Rotunda is unique and this is one of the elements our clients most enjoy about the sales process. Not only do we sit down and plan each and every detail around you and your garden (position of the light switches and electrical sockets/window position/door opening/layout…etc!) but your paint finish is customised too! If you love a particular colour shade in your house, we’ll match it! If you have a painting which inspires you, we’ll pick a colour from it! A completely unique and creative customer journey which we doubt you’d find with any other garden room manufacturer. Interestingly, no two people are ever the same and as a direct consequence each Rotunda is completely unique! A couple of weeks ago we built & installed a Rotunda internally finished in a deep soulful red; this week we’re off to Hertfordshire with a blue Rotunda! (Interior, of course!) Other colours coming up on the Summer installations spectrum range from a dusky green to a bright daffodil yellow! What does the colour you choose say about you and the space you’re creating? It’s fascinating to think that the colour we surround ourselves in gives off a different vibrational frequency and affects our mood and activity within our garden building. Here are a few guidelines on colour and how it affects our psychology! (Information extracted from http://www.colour-affects.co.uk/psychological-properties-of-colours)
RED. Physical Positive: Physical courage, strength, warmth, energy, basic survival, ‘fight or flight’, stimulation, masculinity, excitement. Negative: Defiance, aggression, visual impact, strain. Being the longest wavelength, red is a powerful colour. Although not technically the most visible, it has the property of appearing to be nearer than it is and therefore it grabs our attention first. Hence its effectiveness in traffic lights the world over. Its effect is physical; it stimulates us and raises the pulse rate, giving the impression that time is passing faster than it is.
BLUE. Intellectual. Positive: Intelligence, communication, trust, efficiency, serenity, duty, logic, coolness, reflection, calm. Negative: Coldness, aloofness, lack of emotion, unfriendliness. Blue is the colour of the mind and is essentially soothing; it affects us mentally, rather than the physical reaction we have to red. Strong blues will stimulate clear thought and lighter, soft blues will calm the mind and aid concentration. Consequently it is serene and mentally calming. It is the colour of clear communication.
YELLOW. Emotional Positive: Optimism, confidence, self-esteem, emotional strength, friendliness, creativity. Negative: Irrationality, fear, emotional fragility, depression, anxiety. The yellow wavelength is relatively long and essentially stimulating. In this case the stimulus is emotional, therefore yellow is the strongest colour, psychologically. The right yellow will lift our spirits and our self-esteem; it is the colour of confidence and optimism.
GREEN. Balance Positive: Harmony, balance, refreshment, rest, restoration, reassurance, environmental awareness, equilibrium, peace. Negative: Boredom, stagnation, blandness, enervation. Green strikes the eye in such a way as to require no adjustment whatever and is, therefore, restful. Being in the centre of the spectrum, it is the colour of balance – a more important concept than many people realise. When the world about us contains plenty of green, this indicates the presence of water, and little danger of famine, so we are reassured by green, on a primitive level.
VIOLET. Spiritual Positive: Spiritual awareness, containment, vision, luxury, authenticity, truth, quality. Negative: Introversion, decadence, suppression, inferiority. The shortest wavelength is violet, often described as purple. It takes awareness to a higher level of thought, even into the realms of spiritual values. It is highly introvertive and encourages deep contemplation, or meditation.
ORANGE. Dynamic. Positive: Physical comfort, food, warmth, security, sensuality, passion, abundance, fun. Negative: Deprivation, frustration, frivolity, immaturity. Since it is a combination of red and yellow, orange is stimulating and reaction to it is a combination of the physical and the emotional. It focuses our minds on issues of physical comfort – food, warmth, shelter etc. – and sensuality. It is a ‘fun’ colour.
It’s a worth having a think about the type of experience you’re looking for when you’re looking through the colour chart and envisioning spending time in your Rotunda – i.e. green = relaxing garden room, blue = garden-office or studio, red = music room, violet = meditation/yoga room! Just another little thing to get excited about!
Size Matters: Tiny Houses and why living smaller is better.
Over the last few decades we have been bombarded with slogans and messages informing us that ‘Bigger is Better’ and encouraged us to believe that happiness, success and even value are directly associated to size. This thinking is also applied to our homes. We often use the size of our abode as a physical representation of our success, and forget what our actual living requirements are, for example if you live alone and spend most of your time out of your house, do you really need those additional four bedrooms?
Thankfully more and more people are starting to break the mould and a large movement has formed supporting the creation and development of Tiny House Living, which encourages people to reassess their actual spacial needs. By drastically reducing the amount of house space available, people are being challenged to really consider the design of their environment; leading to some highly creative and very clever solutions being found.
There are also a number of other benefits of swapping your mansion for a small cabin house;
Easier Maintenance
A smaller house means smaller repairs and less general maintenance and upkeep. What’s more a number of tiny houses are constructed from timber, recycled materials, or natural building products which are much easier and cheaper to repair/replace.
Less Time Cleaning
Even an empty room can get messy and dirty! A smaller space means less time can be spent on keeping it clean.
Saves Money
A smaller house is cheaper to build, cheaper to buy, and cheaper to run! Insurance, utilities, and taxes are all much lower for smaller properties which leaves you with more of your hard earn wages to spend on enjoying yourself.
Less Debt
As mentioned above, a smaller home is much cheaper which also leads to smaller mortgages, or in some cases can be built without a requirement for a mortgage at all!
More Land
Even if you haven’t got acres and acres of land, the smaller the footprint of your house, the more land you’ll have around it. This opens up more opportunities for growing your own produce, keeping chickens or bees, or even just creating a beautiful outdoor space to enjoy.
Closer Family Bonds
Smaller spaces mean more interaction between family members and strengthen family bonds. Of course it’s still important for everyone to have their own space, but with some imagination and a little bit of smart planning, the possibilities for creating a unique area for each family member are endless.
Easier Resell
Affordable houses are always more attractive to the housing market than expensive ones. With so many people struggling to find the funds for homes, being able to offer a quirky, more affordable option makes it highly desirable.
In addition there are also huge environmental benefits as having a smaller footprint also means; less resources spent, smaller carbon footprint, and less impact on the environment. Combining the small house design with an eco build such as straw bale, timber framed, earth bag, or cob is an even more sustainable option.
Tiny Houses can be made from the most unlikely of things too; from shipping containers to pre-fabricated units, metal silos to traditional wooden gypsy caravans. And just because it’s small it doesn’t mean it has to be ugly or low quality, in fact being able to spend less on the building itself means you could have extra to really splash out on the interior.
Rotunda Living – Discovering the Spirit of a Space
A few months ago we relocated our main offices from a beautiful rural space in the Cheshire countryside to an industrial estate just outside of Stockport. Whilst it was extremely sad to move from working in the warm, creative space of Luna, our show model Rotunda, we knew that is was the right thing to do as it also gave us the opportunity to grow our manufacturing unit as well as having the facilities to add more people to the Rotunda Family.
In true Rotunda style we had to have the most unusual unit available, and this came in the form of a converted roof-space at the back of the estate, overlooking a green bank of trees, flowers, and shrubs; Even though we were out of the countryside, we still found ourselves a lovely view. The office itself had been the showroom for a fitted furniture company, and whilst the craftsmanship of everything was extremely high, the heavy black wood coupled with the bare magnolia walls gave the rooms an imposing, straight edged, monochromatic atmosphere that definitely didn’t suit the softer, natural curves of Rotunda. Nevertheless, like a Rotunda, it had boundless potential to become anything we desired.
Several weeks passed and we were finding it really difficult to connect with our environment. Things were moving along smoothly enough, but there was still a sense of being unsettled, as though everything was only temporary. Finally we decided we had to make some changes and spent a week painting, clearing, and re-organising the office. The transformation was profound, and we instantly felt like we were in a place where we could thrive, but there was one more step we felt we needed to complete; we needed a proper energy space clearing.
The event took place on a Sunday afternoon when there would be no distractions, and lasted well into the evening. We were fascinated to watch as all of the negativity from the previous occupants was dispelled and the walls were infused with powerful Rotunda energy. The next morning it felt as though the entire building had breathed a giant sigh of relief and suddenly the space was alive. It was as though the very spirit of Rotunda had moved in, and even though we had found ourselves in a square environment, the power and embodiment of living in the round had managed to transfer itself into the office.
We have always been astounded by the number of testimonials we have received from clients, expressing the life changing effect that being in a Rotunda has had on them. We believe very strongly that every Rotunda is its own unique entity and our clients have always confirmed that there is indeed a very special energy, completely distinctive to their personal round space. It has therefore amazed us that this ‘Rotunda Effect’ is so strong, we have been able to apply it to a square building. Having spent so much time in the office before the transformation we were able to immediately recognise the difference.
It is important to recognise the skill involved in understanding space, particularly in clearing it of any imprints left by previous occupant. We have been fortunate to work with renowned architect and professional space clearer, Beverly Wood, who has already metamorphosed a number of client’s lives just through her work with their environment. It is worth noting that not every space clearer is legitimate and we thoroughly encourage anyone considering this practice to do their homework before committing to it.
We know that we are still only at the start of our journey developing the office into a true, creative Rotunda environment and our next challenge will be creating the actual furnishings. However, we are excited that we now have a clean, and positive canvas on which to work.
Blogpost written by Rhiannon Webster
Round Garden Rooms: The ultimate creative space
Creative Space – Rotunda Garden Room
This blogpost almost didn’t appear today… I have been suffering from a baffling case of writers block and despite the numerous nudges from our SEO professional and the never ending blog-worthy subjects that have popped into my mind over the last few weeks my creativity had just disappeared! Then, moments ago, I opened a book to wind down for the evening and my creative spark alighted!
Creativity is a delicate creature. Some may say that my creativity is in the spaces I create with my clients; in fact, the birth of the ‘Rotunda’ garden room was a deeply creative process (whilst pregnant and idealistic!) wishing to create round sanctuaries which would benefit both the environment and the human experience.
To be creative isn’t a process which can just be switched on and off like a light switch, and yet, how do musicians and artists manage to work on their creative arts on a daily basis? Perhaps they don’t, perhaps they too need to take a few days or weeks out to re-calibrate their creative minds!
I’ve always maintained that being in the ‘Round’ (whether in a circular garden room or in a yurt) seems to amplify the energy of those activities taking place within it. The years in which I spent working in a roundhouse were without doubt the most productive of my life. Coincidentally, we moved into a rectangular office earlier on this year and I am not enjoying it half as much as I enjoy the round. The buzz seems to be missing; although we are busier than ever it’s a functional and serious busy rather than the excited uplifted feeling one experiences in the round!
Over the last 12 months I’ve been noticing the correlation between all of our clients and how they use their Rotundas… the overwhelming majority are using their round garden room as therapy rooms, meditation rooms, yoga or spiritual purposes. A large percentage are utilising them for arts/music and creativity whilst others treat their Rotunda as a secret hideaway and spare guest bedroom for surprise visitors . The very last few are used as garden offices and one is soon to be used as a family home.
So, creative spaces, therapy rooms and meditation or yoga studios are at the very top of the list….
It is no surprise to me that the calming and uplifting energy of the round is attracting those of us who wish to enhance their ability to heal and create – the cornerstones of our human essence. It would appear that creatives and healers appreciate the benefits that energy and form can bring to your life when everything around you is oh so terribly and absolutely square.
Rhiannon (our business development manager) and I sat down with some dulux colour charts and chose bright vibrant greens, deep oranges and pinks for the rectangular office; this is our first step towards making our space as creative, uplifting and vibrant as possible, irrespective of the unfortunate rectangular shape! We’ve realised that to have a creative space one must rely on colour if not form! (We shall post photos on facebook next week for those of you who follow us on there!)
A creative space is vital, for all of us as human beings. If you have a desire to enhance your creativity or would just like to maintain your current activities in an uplifting and uncluttered space, the Rotunda may be the space in which to thrive.
If you’d like us to design your creative or therapy garden room space for you please do get in touch, we only have two installation slots left for 2014!
…….Let’s create!
Blogpost written by Gemma
Small garden? Get round it!
Small garden? Get round it!
Let’s face it; not everyone has an enormous garden! But how does one get around the fact that permitted development can restrict your choice of garden building when you have a small space to work with? Answer: Get round it!
Most of us are allowed a certain amount of permitted development in our garden. This is hugely advantageous when looking to increase your living or working space and are thinking of the addition of a conservatory or garden room but can be restrictive if the garden isn’t as large as you’d like it to be!
Most garden rooms have either pitched, mono-pitched or flat roofs. The Pitched roof gives a beautiful feeling of space and is a welcome addition to a more traditional garden where it’s important to keep the style of your garden room in keeping with the existing buildings. The mono-pitched and flat roofs are a contemporary solution if you wanted a square, functional room without the charm (perfect for bike sheds and offices). We define the Rotunda cathedral roof as a pitched roof. This airy, open, loft style roofing system gives you breathing space and a marvellous aesthetic feature.
Here in lies the problem; pitched roof + small garden. Most of our clients ask us how far a garden building must be positioned from the boundary to comply with permitted development guidelines.
Any building sited closer than 2m to the boundary (ie: snugly up against the fence or tucked into a corner – which is where most of us ideally would like to place a garden building) must be less than 2.5m tall. If your garden is a wee bit on the small side, this would give you only a couple of options:
Site your garden-room 2m from the boundary – which could mean it fills the entire central space of the lawn!
Settle instead for a flat-roofed garden building which is no taller than 2.5m high
Oh no! There must be another way?
Fortunately, there is! We’ve been working with a couple of our clients to bring them the solution for their snug little gardens…..
By reducing the overall size of the Rotunda and creating a reduced height bespoke front door we’ve developed the 2.1m (7ft) internal diameter BABY-ROTUNDA!
It’s pretty adorable. The same features and functionality still apply, and with over 2m internal diameter, this means you can still pop a single airbed in there for a surprise visitor and have enough room to sit and meditate, enjoy a cup of tea or work on your art. With an overall height of under 2.4m you can site this little building snugly up to the fence without needing to apply for planning permission (your intended use might warrant planning though – please do check before purchasing) and you still have the artisan charm of a cathedral roof and bespoke detailing which can only been found with a Rotunda!
What’s more, being a smaller building, it’s more affordable than the 3.5m ext. dia Rotunda – coming in at £6,333.33 ex VAT.
So, if you’ve got a tiny garden but you’d still like a little sanctuary in the round please feel free to chat with us; we think we’ve just ‘got round’ the space problem and we have a solution for you!
Blogpost written by Gemma Roe.
Living in Yurts – the very first Prefabricated Houses
Living in Yurts – the very first Prefabricated Houses
Recently I’ve been chatting with friends who live in a ‘yurt’ about my desire to make the transition myself and naturally I find myself drawing comparisons to our lovely Rotundas – weighing up the pros and cons of a simply canvas cylinder or a timber framed circular dwelling.
Our British climate mightn’t be particularly well suited to perpetual canvas living but a few hardy folk do indeed live in yurts through all seasons and are seemingly very happy. Since my very first introduction to circular buildings several years ago (and my ongoing passion for living, working and relaxing in the round) I’ve been fascinated by the history and the flexibility of the yurt. For those of you who aren’t overly familiar with the yurt, it’s a Mongolian structure (Genghis Khan and his horde used them) built primarily from latticed wood (to produce the cylindrical wall system) held together by a wooden band with a roof which is formed by long poles which extend from the top of the walls to arrive at a central point called the “crown” (which is a small circular opening, traditionally was used as a smoke hole) which provides both natural daylight and a beautiful focal point. The Yurt was born into existence by nomadic tribes who needed a house that could be easily constructed and moved, built with materials they had on hand (wool and wood) which was lightweight enough to be carried by a couple of horses and would be comfortable enough to withstand the winters but provide a cool retreat in the summer.
Estimated to have been created about 2,500 years ago, this central Asian design is still being used today as living spaces and quirky holiday retreats for the people all over the UK and I can see why.
An Eco-friendly round living space has enormous appeal for many of us and maximises the greatest use of floor area, is a natural and unobtrusive structure with minimal impact to the surrounding landscape and ground it’s sited on, they’re quick to erect and dismantle and they are warm and cosy when the fire is lit. The downsides, as far as I can see are that the yurt itself, being a central Asian design, isn’t particularly in-keeping with the British Countryside; there are very few (if any) windows and those that do are invariably old UPVC units from a brick-built domestic house, there are no electrics (so, no hair-dryer ladies I’m afraid) nor is there insulation and they need quite a bit of maintenance such as re-waterproofing the canvas and tightening the ropes. In fact, most UK holiday sites are required to take their Yurts down during the winter period which only really brings them revenue during the summer months.
Although I have a strong attraction to the traditional yurt I do firmly believe that after 2,500 years the yurt is due for a significant upgrade. Whilst in the process of looking for some land so my family and I can live off-grid and in greater harmony with nature, I’ve come to the conclusion that the Rotunda is in fact the modern (and upgraded) equivalent to the Mongolian Yurt, and it’s not a moment too soon. Our current civilisation (although many of us keen for a more sustainable living arrangement) has a requirement for a supply of electricity for modern day appliances and would expect to have a structure which mightn’t need to be removed and reassembled numerous times as the Mongol travellers did. Our climate can be bitterly cold in the winter months and thus, it would be advantageous to have a fully insulated building which would retain the heat and not lose it all though a single layer of canvas. Most notably, the Rotunda is a timber-clad building making the most of the British Larch which we source locally. A design which is more in-keeping with the British countryside but is also reminiscent of Swedish log cabins, traditional barns and lodges which provide more stability, durability and the option of modern day appliances and in-house entertainment (which could of course be powered by alternative energy sources)
So, thank you Yurt for the beauty and joy which you’ve provided for 2,500 years but personally I’d place my bets on the new equivalent which is much more suited to our climate, addresses our need to conserve energy and provides a more long-term living arrangement.
Yurt, my friend, you have evolved.
Blogpost written by Gemma Roe.
Ten Reasons to Invest in a Garden Room this Spring
Ten Reasons to Invest in a Garden Room this Spring
- Separating your work space from your home environment is crucial to maintaining a positive work life balance. The majority of us who’ve all experienced working from the kitchen table have all struggled to remain focused on the task in hand and spent an inordinately long time nibbling on something easily accessible from the fridge/putting the laundry on or just being interrupted by the friendly neighbour who thought it’d be a good time to pop round for an impromptu cup of tea. A garden office or garden studio is separate from the house, from the distractions and from the ever-alluring fridge It’s absolutely wonderful to be able to lock your garden office door on a Friday afternoon (preferably leaving your mobile behind!) and head into the weekend without asking your family to share their Sunday meal at the dining table with your office equipment.
- Reclaim the VAT back as a business expense. A Garden Room is a temporary building and if you are a fully VAT registered business you may be able to claim the full 20% VAT back.
- Reduce your energy Bills working in a high-energy saving garden building and working away from the main house does mean that you no longer have to heat the whole building, but just one room. The benefits of low wattage LED lighting, natural daylight flooding through the roof-light dome, outstanding thermal dynamics and high levels of natural insulation means that it will cost you next to nothing to heat and light your garden room, garden office or studio!
- Reduce your Commute to the office! A garden room is saving you money by reducing the need for train travel/office lunches and parking fees.
- More time in bed or you can make the most of that time you would have been commuting to the office by making an extra special breakfast with your family, starting work earlier (!) or just having an extra 30 minutes in bed!
- Flexibility to work around other commitments. Working in a dedicated space at your home will also ensure that you can fit other scheduled appointments such as doctors visits and school runs around your working day and you can work to your own schedule whilst maximising the time you have in the day to ensure your priorities are achieved.
- Clean Air and a healthy environment is immensely beneficial to your working day. Being surrounded by your garden and working in a timber framed, naturally insulated and breathable garden room, office or studio is a much healthier environment for you and your employees/colleagues. Eliminating the chances of Sick building syndrome (which usually occurs in those employed in buildings containing many people who are working closely together, especially in new buildings with sealed windows.) http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/Sick-Building-Syndrome.htm
- Increase the value of your home whilst giving you an additional room with infinite possibilities. A garden room is a house extension and a lifestyle statement and as such could add value to your home in the instance that you would be looking to sell it in the future.
- Save money on a house extension of traditional construction. A traditionally constructed house extension or conservatory may cost more and require significantly more planning and site preparation than a prefabricated garden studio.
- Leasing options if you’re self-employed or have a small business, the cost of purchasing a garden building might be higher than renting space so leasing a Rotunda through your business may also mean that you can lease your Garden studio to obtain all of the benefits of a garden-office but enable you to purchase or return it at the end of your term.
Blogpost written by Gemma Roe.
How to Heat your Garden Room in the Winter
Heating your Garden Room in the Winter
You’re dusting the remnants of that recently devoured mince pie off your desk and scouring Amazon for those last minute purchases…. Once more enticed by the Carol singing, the mince-pie scoffing and that ‘devil-may-care’ attitude to chocolate which can only really be justified once a year!
As you retrieve your scarf and gloves which have been languishing abandoned in a cupboard under the stairs for the last nine months, you stop to wonder what now happens to your dream of working in the garden?! The jubilation you once felt at the idea of merry contentment, working at your leisure surrounded by the cheerful idealistic greenery of your well-tended outdoor space has hastily been replaced by a somewhat apprehensive glance towards the bleak and barren monochrome wilds at bottom of your garden. A cross-country commute to a purpose built office block might momentarily seem a more attractive option (provided you can catch a taxi to the station).
But as bleak as it might seem out there, the Garden Room is WINTER PROOF! (And the warmth will almost certainly welcome you before your coffee has had a chance to cool en-route to your desk; regardless of the seemingly impenetrable wintry gale hurtling towards you down that garden path – please persevere, you won’t be disappointed!).
Countless times we’ve piped on about the ultimate benefits of the Garden Room – that it’s a multifunctional, multi-season, weatherproof and above all else, a winter-proof modular building. This is when any real Garden Room worth it’s salt will come into it’s own!
Built like a timber framed house, a high-spec garden room will be compatible with almost any type of heating system you could imagine using in your home. Whether you’re using your building as a garden office, spare guest room or man-cave (to name but a few), here are a few tips to get you started:
Convection Heater
Simple, cost-effective and instant, a convection heater warms the air through it’s heated element and is much quieter and efficient than a fan heater. Oil filled radiators are also a form of convection heater and most of these will come with a timer fitted so you can set the heater an hour or so before you intend to use your office/garden-room.
A very well insulated building (naturally, the Rotunda is a perfect example) will retain the heat and it should circulate around the room providing you with a great ambient heat.
- Approx Kw output: 2-3kw
- Budget Guideline for a 1-2 person office £25-35
- Cost to run: Med/High
Underfloor Heating
If your garden room comes fitted with Laminate or Wooden flooring it’s incredibly simple to specify electric underfloor heating from your chosen supplier. The foil mats roll out under the flooring system and a digital thermostat is usually fitted near the light-switch at the entrance to your garden-building. Some installers provide a remote control and the thermostats can be set to a timer so your Garden Room will be warm before you’re heading down the garden-path.
- Approx Kw output: 1 -1.5kw
- Budget Guideline for a 1-2 person office £500-700
- Cost to run: Low
Log Burning Stove
A log burning stove is a beautiful way to heat your garden office or studio. The smallest stoves are ideal for smaller spaces, and you’d be best to limit the output to 4kw if you have a highly insulated building. There are some wonderful little models which are commonly used in barges and house-boats, one such stove is ‘The Hobbit’ built by ‘Salamander Stoves‘ here in the UK. Other stoves we’d recommend are the Charnwood C4 (picured) and the Little wenlock wood-burning stove, from £625, AGA. Although we can ensure your garden building is compatible for your Log burning stove, it is always best to seek the services of a local stove installer who can fit the stove, flue and hearth for you when your building is being installed. This could cost several hundred pounds.
- Approx Kw output: 4-5 kw
- Budget Guideline for a 1-2 person office £1,200 – £1,500
- Cost to run: Low
Flueless Bio Ethanol Fires
lthough fairly new in the UK, bio-ethanol are well established on the Continent and Scandinavia and we’re really excited to have recently come across them. No need for a flue or hearth, these handy little stoves are self-contained and are fed by clean burning eco friendly bio ethanol liquid or gel derived from the fermentation of crops, so no need to connect to any services!
There is also no residue when burning, so there is literally no maintenance, which is a big step forward compared to wood burners. (You can buy bottles of fluid from £1.9o per litre which will hold about 2.5 hours of fuel).
- Approx Kw output: 2-4 kw
- Budget Guideline for a 1-2 person office £350-400
- Cost to run: Med
Needless to say, these suggestions are not exhaustive; on the larger and commercial buildings, a gas combi-boiler (the same as in your home) can be fitted and there are numerous eco-alternatives such as Air Heat Source and Ground Heat Source pumps also available.
So, here’s to wishing you a toasty warm garden room this winter, and we hope that your fears have now been dismantled! As always, should you have any questions or concerns relating to the heating or installation of a garden room in the depths of winter, please do feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to chat to you further!
Blogpost written by Gemma Roe.
Sacred Spaces – Garden Living
Garden Living – Wish You Were Here?
How many times have you made a purchase directly from the heart? Driven by a love of a unique concept, a desire to support a cause or give you something that money can’t usually buy? Happiness, relaxation… a unique experience?
That moment… was it a holiday? Car? A puppy or kitten for your child…?! (That is almost certainly a purchase from the heart!)
I am a believer that money holds a certain amount of energy and you exchange that energy for something of a greater or equal perceived value. Some special things which are of a high value and great importance to you are indeed worth more than the value of money. Some things are absolutely worth investing in.
I’m not for one moment however suggesting that you must cast all doubts into the wind here and ignore any wildly ringing alarm bells! Indeed, logic will always have it’s part to play in any financial transaction, if you want to avoid the rouge traders (and downright stupid purchases which will almost inevitably end in regret); but have you ever felt that it’s just ‘right’ to give in to this desire and that you’re improving your life by taking that step and investing in whatever it is your heart is guiding you towards?
Similarly, how many manufacturers out there are led by their hearts? We are all charmed by romantic television commercials, you know the ones: Master bakers and artisan chocolatiers for example. Lovingly crafting their products amidst a nostalgic, sepia-effect backdrop of a rustic kitchen or basement bakery… the exposed brickwork, the glow of the oven… soft ambient music… yes. ‘Those’ adverts. Regrettably, I can say with absolute certainty that this heart-tugging spiel is about as real as Santa Claus ever will be and is squarely down the the brilliance of a top-end marketing company with some powerful film editing software. The reality is more like a 30,000 sq ft industrial unit in Bracknell, spitting out tens of thousands of immaculately formed chocolate lumps, wrapped and pressed by whirring mechanical instruments and all the romance of mass production of steel widgets in a Skoda factory. Charming!
So can we really identify which products in the marketplace are genuinely created with passion and from the heart?
I’ve been thinking about this subject all week. It was brought about on Tuesday when Samantha and I were sitting in the newly installed 4.5m Rotunda Garden Living Room with our clients in Cambridge who told us sincerely that they bought their Rotunda “Shalom” (all Rotundas have names) from the heart. That alone was wonderful, but the conversation led to an honest account of how their lives had been affected, how tears of joy have been shed and to what extent their little garden living Round house had made their dreams come true. Inspiring stuff.
The most wonderful part of this is that it’s genuinely reciprocated by us, the manufacturer! The joy I feel when a new Rotunda starts it’s journey of creation; from the moment the client and I discuss what they feel they’d like to name it and the process of manufacture begins, to the dispatch and the loading of panels on the back of the vehicle. As crazy as some might think it, I do actually say a little goodbye to each one as they leave; and I feel immensely happy to see another one, packed up and heading off into the world, like they are children leaving the nest and heading to their new home. It’s just the most amazing feeling to ‘create’ these wonderful little garden living buildings which are built, (and purchased) from the heart. Call me sentimental but that’s how we are with our Rotundas, and I can honestly say, hand on heart, that there IS such a thing as a product made with love. We build it.
I cannot possibly forget to mention our wonderful woodcarver Andy Levy who carves each and every name-plate for our clients. He’s a third generation woodcarver up in the Lake District and creates the little plaques with English oak from his farm. If any of you are passionate about the British woodlands, wood carving and the magic to be found in woodland crafts and arts please do have a look at this ten minute film of Andy carving a ‘Wizard in the Wood‘.
Blogpost written by Gemma Roe.
Natural vs. Affordable – What is the Value of Conscious Manufacturing?
Natural vs. Affordable
Someone asked me recently how we could make the Rotunda more affordable for the average consumer. A crucial question, and one which has been weighing heavily on my mind for quite some time. It drove me to sit down and analyse the materials within buildings in terms of cost and how we might reduce this.
Frustratingly enough, all of the natural elements which I personally really care about are the ones which cost us the most. Hemp insulation is a big one, as are the hand-crafted Douglas Fir doors and windows, not to mention the Zero Formaldehyde Ecologique MDF & PLY components.
A friend told me yesterday that ‘Rowland Homes’ in Leyland were giving a talk to a school group on one of their building sites yesterday; a demonstration on ‘How to build a house’. Core components? You guessed it, Breeze Blocks, Polystyrene Insulation and Bricks. My blood ran cold. That’s how they build a house, driven purely by profit margins and fast build times – but to what cost? The scientific community are already aware that both formaldehyde and polystyrene are toxic to human health and are known carcinogens. And that’s just in the building, what about the manufacturing process? What about the disposal and degeneration of these materials in the landfill sites and waterways? And let’s not even talk about the embodied energy of the bricks they use and the amount of carbon released to produce them. Given that we now live in a time where the natural environment should be the primary focus of our attention (especially within education) it’s questionable that this talk is of much benefit to the next generation (who almost certainly will be suffering the consequences of such blatant disregard for the environment for the sake of profits).
Only this morning, Radio 4 were discussing the findings of the MacMillan Cancer Trust that by 2020 50% of us will have or will have experienced cancer in our lifetimes.
This only serves to harden my resolve. Yes, of course I want my business to be successful, but do I really have to utilise cheap and hazardous materials in order to be competitive in the marketplace? Or do I stand firm and stay true to my values? Where does the “value” lie exactly?
If we talk of the detrimental cost to the natural environment and our health then I’d say that it’s costing us greatly to keep things cheap.
Who’s picking up the tab here for cheap buildings? If it’s not you, the consumer, and it’s certainly not the manufacturer then who’s paying supporting that deficit? It’s the soil, it’s the local wildlife, it’s the ocean-life with the seas filled to the brim of disintegrating plastics (which is ending up in our food chain, incidentally) and it’s the waterways and our landfill sites.
The “value” then, of using natural materials is of great importance and it reduces the “cost” to our health and the natural world.
So then, this poses the question, which to we value more? Are we actually perceiving cost accurately? Furthermore, are we, as consumers (and indeed, manufacturers) truly weighing up the costs of our profit margins or underestimating the value of what matters most – our planet?
Blogpost written by Gemma Roe.
How a Garden Room can Improve your Health and Wellbeing
Welcome to our first guest blog-post written by our friend Mr Shaun Rudden, over in Melbourne Australia, hailing the health benefits of the Garden Room!
Shaun is a freelance writer with a passion for the outdoors and has a very interesting spin on the Garden Room! It’s an honour to be publishing his blog on our site!
Take it away Shaun!
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Building a garden room could actually be beneficial to your health. Now, it may sound like a rather ambitious claim, but not so overly ridiculous when we consider the facts. Firstly, let’s face it, although we often make plans to ditch the sofa and TV in favour of outdoor activities, taking in natural light and fresh air on a regular basis is easier said than done most of the time. So, could a garden room be that simple stepping stone to a more rewarding lifestyle?
The Modern Family In the modern day family, it’s not uncommon for both parents to have full-time jobs. Evenings then revolve around the usual household chores, along with preparing dinner and ‘sorting out’ the kids. By the time the little ones are in bed, mum and dad can only collapse on the couch with barely enough strength to reach for the remote control – perhaps a slight exaggeration, but probably not overly far from the truth.
And it’s not just the adults either; we’re losing the ongoing fight to get our children outdoors. Games are nowadays solely played via consoles and interaction is done through Social Media portals, so getting the kids out of their respective rooms is a challenge in itself, let alone out of the house.
Indoor Routines Whether you’re a parent or not, think about your usual weekly routine and the main components that it consists of: Work, gym, supermarket, drinks with friends? For the majority of us, they’re all located indoors; so even when we’re getting out of the house, we’re still breathing stale air and possibly even relying on artificial light.
In fact, some people even have all the apparatus to complete said weekly activities without even leaving their own four walls (save for opening the door to the Tesco Online delivery man).
Convenience is the main buzzword within our lives now; everything can either be delivered to us or is available ‘on-the-go’, so even our need to venture out for the odd errand is also rapidly decreasing.
Why is Being Outdoors Important? There are many benefits for spending time outdoors:
- Our skin creates and supplies our bodies with 90% of its Vitamin D intake, and it does this following exposure to UV light from the sun. Vitamin D helps to prevent some forms of cancer, as well as heart attacks and depression, and the best thing about it – you can get the majority of it for free.
- According to studies, fresh air has been proven to enhance your immune system and heart rate, whilst also giving you more energy and improving your mood levels.
- Lounging in front of the television actually sends the brain into a more dormant state than when you’re sleeping. The same can be said of performing typical yet mundane activities on your computer, such as perusing YouTube videos or Facebook statuses.
- Exercise your brain by engaging in other activities away from the living room.
Benefits of a Garden Room
Although it’s important to get outdoors, as mentioned previously, it might not always be feasible. So what’s the next best thing?
A garden room is the perfect multi-purpose retreat for the whole family, in your own grounds. By transferring your normal daily activities to your garden, you and your loved ones can benefit from brighter and more tranquil surroundings.
The function possibilities of the garden room are endless: The kids can complete their homework there (because if you can’t get them out of the house, perhaps getting them into the garden room is a step in the right direction?), it can be a relaxation area for you, family meals can be livened up outdoors, social gatherings can be hosted there – you get the idea.
Your garden house could even become your garden office if you work from home, or you bring work home with you.
Whilst you’re not exactly in the ‘great outdoors’ by being in your garden house, it’s still a brighter alternative. Unlike a conservatory, it’s also detached from your home, meaning that you can disengage yourself completely from the indoor distractions. It can also be heated, insulated and covered, so you’ll be sheltered from the unpredictable British weather.
Use a garden room as your gateway to a more outdoors lifestyle.
Blogpost written by Shaun Rudden.
Shed Culture & Modular Buildings
Shed Culture & Modular Buildings
With the media showcasing all things ‘shed’ and ‘compact living’ such as Chanel 4’s “George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces” and regular features in the papers and lifestyle magazines; the British public are going bananas over sheds and shed-like cabins!
Now this is all well and good, until the Modular Buildings Industry gets swept-up in the media typhoon and thrown into the mix! A few very talented Architects are seemingly delighted when their modular buildings and garden rooms are being highlighted as worthy of “Shed Love” and suchlike; others are as proud as puffed up pigeons to be providing garden offices to the ever growing numbers of UK “Shed-Workers” and will advertise this wholeheartedly. Am I seriously the only person in this industry reeling back in horror? Don’t get me wrong, there are some beautiful little cabin-esque sheddy structures being promoted in the UK right now, one imported model recently caught my eye, cute little hexagonal structures which are used predominantly as BBQ huts. Pretty as they might be, they are… SHEDS. Cheap as chips and imported from abroad en masse as fast as those big Arctic trucks can carry them to grace the gardens of our shed-smitten British public.
Similarly, the amount of enquiries we receive asking us to build a Roundhouse at the same price and specification of one of these sheds is staggering. Only too often have I lain awake at night seriously contemplating starting a shed-company! There is an enormous difference between a cabin, shed, garden building, glamping pod, eco-pod, garden office, modular building and a high-specification eco-dwelling!
For us, a modular building is architecturally designed, it’s signed off by a structural engineer, it is built to comply (even if not completely necessary) to Buildings Regulations and it’s built as an additional room to your house or business – to be used throughout the depths of winter! It’s a house extension. Not a shed!
So, next time you’re drawn into the hazy glow of a pretty little cabin with the bitumen felt roof and flowers round the door, ask yourself what it is you need to use the space for – will you be happy shivering at the bottom of the garden mid-February wearing gloves as you attempt to type with your feet slowly turn blue, numbing on the frozen floorboards? Is it better to think “Modular Building” and all of the joy this can bring you, for many decades, all year round, or “pretty summer-house” which you will avoid at all costs post-November? Saving money now in the summer by purchasing a cheap alternative is only a temporary gain, whereas the ‘garden room’ is an asset which will stay with you and be utilised and loved for life.
I for one, have ceased to lie awake and ponder the short-term gains of the shed or summerhouse and am firmly back in the camp of High-specification ‘modular buildings’ because I know, that in twenty years time, (and in January) our Rotundas will still be used as much as they were when they were first installed. That makes me happy. Will the British public see the difference? Give it a few years, and I believe they will.
Blogpost written by Gemma Roe.
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