Unique Circular Garden Rooms, modular school buildings and lodges - Handcrafted in the UK
Are you looking to install a new nursery school building or in the process of setting up a brand new Nursery or childcare business? If so, we’d love to hear from you; because we believe that together we can create the most enchanting buildings for your Key Stage 0 and Key Stage 1 (early years and infant) children. A refreshing change from the modular & relocatable steel framed rectangles commonly seen in your sector. (Fear not, we’re here to put an end to the drudgery and monotony, to revitalise this industry and bring you, and your gorgeous little toddlers the appropriate structures, to inspire and support you).
We know that sitting in a circle, encourages feelings of inclusion, autonomy and support. No-one is at the back. No-one in the corner. Every child is ‘in the middle’ and none are higher or lower than the others. You need not read the research studies (though we can provide you with several) to know that a childs emotional wellbeing is supported in an inclusive environment. Every headteacher we speak to, knows instinctively that gathering children in a circle or curved environment feels organic and natural. Because that’s the way it’s always been, and how it’s meant to be, since the dawn of time. Our civilisation has thrived when the conditions are right for optimum social dymanics.
For the first time, clear-evidence has been found that well-designed primary school classrooms can boost learning progress by 16% in reading, writing and maths. Clever classrooms | University of Salford, Manchester
- Natural light, temperature, air quality, colour and individualised classroom design amongst the biggest physical factors impacting on pupils’ learning progress in a new nursery school building
Children aged 5 and under are little beings full of energy, imagination and creativity; we ask then, why is it that we think it’s OK to contain them in uninspiring steel boxes which serve to illustrate the linear nature of our society? How is this affecting their subconscious long-term, is the modular & rectilinear nature of contemporary school and nursery buildings compounding the disconnect from nature and could we design spaces which encourage them to express themselves freely and view the curves and circles as an integral part of our real world, Planet Earth? We should be embracing the organic curves of nature and cocooning them in natural timbers, clay paint finishes and open, creative, light-filled spaces!
Here at Rotunda, we are really proud to have developed a unique & new nursery school building that offers the best possible environment for learning.
- The highest possible levels of natural daylight flooding in through the rooflight dome – any time of day/year
- The most thermally efficient building shape possible – less wall area vs floor area
- One of the most visually stimulating environments
- Natural thermal dynamics – excellent air-flow
- Cost effective to heat/cool, great thermal retention and air tightness
- Infinitely better for action zone space-planning and seating arrangements
- Circular floorplan
which feels safe, nurturing and engaging
In addition, statistics from WWF show that between 46 – 58 thousand square miles of forests are destroyed every year worldwide, resulting in significant environmental harm, the loss of natural habitat, and increases in the amount of species listed as endangered. This is exactly why we purchase timber from ethical UK suppliers and local British Sawmills. With this in mind, the Rotunda is the perfect space to encourage the discussion surrounding environmental issues and sustainability.
Safety and quality are essential when you are providing new nursery school building facilities for pre-school children. We design and supply new nursery school buildings to meet National Day Care standards.
So, let’s shape our buildings appropriately for the task in hand; let’s work together to transform our early years education industry, to nurture our children and inspire the future generations.
The UK is ready to break free from the box….join us!
We’ve recently been engaging with several schools and nurseries about the astonishing benefits of changing the shape of classroom environments to enhance engagement with pupils and further improve school facilities. As a small and passionate team of eco-builders, we are absolutely convinced that there is no better shape to nurture, inspire, engage and support our youngsters than the round.
Of course, it goes without saying that there is nothing more organic and natural than a group of people settling down together in a circle. As hardened “Roundhouse Enthusiasts” we are always on the lookout for scientific research papers which validate our claims that the round is the most natural form of space for human emotional and physical wellbeing. It all starts in our mothers womb!
We have now discovered that some psychologists agree with us; and that a circular seating arrangement may encourage a greater sense of belonging within a group and improve the rates of interaction between people.
Where better to foster these principles than in the classroom?
Of course, the Roundhouse is the most ancient form of architecture known to man… and that blows our mind!
So, our research tells us that the effects on classroom seating arrangements can affect the question-asking behaviour of children. Judging by the dates and origins of these studies, this is clearly an international debate which has been a consideration for psychologists for several decades.
A German study carried out by the Department of Psychology Institute of Housing Research at Otto-von-GuerickeUniversity in 1998 (Marx, Furher and Hartig) stated that:
“Although educational systems are now under intense scrutiny, educators and educational critics tend to ignore two facts. First, classrooms are physical entities as well as organisational units. Second, the physical characteristics of a classroom setting can influence the behaviour of its users.
Awareness of these facts is needed, as efforts to create high quality educational experiences for our children must include consideration of the physical milieu.”
In summary, the study revealed a positive effect of a semicircle seating arrangement on children’s question-asking, and demonstrated an action-zone effect on question asking in the traditional row-and column arrangement. Seating in other than the row-and-column arrangement deserves further consideration as a means to promote children’s question-asking in primary schools.”
According to “Desk Arrangement Effects on Pupil Classroom Behaviour – Peter Rosenfield (Department of Education University of California, Berkeley 1985):
Desks arranged in circles during classroom discussion can facilitate interaction as well as control for off-task behavior of pupils. The results suggest that desk arrangement influences participation, thinking, and appropriate comments, which in turn can have a positive effect on learning.
Teachers who wish to facilitate pupil interaction during discussion sessions would be wise to consider arranging desks in circles. In this study, circles facilitated on-task response as well as on-task out-of-order comment, suggesting that more active participation of students for developmental learning is affected positively by circles rather than row seating.
And one of the most interesting was a Japanese study, Circular seating arrangements: Approaching the social crux in language classrooms (Joseph Falout Nihon University, Japan) claimed that “Abstract Circular seating arrangements can help instil a sense of belonging within classroom communities with overall positive effects on learning, emotions, and well-being.”
Joseph Falout states within his report “I began to understand how circular seating in any classroom context might not only be relevant for learning but crucial for well-being.”
“The circle itself has become a worldwide symbol of unity and strength and simply sitting in a circle promotes the same effect” (Pease & Pease, 2006, p. 339). Social interaction is encouraged by sociopetal spaces, such as a small circle of chairs around a coffee table. Sociopetal spaces can bring people together, excite their senses, endear each one to the others, create an atmosphere of mutual care, and stimulate the entire circle into a social action zone.”
………………………….Well, that’s enough evidence for us!
We’re thrilled and delighted to be building classrooms and modular buildings for UK schools and nurseries.
To be working with cutting edge building techniques on gorgeous buildings whilst actively improving the learning experience for children (and teachers!) around the country is a wonderful feeling; so we will be updating you with the feedback from our unique and uplifting learning environments as the positive feedback continues to roll in from our happy clients!
Until then, happy “Back to School” everyone – and enjoy the Autumn!
From all of us at Rotunda x
On the right footing… foundation types for garden rooms
Have you been wondering about which type of foundation system might be right for you and your garden room? If so, you’re not alone; we’re asked on a daily basis about the wide array of options discussed with groundworks experts and we have several of the preferred types to highlight for you as a reference:
Solid Concrete Slab This is the preferred option for most Garden Room Suppliers and Groundworks Professionals alike, it’s quick to prepare, it’s the most solid foundation system available and is wonderful for the Garden room installers but the one downside is that this system is not very environmentally friendly. Concrete slab foundation systems are normally formed to the same external diameter of the garden room and a minimum of 100mm thick. A client of ours has just had her slab installed in advance of her Rotunda arriving and an example of it is shown below:
Average cost for a 4.5m diameter Garden Room £1,500 – £1,950 —————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Swift Plinth and Eco-Base Foundation System
This is a neat little system which supports the Rotunda on a dozen or so ‘feet’ which are small recycled concrete ‘pyramids’ sitting on top of plastic eco-grids which are 1m x 1m in size (which are set about 10cm down in the soil and packed with hardcore or gravel) at load-bearing intervals around the perimeter to support a timber sub-frame.
I think of this eco-grid system as the equivalent to the Eskimo tennis racket shoe used to avoid sinking down into snow! This means, less concrete, less digging, less time and more flexibility (ie: each footing has an adjustable bracket). The company which provides these also create the plastic grid system which you may have seen used as temporary car-parks in fields and rural areas. The footings themselves are a little expensive though and this system does require a timber sub-frame which would elevate your building up by another 20cm or so. This isn’t the cheapest option, but is probably the most time and energy efficient.
(Average cost for a 4.5m diameter Garden Room £1000 – £2500) —————————————————————————————————————————————————–
- Foundation Block Foundation System The most commonly used system we’ve encountered to date and it comes in at a lower cost than the above options but is more labour intensive and involves a lot of digging. Essentially, holes are dug-out to a depth of between 80cm and 1 metre at regular intervals (spaced out every 40cm to support floor joists) and then foundation blocks built up with cement and hardcore to provide solid ‘pillars’ which support the building. The blocks must protrude at least 10cm from the surface area of the ground to provide air-flow underneath the building.
(Average cost for a 4.5m diameter Garden Room £800 – £1400)
All of the foundation systems mentioned above should also utilise full membrane systems both above and below the footings, to protect the timber elements of the building resting on it and to prevent growth of vegetation coming up from below.
Of course, each and every foundation system available is hugely dependent on the site location, the soil type and gradient of the land. It’d be best to check with a local groundworks contractor before deciding on installing any type of building on you property and obtaining several quotes to ensure you get the best deal. If you’re ever in doubt, feel free to call us at Rotunda (0161) 222 3350 and one of our joiners will be able to assist over the phone or pop over and give you some advice as part of our non-obligation site-survey service!
Have a great weekend everyone!
A shift in perspective…… windows in a modular building
Noun | 1. | window – a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air |
Our clients are often surprised to discover that their modular building windows are made to order, handcrafted by a local joinery firm who excel at detailed bespoke joinery and create a stunning curved sill which mirrors the external curve of the building.
Each and every garden modular building which leaves our workshop has had the windows designed to be suit a particular view or purpose, sited at the appropriate distances from each other and a specific size to suit our clients vision for a building they’ll be spending a great deal of time in.
The importance of having this option cannot be underestimated. Building in the round brings the unique advantage of being able to ‘rotate’ your Rotunda and play with the position of the doors and the windows which is quite impossible with a rectilinear counterpart.
Most contemporary square or rectangular garden rooms boast a fully glazed frontage, either bi-fold, sliding doors; or UPVC casements. This is wonderful if your garden-building is sitting squarely in the rear of the garden with no view of particular interest anywhere other than the front but what if one were siting their garden room adjacent to a field, meadow or sea-view to the rear/side or even a full panoramic setting – must they exclude certain views because these happen to be at the ‘back’ of the building? Does the door always have to be at the front? How creative can one be with a rectangle? Let’s face it, a box will always be a box.
Fortunately, for us, this never presents a problem; you see, the round is like a clock-dial. A wonderful opportunity presents itself when we can move the hands to any direction we might choose, or even better have as many hands as we like, pointing in every direction. One of our clients aligned her Rotunda with the directions of the magnetic compass points to meet her feng shui objectives. We commissioned some beautiful little ‘north, south, east & west’ carvings and positioned these little plaques along the internal roof-line to represent compass points and indicate which direction one may be facing as they move around within the building. Another client has asked us to design a Rotunda with double glazed windows positioned all the way around the whole perimeter of the building. Most of our clients have a hedge or a fence they’d like to keep out of view so we position the windows to align with the view.
Not the view aligning with the windows!
“The Burrow” a 4.5m Rotunda modular building which you can see below (currently being constructed) has just three floor to ceiling windows positioned as a bay configuration next to the door. This is just a small example of how windows can make a massive impact. Your view, your building and ultimately it should be your ideals and your vision which can be interpreted, designed, created and installed to suit your needs…… perfectly.
Below is a list of standard UK window sizes… these are a great starting point when considering what size might suit your Rotunda modular building.
• Window heights are 450mm, 600mm, 750mm, 900mm, 1050mm, 1200mm, 1350mm and 1500mm (17¾in, 24in, 29½in, 35½in, 41¼in, 47¼in, 53⅛in and 59in).
• Window widths are 488mm, 630mm, 915mm, 1200mm and 1770mm (19¼in, 24¾in, 36in, 47¼in and 69¾in).
Essentially, our ‘standard’ windows which form part of the package for a Rotunda are 900mm high and 630mm wide with the option to upgrade to full height (1500mm high) but with the right amount of imagination, you can disregard these sizes and make your own size, to suit you, to suit your garden and to suit your activities within the building.
Call us now if you have any questions relating to your preferred modular building window configuration and we’ll be happy to chat through your designs!
ps. fear not, a UPVC window, will never (ever) find its way into a natural, timber-framed Rotunda modular building.
Until then, enjoy the sun & enjoy your garden!
Blogpost written by Gemma
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.
Circle of Learning? Modular Eco-Classrooms for the Future
Eco-Classrooms – Circle of learning is more than a figure of speech
- learning : noun 1.the acquisition of knowledge or skills through study, experience, or being taught.
- teacher : noun plural noun: teachers
- 1.a person who teaches, especially in a school.
It’s no secret that the built environment is continuously shaping your thoughts, your mood, your productivity and your health. God only knows what it’s doing on a metaphysical level! Environmental Psychologists and Interior Designers certainly share the same passion; the impact of spaces which nurture and support their human inhabitants. I believe the two professions are more similar than most people would care to recognise.
So let me ask you this; which of the numerous built environments that we utilise on a regular basis could possibly be more important than those which support our children whilst they learn?
There have been countless studies of optimum office environments and eco-buildings for productivity but surely the humble classroom has to be one of primary importance, let there be no debate about this where we’re concerned! We firmly believe that a round eco-classroom offers a perfect environment for learning!
Anyone who’s familiar with the works of Rudolf Steiner (an Austrian philosopher, educationalist, social reformer, and architect) would be acutely aware of his unusual architectural style (no right angles if you please, these are CREATIVE spaces!) and the legacy he left in education. His education philosophy made him a prominent figure and Waldorf Schools are still respected by many.
Such visionaries will grace our planet from time to time and upset the balance of what we ‘think we know’ and I absolutely yearn for another Steiner to really shake things up at this point in our evolutionary development. It is about time that architects and designers stand firm to their values and design exclusively around the intended use of the building, to enhance the experience of those who will be spending time in it. This is especially significant for Educational Buildings within schools, nurseries or universities.
One school actively thinking in ‘circles’ purely to enhance it’s capacity as a learning environment is showcased in a very short video clip on the BBC Learning Zone website which I’d urge any architecture fanatic to watch!
So what’s the secret to creating an inclusive, productive and enhanced eco-classroom learning environment? To me, it’s an absolute no-brainer that the design process includes figuring out what happens in the space and scouring the internet and talking to teachers and psychologists to gleam information on any research which has been carried out on the effect of learning environments and seating patterns.
Some research which has led us to believe that a circle is the ideal configuration for interaction is echoed in the report which highlights two studies which compared rows to a circular seating arrangements carried out in 2000.
In a nutshell, Marx, Furher and Hartig “investigated the relationship between seating arrangements and the question-asking patterns of ten year olds. They found that students asked their teacher significantly more questions when they were seated in a semi-circle than in rows.
As one of those who disliked school immensely, I believe that learning can not only be enhanced by the environment and teaching methods but also by promoting friendships and shared experience. Below, I have extracted part of an article which jumped out at me recently which echoes my thoughts on forging bonds and facilitating learning.
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“Teachers are using a traditional technique to help students communicate with one another as a way to build bonds that will foster learning and help them stay in school.”
“It’s story time at Amelia Earhart Continuation School, a place where high school students who have ditched class, flunked out or otherwise fallen behind in their academic credits come to catch up.
On this day, the students in Nancy Stringer’s English class sit in a circle. As they pass around a “talking piece”, they share stories of elementary and middle school. It may seem simple, but sharing stories in this way — a practice known as “council” — has made a huge difference in their lives, building strong bonds that have helped them stay in school. Cultures worldwide have long used speaking and listening circles — most notably, Native Americans. But now a modernized form, developed by the nonprofit Ojai Foundation, has spread to 12,000 students via 600 trained teachers in more than 60 schools, many of them in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Joe Provisor, who helped launch the program in the district in 2006, said research shows that strong school relationships are critical for a student’s success. “This is bringing humanity back to the schools,” said Provisor, a teacher advisor with the district’s office of curriculum,
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For those of us who might have been bullied, excluded or misguided at school; our experience and our education may have been improved remarkably if our school had adopted an approach similar to the one used by Amelia Earheart. Perhaps if this type of inclusive and supported open-interaction were promoted at all levels of education there would be no need for a ‘continuation school’ and just think about what this might do to reflect crime rates and youth offending statistics in the UK?
With a background in Primary School Education, the team at Rotunda Living are enormously excited about the impact an Eco-Classroom Rotunda could make as a unique eco-classroom environment and we’re keen to see how the circular environment can improve the effectiveness of your school or nursery. Let’s work together to promote learning and care for our children.
We’re here when you need us!
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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