Unique Circular Garden Rooms, modular school buildings and lodges - Handcrafted in the UK
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!
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.
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
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
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.
Spring has come round again!
Brit. adverb: round
- 1. so as to rotate or cause rotation; with circular motion
The cycles of the seasons – Spring has come round again!
Well, yesterday was officially the first day of spring (or so we’re told by google) and national happiness day and there are few who know this quite so well as the team over at the Rotunda HQ!
As the snowdrops bloom in their tightly packed little clusters and the first bright daffodils rise up through their murky winter abodes we have been busily packing, clearing, hauling and coercing our way from Dreamcatcher Farm to our new facilities in Hazel Grove, Stockport.
Many a truck have been hired to haul the seemingly never-ending mountains of equipment, tools, timber and semi-constructed Rotundas; and today the team collapsed in relief as they surveyed the new set-up; (amazingly) back into full production with minimum disruption, following the installation of our most recent installation in Congleton of the stunning 6.5m Rotunda “Aurora”. It seems appropriate and timely that our little garden room enterprise has been re-shuffled, re-sorted and completely re-configured for the summer season in the early days of Spring.
2014 has already been a monumental year for all of us at Rotunda and we can only imagine what’s in store over the coming months as the new workshop is stocked with more joinery tools, beautiful timber, more enthusiastic employees and of course, (the jewel in our crown) beautiful hand-crafted Rotundas. We’re already filling our June and July production slots way ahead of schedule and thankfully we are now fully prepared for the increase to our production capacity due to the additional space in our new workshop! This new beginning will enable us to make more dreams come true, for all of our clients. A new beginning beckons and we’re pretty certain that we can see some curves on that horizon….!
If you were thinking about re-configuring your outdoor space and re-structuring your working environment we’d (naturally!) gently nudge you in the direction of the cycles of the seasons and the natural circular patterns in nature; if you find yourself inspired please do give us a call! Until then… enjoy the Spring!
Blogpost written by Gemma Roe.
The Psychology of Space – The Circle
The Psychology of Space – The Circle
Last Sunday a good friend of mine gave me a newspaper cutting of an article featured in the Daily Telegraph she’d seen the previous week entitled “The magic of King Arthur’s Round Table”. I read on with fascination as the narrative described why a round table is the best seating arrangement because seating people in a circle means they are less likely to be argumentative. “When people are placed in a circle they feel like they “belong”, but put them in rows and the situation is more likely to bring out individuality. University professors in Canada sat volunteers around different shaped tables and analysed their reactions to advertising. They found that those people seated in a circle or oval were more positive about adverts which conveyed groups such as family or friends.”
“The findings of this study could prove useful for designing rooms such as classrooms, waiting rooms and restaurants.”
This is a regular topic for discussion at Rotunda Living, as we are aware that a circular room brings it’s occupants together like no other indoor environment can.
Just for a little fun, I’ve included a breakdown of the “Psychological effects of Shapes” obtained from an architectural college study for those of you who might also be fascinated by the effect of form in the built environment.
Psychological Effects of Shapes
Circle
Connection, community, wholeness, endurance, movement, safety, perfection
Refers to the feminine: warmth, comfort, sensuality, and love.
Rectangle / Square
Order, logic, containment, security.
Rectangles provide a fourth point, which is mathematically the foundation for 3D objects, suggesting mass, volume, and solids.
Triangle
Energy, power, balance, law, science, religion.
Refers to the Masculine: strength, aggression, and dynamic movement.
Blogpost written by Gemma Roe.
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