The benefits of a circular garden-room

As a fanatical advocate of the power of the circle and emphatic roundhouse enthusiast within the garden-room industry over the last few years I’ve lost track of the innumerable benefits being in the round can bring.   After years of gathering both research and feedback I’ve compiled/condensed a list of the six benefits which are at the top of the tree when it comes to understanding what makes a roundhouse so special.

(Black Elk) (December 1863 – August 19, 1950) was a famous wičháša wakȟáŋ (medicine man and holy man) of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux)

Benefit no:1

GARDEN-ROOM ERGONOMICS Being in a circular space lends itself well to (a) smaller spaces and (b) group activities.  The large, circular double glazed roof-light dome in the centre of the roof perpetually infuses the room with light, this bounces off the walls (and combined with the permanent horizon-effect of the top of the wall as it meets the ceiling) creates a roomy and open space in which you and your guests will settle into, and circulate naturally within.  Furniture slots easily into the round and can be used to sub-divide the space in clever ways which would not be considered in a rectangle.

Benefit no.2

RESOURCE AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY   As any mathematician or physicist will surely point out, the sphere is the most efficient shape in nature.  Encapsulated within the circle is the largest amount of space vs surface area. For this reason, the circular form of construction we have adopted for our modular garden-rooms reduces the amount of materials required (to produce the same floor area of a comparable rectilinear building) by approximately 30%.  In addition, heating requirements are dependent on the surface, secondary to volume; once the room (volume) is heated and fully insulated, no additional energy is required and having less surface area (walls – and of course corners!) reduces energy leakage.  This makes a round garden-room a super energy-efficient building.

Benefit no.3

THERMAL DYNAMICS  movement of the air within the building.  Poor Air quality in a building is devastating to human health, and the air inside the average home is estimated to be three times more polluted than the air outside.  It’s therefore vital that we are considerate of the materials we use to build garden-rooms and ventilate our buildings accordingly.

Air circulates naturally in the round and the double-glazed dome in the centre of the roof provides an excellent platform to allow the warm air to circulate upwards in the building and then drop down in a column once it hit’s the cool surface of the dome. Circulating without the need for mechanical intervention

Benefit no.4

CIRCULAR ENERGY MOVEMENT / ESOTERIC You may not be a believer in Feng Shui but have you ever noticed how certain rooms or buildings affect your mood? Do some spaces feel cramped and drain your energy while others make you feel energised? The majority of our clients can feel (as I do) the surge of uplifting and invigorating energy when stepping into a Rotunda garden-room.  I often laugh with clients about the fact that I find it impossible to be in a bad mood in a circular building – these little buildings make me happy; I can’t explain why. The Chinese believe the universe consists of “chi” which is the energy that flows between the earth and the people.  Feng Shui experts suggest that, since energy travels in a circular form, you should soften the corners of a room with plants to add life and assist the energy with continuing in a circular motion.  We say scrap that, just eliminate the corners!

Benefit no. 5

ACOUSTICS  Being in the round brings people together – a Roundhouse is wonderful for gatherings, and a large percentage of our clients have used their garden-rooms as rehearsal rooms or spaces to sing and dance. Now, we’re not suggesting that the Rotunda is an ideal recording studio (it’s probably not!) as circular rooms can sometimes distort sound and energy waves in strange ways (particularly domes – there is of course the famous whispering gallery in the dome of St. Pauls Cathedral where you can whisper to the wall and it can only be heard by a listener diametrically opposite!).  BUT for performing and playing acoustic instruments with groups, and for rehearsals with friends, being in the round is just wonderful.  The feedback we’ve had so far is that the sound quality in Rotunda is beautiful, from the inside, it amplifies sound beautifully and when outside the building, it’s practically soundproof (so, good news for the neighbours too then!).  Music is the second most popular activity in a Rotunda (after therapy).

Benefit no. 6

The ‘Rotunda’ Cathedral Roof    This is the only garden room in the UK with a roof quite like that jaw-dropping cathedral feature roof with naturally oiled or stained timbers running up to the (over 1m in diameter!) double glazed polycarbonate circular roof-light dome.  The roof only adds to the uplifting vibrancy of the room and is undoubtedly one of the most captivating features showcased on the garden-room market.  One client recently stated that her cathedral roof “leaves as much space again the head (higher-self) as most buildings do for the physical body”.  Well, that’s certainly true!

Even though each and every Rotunda is unique to their intended setting and use (and loving owner!), they will usually be sought out by creatives, the innovators and the healers (that’s you!) because creativity is what makes us human, and I believe a large part of the human psyche LOVES being in the round. Try it if you haven’t already, step inside a Rotunda for a moment and I assure you….. you’ll soon understand.  It’ll come as no surprise to you I’m sure that our Rotundas are installed for use as:

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Over 50%– Therapy Rooms (art therapy, music therapy, yoga, meditation, psychotherapy, prayer rooms, energy-healing spaces)

roughly 20% – Music Rooms (the acoustics are out of this world for group sessions and gatherings)

roughly 15% – Garden Offices (entrepreneurs, especially creatives)

roughly 10%  – Classroom / Workshop / training space (spiritual workshops, training days, eco-projects)

roughly 5%  –  Accommodation/self-contained lodges (this is on the rise…  we are now installing bathrooms and kitchenettes and working with rural hoteliers to boost their revenues with the roundhouse experience)

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So, if you’ve stumbled across our site, looking for your perfect garden-room I would imagine that it’s not difficult to see why an unobtrusive, environmentally sympathetic contemporary roundhouse might very well suit your project!

This list is by no means exhaustive, please feel free to drop us a line and we’ll happily chat to you about the numerous benefits a Rotunda could bring to you and your garden!

Enjoy the sun!