Futuristic yet archaic at the same time, round houses provide a completely different living experience compared to classic rectangular buildings. Spaces flow into each other more easily, along with natural light, but circular living spaces can also promote a certain closeness between inhabitants. Think traditional yurts, teepees, and igloos where people come together to share the same space. It’s no wonder that round dwellings have been so common throughout human history and used by indigenous cultures from all over the world.
Round houses have been around since at least the Bronze Age, which roughly means since 3300 BC. Stronger and more resistant to the elements and the forces of nature, round homes were also easier to heat and to keep warm during cold weather. Their circular shape also meant that builders needed less materials to construct them. While often small and compact, these roundhouses also grew in size over time, as more and more people from settlements started living together. By the time of the Roman Empire, the roundhouses were made from either wood or stone, with materials found locally, resulting in designs that featured clay, timber, or solid stone walls. Round buildings are also distinctly contemporary and even futuristic. For example, Apple’s corporate headquarters in Cupertino, California. Designed by English architect Norman Foster, Apple Park has a circular shape and an aluminum and glass build. Some even refer to it as a “spaceship.” Like all things Apple, the design is clean and optimized. And like many contemporary round houses, the building is specially designed to be as sustainable as possible, featuring huge solar panels that power the entire campus via renewable energy. The site also consists of 80% green space thanks to the huge central courtyard.
Round houses have a special chapter in the history of architecture. Contemporary designs take the ancient concept of a round house and adapt it to modern living. Sustainable building techniques, green energy, environmentally friendly materials, flexible designs, smart technology – all of these concepts transform the round houses of the past into the living spaces of the future.
What are round houses called?
Any building or house with a circular design is also called a rotunda, which comes from the Latin “rotundus.” Ancient circular buildings that date back to the Bronze Age are also called roundhouses. Other traditional living spaces with a rounded shape are Mongolian yurts and North American conical teepees, but these were designed to be portable and easy to move from one place to another. Igloos and round mud huts are some of the other types of traditional round houses.
Are round houses more expensive to build?
While round houses can be more complex to build due to their unconventional wall curvature which requires specialist techniques, they are actually less expensive to construct compared to rectangular buildings. That’s because circular houses need less materials for the same floor area. Among the benefits of round houses, we need to mention their requirement for less insulation and their lower energy consumption.
Can you live in a round house?
Living in a round house can be more gratifying as well as more challenging than living in a traditionally shaped house. On the plus side, round houses can be brighter and quieter than a rectangular home. They are also easier to heat and to keep warm, thus reducing energy consumption. Depending on the area, you might consider choosing a round house simply because it resists hurricanes and earthquakes better. On the list of downsides, we need to mention furniture, which can be hard to find. A circular room doesn’t work well with some rectangular designs and custom furniture may be significantly more expensive, depending on design and materials.
Should I buy a round house?
Round houses may not be as widespread as they probably should be, but this may change in the near future. More and more companies introduce eco-friendly, modular and/or prefab round houses that are affordable, durable, and more sustainable than traditional houses. As the number of people that embrace the slow living lifestyle keeps growing, round houses may become more popular and thus a reliable real estate investment.
What are the disadvantages of round houses?
While the benefits of round houses are plenty, they also have some downsides. Among the most important disadvantages are the construction phase, which requires specialized techniques. Building a circular house may take longer due to unconventional components like curved beams, reinforcement bars, or glazing, to name a few. Creating interior divisions may also be more challenging. Additionally, round houses may present an interior design problem, as the vast majority of furniture and wall décor are made for rectangular spaces.
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