The Round House

My friend Silas has more inventive ideas than anyone I know. He is always working on something innovative. That is even true when it comes to building his retirement home. He wants a round house. This has been his dream for many years. It is now becoming a reality.

Most people laughed at him when he said that, but he was not fazed. He made the plans.  He consulted an architect who has as much imagination as Silas. (He has an elevated soccer ball shaped house that has 6 floors, so a round house was no challenge for him.) Silas’ son Sam is a contractor and was eager for the challenge. Construction began in earnest about three months ago. Last week I had the opportunity to see the site I have been hearing so much about. The building is at the roofing stage, so the shape is clear and the room arrangement settled. It is impressive already.



Entryway, facing bedroom window



The entryway is cut into the circle of the house, forming a porch that is framed on either side by two large arched windows, one looking out from the master bedroom and the other from the dining room. The entry door is glass paneled to let light into the living room. That is the primary entry point to the house, although there is a kitchen door as well. The living room is circular, the inner circle of the house, as it were, with two archways, one leading out to the circular hallway that is behind the living room and the other to the dining room. From the living room, we took the tour beginning with the dining room, to the right as you enter the house. It has two rounded walls, one concave and the other convex, but the end walls are flat. On one is the window that looks out onto the porch. On the other is an archway that leads to the hall. The hallway curves along behind the living room, forming a small interior circular pathway through the house. Off it are the kitchen, two bedrooms and two bathrooms. At the far end of the hallway is the master bedroom, and the archway that goes into the living room. We had come full circle. The master bedroom is large, with a master bath off it. The one window looks at the porch and a second one, one the curved wall, looks out on the garden that has already been planted and will be maturing with time. The design is simple, but functional and all round.



Master Bedroom



The roof will rise to a peek, like a village house with at thatched roof, but this one will be covered with tile. The challenge, according to Sam, has been to find tile cutters who can manage the circular roof. He has just hired some who have done this once before. He is hopeful. While the structure is unfinished, the lines are clear and the design is inspiring. Sam says it will be ready for occupancy in August. I am so eager to see it when it is finished. As always, I am amazed at my friend’s imagination and ingenuity – and determination to do what others wouldn’t even dream of.