Stylish living . . . in the round
Circular buildings stand out from the crowd and have special appeal to buyers
There are a host of reasons why many early homes tended to be round. Igloos, yurts, teepees, African mud huts and Iron Age roundhouses were sturdy , less vulnerable in strong winds, and used the smallest amount of materials relative to floor area. They were also more energy- efficient. early builders echoed what they saw in the surrounding natural environment, such as planets and stars, eggs, stones, tree trunks and birds’ nests.
Some of the world’s best- loved buildings have, no doubt, gained prominence through being circular, such as Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum in New Y ork, the Trulli houses of Puglia in Italy, Antoni Gaudi’s Casa Mila in Barcelona and St Paul’s Cathedral and the Gherkin in London.
Memorable and pleasing to the eye, circular homes are rare, but appealing to buyers. So when it comes to selling, they stand out from the crowd.
‘ I think that circular design will grow in popularity with home builders as we begin to understand the impor - tance of our connection with nature, and how essential this is for our wellness,’ says interior designer Nicola holden.
‘Circles have long been regarded as symbols of harmony, and their unbro - ken shape makes them the most stable shape.’
If you have deep pockets, a £ 6.95 million circular Thirties home on the market with Savills ( savills.
com) is Grade II-listed St Ann’s Court near Chertsey, Surrey. It used to be the home of roxy Music’s Phil Manzanera, and has featured in TV’s Poirot, numerous commercials and photo shoots. roxy Music’s albums have been recorded in its studio, which has also been used by P aul Weller and Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour.
rotunda ( rotunda.co.uk), which specialises in the construction of circular , timber-framed buildings such as garden houses and roundhouses, has noticed an increase in interest in round buildings.
Growing research shows that natural building environments can boost emotional wellbeing and cognitive performance.
Sounds are softer inside a circular building, making it more tranquil. The shape also resists noise penetrating, as soundwaves dissipate as they wrap around the building.
ONA practical level, circular buildings can pose extra challenges, especially if you want to hang large pictures or place furniture against the walls. restoration and furnishing can be more costly and complicated than an ordinary home.
‘You will find that, when designing your home, glazing, doors, shower units, kitchens and other built- in features with curvature are more expensive than average, so having a well thought out budget is crucial,’ says interior designer Shalini Misra.
Conversions of structures that originally had a different use is one source of cylindrical homes. The Gasholders London development at King’s Cross in the capital is a recent prominent example, a marrying of old and new and having won awards including the 2018 rIBA London A ward and National Award.
The development, next to regent’s Canal, features 145 apartments and pent - houses enclosed within a triplet of cast-iron circular gasholder guide frames dating from 1867. The curved theme is continued with circular walkways and staircases.
The properties, ranging from studios to four - bedroom flats, cost from £750,000 to £7.5million, and are available through Savills and other agents.
Alternatively, look out for existing round homes for sale such as water towers, lighthouses, castles or oast houses. Windmills are also popular. About half of the 1,100 existing windmills in Britain have been converted into homes.
Narcissus fell in love with his reflection in the mirror-like surface of a pool — and, of course, the evil Queen in snow White asked a mirror for confirmation of her beauty.
so, their reputation has long been ambiguous, not least in the seventies when they started appearing on bedroom ceilings! Yet mirrors remain a brilliant way of bringing light and a sense of spaciousness into more enclosed parts of our homes.
They are also regaining their position as dazzling features in their own right.
Partly, this renaissance is due to the role they have played in recent high-profile projects, such as the £ 55 million refurbishment of annabel’s nightclub in Mayfair, London, which saw them used for walls, ceilings and concealed spots including alcoves, creating an exuberant ‘selfie’–ready experience. (it’s reckoned that more than 20,000 selfies have been taken in the mirror-rich bathrooms alone, which have just undergone their own, lavish upgrade.)
Model Georgia May Jagger is also a fan, having recently installed mirrored walls in one of the bathrooms of her North London home.
But away from the elite club scene, mirrors are quietly being reintroduced to stylish homes in a variety of ways. interior design studio Echlin ( echlin.
london.com) has been using a range of patinas and tinted finishes, exploring dark and light palettes in different rooms of the house.
Where the goal is the age- old one of increasing light, a mirror can be placed so as to also reflect specific features, such as outside greenery. Mirrors can also alter the perception of the architecture of a space. For example, a row of rectangular mirrors might be arranged along one side of a narrow corridor so that each corresponds to windows on the opposite side.
‘it can change the entire feeling of the space, making it appear so much bigger and more open,’ says Echlin’s sam McNally.
‘We use mirrors for decoration, too, but when we do, we tend to keep them simple and architectural — for example, a minimal brass frame with bevelled glass.
‘using this approach, you are less likely to grow tired of the mirror over time, and it works with traditional or historic homes as well as with modern ones.
‘it’s not complicated to do, it’s just a question of making sure that the frame finish works with the particular room and that the dimensions are not intrusive. We have them custom-made in the uK, using a specialist to make the frames and a glazier to cut the glass.’
One company that can custom- make mirrors is Mirror Mania in Norfolk ( mirrormania.co.uk), set up in 1985 by Phillip Orr, a Falklands War veteran whose father worked with stained glass.
Having developed a love of the art Deco era, Phillip started designing and making mirrors in that style. Mirror Mania’s catalogue has since grown to more than 500 models.
‘ it allows us to suggest mirrors with different themes, colours, materials and different dimensions,’ says Phillip, ‘but we always start by trying to understand what the customer is hoping to accomplish and with what budget.
‘We often ask for a photo of the room in which the mirror will be situated, which invariably gives clues. For example, there may be a chandelier or other lighting that we want to take account of.’
For those keen to incorporate the latest technology, Mirrorworld in Manchester ( mirrorworld.co.uk) offers a variety of sophisticated models that include flat- screen TVs disguised within mirrors, and smart surfaces that can ‘augment’ a reflection, such as allowing you to virtually ‘try on’ different clothes.
Mirrorworld’s website lets you custom-create these mirrors (as well as standard mirror types) online, enabling you to see how they would look before they are manufactured.
aNDlet’s not forget what’ s readily available in retail stores. Habitat’s topselling circular Patsy mirror (from £156, habitat.co.uk) has caught the eye of influencers such as alexis Foreman, known for her style Memos YouTube channel. in addition to its sleek classical look, the Patsy mirror features a simple ‘bar’ hanging mechanism at the back that saves you the guessing game of trying to position the mirror on a single hook or screw hidden from view. ‘Mirrors are one of the fastestgrowing categories for us,’ comments Habitat buyer abi Thurgood. ‘ With many smaller footprint, new-build properties on the market, mirrors are an affordable and easy option for many to help create that illusion of extra space.’ Naturally the scandis are in the frame when it comes to extracting more light using a stylish mirror. Going with the circular theme, copenhagen-based Moebe’s brass wall mirror is available through Opumo (£260, opumo.com/moebe). There are many good options to choose from, letting you decide which is the fairest of them all.