The Round houses originated in Western Europe before the Roman occupation, with multiple groups likely constructing their own version of the building style, including the Celts, Greeks and Romans. The basic design of the roundhouse is typically circular in shape, constructed from multiple parallel walls and conjoined together to form a dome. The roof usually consists of a single curved piece of wood, usually held in place by timber pieces connected to the walls. Roundhouses are commonly built from wood, but can also be made from stone, mudbrick and more recently, plastics. They offer protection from the elements and offer an efficient use of space.
Roundhouses can still be seen today, though typically in more modern forms. However, it is believed that the traditional circular shape is more efficient when compared to other modern housing styles, both in terms of energy and material usage. In some cases, the round shape also allows for a more ornate and aesthetically pleasing design.
In some countries, modern roundhouses are becoming more popular, with the use of new technologies to create more efficient and sustainable buildings. For example, in the United Kingdom, a number of ‘eco’ roundhouse designs, which make use of renewable energy and more eco-friendly materials, have been built in recent years.
In terms of their cultural significance, roundhouses have long been a part of many tribal societies. They are often seen as symbols of strength and protection, due to their shape and construction. In some cases, the roundhouse may even be seen as a symbol of peace and unity, with multiple communities living together under the same roof.
Overall, roundhouses are still present in some parts of the world today, although modern developments often take precedence. However, the traditional roundhouse is an important part of many cultures and provides a unique and efficient form of building.The Round houses was constructed in a circular plan using walls made of stone or wooden posts joined by wattle and daub panels and a conical thatched roof. Round houses were strong and durable and could easily be expanded and added to at a later date. Some round houses were built on stilts so that they could be above ground, and therefore the occupants were not affected by flooding or floodwaters. In addition, round houses are considered to be thermal efficient due to the monolithic construction.
Round Houses were used as a common form of house construction in many parts of Europe for centuries. They were especially common in cultures of the Iron Age (late Bronze Age to early Iron Age), as well as in Medieval Europe and some parts of China and Japan.
The primary benefit to a round house design was the lower cost of building materials. Construction of a round house could also utilize fewer resources than a traditional rectangular house. A circular shape was also easier to build than a rectangle due to the simple construction techniques used for round houses; the concept of forming walls using stakes and branches interwoven through clay or mud, and thatch roofs, are still in use today.
Round houses were also known for their thermal efficiency and air circulation, which helped to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature throughout the year. The space within the round house was also able to be organized in an efficient and practical way. Typically, the center of the home would serve as a communal living space, while the perimeter would be used to build storage alcoves and sleeping quarters. This organization allowed for efficient use of space while still providing enough room for the daily activities of a family.
Later in the 20th century round house were built using techniques such as cob, cordwood or straw bale walls and reciprocal frame green roofs
The round house is often used as a primitive dwelling in many cultures across the world. In Native American cultures the round house is known as a tipi. The tipi is a type of semi-permanent dwelling used by many Plains Indians and other Native American cultures. Tipis are traditionally made from animal skins and wooden poles. In India, the round house is known as a ghor. It is a small round hut made of bamboo, mud and other materials. They are usually used by tribal people in rural areas. In parts of western Africa, the round house is known as a mud-hut. These are built with mud walls and straw roofs. They are often used by rural farming communities.
Finally, in Central America, the round house is known as a palapa. These are constructed from a frame of wooden poles and are covered with dried palm fronds or other materials. Palapas are often found in beach communities and other tropical locations. The round house is a traditional form of architecture that has been used for generations by many cultures across the world. Although modern construction techniques have improved the design of the round house, there are still many cultures that prefer to build with traditional materials and techniques.
Round houses ranged in size from 5m to 15m diameter. This size depended on the number of family members and the lifestyle of the people living in the home. Round houses were usually large enough to provide space for a kitchen, storage, seating area, sleeping quarters, and a central fireplace for heating and cooking. They had walls built out of a timber frame filled with turf, stone, and clay. The roof was typically conical and made of thatching or turf, with an opening at the apex for smoke ventilation. The door was usually located on the south-facing wall, allowing the sun to shine into the structure. The interior was divided into several areas, often separated by a central hearth.
The roofs of the round houses are conical with a pitch of about 45 degree angle. The conical shape is ideal for providing a water-resistant roof, and for shedding snow and rain away from the home. The roof beams are usually arranged in a radial pattern, with rafters that start from the base of the center post and angle up to the edge of the roof. The rafters are then covered with reed or other type of thatching material.
These round houses were also popular in Britain since Iron Age and are also popular in other parts of western Europe. These homes were typically made up of a round, single story building, with a conical roof and walls built of wattle and daub (a mix of mud, clay, and other materials.) Despite the fact that this style of the home is no longer commonly used, the roundhouse has become an iconic symbol of British prehistory and heritage.They were mostly made of timber with thatched roofs and were used as homes by Iron Age and British Celtic people. The remains of ring forts, which are circular structures with earth or stone banks around them, are clear evidence of the type of settlement in prehistoric Britain. There are also numerous sites of Iron Age round houses in Britain, most of which were later re-used in the Roman and Early Medieval period.
A palloza is a traditional house found in the Serra dos Ancares in Galicia, Spain. It is a very large structure made of upright stone slabs, with a gable roof. In most cases, the palloza has a circular floor plan, although some have an oval shape. The interior of the palloza usually has two sections—an open living space and a room for sleeping. It is a round or oval-shaped building, consisting of one or two floors, and made of stone, wood, or mud bricks and straw. The structure has a conical roof, covered with either wood planks, stones or mud and straw. The roof is often topped with a cross, symbolising the traditional Christian faith of the region. Most pallozas are surrounded by a stone wall or fence. The houses were historically used as dwellings for farming families and their livestock, and typically contained a separate kitchen and living/sleeping chambers.
Each palloza is divided into different parts, typically a sleeping area, kitchen, storeroom, small stable and an outside courtyard. The walls of a palloza are made of stone and earth, with a timber frame and roofs made of straw. It is constructed in circular or oval plan, and about ten to twenty metres in diameter. These types of house are built to withstand severe winter weather.
The construction begins with an open space in the centre of the dwelling, which is known as the "Patio". Around the patio, several cubic constructions or "Hearths" are built, which would be the bedrooms, kitchen, and storage spaces. The rooms are separated by walls that are hardened with plaster and painted in traditional colors. The walls also have narrow openings, known as Ventanas.
The roof is of traditional shingle construction and is made of juniper boards, which are crossed and nailed. On top of the roof, a dome is placed, which serves to collect rainwater and protect from snow. The dome is surmounted by a medallion with the family's symbol and a cross.
Pallozas are no longer built, but they serve as a reminder of the traditional architecture of Galicia. In many areas, these structures have been renovated and are now used for cultural activities, such as traditional feasts, music festivals, and seminars.
The main portion of the round house is made of stone and is divided internally into separate areas for the family and their animals with separate entrances. The old circular houses were made with one or two large central fireplaces, as well as an earthen oven used for making bread and other baked goods. Smoke from the fireplaces would escape up a smoke hole in the roof. Some of the round houses in Scotland had a second storey, although this was for animals rather than human habitation. The furniture consisted of benches, beds, cupboards and dressers, all typically made from wood. The floor was typically covered with a thick layer of rushes, which were changed regularly.
The roof of the round house is conical shaped and are made of rye straw on a wooden frame. The floors are usually of compacted earth with a straw and manure subfloor. Other materials, like stone, clay, sod, or turf, can also be used. The doors were traditionally made of animal hide, though modern round houses may also use wood or other synthetic materials. Some round houses may also have separate entry points and subsidiary structures such as a smoke hole, fire pit, or storage areas.
The use of round houses is thought to date back to the Neolithic period in Europe as archaeological evidence of circular dwellings has been found throughout the continent. It is also believed that Native Americans built some of the earliest round structures. In North America, for example, the Navajo people built houses with conical roofs made of logs and mud. The round house is still widely used in some parts of the world today, including Scandinavian countries, where they are known as “stavlaft”.
The benefits of a round house include stable construction, natural ventilation, and energy efficiency. The round shape and conical roof allow for efficient heating and cooling of the space, and the walls are curved, which helps to evenly disperse sound within the space. Round houses also allow for affordable living space, as the shape of the structure allows for fast and easy construction.
Round houses are often seen as a symbol of unity and cooperation as the round shape does not have a single point of focus and encourages a sense of community. For many cultures, the essential elements of a round house—the circle, the central fire, and the smoke hole—are closely related to the idea of family gatherings and unity.
All in all, the round house has been an enduring and lasting feature in human history, providing shelter and giving rise to the idea of communities coming together.Chimney is not attached to these round houses, the smoke from the kitchen fire seeps out through the thatch or wooden roof. The smoke from the fire is kept outside due to the steep angled roof. This roof prevents birds and other animals from entering the living space and keeps out the rain. Some round houses have a small smoke hole at the top of the roof, where a small pipe is inserted for the smoke to escape from. This allows for ventilation and helps to keep the air inside the house fresh and clean.
Round house became famous in many countries including England, Wales, Scotland, Papua New Guinea, Spain, South Africa, North America and Italy. Round houses have been around since prehistoric times and are also known by names such as roundel, circular house, roundelhouse, and Cornish Rounds. These ancient structures were used for many purposes, including dwellings, workshops, granaries, storage, and fortifications. Some were also used as animal pens. While circular houses are no longer inhabited, they remain popular today as tourist attractions and unique dwellings. The National Trust for Historic Preservation operates several historic roundhouses in the United Kingdom.
In England, round houses were built using brick and chalk and tiles were added to the outside of the walls for insulation. In Wales and Scotland, round houses were built by stacking stones in circles and then thatching the roof. In Papua New Guinea, people used bamboo to construct round houses. In Spain, round houses were built using a mix of mud, ash and straw, and in South Africa, they were built of clay or stone blocks. In North America, round houses were mostly built by Native American tribes out of earth, straw, bark and logs. In Italy, round houses were usually built with a traditional stonework of small stones. |
