An Organic Approach – Round House by Feldman Architecture

Working within the existing footprint of a round home, Feldman Architecture reimagines and elevates Round House in a way that allows the residence to fulfil its full potential. By connecting the structure to its lush surroundings and opening up its inner spaces, the possibilities of an ocular home are realised.

Nestled within the picturesque San Francisco hills, Feldman Architecture renovates an introverted roundhouse into an extroverted one that thrives in its distinctive shape, location and views. In the original home, the rooms were disjointed and the spaces were not open to the surrounding views. The entryway was cluttered and unclear. This inspired the architect’s vision to go beyond a remodel, seeing it cantilever from the organic structure of the original building to create an almost unrecognisable home.

Suddenly, there is a blurring of the indoors and outdoors, typical of Californian architecture.

Integral to the home’s remodelling is the reworking of its spaces to make them more functional and connected to the outdoors. While the structure is anchored to the land on the west side, the eastern edge of the house wings out towards views of the landscape. To make the most of its enviable position, the garage was expanded to act as a base for the house and the stairwell was moved so that it takes you directly to the upper level. Upon entering, you see a framed view of the kitchen and then immediately turn into the open plan arrangement. Here, there is a living and dining space with tall ceilings, which open out to cascading views. Suddenly, there is a blurring of the indoors and outdoors, typical of Californian architecture.

The rooms within the home follow an organic theme reminiscent of its circular structure. The rigid flow of the old floor plan has been transformed and there is a nice sense of symmetry in the redesign of the kitchen and skylight as an oculus hub in the centre of the residence. This skylight functions like a sundial and moves about at different points in time, reflecting the home’s constant interplay with light. Shadows and filtered light are also nurtured by the organic nature of the interiors – curved doors for kitchen cabinets, curved lines that represent joins in the floor, and the deck boards were tapered so they would radiate outward from that centre point.

Round House is an example of how a renovation can remain true to an original concept and individualistic design while still elevating it drastically.

A thoughtful selection of materials are used to soften the powerful geometry of the home. In terms of finishes and materiality, it was very minimalist. Dark charred woods help the building blend into the landscape. Concrete forms the base of the house to connect it further to the landscape and is complemented by curved walls to really ground this building on its site. Walnut is used for all the floors and casework, which works to keep the home from feeling cold or sterile.

Round House is an example of how a renovation can remain true to an original concept and individualistic design while still elevating it drastically. Looking at the home years on from its original design has resulted in a striking transformation and offers an exciting glimpse into what the future holds.