How to Choose a Revolving House?
Summary
– Characteristics of a revolving house
– How to choose a revolving house?
A revolving house is a single-family home that rotates with the sun like a sunflower. The rotation of the house optimizes the recovery of solar energy and allows the orientation of one’s choice at any time of the day and night. Modern and ecological, the revolving house is becoming more democratic thanks to the diversification of models (turnkey revolving house, kit to assemble oneself, self-construction) and the increase in builders.
The characteristics of a revolving house
In addition to being able to rotate on its central axis, the revolving house has several characteristics.
A roundhouse
A revolving house is almost always a roundhouse. If the round shape allows for maximum luminosity due to the absence of angles, it is in the balancing of the masses that the circular floor becomes indispensable in order to allow for rotation. Indeed, for a house to be rotatable, it must be built on a single central axis, and the layout must be balanced around it.
A wooden house
It is important to optimize the strength of the structure by limiting the mass of materials to be carried on the central axis. A roundhouse is, therefore, generally a wooden house (or wood frame) in order to build quickly and easily with a durable, solid and light material, which allows many forms (solid wood, molded or multi-ply). Wood is part of a process of respect for the environment, like the optimization of solar gain: a revolving house often has an ecological stake.
A dome house
A revolving house is also usually a dome house rather than a polygonal or spherical one, in order to optimize the solidity of the structure and the volumes, by minimizing the lost space under the roofs.
The dome house must be built on a central axis so that the whole can be oriented. As a general rule, a revolving house also has a mechanism (electric motor) that turns the house, to which is added an automatic system (programmable or with solar sensors) so that the whole is permanently positioned in relation to the path of the sun.
Good to know: if the concept of a revolving house is first born from the will to follow the sun, it also allows to choose at any time the view (or the intimacy) that you decide to have from each room.
How to choose a revolving house?
It is necessary to choose your revolving house builder before selecting a model and a living area. You should focus on the reliability of the company and the reputation of its constructions. If the wooden house and the dome house are now well mastered, the crucial point to study is the design and the realization of the central axis:
– required assembly on ball bearings (with a guarantee) ;
– presence of a rotation platform (metal plate) with wheels to take up the slope of the ground;
– power of the motor (and its reducer) and possibility of automatic systems if possible disengageable (remote-controlled and manual operation possible);
– rotation capacity of the house (360° or partial) according to the flexible or rotating connections of the supply and evacuation ducts and pipes.
The comparison between manufacturers and products must be done according to the following criteria:
– the proposed guarantees;
– the cost price per square meter of living space;
– comfort;
– good insulation.
Pay attention to the difference between living area (premises with ceiling height ≥ 1.8 m) and floor area.
Example: a dome house with more than 280 m² of floor space may only offer less than 180 m² of living space (i.e. 100 m² less!).
Once the choice of builder or manufacturer has been made, it is essential to check with the municipality where the house is to be built that the urban planning documents authorize this type of architecture and will issue the building permit for a house that is sometimes considered atypical.
