Round House, Residential building in Somerville, Massachusetts
Round House is a residential building with an unusual circular form featuring three stories connected by concentric hallways and pie-shaped rooms. The rounded layout of rooms allows for efficient space use and natural light to reach all areas of the interior.
The building was constructed in 1856 and breaks from the standard residential design common in the area at that time. It represents experimental architecture from an era when suburbs in Massachusetts were developing rapidly.
The structure shows how residents live with rounded rooms and reflects experimental housing ideas that influenced New England residential building.
The circular design takes some getting used to when navigating the hallways and rooms since the layout differs from typical floor plans. Visitors should be prepared for windows and doors that appear at unexpected angles throughout the interior.
Each floor has a wraparound deck providing residents with constant access to outdoor areas and views of the surrounding neighborhood. These ring-shaped exterior spaces make the building stand out by reshaping how indoor and outdoor areas connect.
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