An interesting architectural solution is to build a round gazebo - in the form of a dome or rotunda. This form allows you to “dilute” the classic square and rectangular buildings that are usually found in the country.
Beautiful shape with three tiers
Round gazebos are often confused with hexagonal ones.
They are really similar, but have different wall and roof designs.
The publication will show various examples of round gazebos that can be implemented on your site.
Some advice will also be given on building such a structure on your own, in particular the foundation, frame and design of slanted rafters for the roof.
General description of the design of a round gazebo
It has been popular for a long time and all this is due to various design options and design features. This is the most functional decoration of a free area. Modern modifications surprise everyone with their shapes and sizes.
Such gazebos make the design of the site more unusual and attractive. When creating an open model project, it is important to take into account some nuances: the main material, execution style, landscape design. It’s not easy to make round gazebos for a summer house, but if you try, everything will work out.
Important! Sometimes gazebos are decorated with various decorative elements. These could be flowers, bushes or stone paths. The area near the semi-open gazebo is decorated with a playground, a swimming pool, a pond, a rose garden, and a garden.
Hermitage Garden
Photo: @mosgorsad
The Hermitage Garden is decorated with two very beautiful structures - cast-iron pavilions in the English style. Graceful openwork gazebos are called “Garden Cottages”. They are located between the Hermitage and New Opera theaters. The pavilions often host special events: master classes and lectures, board game tournaments, photo shoots and outdoor wedding ceremonies.
Advantages and disadvantages
Like any other structure, a gazebo with columns has both pros and cons. Its advantages include:
- Beauty. Such buildings fit well into the environment of the summer cottage.
- Compact, such models do not take up much space.
- The cylindrical frame structure is more stable than rectangular or square models.
The disadvantages of round gazebos include the difficult construction process and a large amount of waste during construction.
Important benefits
Buildings made from a universal building material - natural stone - look luxurious and are highly aesthetically appealing. The cost of a stone building equipped with a barbecue is higher than a wooden gazebo. However, it has many undeniable advantages:
- It has a stylish, beautiful design.
- Can be combined with other building materials: metal, brick, wood.
- The design is characterized by enviable durability.
- The structure requires simple maintenance.
If you choose rubble stone for construction, its price is affordable. Any dacha owner can buy this material. Limestone or sandstone has the following characteristics:
Option for a gazebo made of limestone and a wooden roof
- fire resistance;
- moisture resistance;
- frost resistance;
- aesthetics.
Inexpensive projects are created from such natural material. You can build a barbecue yourself and fry meat in the fresh air, which has a special charm. It all depends on the wishes of the owner himself. Gazebos with barbecues are extremely popular.
Design Features
Differences between country houses with a round base and rectangular modifications:
- Sophisticated design . The round base complicates the calculations of the supporting frame structure and rafters;
- Difficult to build . It is much easier to use straight building materials than to change their shape;
- Problems with the selection of building materials . Given the shape of the base, it is difficult to find cladding for the supporting frame part and for the rafters;
- Irrational filling of space . When planning the interior of rounded buildings, it is not easy to arrange furniture so that the space is used in the right way. The only suitable option is to install a round table in the central part and chairs near it.
So, building a round gazebo is not an easy task. But why do people so often take on the creation of this particular model? A gazebo in a semicircle looks more original in comparison with classic rectangular buildings, so summer residents turn a blind eye to other difficulties.
Recommendations
When building a round gazebo, it is strongly recommended to purchase all the necessary materials in advance and draw up a detailed construction plan. Only with this attitude can construction costs be significantly reduced.
Wooden round building
The size of the building depends solely on the layout, that is, if the building will be used only by family members, there is no need to make a huge room - it is enough to limit yourself to structures of 2x2 meters. This gazebo can accommodate 2 to 3 people without sacrificing personal space.
In a round gazebo, most often a round table is installed and a design is made that in every possible way emphasizes the shape of the structure.
Selecting a location
It’s not difficult to choose the location for the gazebo yourself, but sometimes it’s worth listening to the recommendations. It is best to build it near your home. It is also necessary to provide for the possibility of a full view of the garden and quick movement from the gazebo to the cottage. If there is a pond at your summer cottage, then it is better to place a gazebo next to it.
How to build a rotunda?
The rotunda is one of the most expensive types of gazebos, but it can also be considered the most respectable and durable option.
The main part of such a gazebo are columns, which can be made of the following materials:
To construct a column, the material is poured into the so-called split formwork, which has a special internal coating. According to the standard, such additional equipment is made from moisture-resistant plasterboard.
You can also find prefabricated columns on sale, the main component of which is cement or polymerized gypsum. An alternative to columns can be piles made of concrete and having a circular cross-section. These elements will simultaneously serve as the foundation.
This method of constructing a rotunda is used only when the soil requires it or if piles for the structure being built, for example, a house, are laid on the site along with the columns.
There are rotunda options that do not require a foundation. They are also called self-supporting rotundas. Naturally, this version of the gazebo is more expensive. This set also includes a balustrade with figured balusters and a fiberglass dome - this composition will give your rotunda a special look.
If you decide not to resort to the help of professionals and make a gazebo yourself, then the most favorable material for this will be brick.
Supports are used if necessary - they are required for good stability of the building. In a specific situation, the most practical option would be to use a columnar foundation, which is made from waste ceramic bricks.
Drawing with dimensions
Drawings of the structure, as well as its sketches and 3D models must be included in the project. When developing these diagrams and image plans, it is necessary to observe the proportions of the structural components, as well as write down their exact dimensional characteristics. Then there will be no problems with the construction of the gazebo that could lead to additional financial expenses.
Important! If you don’t want to do everything yourself, you can use the Internet and download the drawings you like.
What colors can you use when doing Greek style architecture?
When starting to engage in architecture of a particular style, it is better to find out which colors are most common.
The distinctive colors of this particular style are cool shades of blue, green, yellow (lemon), brown and white, as well as various combinations of these tones. The most commonly used color combination is white and blue. For example, imagine a white wall with a blue window frame against it. It looks fresh, simple, and at the same time bright and memorable. There are times when it is necessary to emphasize something. Then use bright colors: red, pink. The ceilings of Greek architecture are very high. Thanks to this, the buildings seem majestic and spacious. Such ceilings in Greece are a sign of freedom and space. They are usually supported by solid columns and decorated with sculptures of mystical creatures. This gives them even greater greatness. Of course, the gazebo will not look like a giant in the middle of the yard. But it is quite possible to use the element of high ceilings. Just build it not low, but at least at the level (or slightly lower) of the main building of the site. What you can borrow from the Greeks for your gazebo is a small round or square window in the ceiling. It will become a distinctive feature of the Greek style, as well as an additional source of lighting on a cloudy day. When finishing the ceiling, textured plaster is usually used in the same tone as the color of the walls. Decide for yourself: will texture be appropriate in a summer gazebo, will you like it. What you will definitely like is the need to leave the ceiling matte. Such a decision will emphasize nobility and also pay respect to antiquity. You can apply meander patterns or frame them in a plinth with artistic modeling. When choosing how to treat the walls, forget about wallpaper (occasionally they can be found in gazebos, but not when it comes to the Greek style). To make the walls look truly Greek, choose rough plaster, which will give them texture, the charm of the creator who created the gazebo, as well as that very simplicity that is present everywhere in the Greek style. Sometimes plaster is used to achieve the effect of marble laying. This is considered ideal. If you would like to see the effect of antiquity on the walls in your gazebo, then you should use a double coating. The inner layer, which should be visible through the outer one, will give the same effect. You will have the feeling that these walls are the result of painstaking and many years of work by wind, sun and sea. If such walls are not for you, there is another option. You can cover the walls of your gazebo with simple, clear patterns. The main thing is that the ornaments and designs are the simplest, most elementary, without complexity. You can place accents with bright colors in those places that you consider necessary. Both painting and sculpting will help you with this. For particularly sophisticated natures, there are also frescoes and panels, which are always created by hand. The subject matter of such works is strictly mythological: animals, gods, battles.
Tools and materials required for work
To build a wooden gazebo yourself, you will need the following materials and tools:
- sand;
- cement composition;
- brick (for the columnar fundamental part);
- steel reinforcement (strip foundation);
- wooden beams (frame structure);
- “inch” board (thickness 25 mm, for lattice);
- floorboard;
- flat slate;
- profiled sheet;
- polycarbonate;
- metal tiles;
- nails;
- self-tapping bolts;
- metal corners;
- drill;
- hand circular saw;
- electric plane;
- hammer;
- level;
- hydraulic level;
- chisel;
- spanners.
Catherine Park
Photo: ek-park.ru
A nice pavilion is located on the shore of the Great Catherine Pond in a small but very cozy park in the center of Moscow. This is the rotunda of Catherine II - the place where, according to legend, the empress loved to have tea parties with Count Saltykov. The wooden rotunda with arched window openings and an aristocratic dome with a spire was restored according to ancient drawings and rebuilt in the very place where it was located historically. Now the rotunda is used as a banquet hall; outdoor marriage registration ceremonies are often held here.
Building foundation
Work begins, usually with laying the foundation. Description of the foundation construction process:
- The territory will have to be marked with a rope in accordance with the dimensional characteristics. Therefore, you will need to drive a peg into the central part of the site and attach a rope to it. Then it is better to draw it in one direction, for example, when building 4 by 4 m, you need to pull the rope 2.5 m.
- Next, you will need to attach a sharp object to the other end of the rope and outline the area around it.
- Such a gazebo can also be installed on a simple foundation. For example, you can buy concrete mix, boulders or stones.
- After installation, it is necessary to create formwork from stone, boards or any other building materials.
After laying the foundation structure, you need to make the floor. For this purpose, wood boards are usually taken.
Construction progress
Regardless of what materials the gazebo will be built from, the step-by-step work plan is as follows:
- Selection of drawing;
- Foundation construction;
- Installation of load-bearing structures;
- Roof construction;
- Filling gaps between supports.
Let's consider the listed stages in more detail.
Foundation
The construction of the foundation involves concreting columns with the obligatory installation of embedded elements
Since the supporting structure of the gazebo will consist of supports, it is preferable to make the foundation columnar - one pillar for each support. To do this, wells are drilled to a depth below the freezing level of the soil into which pipes are buried.
Reinforcement with metal mesh is installed around the pipes, after which the bounding formwork is assembled. The pipe is leveled, after which concrete is poured into the well.
Slab concrete foundation for a permanent brick building
As an alternative to a columnar foundation, you can arrange a solid slab foundation. This option is relevant if the budget for the purchase of building materials is not limited.
- Round gazebo
Brick supports
How and from what to build brick supports? Since the brick pillars under the dome will not be subject to additional finishing, we use beautiful bricks and make a clean masonry with adjusted gaps and a neat seam without sag.
To reduce the load on the foundation, I recommend using hollow bricks rather than solid ones.
| Illustrations | Step-by-step description of the construction of supports |
Foundation and embedded elements. When building a foundation for supports, a 50x50 mm profile pipe is embedded in the concrete. The length of the pipe is selected so as to extend beyond the top edge of the supports. Subsequently, it will be possible to attach the elements of the upper trim to the pipe.
| |
| Brickwork . By placing a template welded from a rod, a layer of masonry mortar is added. A brick is placed on top. After the row is laid, the template is removed and laid out on top of the completed row. The side seams are also formed using a template that is inserted into the gap. Each subsequent row is placed with an offset of half a brick relative to the previous row. | |
| Joining the brick to the pipe . There will be a gap of 25 mm between the profile pipe in the center of the support and the brick. When finishing the row, fill the gap with masonry mortar. |
Columns
Permanent disposable formwork made of composite materials allows you to simplify and speed up the process of constructing columns
How to build a column under the dome of a gazebo? There are two options:
- You can build formwork from a pipe of a suitable diameter and fill the internal volume with concrete with reinforcement;
- You can order and buy ready-made disposable formwork and pour the same concrete, but quickly and without extra effort.
How to build using permanent formwork?
Reinforcement of columns and installation of disposable formwork
The sketch shows the slab foundation of the gazebo, from which a pipe with reinforcing winding made from a chain-link mesh is brought out to the design height of the support. A lower support ring is placed around the pipe using glue, which is closed with pins and filled with concrete.
The sketch shows a group of supports of which one column is finally assembled
Next, the composite ring of the column is put on, which, after installation, is also filled with concrete. The process is repeated until the rings reach the design height of the structure. A top is installed on top of the rings filled with concrete, which will subsequently turn into the elements of the upper trim.
Walls
How and with what to fill the gaps between the supports? If columns are used as supports, the gazebo can be left open or wrought iron barriers can be installed in the openings.
Example of wall cladding for masonry
Alternatively, the opening can be filled a third or a quarter with brick or stone masonry. If you plan to install a barbecue or fireplace in the gazebo, one of the walls is made permanent.
Metal frame covered with polycarbonate - inexpensive and looks beautiful
As an alternative to solid walls, I recommend installing forged or welded fences with polycarbonate sheathing.
Roof
| Illustrations | Types of roofing for round gazebos and their descriptions |
| Hip roofs . This type of roof consists of a certain number of slopes. To create the illusion of a round roof, there must be at least five slopes. The advantages of the straight slope design are the ability to install any roofing materials. The roof is based on a conventional rafter system, in which the slanted rafters rest on the top frame with one edge, and are brought together at the ridge with the other edge. | |
| Dome roofs . Curved rafters are used as the base for the supporting frame of domed roofs. Therefore, as shown in the photo, it is preferable to assemble the frame for dome roofs from metal profiles. For covering dome structures, it is advisable to use flexible lightweight materials, for example, cellular polycarbonate. The dome can also be finished with bitumen shingles, but for this, the rafters are pre-sheathed with plywood or similar board materials. |
Walling
After the foundation of the building is completed, it is necessary to build the frame structure and walls. An excellent example of construction is a round model with a dome.
- It is necessary to install a couple of beams from beams (up to 8 pieces) with any cross-section. The design should look like a circle.
- After installing the frame structure, you will need to connect the beams. For this you can use both beams and boards. You can also use other materials for work, for example, wicker.
Installation of additional stiffening elements
If your area is characterized by heavy snowfalls, we recommend that you further strengthen the roof structure. To do this, you need to install support posts in the middle of the gaps between the corner supports, just above the middle foundation posts.
We install some of the (lower) posts between the railings and the bottom beam of the gazebo base; they can be made from 40 by 50 mm timber. Select their height so that they fit tightly between the beams of the gazebo base and the gazebo railings. These lower supports can be secured with overhead metal corners and self-tapping screws.
The second part of the posts (upper) is installed above the first ones between the railing beams and the middle roof rafters; we will make them from 40 by 100 mm planks.
For them, we make five bars and fasten them with self-tapping screws from below through the railing bar, and from above - to the corresponding rafter beam and external trim. The photo shows the correct installation of the post under the rafter:
The photo shows the fastening of the support pole to the external trim:
Please note that it is necessary to select the size of the supports at the top so that they fit under the rafters very tightly, even with a slight interference. This is necessary in order to remove the load from the rafters. The photo below shows what the final design should look like after installing all the additional supports:
Roof formation
The roof of the building is made of the same materials as other elements of the gazebo. The most important thing when installing a roof is the absence of sharp corners.
- First you will have to make the frame part of the roof from the beams that form the dome.
- Then you need to lay the boards so that the number of corners is reduced to a minimum.
- After installation, you will need to decorate the roof.
Important! Only after the roof and walls are done should they be fastened together. All building elements must be made of the same material.
A round or semicircular gazebo on a summer cottage is a unique multifunctional structure that combines an unusual visual appearance and practicality. Fits well into any landscape design. A small architectural structure for relaxation, if properly decorated, will decorate any cottage or garden.
Variety of options
There are really a lot of ideas with a round shape. One classification stretched to as many as 7 points, each of which will have its own examples with photographs. It won’t be difficult to come up with an idea for your own construction.
All buildings vary greatly in price. Wood was and remains the cheapest material, while brick or stone buildings are noticeably more expensive. Aesthetics with complex shapes such as round are quite expensive.
Made of wood
The classic building material - wood, is the most popular and cheapest among all types and forms of gazebos (unless we are talking about debarked logs with a diameter of 300 mm).
Such buildings look very civilized, and besides, modern impregnations and antiseptics allow the wood to stand for decades without rotting. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about the reliability of such structures.
Due to the lightness of the material, the gazebo does not require a serious and capital foundation. In most cases, ordinary foundation blocks are sufficient.
Made of metal
I have seen quite a lot of both unique architectural solutions (made to order) and standard ones (ready for sale). All these gazebos are similar, but there is a huge difference in both aesthetic beauty and quality of metal.
The more massive the structure, the more expensive and better quality it is. Thick metal will last for decades if it is properly treated against corrosion and painted. Thin metal, especially profile pipes, can be seriously deformed during operation, especially if you plan to use it frequently.
The price is also affected by the presence of decorative forging and metal sheathing. Any aesthetic aspects associated with metal require additional material and welder work, and therefore are expensive. But almost any metal building will look very beautiful, regardless of the project - I cannot say the same about wooden gazebos.
Made of brick
Some of the most expensive and capital buildings are brick. To lay out a round shape, you need to show some ingenuity and skill, since you cannot fasten a brick with a self-tapping screw.
Sometimes the structure is additionally reinforced with concrete lintels and metal reinforcement to withstand all the contours of the building.
Of course, such structures are expensive. In addition, owners often ask to install a stove complex, since it is somehow not civilized to cook meat nearby on a small grill.
Before deciding to build such a large gazebo, you need to allocate a site on your site. In addition to the structure itself, it is necessary to take into account the landscape design around it, and indeed the free space in general. It makes no sense to erect such a building on a small plot.
Polycarbonate
Compared to previous photographs, polycarbonate will look simply ridiculous, but it will also cost tens or even hundreds of times less. Due to the flexibility of carbonate slabs, making a round shape at the roof or even walls will not be a serious problem.
Polycarbonate sheets must be laid out in honeycombs downwards, and not sideways - this will allow condensation to escape naturally.
It will not be possible to make a gazebo only from polycarbonate in any case, since you need a frame on which it will be attached. In most cases it is wood or metal.
You can build such structures with your own hands without any problems, and if you are interested in purchasing, then this is also not a problem - the price is quite reasonable even for high-quality slabs.
With grill (Finnish grill)
Due to its round shape, installing a barbecue inside the gazebo becomes difficult. Only Finnish grill houses, which have already been discussed in detail on our website, can boast of the ability to cook food in a round room.
The price for these buildings is relatively small - from 180 to 300 thousand rubles on average.
Example of a Finnish gazebo
Thanks to its design with a smoke exhaust and a grill in the center, you can simultaneously relax and cook meat on an open fire right inside the house. Moreover, it is safe and without heavy smoke. If you are interested in this approach to the recreation area, then you can pay special attention to the option with a Finnish grill.
With dome and columns (rotunda)
Do you know the name of a gazebo with a dome and a column of 7 letters? Rotunda! This question is often asked in scanwords and crosswords. It is a massive structure with a domed roof and columns (in budget options these are wooden, metal or stone pillars).
It is rare to see such a building on a summer cottage. Usually they stand in city parks, squares or near monuments (I saw the last one near the Victory Monument in Saransk). However, some summer residents are willing to pay for such architectural masterpieces if the land and finances allow.
Backlit
I am a little awestruck by gazebos with lighting, which can be both decorative and strictly practical. In any case, the issue of light in the room is very acute, especially when night suddenly falls around, and the vacation does not plan to end at all.
In my personal opinion, you need to think about lighting in any recreation area. This is a strategically important facility that must be ready to accept people at any time. And if everything around also shines with light, then this will also add an additional pleasant effect to your relaxation.
Bottom part
At the bottom of a round gazebo, a frame is usually created from 100x100 mm bars. For a standard gazebo, their number is 6. In order for the bars to be securely connected to each other, they need to be cut into half a tree.
Where the bars will connect, a hole with a diameter of 12 mm is drilled. It is designed for the reinforcing bar that protrudes from each concrete support. After this, to create the lower part of the gazebo, perform the following steps:
- Each column is covered with mastic to ensure waterproofing. To prevent concrete from coming into contact with wood, roofing felt is laid on the pillars.
- Place each base beam on support pillars. In this case, the reinforcing rods must be threaded into the holes at the ends of the wooden elements. After this, the parts of the lower part of the gazebo are connected with self-tapping screws.
- If necessary, it is worth laying floor joists. The boards will rest on them.
- A plank floor with boards 40 mm thick is laid on the finished base.
- If desired, the floor can be covered with linoleum. This will increase the service life of the boards and give the gazebo a more aesthetic appearance.
Advice! When planning to lay linoleum, it is better to leave a small gap between the boards. This will ensure the floor is ventilated and will also prevent moisture from appearing.
Estate "Mikhalkovo"
Photo: Shutterstock
Two identical rotunda gazebos are located in the Mikhalkovo estate on both sides of the Golovinsky cascade ponds. Presumably, the time of their construction dates back to the 1770s. Rotundas are distinguished by a classic English style - simple elegant forms, white stone trim, capitals and spiers. It is believed that one of the gazebos - the western one - originally served as a pier, as it has a descent to the water. The eastern rotunda is hidden in the park area. In 2015-17, the estate was restored - the rotundas were also updated. Their foundations were strengthened, the walls were whitened and painted, and the lost elements were restored.
Sokolniki Park"
Photo: park.sokolniki.com
One of the most popular areas of Sokolniki Park, the Rotunda stage, is decorated with a real rotunda gazebo. It seems to refer back to the times when Sokolniki was a favorite place for royal falconry. The rotunda has a noticeable green dome roof and comfortable benches for those who are tired and want to take a break - a variety of dance programs are held on the stage all year round.
Park of the Usachev-Naydenov estate
Photo: Shutterstock
The “High Mountains” estate is the city estate of the Usachev-Naydenov gentlemen, built in 1829-1836 according to the design of the Swiss architect Domenico Gilardi. In the park complex here you can find two preserved beautiful rotunda gazebos: massive columns of the Doric order support a roof with an original open dome. The circumference of its base is lavishly decorated with bas-reliefs of griffins. One of these rotundas “starred” in the film “Pokrovsky Gate” directed by Mikhail Kozakov.
