Prefabulous

“Watching the ease of the walls going up was amazing.”

Assembling a house panel by panel has got to be the fastest method for creating space! It is incredible to see it coming together! The following, is a series of photos of the last exterior wall being craned into place;

 Voila! The last wall fits right into place- perfectly!

by Rachel Ross

Get the plywood down on the floor

“Get the plywood down on the floor, cause then we can sweep it and REALLY play house!”

There are many exciting junctures in the process of building a house.

One of them is when the floor joists are covered with the plywood. Because, once the floor is covered , you can really feel the breadth and height of the main floor of your home space , you can feel what you’ve been imagining …the act of living in this space.

At this point, you can walk through and into the different rooms- bedrooms, bathroom, great room, entryway. You can imagine making tea in the kitchen , looking out the window to the east. You can sweep the floor and dance on it!

Below, find another view from part-way up the Ponderosa Pine…so glad , for many good reasons, that we left that tree!

 

The date we finish creating this floor is Oct 4, which is six days after pouring the concrete (and letting it dry). Progress is great….. We have the most amazing Mandala team!

 

 

 

by Rachel Ross

What’s happening in the Pre-Fab shop?

“Meanwhile, back at the ranch”

There is a lot going on in the design room and the shop while the foundation is being dug and the walls poured.

Shop drawings of house components are regularly sent to the shop team, Shawn, Kevin, Bradford, Amos and Daniel (among others).

The components include all the the floor system (joists and pre cut plywood sub floor) the exterior walls (including insulation, windows, doors and siding), and the roof system (ceiling paneling, rafters, insulation, roof sheathing and shingles).

All of these parts are pre-built in the large comfortable shop at Mandala.

Why factory build rather than site build?

Some of the reason are:

  • Sophisticated computerized design produced shop drawings
  • Components are built in a controlled environment
  • High quality framing equipment and cutting procedures
  • Ergonomically set-up work stations are healthier for the workers
  • Materials are stored indoors, away from damaging weather
  • There’s less construction waste

 

 

 

by Rachel Ross

The basement begins to take shape

  “Form equals function and function informs the form.”

After the concrete cures in a couple of days, it’s time to remove the bracing and supports. Now it’s time to lay out the floor joists.

Our friend, the arborist, was willing to climb up the Ponderosa and snap a photo of the pattern of the floor joists from way up high in the tree. It’s not very often that you get this particular view of a home, so we’re tickled to see it.

The first rooms of our new house are taking shape at the roots of the home, in the basement. It’s very exciting to stand in the space and begin to imagine what it will be like to live exactly HERE!

 

 

by Rachel Ross

Building Stronger, Smarter Foundations with Insulated Concrete Forms

The Foundation: Building Stronger, Smarter with Insulated Concrete Forms

A Better Way to Build: Why We Trust Insulated Concrete Forms

“Do not worry if you have built your castles in the air. They are where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.”
~Henry David Thoreau

We take this sentiment to heart. Your dream home deserves a foundation as strong and enduring as the vision behind it. That’s why we are passionate advocates for Insulated Concrete Forms—a proven, high-performance building system that aligns beautifully with our commitment to comfort, sustainability, strength, and efficiency.

Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) are lightweight, hollow blocks or panels made of insulating material that are stacked, reinforced with steel rebar, and filled with concrete. The result is a structural wall system that is incredibly strong, well-insulated, airtight, and ready for interior and exterior finishes.

In short: ICFs create a better home.

Key Takeaways

  • Insulated Concrete Forms create incredibly strong, energy-efficient, and quiet foundations.
  • They pair perfectly with the curved geometry of Mandala Homes, speeding up foundation construction.
  • ICFs improve comfort, indoor air quality, and resilience to storms, fire, and pests.
  • Reduced energy loss means lower heating and cooling bills for decades.

What Are Insulated Concrete Forms?

Insulated Concrete Forms are hollow, stackable molds that remain in place after concrete is poured. They act as both the formwork and the insulation, eliminating multiple steps in traditional construction.

Each form includes:

  • Two layers of rigid insulation
  • A hollow center for steel reinforcement
  • Interlocking edges for fast assembly
  • Surfaces designed to receive finishes easily

Once concrete is poured into the assembled forms—by an experienced crew and a qualified ICF specialist—the outcome is a monolithic, reinforced concrete wall with continuous insulation on both sides.

This combination of strength, thermal mass, and uninterrupted insulation is what makes ICFs one of the highest-performing building systems available today.

Why Mandala Homes Uses Insulated Concrete Forms

1. Unmatched Strength and Structural Integrity

Concrete is already one of the strongest building materials on Earth. Add rebar and continuous insulation, and you get a foundation that can withstand:

  • Extreme weather
  • Shifting soil conditions
  • Heavy snow loads
  • High winds
  • Seismic activity

For homeowners choosing a Mandala Round Home—often built in remote, rugged, or wild climates—this strength is invaluable.

Round homes are naturally resilient. When you pair a Mandala structure with an ICF foundation, you get an exceptionally stable and durable home built to last for generations.

2. Consistent Comfort—No Drafts, No Cold Spots

A common complaint in conventional homes is fluctuating temperatures, cold corners, and heat loss. Insulated Concrete Forms solve all of these issues.

ICFs create:

  • Continuous insulation, inside and out
  • A true air barrier—nothing blows through reinforced concrete
  • High thermal mass that stabilizes indoor temperatures

This means:

  • Homes stay warmer in winter
  • Homes stay cooler in summer
  • Indoor temperatures remain consistent and comfortable

No drafts. No cold spots. No temperature swings.

Just dependable, even comfort year-round.

3. A Safe, Healthy, Non-Toxic Building System

Your home should be a refuge—not a source of hidden chemical exposure or indoor air issues.

Insulated Concrete Forms create a naturally healthier home because:

  • They contain no CFCs, HCFCs, or formaldehydes
  • They don’t rot and can’t mold
  • They are termite-resistant
  • They have a two-hour fire rating
  • The sealed envelope reduces allergens and outdoor contaminants

For families with allergies, asthma, or chemical sensitivities, an ICF foundation offers peace of mind and a safer indoor environment.

4. Quiet, Peaceful Indoor Living

Whether you’re building in a rural location, a windy valley, or near a busy road, noise can affect your quality of life.

ICFs act as a natural sound barrier by combining:

  • Dense concrete
  • Continuous insulation
  • An airtight building envelope

Together, these elements significantly reduce exterior noise. In a Mandala Round Home—already known for its calm, centred energy—ICFs amplify a sense of peace and tranquillity by creating a silent foundation beneath the living space.

5. Energy Efficiency That Pays for Itself

Insulated Concrete Forms are one of the most energy-efficient foundation systems available in residential construction.

Benefits include:

  • Exceptional R-values
  • Great thermal mass stabilizing indoor temperatures
  • Minimal heating and cooling demand
  • Lower utility bills year after year

Because your home wastes less energy, your lifetime savings can be significant. Combined with Mandala’s naturally efficient circular design, using ICFs is a smart investment in long-term sustainability.

6. Perfect for Curves: ICFs + Mandala Geometry

A traditional foundation can be challenging to shape around a curved or faceted home. But the interlocking, modular nature of Insulated Concrete Forms makes them ideal for round or polygonal designs.

For Mandala Homes:

  • ICFs adapt beautifully to the signature faceted layout
  • Foundation crews can build faster
  • The precision of ICFs supports the accuracy required for round homes
  • Labour time is reduced, which can lower costs

This synergy between material and design helps streamline the building process and ensures an incredibly precise foundation for your custom round home.

A Complementary Product We Love: FastFoot Fabric Footings

In addition to using Insulated Concrete Forms, our team often incorporates FastFoot, a durable fabric footing system that replaces traditional lumber forms.

FastFoot offers:

  • A clean, simple, lightweight footing solution
  • Reduced waste
  • Faster installation
  • Improved moisture protection
  • Excellent compatibility with ICF foundation systems

Paired with Insulated Concrete Forms, FastFoot contributes to a cleaner, more efficient foundation-building process from start to finish.

Building a Mandala Home on a Foundation You Can Trust

Choosing an Insulated Concrete Forms foundation means choosing:

  • Long-term durability
  • Exceptional comfort
  • Energy savings
  • Quiet living
  • Superior indoor air quality
  • Structural resilience
  • Compatibility with Mandala’s iconic round-home design

At Mandala Custom Round Homes, every design choice we make is intentional—rooted in performance, beauty, and sustainability. ICFs reflect that philosophy perfectly. They create the strong, healthy, energy-efficient foundation our homes deserve.

If you’re placing your “castle in the air,” as Thoreau wrote, let us help you build the best possible foundation beneath it.

Contact us TODAY to start designing your custom home on a foundation built for comfort, health, and long-term peace of mind.

by Rachel Ross

Prefab Homes Popular

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“These homes are bril­liant!” (Con­fer­ence attendee)

Man­dala Homes had the honor of being present at the Global Buy­ers Mis­sion in Whistler, B.C. Sept 8–10, 2011.

The room buzzed with hun­dreds of peo­ple from all parts of the world; China, Japan Korea, India, Tai­wan, Viet­nam, USA and Canada. The words from many lan­guages drifted in the air and the col­ors green and  brown were dom­i­nant in the room. BC wood prod­ucts were dis­played in every con­ceiv­able form.

Man­dala Homes received a great deal of atten­tion due to our unique strength as an expe­ri­enced pre­fab­ri­ca­tion builder spe­cial­iz­ing in homes that are:

  • Hur­ri­cane Resistant
  • Wind Resis­tant
  • Earth­quake Resistant
  • Energy Effi­cient
  • Pre­fab­ri­cated Round Home Kits

Lars Chose, Pres­i­dent, had the priv­i­lege to present a les­son to groups of archi­tects dur­ing the con­fer­ence. The pre­sen­ta­tion had two parts:

  1. The Intel­li­gence of Round
  2. Energy Effi­cient Wall Systems

The con­fer­ence was a delight­ful oppor­tu­nity to con­nect with a global com­mu­nity of entre­pre­neurs, col­leagues and peo­ple inter­ested in safe , sus­tain­able and beau­ti­ful buildings.

by Rachel Ross

Our Round Green Home

 

“It takes more than one brain to brainstorm.”

Lars and I have a sense of the size and basic shape of our Mandala.  I like the Yin/Yang , privacy/connection balance of the basic Cypress design; a Mandala with an open center ‘great room’ with wings radiating out from  the circle. From a passive solar perspective , it’s clear that we want the large panoramic window views and the “open face” of the home to be south-facing. It also makes sense to place the kitchen in the sunny morning east wing with a doorway and deck for outdoor space. We like the master bedroom and en suite nestled in the privacy of the west wings and we want to  enter into our home from the north. Located in the centre of the home is the ‘heart of the home’, the hearth. Our plans are to install a small soapstone hybrid stove in the open area of the main floor. It looks like we have years worth of firewood just from clean-up around the site and we can bring scraps of kindling home from the Mandala  shop.

The sq. footage of the main floor is 1580 round feet.

 

The elements of the daylight basement downstairs are, a 1)  bedroom for teenage Poppy with a sunny south- facing window 2) an office space for Lars with a south-facing window 3) storage in the hallway 4) a ventilated root-cellar  for food storage in the cool back corner 5) downstairs shower bathroom 6) a mechanical/utility room for laundry, heat recovery ventilating system (HRV), hot water tank, and a 6 kw boiler for the in floor radiant heating system (we also plan to supplement this with the heat from a pile of decomposing wood chips and horse manure).

The sq. footage of the basement is 726 round feet.

It’s delightful to play with these floor plan ideas and get input from Leigh and Kai, the creative designers at Mandala. It’s very much a back and forth dialogue of insights and ideas.

by Rachel Ross

Clearing the land

“This , too, shall pass.”

It is a big decision for us to site the house right in the center of a grove of trees. We want the closeness to nature, the privacy and the feeling of sweet “containment” that comes from being in the center of the trees.  Amazingly , the footprint of our Mandala fits beautifully in the middle of the grove without having to cut down any living trees!

It is especially important for us to preserve the hundreds years old , huge, beautiful Ponderosa Pine that is located very close to the house.  We consulted with an arborist friend who said “Yes, the tree is close but it has a long deep tap-root rather than spreading feeder roots. Just be careful to root prune any exposed parts and water it well and everything should be fine.”

There is a lot of disruption at this part of the process. I have to keep the bigger picture in mind  and remember that we’re making choices for minimal disruption and that it’s temporary.

 

 

by Rachel Ross

Mandala Homes featured in BC Wood Connections

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For 11 years, Man­dala  Homes has been design­ing and build­ing pre-fabricated round and rec­tan­gu­lar home pack­ages in Nel­son, BC and dis­trib­ut­ing all over the globe, with Canada and US being their main mar­ket.  Along with pre-fabricated home pack­ages, they also sell deck­ing, floor­ing, trim pack­ages, pre stained cedar sid­ing, tim­ber frame com­po­nents and wood win­dow & door pack­ages.   Man­dala Homes with its triple-bottom line busi­ness model makes its busi­ness deci­sion by tak­ing into account the finan­cial, social, and envi­ron­men­tal impact.

Man­dala Homes is the only round home builder in Canada and one of only a few in North Amer­ica.  Round homes use less build­ing sur­face to enclose the same square footage as a rec­tan­gu­lar build­ing result­ing in less BTUs needed to heat than a con­ven­tional home. Man­dala Homes’ inno­v­a­tive air tight­ness design pro­vides a strong bar­rier from the ele­ments, lim­it­ing air leak­age and vastly cut­ting down on heat­ing and cool­ing costs.

They are ded­i­cated to cre­at­ing pos­i­tive change in the world through inno­v­a­tive green tech­nol­ogy and a focus on using safe, healthy, and sus­tain­able build­ing prod­ucts. Man­dala Homes incor­po­rates a Smart Waste Pro­gram in their pro­duc­tion facil­ity which min­i­mizes the amount of mate­r­ial end­ing up in a land fill.  The fac­tory is pow­ered by a wind­mill farm in North­ern BC and is heated by a high effi­ciency wood burn­ing stove; left­over wood cut­offs are burned instead of thrown into the dump­ster.  They also use sus­tain­able and renew­able prod­ucts and low VOC or non-toxic mate­ri­als.   Man­dala Homes also has a LEED Accred­ited Pro­fes­sional (AP) Designer and Engi­neer avail­able for any LEED projects.  One of their projects in 2010, a health food store in Fort Nel­son, won the Best BC Green Busi­ness of the Year award.

One of the strongest ben­e­fits of a round/faceted struc­ture is its nat­ural resis­tance to strong winds and seis­mic activ­ity.  The round design allows the wind to wrap around rather than push against it and the con­i­cal roof pre­vents roof lift­ing due to neg­a­tive pres­sures over the lee side of the house.  The inter­de­pen­dence of all the build­ing com­po­nents makes it easy to engi­neer con­nec­tors to tie the build­ing to the foun­da­tion sys­tem for areas that expe­ri­ence earth­quake activity.

Through their com­mit­ment to inno­v­a­tive green tech­nol­ogy, they cre­ated The Com­fort Wall Sys­tem.  With this sys­tem, they have moved from the stan­dard R20 insu­la­tion rat­ing to R34 in the wall and R66 in the roof.  They use Roxul min­eral wool insu­la­tion which is cre­ated from recy­cled min­eral.   The insu­la­tion is fire resis­tant; repels water so the R-value is not affected; com­pletely resis­tant to rot, mildew, mold, and bac­te­r­ial growth; and absorbs sound.  To limit ther­mal bridg­ing a blan­ket of Roxul Board is used on out­side of the wall, along with the air bar­rier, cre­at­ing an air tight seal around the com­plete build­ing enve­lope.  Stay tuned to their Face­book page on when they are com­ing out with this new technology.

Along with their ded­i­ca­tion to the envi­ron­ment, Man­dala Homes also give back to their com­mu­nity. For exam­ple, they sup­port Habondia’s Women in Sus­tain­able Hous­ing (WISH) project.   This 30 month pilot project’s goal is to sup­port women sur­vivors of vio­lence and senior women in increas­ing their money man­age­ment skills and improv­ing their eco­nomic secu­rity through obtain­ing or main­tain­ing sus­tain­able housing.

When it comes to social media, Man­dala Homes is quite suc­cess­ful. With over 5,000 Face­book fans and up to a 75% engage­ment rate, they have an edge up in the indus­try.  With a post almost every day, Man­dala Homes is keep­ing their fans engaged and informed on the top­ics of energy effi­ciency, sus­tain­able build­ing prac­tices, com­pany projects and the soul of the home.  This activ­ity strength­ens their brand awareness.

by Rachel Ross

How to Design a Green Round Mandala Home

“We all have within ourselves a blueprint for just the home that will shelter our spirit.”  Victoria Moran

 

Building a home is like designing and creating a container for your future life. It’s an opportunity to embed meaning,  possibility and care for the life and family you are crafting for.  It is a powerful and creative experience.

The following suggestions are processes we’ve used in brainstorming, envisioning and designing our home;

  1. Begin at the Beginning. Write in a journal or paste images on a vision board aboutearly memories of places you felt at home. Did you have a favorite grandparents home?  A tree fort that you and your brother built? What was your  (if it was safe and cozy) room like?  Harvesting ideas and memories about colors, images and activities is important here.
  2. As an adult, what are places you’ve loved? Have you been in houses you especially felt comfortable in? What were they like? Have you had important experiences in sacred places? Were there common shapes, images or colors in all these places?
  3. Begin at the End.  Who is going to live in this home (for how long? ie; teens grow up and leave the nest, but have significant needs for space and privacy during the years they are at home..). What will happen in this home in terms of work-from-home, gatherings, activities?
  4. Imagine the How. How are activities going to flow through this space? How will people enjoy moving around? How will people, dogs, groceries, tools etc enter and leave this home?
  5. Begin with What Is.  Sit with the land. Listen to the space. Observe how the sun moves around it, look for the placement of the cardinal directions, the condition of the soil, the slope, where wind, noise, neighbors and access enter the space. Create map of the exterior site. Be sure to draw important trees, views and special areas on your map.
  6. Envision each room of your future house. List the activities you want to perform in each room. Take out a tape measure and measure the actual sizes of the rooms, spacing and furniture of houses that you like.

Lars and I created a loose leaf binder to capture our ideas, words and images. We call it our “Brain Book”. It’s divided into different sections like;  Kitchen, Storage, Lighting, Master Bedroom, Flooring, Energy Efficient Appliances, Estimates, Schedule, Receipts, Budget.

We also created a “Design Brief”, a clear description of our over-all values for the project and the strategies we would use to achieve them (I’ll write a post about making a design brief at a later date)

by Rachel Ross