Treehugger Magazine writes about Mandala Homes
B.C.‘s First Energy Star Qualified Home is a Beauty
This beauty of a round building is British Columbia’s first Energy Star qualified home, meeting standards for energy efficiency. Called the Magnolia 2300, it’s the work of Mandala Homes, run by Lars Chose and partner Rachel Ross.
Energy Star qualifications are a topic of debate on TreeHugger. Lloyd argues for Passivhaus instead; Brian saysone million Energy Star home owners can’t be wrong. To synthesize their arguments, Energy Star’s standards are not the world’s most rigorous, but it’s good to see more of them being built for clients who presumably are considering the size of their carbon footprint.
Asked how they went about obtaining the Energy Star label, Chose says it wasn’t an original goal; they were simply working to create an energy efficient building. Mandala builds mostly round structures because, as I noted in a post about a Mandala-built cottage, in March:
The circular form provides structural strength in rough weather, natural thermodynamics that negate the need for extra heating, and panoramic views, as well as something less tangible, the open feeling that comes from being in a space without corners.
There’s also what Chose calls the “Inherent beauty of the round,” a “very natural shape.” On top of that, the Magnolia has some nice energy-saving features, including:
- Domestic water heating system approximately three times more efficient than a standard system.
- Heat Recovery Ventilator for fresh air with minimal heat loss.
- ENERGY STAR qualified products, including windows, doors and lighting.
- Passive Solar Design
- Radiant floor heating and heat sink
- Daylighting emphasized
- Cork flooring
- Extra thick walls for insulation
Overall, the Magnolia is gorgeous raises the bar for green building in British Columbia. Hopefully, other architects will aim to do even better, and find plenty of clients who want the benefits of a reduced energy bill and eased environmental conscience, to go with a lovely home.
What is it like to live in a round house?
A Personal Perspective on How It Feels to Live in a Round House
We’re often asked a deceptively simple question: What is it actually like to live in a round house?
It usually comes with curiosity, a little wonder, and sometimes a pause—because most of us have spent our lives in square or rectangular homes. Corners, hallways, right angles. They’re familiar. But familiar doesn’t always mean ideal.
Recently, during a conversation with a friend, that question came up again. “How is it different,” she asked, “than living in a traditionally shaped home?”
The honest answer? The difference is felt more than it is explained. And once you live in a round house, it’s hard to imagine living any other way.
Below, we’ll share what it truly means—emotionally, physically, and experientially—to live in a round house.
Key Takeaways: What It’s Really Like to Live in a Round House
- You feel held, supported, and calm in the space
- Movement through the home is flowing and natural
- Light becomes dynamic, alive, and deeply nourishing
- The ceiling and skylight create daily moments of awe
- Air and temperature circulate naturally and comfortably
- Emotional well-being is supported by the architecture itself
A Home That Holds You
One of the first sensations people describe when they live in a round house is a feeling of being held.
The circular form creates a gentle enclosure—more like a container than a structure. There are no sharp edges interrupting the space, no corners where energy feels stuck or forgotten. Instead, the home wraps around you evenly, like a quiet embrace.
Many people liken the experience to being in a womb, or receiving a hug from the house itself. It’s subtle, but profound. The space feels safe, supportive, and deeply nurturing—an environment that naturally invites creativity, reflection, and calm.
This sense of containment isn’t psychological fluff. It’s a real, embodied response to geometry. Curves soften our nervous system. They signal safety. And over time, that feeling becomes part of daily life.
Flow Instead of Angles
Traditional homes tend to move us through space in straight lines and sharp turns. Hallways funnel us. Staircases cut upward. Corners stop momentum.
When you live in a round house, movement feels entirely different.
Hallways curve gently. Stairwells spiral rather than climb. As you move from one room to another, your body naturally follows a flowing, circular path. Without realizing it, your posture softens. Your gait becomes more graceful. The space encourages ease rather than urgency.
We often hear from homeowners that they feel calmer simply walking through their home. The architecture itself promotes a sense of rhythm and continuity—movement without friction.
Light That Changes Everything
To live in a round house is to live in constant relationship with light.
Tall south-facing windows welcome the sun deep into the home, while expansive skylights—often placed at the centre—draw daylight down from above. The result is not just brightness, but living light.
Light shifts throughout the day, tracing gentle arcs across curved walls. Morning feels different from afternoon. Cloudy days bring softness; sunny days bring drama. At night, the skylight becomes a clear window to the stars, the moon, the passing weather, even the movement of wind and clouds.
Because the light enters from above and all around, the home feels connected to the sky in a way that rectangular houses rarely achieve. It’s grounding and expansive at the same time.
A Ceiling That Is Also Art
In a Mandala round home, the ceiling is never an afterthought.
The signature mandala ceiling becomes a central visual anchor—an architectural artwork that’s always present, always changing. It invites contemplation, much like looking into a fire or watching waves move across water.
As light shifts, the ceiling transforms. Shadows move. Colours deepen or soften. The space feels alive, responsive, and expressive. Many homeowners describe moments of pausing mid-day simply to look up.
To live in a round house is to be surrounded by beauty that doesn’t demand attention—but rewards it.
Living With Nature, Not Beside It
Round homes don’t just sit on the land—they participate in it.
With connected outdoor rooms, wrap-around decks, and panoramic views, the boundary between inside and outside softens. Nature becomes part of daily life rather than something you step out to visit.
Birdsong filters in. Wind patterns are felt. Seasonal light changes become part of the home’s rhythm. You’re not just observing nature—you’re living within it.
This connection fosters a deep sense of presence. Days feel less rushed. Time feels more cyclical. Living in a round house often brings people back into sync with natural patterns they didn’t realize they’d lost.
Natural Thermal Comfort That Feels Alive
One of the most fascinating aspects of living in a round house is how the space manages air and temperature naturally.
Warm air rises toward the high, insulated ceiling. As it reaches the cooler skylight, it gently descends, moving across the floor toward the curved walls before rising again. This creates a continuous, quiet circulation—a natural thermal dance that happens without fans or force.
The result? Air that feels fresh, balanced, and comfortable year-round. The home doesn’t feel static. It feels alive.
Many homeowners remark that the temperature is remarkably even and that the house simply feels right—not stuffy, not drafty, just comfortable.
Emotional Well-Being and Harmony
Perhaps the most meaningful difference when you live in a round house is emotional.
Without corners, the mind relaxes. Without rigid geometry, the body softens. The space encourages harmony—within yourself and with others.
People report feeling more peaceful, more centred, more at ease in their daily routines. The house supports rest without dullness, creativity without chaos, connection without overwhelm.
It becomes not just a place to live, but a place to be.
Why People Choose to Live in a Round House
Living in a round house isn’t about novelty. It’s about alignment.
It’s for people who value:
- Calm, nourishing spaces
- Connection to nature and light
- Flow, movement, and embodied comfort
- Homes that feel intentional, not accidental
Once experienced, the round form often feels intuitive—like a return to something deeply human.
To live in a round house is to live in a space that works with you—not against you.
And for many, once they’ve experienced it, there’s no going back to corners.
Ready to find out more about what it truly means to live in a round house?
Discover how a Mandala Custom Round Home can support the way you want to live—calmly, beautifully, and in harmony with nature. Start a conversation with us today and explore what’s possible when your home is designed to hold you.
Functional Space/Sacred Space
“The great lesson is that the sacred is in the ordinary, that it is to be found in one’s daily life, in one’s neighbors, friends, and family, in one’s backyard.” Abram Maslow
T.C. Mcluhan writes “Human beings all around the world and all through time have used sacred spaces in order to find themselves.” This brings to my mind the line from the song Amazing Grace, ”I once was lost and now I’m found.”
Imagine that this self-finding can happen at HOME. The idea of home as sacred space is not a new one. In ancient Greece, every house had an alter to Hestia, Goddess of the Hearth.
Hestia’s altars were cleaned , incense was burned on them and the fire was lit daily. This act of nurturing home as sacred space was a daily occurrence.
If sacred space helps us to find ourselves and if that place of “found self” resides in our center, then what is the effect of living in a home that is a sacred Mandala?
One would guess that it’s something like living in a cathedral, a temple or a monastery.Living in a Mandala would be experiencing the peaceful life of a monk, an orange robed shaved-headed Buddhist monk living in a temple.
Imagine days filled with prayers, contemplation, meditation, sacred bells, rhythm, beauty, continuity, reflection, reading, writing, dreaming. Ah…my favourite kind of rhythm, a schedule saturated with meaning!
But, a home needs to have function as well as meaning.
Storage is a big part of the practical function of a home. When we were designing our Mandala home, we began by listing all of our activities and belongings. We anticipated entering and leaving the home and imagined what we would be carrying and where it needs to go. Our list looked something like this; groceries, recycling, dump garbage, compost , sports gear, laptops, business mail, firewood, coats , sweaters, boots, mitts , gloves, recycled grocery bags, library books to return. In our home design, we accounted for these items and activities near to the entryway door. We also ensured that each room has built in storage in the form of closets, cupboards, shelves and a pantry near to the kitchen.
Our outdoor rooms play a big role in the practical function of our home. They are always available and comfortable human living and activity space that gives a natural change of temperature and flexible space.
The outdoor porch near the kitchen gives us a space to set pies to cool, grow a kitchen garden, set beer in the shade, step out of rubber Birkenstock clogs, store garden baskets, keep the bokashi bucket, eat lunch and sit in the morning sun with a coffee……contemplating the delightful marriage of a meaningful and practical life centered from this sacred circle of a lived-in Mandala.
Mandala Homes Featured in Kootenay Business Magazine
WHAT’S ROUND AND GREEN AND WARM ALL OVER?
Elegant homes with a focus on energy efficiency and a sensitive environmental footprint
Kootenay Business Magazine March 2012
Before establishing his company that specializes in round building design, Lars Chose started out building traditional timber-frame homes. But even then he liked to incorporate round elements into his designs.
“I was building a timber-frame home for a family,” said Chose, “and a friend of mine dropped by and really liked some of the round components I integrated into the home design—and he asked if I could design a home for him and his family that involved two round mandala circles. That started me into round construction and understanding the beauty of it.”
MORE THAN JUST PRETTY TO LOOK AT
Chose, whose company is based out of the West Kootenay region of B.C., started Mandala Homes 11 years ago and has since built a total of 65 homes in many locations throughout North America. Along with beautiful architecture, Chose focuses on integrating cutting-edge building practices and materials for energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.
“With the price of oil (going up), I saw I had to create homes that are containers for heat, not chimneys,” Chose said. “Most homes built over the past 100 years just let heat flow through them and out the roof. We design homes that contain and control heat.”
Unlike homes of the past, Mandala’s homes are completely sealed and airtight. The homes are insulated well beyond the B.C. building code.
“It feels like you’re being hugged by the building,” Chose said. “Any heat you produce stays in the house. You can use a very small heat source and it stays warm for a long time.”
He added that careful passive solar design and orientation of the home can increase the home’s energy efficiency. His own home has a daylight basement with large windows facing south that heat the house naturally in the shoulder seasons and winter months. The overhangs are designed to shade the windows so as not to overheat the home in the summer.
IMPROVING ALL ASPECTS OF EFFICIENCY
Chose said the combination of prefabrication and on-site assembly is also a key aspect to his home-building philosophy, because this helps green the building and allows for fast construction.
“As I looked at the way homes are being built, it seemed way more efficient to build them in a factory than on site,” he said. “There’s less waste, better quality control and better environmental control. You’re basically bringing it to weathertight in a few weeks.”
Chose recently obtained an occupancy permit for his own 2,300-square-foot home just five months after he poured the concrete. He has also assembled a 322-square-foot cottage in just eight hours.
A LOOK AHEAD FOR MANDALA
As for the future of Mandala, Chose foresees educating people about healthy, energy-efficient homes, as well as continuing to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to green and healthy building practices.
In addition, he is moving toward building more retirement centres and multi-generational homes. Chose said he also wants to work with the people of Japan to help them build more sustainable homes and confront the housing crisis left in the wake of the 2011 tsunami, as well as travel to Mexico’s Yucatan region to provide assistance to the Mayan people in learning to construct prefabricated homes.
To learn more, visit Mandala Homes on Facebook.
Jetson Green features Mandala Homes
Mandala Homes is proud to be featured by Jetson Green.com “a design oriented site for sustainable homes, natural materials and green technology”
Efficient Round Prefab in British Columbia
This is the first Energy Star qualified home in British Columbia, according to builder Mandala Homes. The company’s been around since 2000, and this is their new, round showcase with passive solar design, tuned windows, non-toxic finishes, a custom greenhouse, and all sorts of materials that emphasize energy efficiency. It’s owned by Mandala Homes president Lars Chose and partner Rachel Ross.
The Chose-Ross Residence has 2,300 square feet, which includes three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a workshop, two outdoor rooms, and a storage room.
Chose-Ross was finished on the outside with Western Red Cedar siding and trim and fir post and beams, while the interior is finished with Western Red Cedar ceilings, cork flooring, ceramic tile, fir trim, Yolo and Natura no-VOC paints, and no-VOC finishes from EcoCrete and Vermont Natural.
This green prefab conserves energy with deep overhangs, LEDs and CFLs, an HRV, thick walls (R34), an insulated roof (R66), fiberglass-insulated dual-pane windows, skylights, solar tubes, an ICF foundation, and Energy Star appliances.
Mandala Homes sells a prefab shell for between $60 – $90 per square foot. The shell, which can be shipped all over the world, includes the floor and roof systems, exterior walls, windows and hardware, interior cedar siding, a central skylight, and door package, etc. Site work, transportation, and button up work, etc, are the buyer’s responsibility.
written by Preston, May 9 2012
[+] Visit Mandala Homes for more about round, panel-frame houses.
Credits: Brandon Knapp; Rachel Ross (#2 only).
Visit Jetson Green for more information and inspiration about Sustainable Homes, Natural Materials and Green Technology
ENERGY STAR Qualified Home. First in B.C.!
It’s official. After months of hard work and persistence, we’ve received the news that our new Mandala Home, the Chose-Ross residence, owned by the president of Mandala Homes, Lars Chose and partner Rachel Ross, built by Mandala Homes is the first ENERGY STAR qualified home in B.C.!
WHAT MAKES THIS HOME ENERGY STAR QUALIFIED? 
- Third-Parting testing to meet strict technical specifications.
- EnerGuide Rating of 84.
- High performance building envelope, including R66 ceiling and R34 walls.
- Domestic water heating system approx. 3 times more efficient than a standard system.
- Heat Recovery Ventilator for fresh air with minimal heat loss.
- ENERGY STAR qualified products, including windows, doors and lighting.
- Passive Solar Design
- Plumbed and wired Solar ready
- Grundfos Magna circulator pump
- Radiant floor heating and heat sink
- Daylighting emphasized
- Comfort Wall system (monolithic air barrier)
- Platinum ICF foundation
- Thermal mass for heat storage
The thermal dynamics that naturally occur in a round space , the carefully tuned window glazing, the cork flooring and the extra thick walls also contribute to the energy efficiency of this home.
ENERGY STAR QUALIFIED HOMES
- Save money on your energy bills compared to homes built to minimum code.
- Are more comfortable: warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer
- Are better for the environment, using less energy and producing fewer greenhouse gasses
- May qualify for energy efficiency incentives for homebuyers.
- Sell faster and for more money
- Are 25% more energy efficient than those built to minimum provincial standards. It’s like getting 3 free months of energy use every year.
5 Important Questions To Ask When Choosing A Site For Your New Home
Choosing where to place your new home on your property is a big decision that impacts your family, the earth and your finances.
For years the trend has been to site homes for view or “curb appeal” and to ignore the fact that where the home is situated affects the amount of energy it uses.
This newly built home is sited to passively maximize winter sun to the south. A sun study has been conducted to install the correct width of overhang for summer shade. The poplar trees to the south provide summer shading, the fir trees on the north side provide shelter from the wind. The outdoor rooms on the east and west give sun/shade options.
However, with current energy awareness and depleting oil resources, there are compelling reasons to be responsible about the energy use of your home.
Your answers to the following 5 questions provide useful information on where to site your new home.The ideal location will increase your enjoyment of your home, help to shade the house during hot summer months, optimize maximum winter sun, take advantage of free and clean solar energy and reduce moisture and wind chill.
1) How does the sun move across the sky in this location? In the northern hemisphere, where we are located, we want to maximize the sun in winter, spring and fall . We want to minimize the sun rays that come into the home during the hot summer months. This can be achieved by conducting a sun study to calculate the width of the roof overhangs for summer shade/winter sun.
2) Where do the shadows fall? Notice where there is shade created by land forms (ie: mountains), neighboring buildings and trees. Place the existing or natural shade to the north or west of your home. Plant shade trees to block the direct line of the setting sun in the west. Plant groups of deciduous trees to the south of your property, their leaves will provide the relief of dappled shade during the hot months. In the winter, the leaves will fall away, leaving a welcome opening for the warmth of winter sun.
3) Where does the water drain on this property? Be aware of waters tendency to flow downhill. Install all drainage, ditches and swales to guide water away from your foundation.
4) Which way is the prevailing wind? Wind can chill your home and raise heating costs. Notice wind patterns and site the house to orient away from the wind. Reduce the number of windows on the windy side and plant evergreen trees to provide protection for the home.
5) Where can we place an outdoor living space? Build outdoor rooms that are connected to your home so that there are comfortable in-between options for human cooling and warming activities. Outdoor rooms can be defined by plant groupings , screens, furniture and pathways as well as constructed structures.
Questions? Comments? Experiences? We love hearing from you!
Soapstone Stove
The Heart of the Home
I’ve been curious about soapstone stoves for a long time, but had ruled out the possibility of owning one because I’d read that they were veryexpensive. Then, Lars and I walked through the doors of Kootenay Woodstoves. I saw the soft blue hue of the Hearthstone woodstove collection. And we discovered that the price tag for a small soapstone hybrid stove is the same as for a cast iron stove-between $2,500 and $3,000.
Exciting! Doable!
Our Mandala is 2,300 sq.ft. , but it is so well insulated,passive solar and energy efficient, we can use a smaller stove , the efficient Tribute, which normally heats up to 1,000 sq.ft.
The tongue and grooved blue-hued soapstone panels (surrounded by a maroon enamel clad cast iron frame) are 1 1/4 ” thick.The firebox is also made out of soapstone , which wears longer than metal boxes.
This is called a hybrid soapstone stove because the frame and legs are enameled metal
This glass-fronted, freestanding stove has a max. log length of 16″. It has remarkable thermal stability, with a burn time of 5 hours and a heat life of up to 7 hours. This means that the stove is still softly warm when we wake up in the morning. The air temperature in the house was 20 C at bedtime and 19 C at wakeup time.
Soapstone stores more heat for it’s weight than any other naturally occurring material. And the surface temperature is noticeably less hot than a metal stove -you can sit quite close to the stove. I experience the heat as more “soft” than the heat that emanates from the more traditional cast iron stoves that I’ve used.
The glass door has a coating that makes it easy to keep clean and bright.
I love having a wood heater because we live in a heavily forested part of the world so fuel is plentiful and renewable. I like the feeling of independence that comes from knowing I can cook a meal on our stove and heat the house with it-no matter the availability of electricity or propane.
We installed an outside air adapter because our home is very airtight. This stove is extremely clean burning and is one of the most efficient stoves on the marketplace today -with 36,000 BTU’s and an 83% efficiency
And
Then
There is the BEAUTY of soapstone.
It’s easy to see images and pictures in the natural veining and colour patterns of the stone.
Natural shapes, veins, blue, grey and smoke colours in the stone
And, the blue colour of the soapstone deepens as you use it.
I can’t wait…….
Dancers and Forests, Gardens and Mountains. What do you see?
Cork Flooring
Your choice in flooring has a major impact on the use and feel of your home.
Think about it, you ‘interact” with your floor every day. The floor is what you feel under your feet when you step out of bed in the morning, it’s what you drag furniture across, it’s the surface that someone spills food on and you clean it every day. Plus, you constantly hear the sound of footsteps on your floor surface as people and/or animals move in the building.
We chose cement floors over a radiant floor heating system in the basement because we want to use that mass for a heat sink. We chose natural stone in the entryway and bathrooms for significant water resistance, ease of cleaning and the feeling of nature. And, we chose cork flooring for the main Mandala, kitchen, master bedroom, study, hallways, stairs and downstairs bedroom. There are many reasons why we went with cork. I list them below with accompanying snapshots.
Benefits of cork:
- Environmentally Friendly- Cork is harvested by peeling the outer bark of the mature evergreen cork oak (Quercus Suber) every nine years. This peeling doesn’t kill the tree. The life span of a cork oak is 150-200 years. The harvesting methods allow the trees to thrive without the use of fertilizers, herbicides or irrigation. Cork oak forests are prime habitats for migrating birds and endangered species. (from Nuno Leitao, Cork- Renewable Vegital Tissue)
- Warm to the Touch-Cork’s natural thermal insulation properties make these floors pleasantly warm and comfortable; even first thing in the morning, even in winter, even in bare feet!
- Resiliency-Air pockets between cells and natural elasticity mean that the floor has a subtle spring that is pleasant to stand on and walk on. It prevents and relieves strain on the feet, joints and back.
- Health Properties- Cork is naturally hypo-allergenic and has anti-fungal properties; the smooth finish discourages trapped dust and hair.
Clean. Beautiful. Quiet.
- Sound Absorption -Cork has a unique natural ability to absorb sound. The floors are very quiet. This quiet contributes to peace and harmony in the home.
- Installation- With a floating floor , wide pieced, click together system – these floors are quick , non-toxic and easy to install. Lars and I installed the floor in the downstairs bedroom in a weekend using a mallet, a small bar,a measuring tape and a cutter
- Stability-When wood expands, it does so only across the grain, so the expansion is concentrated in one dimension. However with cork, any expansion or contraction is dispersed in all directions. The expansion and contraction of a cork floor is less noticeable.
- Compatibility With Radiant Heat - As long as the temperature doesn’t exceed 29 C or 85 F, a floating cork floor is fine to use over a radiant heat floor (but not a glued cork floor!). The cork has insulation properties, so it may take a little longer to warm but it retains the warmth longer as well.
In our Mandala, the kitchen and study are Natural cork (EZ Cork) , the transitions are bamboo. The main Mandala is clad in Burl Mocha (Cork Art) cork.
Burl Mocha cork in the main Mandala. Natural cork in the kitchen. Bamboo transition
The bedroom has Napa Port (Cork Art) cork floor. It’s a rich wine-coloured warm, soft floor that is heavenly to walk barefoot on.
Port Cork in Bedroom
We installed Natural cork on the stairs with bamboo bull noses.
Natural Cork on the stairs
Find the source for cork flooring on our resource page listed under Kokanee Peak Interiors .