by Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Mar 11/98) - It's as distinctive a house as you'll see in the city, perched atop the hill overlooking Back Bay and Old Town.

Local architect Kayhan Nadji built the round 360-square metre house he and his family live in with a view incorporating both the aesthetics and efficiencies of traditional Northern forms of shelter.

Nadji speaks fondly of the more friendly relationship between humans and nature the circular form, as opposed to traditional box-style housing, creates.

But it's the efficiencies that will sell such designs.

"What has been developed must have worked, otherwise it would not have continued," said Nadji, referring to the Igloo and teepee designs he has drawn upon.

"From the beginning I knew what I wanted," said Nadji. "The concept didn't change but there were some small details we had to work out during construction."

A couple of geometric realities make round superior to square, said Nadji.

Number one, a cylindrical form gives the lowest exterior surface area to floor space ratio.

"You need less energy to heat the building and also require less building material," explained Nadji.

The oil-fired forced air heating system is augmented by a fireplace in the middle of the structure. The flue extends up a wide opening that extends from the main floor to the glass cone skylight on the third floor.

"The conical shape is one of the most efficient forms for heating," said Nadji. "You need less (insulation) value on top because of the reduced volume."

All of the windows, including the skylight, are glazed triple pane with an 5.5 R value.

The opening in the centre of the house, around which spiral staircase giving access to the upper floors winds, also facilitates air circulation.

Because round forms are less of an obstacle than flat surfaces, snow drifting is reduced.

The location, in one of the prime spots in the Niven Lake subdivision, affords one of the best views in the city. To maximize the advantage, there are plenty of windows, at least one in every room and bathroom in fact, and two levels of walk-out decks.

The home was constructed by all Northern contractors, said Nadji.