A British facility once used to test Cold War submarine technology has been converted into an award-winning modern house — and it could all be yours for a cool £ 4 million (or a little over $6.1 million US). The Rotunda in Bushy Park was designed by Norman & Dawbarn architects to reflect the original circular shape of the Rotating Beam Laboratory while providing a bright and airy dwelling.
The Rotunda House is set inside the Royal Park of Bushy in a suburb of London. The park has a long military history, as it played key roles in both World Wars and the Cold War. The original facility, finished in 1955, featured a large 160′ diameter domed structure that covered a 15′ deep, 120′ diameter pool. Model torpedoes and submarines were rotated on a large arm up to 150 feet per second to test underwater behavior at high speed.
While the original domed structure required removal due to contamination, the modern adaptive reuse incorporates a round 4-foot thick blast wall and adds aluminum and copper to create a distinctly modern interior that opens up to an interior courtyard with large expanses of glass. The end result is a truly unique residence with an even more interesting history.
Via BldgBlog
