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Well-Rounded: A 14-Sided Round House in Oakland Perched on Hillside

A 14-sided round house on the market in Oakland, CA, completely rejects the rectangular form. In an understatement, listing agent Gaylen Roberts says “It’s not a traditional.”

Roberts added, “It’s a unique property in the sense of the construction type, location, the details. All of those things need the right buyer.”

With Bay Area prices skyrocketing, the eye-popping three-bedroom, round residence jutting out of the side of a hill is a stand-out in design—and price.

To move into this home, which touches the tree tops in the desirable Montclair neighborhood, sits next to hiking trails, and is close to mass transit, a buyer needs to plunk down just $795,000. 

Built in 1992, the home is the result of prefab design married to a major engineering marvel at the base, making efficient use of the sloped 9,079-square-foot lot.

The home was the result of plans from Eagle’s Nest Builders, a company that sold floor plans for a round woodsy home with over a dozen sides. 

To make the plan work on the difficult piece of property, “tons of concrete” were poured into the foundation. The modular wood sections making up each of the 14 sides of the home were put in place after the concrete.

The result is a 2,103-square-foot, sunny modern home with bamboo floors and high ceilings. Best of all? “There’s pretty much windows on every wall, and those windows go all the way around,” Roberts says.

Enter the contemporary three-story on the first level, which holds the basement, shop, and storage. Up the stairs on the second floor are two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a small sitting room or office.  

The third floor includes a kitchen with slate floors and counters, plus the master suite, complete with a private sitting area and a deck.

The master bath has been updated, and the exterior blue and white paint colors are new. Otherwise, the house holds up just fine, Roberts says. It’s located right next to the hiking trails of Shepherd Canyon. The current owner, who is moving out of the Bay Area, found the steep hill perfect for exercising his dog. 

This circular delight is one of just six round houses in Oakland, and it’s the only one that doesn’t date back to the middle of the 20th century.

One caveat: Round homes require special financing. According to Roberts, not all banks know how to appraise these unique structures. However, Roberts is prepared for this, as he sold the home two years ago to the current owner, and knows which financial institutions will agree to a mortgage on a round abode.

Once financing is in place, it’s ready for move-in, “This is the perfect mountain house for someone who loves hiking and who wants to be creative,” Roberts says. Sign us up. 

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