A Brief History of Octagonal Houses
While octagonal buildings have existed for thousands of years, they became popular in the United States in the late 19th century. They’re particularly suitable in mountainous or coastal areas, famed for their ability to withstand hurricanes and earthquakes.
Designed in the “post and beam” architectural style, octagonal houses are structured around a strong, load-bearing central post, with beams shooting outward. And while their shape may be unusual, it offers myriad benefits, from all-around natural light to better utility bills.
Octagonal houses actually offer 20 percent more space than a square house of the same perimeter, maximizing square footage. This also minimizes external wall surface area, decreasing heat loss and gain. The faceted sides allow for ample natural light throughout the house, and panoramic views enjoyed in coastal settings.
The Olive is a kit house designed by Topsider Homes. Established in North Carolina in 1968 and still in business, Topsider began designing and fabricating post and beam octagonal homes for the mountains, where building sites were small and challenging. The company quickly realized that their custom octagons were also well suited to the coast, where their construction and shape made them hurricane-resistant. The Sea Loft development on Hilton Head was one of Topsider’s first coastal developments. Topsider octagonal homes have been built around the world and The Olive is one of several on Edisto Beach.
The Olive 