Ever wonder why almost all of our architecture is rectilinear" It’s mostly about ease of construction, since lumber and other building materials tend to be produced in standard dimensions. But building in straight lines and right angles doesn’t necessarily come naturally to most living creatures on Earth — not even to humans. After all, our most ancient architecture was much more organically shaped, better reflecting the ways in which we interact with the natural world.

Round houses enjoyed a brief period of public fascination in the 20th century, from Buckminster Fuller’s geodesic domes to kit houses from companies like Deltec Homes, but they never really caught on. Today, they’re generally seen as curiosities. People often think round houses are impractical because it’s harder to fit standard furniture into them. But they don’t have to be. “Wood House 2.0” by Paris-based studio Marchi Architects is a modern, almost futuristic vision of what a round house could be. Set in a dense forest of pin oak trees in Long Island, New York, the home’s most striking feature is the driveway that rises up from the ground to encircle its roof. If you’re thinking it’s impractical, you may be right. It’s especially hard to tell how the architects imagine the materials and structure of the house supporting the full weight of a car. That’s not to say it wouldn’t work at all, though, as other roofto...