Tucked away among the scenic mountains near Blacksburg, Virginia is a $2 million mansion with esoteric origins. It’s built in the shape of a mandala, which is an ancient spiritual symbol meant to help you find your place in the cosmos! Created by an art professor as an ode to scared geometry, you can be sure there are plenty of secrets hidden inside this huge home. Intrigued? Let’s take a look around…

The 1,800-square-foot mansion is designed in an octagonal shape, with a 30-foot domed cupola crowning the building. This eight-sided shape is seen in mandala patterns and is symbolic of regeneration, infinity and the connection of heaven to earth. The architectural spiritual link is not surprising, since the creator of this grand home is artist, Halidè Salam, who’s fascinated with sacred geometry, and built the home with her architect husband Tim Archer.

Stepping through the imposing antique Chinese doors is like walking into your own personal mandala maze. Setting an enigmatic tone from the start, you’re facing a wall as you walk through the doors. So, you have to swing to the side to gain entrance. It’s meant to be disorientating! With the aim of clearing your mind as you begin the journey into this mystical mansion. Notice the wobble-inducing glass flooring, which is also meant to disorientate, as well as letting light into the lower level.

Every detail of this two-storey, five-bedroom dwelling is based on the principles of sacred geometry. Even down to the orientation of the rooms and how the doors and windows open within them. Sacred geometry is a spiritual belief that certain geometric proportions have divine meaning. It's been used in the architecture of religious buildings, such as Buddhist and Hindu temples, for thousands of years.

The use of glass in the huge internal doors, along with numerous windows allows light to flow through the open interior. In mystical traditions, light equates to spiritual energy, so prolific use of glass ensures the home is bursting with good vibes! You can see Salam’s paintings in this shot. She’s reportedly an aniconic artist, which means her paintings are symbolic rather than figurative. 

In this living space, your eye is drawn upwards to the triangular opening, which leads to the dome. Triangles are an important symbol in sacred geometry as the point is said to elevate your consciousness. Likewise, circles or domes symbolise oneness – that everybody and everything is connected. This is the main message behind sacred geometry. The plain, white walls ensure the shape of the room grabs your attention. Notice the splendid rug displaying a mandala-like pattern.

A beautiful fresco, painted by Salam, adorns the inside of the dome. It’s a depiction of the flower of life, which is one of the most popular representations of sacred geometry. The flower is a set of geometrically precise overlapping circles. This symbol has been used for millennia as a decorative motif on ancient buildings from diverse cultures, such as Egyptian, Islamic and Christian. It signifies the unity of creation – that we’re all built from the same blueprint.

Look at all the beautiful artworks in this living space, which were created by Salam. This upper floor was designed to showcase her paintings. In a magazine article, she describes herself as being from the artistic school of sacred geometry and universal patterns. Explaining that her work is about ‘experiences, memories and the spiritual connection to land, space and time’.

The openness of this living room really gives a sense of the octagonal shape of the home. Instead of the room being boxed in by four walls, the eight corners are open and lead onward into other open spaces. This maze-like structural design echoes the interlinking pattern of a mandala. It's intended to draw you on a journey of self-discovery! Notice the stunning octagon marquetry emblazoned on the floor.

The mountain-top views through these massive windows are enough to stir the soul of any spiritual seeker. Again, the octagonal shape of this study frees you from the feeling of being enclosed by the walls. So, the irregular shape throws off expectations and is meant to provoke creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. The lack of furniture, here, is intended to declutter the mind, making it easier to dream up new ideas.

Bringing art into the kitchen, the tall cabinets in the main kitchen showcase brightly decorated glass and ceramics. With its huge oven and large fridge, this chef’s cooking space is the place to whip up a full-on banquet! If you just want a quick snack, the lower level of the house has less formal but still fully-equipped kitchen.

This lovely, informal dining area is dotted with unusual items such as wall-mounted ceramic plates and a dresser containing teacups and saucers. The idyllic view from the small window of mountains, fluffy white clouds and azure blue sky could almost be mistaken for a painting. Perfect for keeping your mind elevated with spiritual thoughts!

This sitting room is a great spot for relaxation. The low-profile furniture preserves the view through the big windows. In sacred geometry terms, the unobtrusive furnishings are supposed to allow energy to flow easily around the room. It's the perfect place for a spot of meditation.

A quirky space leading to a balcony has been embellished with symbolic squares. On the floor tiles and in intriguing brickwork outside the doors, you can see the repetition of these four-sided shapes. In sacred geometry, squares symbolise your connection to the earth and are grounding talismans to keep you safe. The Chinese dragon ornament on the glass shelving is a lucky charm.

The wall paintings add a sense of movement and energy which seems to make this living room come to life. Notice the intricate lattice pattern carved into the wooden table and on the decorative wooden wall panels. This repeating motif is a sacred geometry pattern. It represents the patterns found in nature, such as honeycomb hexagons seen in beehives, snowflake shapes, crystal formations, a spider’s web – or the geometric patterns of human DNA.

This simple bathroom layout has subtle touches of sacred geometry symbolised by shells and a spiral ornament. Sacred geometry uses the golden ratio, which is found in the proportions of many natural formations such as shells, flowers and the spiral shape of the galaxy. This ratio produces proportions that look harmonious and beautiful.

Imagine taking a relaxing bubble bath with those glorious views to contemplate. It would certainly be close to a spiritual experience! See the pyramid ornament on the cupboard. The proportions of pyramids fit the golden ratio. The base of a pyramid contains a square shape, signifying stability, while the tip symbolises spiritual knowledge. The house has five full bathrooms to match its five bedrooms.

This comfortable bedroom is accented by an invigorating red rug with mandala-like patterns woven into it. Salam’s colourful paintings are the focal point. A small window has been slightly tilted in what looks like a quirky design decision. But it actually counterbalances the rectangular artworks, bed and rug very nicely. Balance and harmony are essential in sacred geometry.

The informal, lower-level kitchen is infused with the secret signs of sacred geometry. Notice the octagram (eight-pointed star) in the centre of the floor, which links back to the octagonal shape of the home. Plus, there are meaningful symbols around the sink and on the tiled corridor flooring. The shelves are crammed with pretty ceramics and the blue and white colour scheme gives a fresh feel.

Sacred geometry gives a really distinctive and appealing style to the lower-level living rooms. Most notable is the repeating diagonal square pattern on the fire surround and the continuation of this sequence in the open staircase, following on to stacked drawers. The square is a grounding, stabilising force in sacred geometry that carries a protective energy.

Here’s another view of the room. Notice the octagram decorative base for the main ceiling light. The unusual doorways look like Gothic cathedral archways, giving the sense of being in a sacred space. The lower level is where the homeowners live most of the time, with the upstairs being a display area for Salam’s art and to entertain guests.

The dramatic Gothic archway is repeated in this bedroom, adding visual interest to the space. The irregular shape of the room and the positioning of the bed on a hardwood octagonal platform creates a cocooning effect – perfect for some shut-eye.

This continuation of the open-plan lower level maintains the grandeur of the Gothic arches while managing to look cosy and inviting at the same time. You can see how versatile the space is, as it contains gym equipment as well as a relaxed dining area. It’s reported Salam uses this area as a studio to create her artworks – there’s certainly plenty of light.

The back of the home is just as distinctive as the front, with the triangular doorways framed by rising squares of brick – very in keeping with the geometric theme. A dramatic bridge sweeps down into the garden, providing panoramic views of the mountains surrounding the home.

A pretty flower garden adds splashes of colour to the grey stone exterior. The house is set in 10.5 acres of land and was built back in 2000. The grounds are landscaped and the property is prepared for a tennis court.

Boasting some of the best 180-degree views in Blacksburg, this bird’s eye snapshot gives you a clear picture of just how verdant and lush the terrain surrounding the home is. It overlooks the valley and the local country club and comes complete with a four-car garage, so plenty of room for visitors. 

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