diff --git a/structuralcodes/geometry/_geometry.py b/structuralcodes/geometry/_geometry.py
index d5eb3455..4b55aa49 100644
--- a/structuralcodes/geometry/_geometry.py
+++ b/structuralcodes/geometry/_geometry.py
@@ -824,21 +824,17 @@ def __init__(
                 geometries, materials
             )
             self.point_geometries = []
-            # useful for representation in svg
-            geoms_representation = [g.polygon for g in self.geometries]
-            self.geom = MultiPolygon(geoms_representation)
+            # self.geom (svg representation) is built lazily, see the geom
+            # property.
+            self._geom = None
             return
         if isinstance(geometries, list):
             self.geometries, self.point_geometries = _process_geometries_list(
                 geometries
             )
-            # useful for representation in svg
-            geoms_representation = [g.polygon for g in self.geometries]
-            geoms_representation += [
-                pg.point.buffer(pg.diameter / 2)
-                for pg in self.point_geometries
-            ]
-            self.geom = MultiPolygon(geoms_representation)
+            # self.geom (svg representation) is built lazily, see the geom
+            # property.
+            self._geom = None
         self._reinforced_concrete = None
 
     # we can add here static methods like
@@ -846,6 +842,25 @@ def __init__(
     # from_ascii
     # ...
 
+    @property
+    def geom(self) -> MultiPolygon:
+        """MultiPolygon used for the SVG representation, built lazily.
+
+        Point geometries are represented as buffered circles. This is only
+        needed for display, so it is computed on first access rather than in
+        __init__ -- building it eagerly buffers every point geometry on every
+        construction (including every rotate()), which dominated the section
+        calculations.
+        """
+        if self._geom is None:
+            geoms_representation = [g.polygon for g in self.geometries]
+            geoms_representation += [
+                pg.point.buffer(pg.diameter / 2)
+                for pg in self.point_geometries
+            ]
+            self._geom = MultiPolygon(geoms_representation)
+        return self._geom
+
     def _repr_svg_(self) -> str:
         """Returns the svg representation."""
         return str(self.geom._repr_svg_())
diff --git a/tests/test_geometry/test_geometry.py b/tests/test_geometry/test_geometry.py
index f38c711b..aca03519 100644
--- a/tests/test_geometry/test_geometry.py
+++ b/tests/test_geometry/test_geometry.py
@@ -359,6 +359,42 @@ def test_compound_geometry():
     )
 
 
+def test_compound_geometry_lazy_geom():
+    """The svg ``geom`` MultiPolygon is built lazily and cached.
+
+    ``geom`` is only needed for the SVG representation, so it is computed on
+    first access rather than in ``__init__``. It must still contain one polygon
+    per surface geometry plus a buffered circle per point geometry, and a
+    transformed copy must recompute its own ``geom``.
+    """
+    C25 = ConcreteMC2010(25)
+    steel = ReinforcementMC2010(fyk=450, Es=210000, ftk=450, epsuk=0.03)
+
+    poly = Polygon(((0, 0), (200, 0), (200, 400), (0, 400)))
+    geo = SurfaceGeometry(poly, C25)
+    geo = add_reinforcement_line(geo, (40, 40), (160, 40), 20, steel, n=4)
+    assert len(geo.geometries) == 1
+    assert len(geo.point_geometries) == 4
+
+    # geom is not built until first access
+    assert geo._geom is None
+
+    # one polygon per surface geometry + one buffered circle per point geometry
+    n_expected = len(geo.geometries) + len(geo.point_geometries)
+    assert isinstance(geo.geom, MultiPolygon)
+    assert len(geo.geom.geoms) == n_expected
+
+    # the result is cached: repeated access returns the same object
+    assert geo._geom is not None
+    assert geo.geom is geo.geom
+
+    # a transformed copy starts unbuilt and recomputes its own geom
+    geo_r = geo.rotate(np.pi / 2)
+    assert geo_r._geom is None
+    assert isinstance(geo_r.geom, MultiPolygon)
+    assert len(geo_r.geom.geoms) == n_expected
+
+
 def test_add_geometries():
     """Test addition for different geometries."""
     polys = []