What is a Yurt?

Just what is a yurt, you ask? Yurts are traditional dwellings from central Asia that have been in use for hundreds if not thousands of years. Yurts are thought by some to be a derivation of the tipi, tipi's being more suited to hunting nomads and yurts to pastoral nomads who would need more room for their supplies and for tending baby animals. From Mongolia in the east, to Turkey in the west, from the Altai Mountains in the north to Afghanistan in the south, yurts have been wide spread in central Asian for over 1000 years.

Yurts have been in use for the past 2,000 years, but are still appropriate for modern use. They are cozy, unique structures and provide the warmth to dry out all of your clothing and sleep comfortably. Yurts are very easy to take care of.

Yurts are round, one-roomed self-supporting structures based on Mongolian nomadic shelters. Yurts are light-weight, easily transportable shelters with lattice walls and a roof ring. Yurts are known to be warm in the cold, yet cool in summer.

Structure

The compact shape of the yurt and combination of lightweight members in tension and compression mean that the structure is highly efficient in maximizing strength while minimizing the use of materials. The domed, tent like structure sits upon a tongue and groove wood floor to create an efficient shelter that is environmentally friendly.

This ingenious structure requires neither nail nor ground fastening. It does not rely on ropes or stakes to hold itself up; rather, the walls, rafters, roof ring, and tensioning bands all work against each other, in a marvel of physics and engineering, to keep the structure standing. The life span of the yurt cover itself depends upon the cover material that you choose when you design your yurt.

Design

The design of these ancient shelters have been kept unchanged for over one thousand years, a testament to it's practically and effectiveness. The design has been developed for generations to suit the needs of its inhabitants. Fabric design and wooden doors are among the details that you might see on actual yurts. Although there is no specific construction method implicit in the design, they are often made using coppice poles and canvas. Bear in mind that this is designed by a non-professional. It may not look like the fancy stuff that an architect would design.

Modern

Modern yurts are much larger and semi-permanent. Modern yurts take advantage of advances in materials and construction methods and are much more robust than their traditional counterparts. Modern canvas yurts can be set up in a day.

The finished yurt can have many of the amenities of modern living including electricity and plumbing. Many people who live in modern yurts also install solar panels, wind mills, or other forms of alternative energy. Most modern people like to build a wooden platform to put their yurt on.

The yurt is often classified as an auxiliary building, studio or recreational structure, not as a single-family dwelling. A remote yurt is a great place for hikers, canoeists, fishermen, bird watchers, writers, nature lovers and those who enjoy peace and quiet. Accommodation in a Yurt is an opportunity to feel deeply the life style of Central Asia nomads, traditional Kyrgyz hospitality and culture.