Photo: Dmitry P/Flickr
Yurts!
Yurts: Everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask
Here's your 101 guide on the structure that
helped Genghis Khan conquer Eurasia — from how they're made to where you
can stay in one or where you can buy one.
A yurt
is a round cylindrical dwelling capped with a conic roof that's been in
use for at least the past few thousand years. Originating in Central
Asia (Genghis Khan and his horde used them), the yurt was valued by its
native progenitors for its portability, durability and structural
soundness. Yurts are easy to put up and take down (requiring just a
couple hours of work) and could be transported on the backs of horses
and yaks, vital requirements for nomadic pastorialists.
Yurts are still used by nomadic herders on the steppes of Central
Asia today, and they've also worked their way into Western society. They
were first introduced to the U.S. by yurt pioneer William Coperthwaite
in the 1960s. In 1978, Pacific Yurts started operations and became the first modern yurt company in North America.
Photo: Adam Baker/Flickr
Today's yurts retain the same overall design principles as their
East Asian ancestors, but they include modern materials like clear
acrylic windows, high-strength steel cables, and UV-resistant marine
quality polyester siding. Nowadays you can get a yurt with French doors,
windows, gutters and skylights. Yurts can be found high up on mountains
serving backcountry skiers, nestled deep in the woods housing campers
and hikers, and next to rivers as the primary residence of former
insurance executives.
Whether you're in the market for a yurt, looking to spend a few
nights in one, or just slightly yurt-curious, the following information
will help round out your understanding of this awesome structure.
Photo: AJ/Flickr
The history of yurts
The yurt basically solved a problem— the need for human habitation
in tough environmental conditions. Nomadic tribes needed a house that
could be easily constructed and moved, built with materials they had on
hand (mainly sheep's wool with a little wood), and seasonly adjusted to
be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. A yurt satisfies all
of those requirements.
Photo: Marya/Flickr
Traditional yurts are made with wooden slat lattice walls
supporting sapling beams held together at the top by a wooden ring. The
roof beams exert pressure on the lattice walls, which are held in
tension by leather strapping running around the perimeter of the
building. Woolen felted mats are laid over this framework and can be
adjusted according to the time of year — when it's colder, add more mats
while in the hot summer time you remove them.
A community of yurts in Mongolia. (Photo: Evgeni Zotov/Flickr)
The exact origins of the yurt are not clear as there are two
variations on the design that sprung out of Mongolia and Siberia — the
Mongolian yurt or "Ger", has straight roof poles, a heavy wooden center
ring that often needed additional structural support, and a heavy wooden
door. The Turkik yurt, or "üy," has bent poles that curve down into the
tops of the walls, a much lighter center ring that stand on its own,
and a simple flap door.
Photo: Vastateparkstaff/Flickr
How the modern yurt got its groove on
The fact that you have probably at least heard of a yurt before
reading this article can be attributed to one man and a math class that
he was teaching back in the 1960s. Bill Coperthwaite
was teaching a math class at a Quaker school in New Hampshire and was
looking for a way to teach his students about the mathematics of roof
design. He came across a National Geographic article by Supreme Court
Justice William O. Douglass about a trip to Mongolia and was seized by
Douglas's descriptions of the nomadic dwellings. In short order his
class built the first yurt in the western world. As the years
progressed, Coperthwaite built more yurts and refined and evolved his
designs. In 1972, he established the Yurt Foundation with the goal of spreading the word about yurts to build a better world.
Photo: Laurel F/Flickr
And spread the word he did. His students moved all over the country
and started building yurts. In 1978, Pacific Yurts was founded and
offered the first commercially available yurt in the United States.
Since then thousands of "modern" yurts have been built all around
America and the the broader world. Pacific Yurts has been joined by
companies like the Colorado Yurt Company, Rainier Yurts and Spirit Mountain Yurts. You can find a full list of all the companies selling yurts lower in this article.
Yurts on the steppe. (Photo: Foto's van felix/Flickr)
Modern yurts
In the 35 years since Pacific Yurts offered its first model, yurt
design has been pushed far beyond felted wool mats and sapling roof
struts. The modern yurt can be decked out with high-efficiency curved
glass windows, space-age insulation, and clear translucent vinyl
skylights. Marine-quality sail cloth and polyester has replaced the
felted wool of traditional designs. Modern yurts can be built to
withstand heavy snow fall or optimized to handle hot tropical climates.
Photo: Diamond Moutain/Flickr
With the right mix of features and add ons, it's entirely possible
to build a yurt in any climate that is as comfortable and protective as a
traditional stick-built home.
Photo: Pacific Yurts
How to sleep in a yurt
Kids love yurts. (Photo: Phil Whitehouse/Flickr)
Short of buying your own yurt, the easiest way to experience the
magic of sleeping in one is to visit one of the many yurt rental or camp
sites around the world. You should do some Internet searching to see
what's available in your area or destination, but here are some good
options to get you started:
- Frost Mountain Yurts, Maine
- Orca Island Cabins, Alaska
- Chic Eco Yurt Home + Edible Gardens, Hawaii
- Green Alpaca Yurts, New Hampshire
- Ocoee Yurts, Tennessee
- High Prairie Yurt, Washington
- Grizzly Ridge Yurt, Utah
Photo: Louiscrusoe/Flickr
How to buy a yurt
If you are ready to make the next step and actually buy your own
yurt, you are in luck. There are a lot of great companies out there
selling them. Here is a list of the top manufacturers for you to
research your purchase. You want to find a quality product with the
right mix of features at the right price. Happy hunting!
- Pacific Yurts
- Colorado Yurt Company
- Rainier Yurts
- Spirit Mountain Yurts
- Mongolian Yurts
- Camping Yurts
- Nomad Shelter
- White Mountain Yurts
- Shelter Designs
- Two Girls Farm & Yurts
Photo: Pieter Schepens/Flickr
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Yurts: Everything you ever wanted to know but were afraid to ask
Here's your 101 guide on the structure that
helped Genghis Khan conquer Eurasia — from how they're made to where you
can stay in one or where you can buy one.
