Back to Basics

Light, easy to build and affordable yurts are slowly gaining popularity in North America and Europe, riding in the worldwide movement to bring humans closer to nature. Yurts trace their origins in Central Asia in countries like Mongolia, Afghanistan and even in Turkey. Animal herders and farmers choose to build yurts as it is very easy to build and easy to carry around as they move around looking for the best pastures.

Yurts are very basic, economical yet can be built to accommodate families and provide creature comfort. Its main posts are made of smaller wood (unlike other types of house that require bigger lumber) built on a circle. Its conical roof made of even smaller, flexible wood or bamboo that reaches down to meet the main posts. At the center of the cone is a chimney or simply an opening to let the warm air out. During rains, a flap is pulled down to cover it.

The conical shape and the tight but flexible connection between the rafters and the posts is that main source o strength for yurts. Instead of getting pushed inwards to collapse, they generate an outward push that makes the structure sturdy against winds and even snow on the roof.

The walls of yurts are usually made from light materials like fabric, sometimes light leather or canvass. In some countries straw compose the walls as it allows air to come in. Some species of palm tree leaves can also be spliced to make a leaf walling.

The popularity of yurts can be seen not only in agricultural communities. In many camp grounds in the United States and Canada, yurts have been built as shelters for campers. There are also many mountain lodges, ski resorts, vacation destinations and recreation facilities that have yurts as their permanent shelter for guests. These yurts slightly vary from those used traditionally by herders and frontier explorers as these variations are built with strurdier supports with fire proof roofs and with amenities like sinks, bathrooms and insulation such as cooling and heating systems.

In an age where people are called to go back to basics and build on a sustainable lifestyle, yurts fill perfectly into the picture. Already in may communities such as those espousing permaculture – or natural sustainable farming – yurts are ideal homes for the farmers. The materials necessary to build the yurt as a home are easily found in natural ecosystems and while their use does not mean destruction of the environment like cutting of trees or clearing of forests. You can build yurts without necessary disturbing the animals and the surroundings.

There are still challenges to the yurt culture. Building codes still have to adapt to this new trend and many people still perceive yurts as crude and unreliable. There needs to be a bigger campaign to prove yurts are stable and safe buildings and it can be built for comfort to keep in touch with the modern man.

Yurts keep their appeal as they put humans as close to nature. You are safe and comfortable while being close to the environment – you can hear the birds and gaze at the stars, even feel the cool night breeze. No wonder it has been the reliable home for many of the world’s peoples for millions of years.