RSS FeedMar 27 2009
What Is A Yurt? Why I Am Glad You Asked
Would you really like to have a different small home experience? Are you looking for something that wouldn’t just look different, but would feel different? You might be interested in a Yurt.
A yurt is an adapted version of a shelter from Central Asia used by nomadic tribes for thousands of years. The circular, tent-like shape is held into place by tension and compression. This may sound simple, and on one level it is very simple. However, this simple and elegant design has a myriad of benefits. The aerodynamic shape flows around the curved sides of the yurt, and over its domed roof. The structure of the yurt gives it a great deal of natural strength and thus safety.
The simple yurt has a lot going for it. The structures are lightweight and inexpensive, yet durable. The Pacific Yurt Company (out of Oregon) has taken this design to a new level. Pacific Yurt began setting their yurts up on wood platforms that are supported by a post and beam system.
An additional major design change over the traditional yurt, is that The Pacific Yurt Company has added a lattice wall that runs the circumference of the outer fabric wall. This lattice system is attached to the rafters and center ring overhead, giving the structure considerable strength. Part of what makes the yurt such an attractive concept is its extremely minimal impact on its environment.
The pricing on yurt’s from Pacific Yurt is extremely competitive and is a true contender for those on a budget. A 115 sq. ft. 12 foot diameter model cost about $4,500, and the largest 700 sq. ft. model cost about $9,800 dollars. There are six different sizes in all.
This is definitely a different approach in small homes, and there is no denying it has an impressive price point. The yurt has some additional benefits that one may not find in other inexpensive small homes, such as lots of headroom. Some of the larger yurts have ceilings as high as 13 feet. Additionally, all units have skylights. The Pacific Yurt website www.yurts.com has a nice photo gallery that even shows several yurts linked together to form a very unique looking “yurt collective.” 
The small home movement is all about re-imagining what is possible concerning how we live. The ancient yurt may fit in very well in our modern world.
Would you really like to have a different small home experience? Are you looking for something that wouldn’t just look different, but would feel different? You might be interested in a Yurt.
A yurt is an adapted version of a shelter from Central Asia used by nomadic tribes for thousands of years. The circular, tent-like shape is held into place by tension and compression. This may sound simple, and on one level it is very simple. However, this simple and elegant design has a myriad of benefits. The aerodynamic shape flows around the curved sides of the yurt, and over its domed roof. The structure of the yurt gives it a great deal of natural strength and thus safety.
The simple yurt has a lot going for it. The structures are lightweight and inexpensive, yet durable. The Pacific Yurt Company (out of Oregon) has taken this design to a new level. Pacific Yurt began setting their yurts up on wood platforms that are supported by a post and beam system.
An additional major design change over the traditional yurt, is that The Pacific Yurt Company has added a lattice wall that runs the circumference of the outer fabric wall. This lattice system is attached to the rafters and center ring overhead, giving the structure considerable strength. Part of what makes the yurt such an attractive concept is its extremely minimal impact on its environment.
The pricing on yurt’s from Pacific Yurt is extremely competitive and is a true contender for those on a budget. A 115 sq. ft. 12 foot diameter model cost about $4,500, and the largest 700 sq. ft. model cost about $9,800 dollars. There are six different sizes in all.
This is definitely a different approach in small homes, and there is no denying it has an impressive price point. The yurt has some additional benefits that one may not find in other inexpensive small homes, such as lots of headroom. Some of the larger yurts have ceilings as high as 13 feet. Additionally, all units have skylights. The Pacific Yurt website www.yurts.com has a nice photo gallery that even shows several yurts linked together to form a very unique looking “yurt collective.”
The small home movement is all about re-imagining what is possible concerning how we live. The ancient yurt may fit in very well in our modern world.
I saw my first yurt when I was training for the Peace Corps in Kazakhstan. My host family (Russian) and their friends used small ones as shelter from the sun on the lake. Pretty great! But of course they have a long history as primary homes there, too. I’m a fan of yurts, definitely. Thanks for sharing.
Hi, great blog you have here. Loved some of your pieces on tiny homes and all the links.
Thanks for making the connection between yurts and small homes. I see yurts as part of the small home movement, but I don’t think the small home folks seem are there yet.
You might want to let your readers know about my website, http://www.yurtinfo.org, and book, “YURTS: Living in the Round”, in case they’re interested in exploring yurt options further.
Wishing you the best on your small homes journey, and many thanks for your good work in the world…
Happy sails and happy trails
becky kemery
Author of “YURTS: Living in the Round”
url: http://www.yurtinfo.org/bookstore.php
http://www.yurtinfo.org
http://www.livingintheround.net
Hi, Beck! Welcome. Thank you for the wonderful list of resources for our readers.
Love all the information you have on small homes here.
My partner and I bought a yurt from Pacific Yurts last year and have made it into a cozy home on our property in Wallowa County in Northeastern Oregon. We got the snow and wind kit and put insulation in the wooden floor. It’s performed beautifully in wind, hail, snow, and has even kept out the packrats so far. Here’s a link to a photo: http://blog.elizabethenslin.com/about/
Liz, how neat! And if you’re keeping the packrats out you’re doing well indeed. (Don’t get me started on the ones who managed to set one of our cars on fire when I lived in Tucson.) Any chance you’d be interested in us doing a write-up of your little place?
Steph
Hi Lynn,
Thanks for the great post. We at the Colorado Yurt Company (like you and Becky) believe that yurts are an ideal answer to the calls of the small house movement. They’re low impact, their unique shapes helps us to re-envision a new mode of living, and there are no wasted corners. Their semi-portableness even means that you can relive these ideals at several different awesome locations.
The Colorado Yurt Company is always looking for new ways to re-realize this traditional structure for the contemporary world. Check out pictures at http://www.coloradoyurt.com to see how our customers are fitting their yurts into perfect tiny homes.
Best,
Sam
We had to chase packrats out of our truck. Otherwise we might have had a fire.
A write-up is possible. Would probably be most interesting when we’re out there from May on. Feel free to contact me by email.
hi Steph,
Thanks for great post! We at the Colorado Yurt Company, like you and Becky, have long felt that yurts are an ideal answer to the calls of the small and tiny house movement. Sustainable, low-impact, and round (no wasted corners) they help us to re-envision how we live. Plus, because they’re semi-portable you can re-re-envision in several different locations.
Check out our website. http://www.coloradoyurt.com to see pics of how more people are turning this unique space into unique tiny homes.
Best,
Sam