Info on Yurts
If the loosest definition of a tent is that it is a
form of shelter that can easily be assembled and disassembled, and
transported practically anywhere, then nomadic peoples in Central Asia have
been making use of their own culturally significant form of tent for over
2000 years. This construct is
known as a yurt, originally referred to as such from the Turkish word for
the imprint that it left behind when it moved, and since adopted by the
Russians, who called it a “yurta”, where it ultimately came into modern
English usage. The fundamental
structure of a yurt is that of a circular enclosure, topped with a round
roof that rises upwards slightly like a wide cone.
The entire framework is then covered by a fabric material, which acts
as a skin providing protection against the elements.
The traditional yurt is still used today by herders in
the steppes of
The modern North American yurt was brought to the
United States by a man named William Coperwaithe in the 1960s, and has since
been incorporated as a design for both permanent and transient housing.
Modern fabric yurts utilize stronger materials than those used in
traditional yurts, such as aluminum and steel to form the frame, and
architectural fabric with reflective insulation.
A crew of four to five people can assemble a fabric
yurt in about one or two days.
Though certainly not meant to be pitched and packed up like the average
tent, the yurt is still a highly transportable and flexible shelter that can
serve a variety of purposes, from a guest home to a studio, and provides a
feasible option for those who want to sample community living without having
to commit to the huge financial investment and a more permanent dwelling.
The yurt is also an great option for short-term gatherings, such as
for workshops, allowing an entire community center to transfer its location
within a few days.
A yurt provides a number of other advantages aside from
its ease of transport.
Environmentally, the yurt leaves a very small footprint, and the design
allows for a greater natural flow of air in and around the yurt, which is
considered healthier. The yurt
is also seen by many as aesthetically more calming and pleasant, a welcome
respite from the sharp-edged, shimmering homes and buildings in modern urban
society, with a spiritual element derived from its ancient origins that
appears to be more conducive for meditation, retreat centers, the healing
arts and similar community pursuits.
Supposedly, people sleep more soundly in a yurt, infused by its
intangible positive energy.
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